Texans provide hope for the 18 teams that missed the playoffs
A season of high expectations went horribly wrong for the Giants, who were hoping to build off a rare playoff appearance only to lose their opener 40-0 to the Cowboys. It never got much better.
No, but Brian Daboll shook up his staff, firing four assistants and bidding farewell to DC Wink Martindale, who resigned.
GM Joe Schoen said the Giants will consider a QB in the first round but he also is hopeful Daniel Jones will be ready to start the season after ACL surgery.
7. TENNESSEE TITANS (6-11): The Titans parted ways with HC Mike Vrabel and soon are expected to see star RB Derrick Henry leave after the Titans’ worst season since 2015. Henry finished second in the NFL in rushing and wants to test free agency.
Yes, GM Ran Carthon fired Vrabel, who went 56-48 in six seasons but posted back-to-back losing campaigns.
Rookie Will Levis went 3-6 after replacing veteran Ryan Tannehill.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10): The Falcons posted their sixth straight losing season and third under HC Arthur Smith.
Yes, the Falcons fired Smith hours after Atlanta’s 48-17 loss at New Orleans — the second-worst setback of his tenure.
Desmond Ridder went 6-7 in his second year.
9. CHICAGO BEARS (7-10): See top item for Bears information.
10. NEW YORK JETS (7-10): Aaron Rodgers’ Jets debut ended after four snaps with a torn Achilles tendon and the Jets stumbled through a miserable season.
No, owner Woody Johnson’s recent endorsement of HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas to return for a doover settled the Jets’ biggest question.
Rodgers will return in 2024 but nobody knows how he’ll hold up at age 40 or how he’ll play after spending this season rehabbing.
11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10): No team had a harder fall in 2023 than the Vikings, who won six fewer games.
No, Kevin O’Connell is 20-15 with the Vikings.
Cousins’ contract is set to void in March, making him a free agent. His absence from a torn Achilles tendon reinforced the reality that there’s no other viable option on the roster for the long term.
12. DENVER BRONCOS (8-9): The Broncos stretched their playoff drought to eight seasons and their string of losing seasons to seven.
No, Sean Payton acted like he was still in the FOX broadcast studio when he ripped his predecessor Nathaniel Hackett only to lose to Hackett’s new team, the Jets, as part of a 1-5 start.
The substantial financial fallout from an expected divorce from Russell Wilson may not bother the league’s wealthiest owners much, but it will saddle the franchise with massive dead
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money charges that could stunt a recovery.
13. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (8-9): The Raiders finished strong under interim HC Antonio Pierce two years after owner Mark Davis bypassed another interim HC, Rich Bisaccia, for Josh McDaniels, who tore apart a stout offense and flamed out just as he’d done in Denver in 2010.
The players want Pierce, the ultimate players’ coach, to get the job.
Yes, rookie Aidan O’Connell improved down the stretch but the Raiders will likely seek an upgrade.
14. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-8): The Saints finished with the same record as two playoff teams: Tampa Bay and Green Bay.
Dennis Allen expects to return in 2024. During New Orleans’ final five games, Derek Carr completed 74% of his passes and threw for 14 TDs with two interceptions.
15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-8): While this season was supposed to be measured by QB Anthony Richardson’s progression, Indy got strong enough play from backup QB Gardner Minshew and backup RB Zack Moss that it came within 15 yards, 66 seconds and perhaps one dropped pass from winning its first AFC South crown since 2014.
No, Shane Steichen was impressive in his first season.
The Colts expect Richardson to bounce back from his season-ending shoulder injury.
16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8): The Seahawks missed the playoffs for the second time in three years and Pete Carroll is out after 14 seasons.
GM John Schneider embarks on his first coaching search after Carroll was moved into an advisory role with the franchise that he led to a win in Super Bowl 48.
Geno Smith was 8-7 while missing two games due to injury. He had a season that mirrored his team — great in some moments, cringeworthy in others.
17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8): Jacksonville was 8-3 in late November and had been perched atop the AFC South since Week 3. But they lost five of their final six games and failed miserably in a winand-in game against the Titans in Week 18.
No. HC Doug Pederson fired DC Mike Caldwell and seven of his assistants as a result of the collapse, however.
Trevor Lawrence, the top overall pick in 2021, is vowing to fix his turnover troubles after throwing 14 interceptions and losing seven fumbles.
18. CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8): The Bengals nearly made the playoffs behind backup QB Jake Browning but the Bengals just weren’t the same in 2023 without star Joe Burrow.
No, Zac Taylor posted his third consecutive winning season.
With Burrow sidelined for the last seven games with a wrist injury, Browning went 4-3 as the starter. This is as good a duo as there is in the NFL.