The football season is finally upon us. While some fanbases are (justifiably) more nervous about the next three months than most, each team starts the year 0-0. What happens over these next few months is largely determined by the quarterback. Some fans hope they’ll see their high draft pick, some are hoping their QB takes the next step, some are preparing for one last ride from future Hall of Famers, and some are already reaching in the alcohol cabinet.
NFC NORTH
Aaron Rodgers
I’m sure Packers fans are as relieved as I am surprised that Rodgers is still with the team, given how many red flags Adam Schefter was raising all offseason. With that said, the future Hall of Famer’s time to deliver Green Bay another championship is running out, as he is likely finished with Packers brass after this year. While the Green Bay defense was 9th in points allowed and 13th in yards allowed, they ranked 25th in takeaways, and Rodgers struggled to capitalize on what few turnovers his defense generated in the playoffs. This might be merely an anomaly, a case of simply going against a top-three defense, but Rodgers will most likely have to face them again en route to a second ring. Heck, even though Matt Stafford is no longer in the NFC North, he is arguably more of a threat to Rodgers now that the former is on a championship contender. Expect another 12-13 win season from Green Bay, but if Rodgers wants to go out on top, he’s going to need to be better in the postseason. I feel bad for Rodgers, frankly, but with multiple very good Quarterbacks in the NFC who have much more help, I’m afraid the NFCCG is as far as he goes. Bakhtiari starting the year on IR doesn’t help, either.
Kirk Cousins
Despite a strong statistical showing in 2020, throwing for 35 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions, Cousins might be gone in the next few years. While there’s no cause for immediate concern, as the Vikings have yet to give strong signs that they are ready to move on from him, his contract expires after 2022, at which point he will be 34. Few Quarterbacks have the luxury of playing beyond that age. Most starting QBs at that point are Hall of Famers. The rest become journeymen. Further, there haven’t been any contract talks in the offseason between the two. Quite the opposite, actually, as star second-year receiver Justin Jefferson alluded to the clock ticking on Cousins’ time in Minneapolis: “We have to build on for after Kirk, or whatever the case may be…”. While Cousins has arguably been underrated since he arrived in Minneapolis, in no small part due to his lackluster primetime record, he DID have over 4,000 yards, 22 more TDs than picks, and even a victory over the rival Green Bay Packers. Cousins is a divisive figure in Minnesota due to his play, despite his pretty stat line, and while no sane fan would root against their starting QB, there is hope that Kellen Mond is the guy in years to come so that the passing of the baton is free of complications.
Jared Goff
Jared Goff, the new kid on the block in the NFC North. Frankly speaking, this is the biggest year of Goff’s career. Despite making the pro bowl twice, being a consistent presence in the playoffs, and even taking his team to a Super Bowl in 2018, Goff is mostly viewed as average at best. His inaugural year without Sean McVay will play a large role in determining how people view him as a QB. Is he an underrated signal-caller who was simply overshadowed, despite being above average, or even, dare I say, great? Or is his success merely a product of the coaches that he’s had around him, including “offensive savant” Sean McVay; now-Chargers HC Brandon Staley; and one of the best medical staffs in the league that consistently kept key players healthy? I lean towards the latter, as Eagles nickel corner Nickell Robey-Coleman spoke on the difference between Goff and Wentz prior to the 2020 season: “…the difference is, I think Carson, he takes a lot of ownership. Carson takes a lot of ownership. He’s willing to be the guy to make the play. He’s willing to be the guy to point his teammates.” While this quote has aged like milk, other former teammates of Goff have come out criticizing him, such as Michael Brockers: “In my heart, deeply, just understanding what [Stafford] brings, it’s a level up [over Goff]. It’s a level up.” It’ll be interesting if Goff’s critics, including former teammates, end up eating their words like Dan Campbell eats kneecaps, but only time will tell if such comes to pass.
“…the difference is, I think Carson, he takes a lot of ownership. Carson takes a lot of ownership. He’s willing to be the guy to make the play. He’s willing to be the guy to point his teammates.” Nickell Robey-Coleman on Jared Goff
https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/24/robey-coleman-jared-goff-doesnt-take-ownership-of-offense-like-carson-wentz/
“In my heart, deeply, just understanding what [Stafford] brings, it’s a level up [over Goff]. It’s a level up.”
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/06/michael-brockers-matthew-stafford-is-a-level-up-over-jared-goff/
Andy Dalton
It probably kills Bears fans to see Dalton’s name here, but in all honesty, Matt Nagy has given no indication that he’s going to give Justin Fields the wheel just yet. If I could give one piece of advice to the Bears organization, it’s to not be afraid to give Fields the go-ahead if Dalton starts with one win in the first four or five weeks. Any Eagles fan could tell you that they had the same fears about throwing Hurts to the wolves for his first few starts, and he proved more than capable of handling himself. Colin Cowherd correctly assessed that the Bears are going to go through growing pains either way. Don’t waste time spinning the tires with a struggling quarterback when you have an opportunity to see what you have with the QB who was drafted 15th overall. The Ravens made the transition from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson in 2019 and haven’t looked back since.
NFC SOUTH
Jameis Winston
They call him Famous Jameis. Famous for multiple things: being a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick in 2015, eating more Ws in pregame huddles than on the field, and throwing 30 interceptions to complement his 30 touchdowns in one season (now that’s a 30 for 30). The past is the past, however, and 2021 is Winston’s chance to escape his prior failures. It is yet to be seen whether his eye surgery over the offseason does anything to improve his vision, and thus his decision making. Jameis Winston has a “no risk it, no biscuit” mentality, and with trouble afoot between Michael Thomas and the Saints organization, one must wonder who the Saints have that is capable of complementing that mindset. Saints fans know their team better than I do, and if the name Trequan Smith is not a name that they are comfortable hearing, then 2021 will not be a year for fireworks. Conversely, if the two can connect on a regular basis, then they should be fun to watch. (Edit: it’s gonna be the Winston-Calloway show after preseason). Of course, mixing in play-action to keep the defense guessing couldn’t hurt either.
Tom Brady
Tom Brady. Need I say more? Tom did so many impressive things in 2020, and I can’t even fathom doubting him at this point. He played the entire season on a torn meniscus, learned one of the most difficult playbooks in the NFL in half a year, broke the curse of the home field Super Bowl (played and won in his home stadium), and beat three former MVPs en route to a seventh Super Bowl title. And this is coming from someone who can’t stand the guy. As much as I hate to say it, Brady has the exact same team as last year, but with one major addition: familiarity. There’s no reason he shouldn’t play as he did down the stretch last year for all of 2020. In his 20th season, he was on the stairway to seven. Now, he’s at the gate of eight.
Matt Ryan
Ah, Matt Ryan. What could have been if you didn’t take that sack in Super Bowl 49. Or if you actually had a defense during the second half of the 2010s. Ryan has way too little success in 2016-20 for some to (myself included) consider a borderline Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, that defense hasn’t improved very much over the last five years. We’ll see if Dan Quinn going to Dallas was addition by subtraction or not. The Falcons lost future Hall of Famer Julio Jones to Tennessee but gained a fun new toy for Ryan to play with in Kyle Pitts. The measurables of Pitts are insane, and he has all the makings of a generational tight end. Calvin Ridley also appears ready to take over the WR1 position. Unfortunately, the defense will likely once again render it meaningless. A 6-8-win season is most likely on its way. Honestly, Ryan deserves better.
Sam Darnold
Am I seeing ghosts, or is Sam Darnold still in the NFL? All jokes aside, I hope Sam Darnold has a comeback story for the ages in Carolina. If Darnold is fortunate, he will soon graduate from the Ryan Tannehill School of Having A Career After Escaping Adam Gase. Hell, I’d even say that Darnold is in a better position now than Tannehill was since the former doesn’t have to wait for the starter to get injured. All eyes are on Darnold in 2021, especially since Carolina OC Joe Brady is getting head coach buzz going into 2022. Anyone who watched Sam Darnold in New York knows two things: he has the talent to succeed in the NFL, and he is often undercut by his propensity to make horrible decisions. There is even the argument that he wasn’t all that in college, so of course, his passable numbers in NCAA wouldn’t translate to being an NFL starter. Assuming Phillip (PJ) Walker doesn’t come out of nowhere and take his job, it’ll either be interesting seeing him prove his doubters wrong or painful watching him confirm every negative word his critics ever said about him.
NFC EAST
Dak Prescott
Dak has proven himself to be the most consistent QB out of anyone in the NFC East as of now. Eagles fans hope Hurts pans out but need to see him during the regular season, Ryan Fitzpatrick was a backup QB in 2020, and Daniel Jones is running out of opportunities. Cowboys fans would have you believe he’s top 5 in the league, but he’s closer to 8-12 due to his tendency to struggle in the first 3 quarters of the game. His numbers by the end of the game always end up looking pretty due to dotting up prevent defenses, and if he could look how he does at the end of games for four quarters, or even two or three, then he’d be a top 7 QB. As of now, however, I have to penalize him for waiting so long before he shows up during games, especially with how much talent he has around him offensively. To be fair, however, Cowboys receivers have Agholor syndrome from time to time, getting wide open but dropping passes that could shift the momentum of the game. Also, I hope Dak’s shoulder injury isn’t indicative of future problems. If nothing else, he’s a good guy, and I’d hate to see his career cut short.
Daniel Jones
This is the time for Daniel Jones to prove he’s a franchise QB. Gettleman went out and got weapons for him this offseason: Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Kyle Rudolph. Not to mention the return of Saquon Barkley (assuming he’s fully healthy). There’s no reason for him to throw 11 TDs and 10 interceptions again while also being near the top of the league in fumbles. Oh, and Joe Judge shouldn’t be blaming other teams for his team underperforming as he did in 2020. That is, assuming he’s employed by the end of 2021 (or assuming his entire roster hasn’t retired by week 10).
Jalen Hurts
The more I hear about Hurts, the more faith I am willing to put in him. Hurts being near-perfect in 11-on-11s is what you want to hear if you’re an Eagles fan (sorry, Allen Iverson, but practice is all I have to talk about). Obviously, that’s not enough to catapult Hurts over any of the other three (except maybe Jones, who doesn’t seem to be having a great camp, in contrast to Hurts). What helps Jalen’s case, however, is that all reports are suggesting he is winning over his teammates day by day, and Eagles fans along with them. Hell, I never gamble, and I was tempted to take the over for the Eagles season (+6.5). Nothing would make me happier than to see Hurts prove doubters wrong in 2021, myself included. Hurts’s arm strength doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue as previously assumed. His mobility should also help his offensive line hold their blocks and buy receivers time to get open. Hurts also has good football intelligence, recognizing a dead play when he sees it and getting rid of the ball to put his offense in a hole. Then again, this after one preseason game, and it’s to be seen if he keeps this same energy during the regular season, but Hurts has done everything he could so far to quash the Watson to Philadelphia rumors (honestly, if you’re still on that train, I’d hop off ASAP). (Edit: Watson doesn’t want to play here, anyway).
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick is best described in one word: inconsistent (although he always manages to find ways to pick apart the Eagles). Fitzpatrick is honestly too unreliable to do any long-term damage, but with how good Washington’s defense is, all he has to do is be better than Taylor Heinecke (who almost beat the Super Bowl champions in the NFC Wild Card), and the division is theirs. Then again, there haven’t been repeat division winners since the Eagles in 2004. If I had to choose a second team to win, I’d have to swallow my pride and say the Cowboys (with a healthy Dak). If Fitzpatrick is again inconsistent and Dak’s shoulder can’t stay on straight, then I think the Eagles are the team to beat. Fitzpatrick is honestly pretty likeable, but likeability (un)fortunately doesn’t win football games.
NFC WEST
Russell Wilson
Speaking of inconsistent…I hate to attach that label to Wilson, as I know it’s not completely his fault, but there tends to come a time in each season where he turns into a pumpkin. In 2020, when Wilson was cooking, he was cheffing up meals like Gordon Ramsey. In the latter half of the season, however, he was more like a kid who forgot to add water while microwaving mac & cheese (long story). I know that Wilson’s line was paper mache, his defense was towards the bottom of the league, all his running backs were injured, and his wide receivers not named Tyler Lockett had bricks for hands. If Wilson had a better team that he could trust, he’d be top 5 easily. He’s a very popular pick for top 5 QB right now regardless, and rightly so, as he’s the winningest QB in the league since 2013 (although QB wins aren’t a QB stat). Wilson’s mobility has saved him as much as possible to this point, but he is still the most sacked QB of the 2010s, and all those hits have to wear on you physically and mentally over 16, which is part of why I think he falls off on the second half of the season. It doesn’t help that the division he’s in is loaded, Wilson has missed the playoffs once in 9 seasons, but if the Seahawks don’t do a better job of building around him, there may be more first-round heartbreak in the future.
Kyler Murray
I believe Kyler Murray is going to step into that upper echelon of QB in 2021, locking himself in as a top 10 play-caller. I would argue he was in 2020, but one good season does not make a top 10 QB. For a while, the Cardinals were the #1 offense in the league, and like bees flock to flowers, many veterans, such as JJ Watt, flocked to Arizona this offseason, either viewing the Cardinals as contenders or perceiving that their presence would turn them into such. Clearly, older players see something unfolding in Arizona. It helps that some of them got PAID, but their eagerness to play with Murray bodes well for the future of the franchise. Despite the Murderer’s Row of a division that is the NFC West, I don’t think that blind optimism will save Kliff Kingsbury from being replaced if the Cardinals miss the postseason. Like other highly perceived quarterbacks in the league, Murray’s mobility makes the life of his team easier due to his ability to escape pressure if need be. And as the Hail Murray proved, his ball placement ain’t bad either (despite throwing for a decent 26-12).
Matt Stafford
Matt Stafford on the Lions makes them Super Bowl contenders. This was one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Despite his pedestrian stat sheet and lack of success over the past decade, Stafford is revered as one of the best quarterbacks in the league by a not-insignificant number of people. Now that Stafford, who once threw a touchdown pass on a broken collarbone, is on a team with one of the brightest young minds in the NFL today (McVay) and one of the most loaded rosters he’s ever had, Rams fans are fully within their right to expect to contend in the near future. After all, if the Rams can make the Super Bowl with Goff, who knows what they might accomplish with a Quarterback who actually has control of the offense.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo is the exact opposite of Matt Stafford. In fact, he’s closer to Goff’s tier of Quarterback: an overall average QB who has been blessed with gobs of talent on both offense and defense. Ripping too deeply into the former seems unfair, as he was injured for most of 2020, and when we last saw him in 2019, he was playing in the Super Bowl. Similar to Goff, though, he had an offense in Kyle Shanahan speaking into his ear. Whether or not Garoppolo was as reliant on the calls of his HC as Goff was, I am uncertain. What I am certain of, however, is that similar to Cousins, Garoppolo is getting up there in years (29 isn’t old, but it isn’t quite young either) and is mostly unspectacular. Last year would have been a great opportunity to see whether Garoppolo could carry an injury-riddle team, but was unfortunately injured himself (someone should really check the turf at Metlife Stadium). In fact, Garoppolo might be gone before Cousins, as he has one year left on his deal. If Jimmy G can’t prove he’s better than the young buck drafted third overall, then this might be his last year in San Francisco.
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