MY NEW NFL POWER RANKINGS

2019 EDITION – PATRIOTS FINISH ON TOP, AGAIN

The NFL season ends with the New England Patriots defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Hence the final edition of the 2018 Power Rankings.

With Sunday’s 13-3 victory in Super Bowl LIII, the New England Patriots captured their sixth Lombardi Trophy and also became the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to win the Super Bowl one year after losing it.

It also means it’s a total wrap on the NFL’s 99th season. Hence the final NFL Power Rankings for 2018, with a minor look ahead to what should be a fascinating ‘19.

NOTE: WIN-LOSS RECORDS INCLUDE PLAYOFFS.

32. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-13)

4TH PLACE, NFC WEST

Season Review: The Cardinals were the first team since the 1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish dead last in the league in total yards gained, rushing yardage and passing yards. The club managed only 24 offensive touchdowns and scored an NFL-low 225 points. Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen showed his mettle but took a beating. Running back David Johnson totaled a quiet 10 TDs, while Larry Fitzgerald led the club with 69 grabs – six for scores. Chandler Jones had another outstanding season and led the club with 13 sacks. But first-year head coach Steve Wilks was let go after a three-win season.

2018 Turning Point: When you win only three games all season (2 vs. the 49ers), pinning down when things went wrong is a little difficult. But in Week 7, there was an embarrassing Thursday night home loss to the Denver Broncos (45-10) that cost offensive coordinator Mike McCoy his job.

2019 Priorities: New sideline leader Kliff Kingsbury must bring some creativity to the league’s worst offense in ‘18. It’s a big challenge for the first-time NFL sideline leader. Fitzgerald will be back for a 16th season. Getting defensive end/outside linebacker Markus Golden re-signed would be a good move.

31. NEW YORK JETS (4-12)

4TH PLACE, AFC EAST

Season Review: For the third consecutive year, the Green and White lost at least 11 games and both sides of the football deserve plenty of blame. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold appears to be the long-term solution. But the reported concerns regarding ball-security were certainly realized throughout the year as the former USC standout hit on only 57.7 percent of his throws and had just as many touchdown passes as turnovers (17) in his 13 appearance. There wasn’t much consistency from the ground game or help from the offensive. And the once-proud Jets’ defense was substandard once again.

2018 Turning Point: The club got off to a rousing start on a Monday night at Ford Field and after six games; Todd Bowles’ club owned a 3-3 record. The Jets would drop their next three games, but an embarrassing 41-10 home setback to the Bills in Week 10 showed how quickly this team has fallen.

2019 Priorities: The new head coach is Adam Gase, who spent the previous three seasons in Miami and led that club to the playoffs in 2016. Fixing a defense that was a disappointing 25th in yards allowed will be up to new coordinator Gregg Williams. The team must address both sets of trenches this offseason.

30. OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12)

4TH PLACE, AFC WEST

Season Review: Given the turnstile that was the team’s roster dating back to last offseason, was it any surprise the Jon Gruden’s squad won only four games? Just before the start of 2018, the team dealt pass-rushing standout Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. In late October, the Silver and Black traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Derek Carr made far too many mistakes, totaling nearly as many turnovers (17) as TD passes (19), while being sacked 51 times. Tight end Jared Cook had a solid year, but the Oakland defense was once again a liability.

2018 Turning Point: The Raiders didn’t win their first game of the season until they beat the Browns in overtime in Week 4. Up until that point Gruden’s team had been extremely competitive. But after a tough road loss to the Chargers, the team stunk it up royally in a 17-3 loss to the Seahawks (Week 6) at London.

2019 Priorities: Former NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock was hired to be the club’s general manager. It will be interesting to see how he and Gruden co-exist. It appears that Carr is the team’s quarterback of the foreseeable future. The Raiders must get the most out of their three ‘19 first-round picks.

29. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-11)

4TH PLACE, AFC SOUTH

Season Review: Doug Marrone’s club won half as many games as it did in ‘17 and returned to the AFC South basement for the second time in three seasons and the fourth time since 2008. After showing a year of progress in terms of taking care of the football, quarterback Blake Bortles slowly digressed in this area and was eventually sat down in favor of Cody Kessler. Injuries to second-year Leonard Fournette and disappointing play from the offensive line resulted in the league’s top-ranked ground attack in 2017 sliding to 19th. And Jacksonville’s talented and big-play defense lost its opportunistic touch.

2018 Turning Point: The Jaguars won their first two games and owned a 3-1 mark at the quarter pole. Then came a humbling 30-14 loss at Arrowhead Stadium to the potent Chiefs. It was the start of a crippling seven-game losing streak that helped land Marrone’s team in last place in the division.

2019 Priorities: By all indications, the team will look for a new starting quarterback. There has already been a change at offensive coordinator with the January hiring of John DeFilippo, cut loose by the Vikings late in the season. Marrone’s team could also certainly use some help at wide receiver and tight end.

28. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-12)

3RD PLACE, NFC WEST

Season Review: Given the fact that the team had won its final five games in 2017, there was a lot of optimism surrounding the Niners in Kyle Shanahan’s second season. But quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was lost in Week 3 and the 49ers wound up using three different starting signal-callers by year’s end. On the other side of the ball, San Francisco’s defense did little to help the team’s cause, setting dubious NFL records for fewest interceptions (2) and fewest takeaways (7) in an NFL season. But one big bright spot was George Kittle, who set a league record for receiving yards by a tight end (1,377) in a season.

2018 Turning Point: It’s somewhat easy to pinpoint exactly when things really began to go wrong. In that Week 3 loss at Arrowhead Stadium to the Chiefs, Garoppolo went down with a knee injury late in the contest and was lost for the rest of the season. It was the beginning of a six-game losing streak.

2019 Priorities: The club could use some play-makers on both sides of the football, in particular at wide receiver and most notably at linebacker and the secondary. The 49ers have close to $60 million in cap room to play with and could be quite aggressive during free agency.

27. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-11)

4TH PLACE, NFC SOUTH

Season Review: It wound up being yet another disappointing year for a team that has now finished last in the NFC South in seven of the past eight seasons dating back to 2011. The Buccaneers got off to a 2-0 start thanks to some serious passing numbers from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, the Tampa defense continued to be a major disappointment and coordinator Mike Smith lost his job during the season. Once again, there was little semblance of a running game (29th in the NFL) and the team wound up committing a NFL-high 35 turnovers – 30 of those by Jameis Winston (17) and Fitzpatrick (13).

2018 Turning Point: At 5-7, the Buccaneers were still in the NFC playoff race. In Week 14, the team owned a 14-3 halftime lead over the Saints in Tampa. But the team’s penchant for self-destruction struck again in a 28-14 loss. It was the first of four straight losses to close ‘18 and the end for head coach Dirk Koetter.

2019 Priorities: There’s already a long of excitement surrounding a club that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007. Can new head coach Bruce Arians cure what ails Winston? Can the defense finally get its act together under new coordinator Todd Bowles? Finding a reliable running game would help as well.

26. DETROIT LIONS (6-10)

4TH PLACE, NFC NORTH

Season Review: The season got off to a miserable start on a Monday night as Matt Patricia’s debut as an NFL head coach resulted in a 48-17 loss to the Jets. Things didn’t get much better after that, although there were some promising moments via early season wins over the Patriots and Packers. Rookie Kerryon Johnson flashed some big-time promise when healthy but the Detroit ground game disappointed once again. Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a rollercoaster year and in October, the team dealt wide receiver Golden Tate to Philadelphia. Patricia’s defense showed occasional flashes (10th in the NFL in yards allowed) but the Lions totaled only 14 takeaways – down considerably from the previous year (32).

2018 Turning Point: A 0-2 start was followed by three wins in the next four games. The Lions hosted the Seattle Seahawks but came away with a disappointing 28-14 loss. It was the start of a stretch in which Patricia’s club dropped five out of six games, including a pair of losses to the NFC North champion Bears.

2019 Priorities: In 2018, the Lions slapped the franchise tag on defensive end Ziggy Ansah. But he was limited to only seven games and finished with four sacks. Will the team opt to give him a long-term deal or let him test the market? The team could still use some more help on the offensive front.

25. BUFFALO BILLS (6-10)

3RD PLACE, AFC EAST

Season Review: Sean McDermott’s second season as the Bills’ sideline leader saw the team utilize four different starting quarterbacks during the season for various reasons. While Nathan Peterman was the team’s Week 1 start, it was just a matter of time before 2018 first-round pick Josh Allen got his chance. He showed his mettle and wound up doing as much with his legs than he did with his gifted arm. The rookie signal-caller led the team in rushing yards (631) and touchdowns scored (8). Only the Ravens allowed more total yards than McDermott’s club but the Buffalo defense remained spotty against the run.

2018 Turning Point: The Bills’ season got off to a dubious start as the team was rolled by the Baltimore Ravens (47-3) and Los Angeles Chargers (31-20) by a combined 78-23 score. The team was 2-3 after five games. But that would be followed by four straight losses in which the club combined to score 33 points.

2019 Priorities: This is a team that won’t be getting any better until it can bolster both trenches. The Bills don’t have a lot of potential unrestricted free agents but many of them reside on the offensive line (John Miller, Jordan Mills, and Ryan Groy). And the team must replace retired defensive tackle Kyle Williams.

24. CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-10)

4TH PLACE, AFC NORTH

Season Review: A club that had missed the playoffs two straight years after reaching the postseason five consecutive seasons from 2011-15 would win four of its first five games. But even before injuries derailed quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green, the Cincinnati defense was having issues. Marvin Lewis’ team wound up 32nd in the league in both total yards and passing yards allowed, 30th in points surrendered while only three teams in the league gave more rushing yards. And after 16 seasons and seven playoff appearances (without a win) with the franchise, the team moved on from their head coach.

2018 Turning Point: At 4-1 and with a 21-20 lead with 1:18 to play over the visiting Steelers in Week 6, the Bengals were on the verge of putting themselves in prime position in terms of playoff contention. But Pittsburgh would rally for the win, the start of a 2-8 finish for a team headed to the AFC North basement.

2019 Priorities: Rams’ assistant Zac Taylor will be named the Bengals’ new head coach now that their season is over. There will be a new offensive coordinator (Brian Callahan) as well. The team could be looking for tight ends and offensive line help during free agency and in the draft.

23. NEW YORK GIANTS (5-11)

4TH PLACE, NFC EAST

Season Review: New head coach Pat Shurmur and the club opened 1-7 before settling in and splitting their final eight games – including an overtime victory over the playoff-bound Bears. The team was without wideout Odell Beckham Jr. for much of the year again but NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley was exceptional. He led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (2,028), was second in rushing yards (1,307) and scored 15 of the team’s 36 offensive touchdowns. Eli Manning again had his issues but was sacked 47 times. The Giants’ defense remained iffy but the team did make strides overall.

2018 Turning Point: What could have been for Big Blue? New York bounced back after losing seven of their first eight contests with a 4-1 midseason run. But it was the loss in the middle of that stretch, a 25-22 setback at Philadelphia, in which Shurmur’s club squandered a 19-3 second-quarter lead.

2019 Priorities: It will be interesting to see if general manager Dave Gettleman continues to unload some of the team’s defensive talent, as was the case with Damon Harrison and Eli Apple last October. Can the team get talented strong safety Landon Collins re-signed or would the Giants use the franchise tag?

22. CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9)

3RD PLACE, NFC SOUTH

Season Review: As has been well documented, the Panthers have still never experienced back-to-back winning seasons in their 24-year history. This season, Ron Rivera’s club squandered a 6-2 start to finish below .500 for the third time in five years (although the team won the NFC South with a 7-8-1 mark in ‘14). Quarterback Cam Newton had his up and downs but Christian McCaffrey had a tremendous second year – leading the team in rushing yards and setting a new NFL single-season record for receptions by a running back (107). But the usually steady Carolina defense proved to be a major disappointment.

2018 Turning Point: Rivera’s team was riding a three-game winning streak and headed to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night clash with the Steelers. But the Panthers were overwhelmed by a 52-21 count. It was the start of a crippling seven-game skid that ensured the team would not return to the playoffs in ‘18.

2019 Priorities: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the team feels Newton (shoulder surgery in January) could be ready by training camp. Could Carolina seek quarterback help in free agency? Will potential free agent wideout Devin Funchess be back in ’19? And defensive end Julius Peppers retired after 17 NFL seasons.

21. MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-9)

2ND PLACE, AFC EAST

Season Review: The Dolphins were arguably the NFL’s most unpredictable team in 2018. The club got off to a 3-0 start before losing nine of their final 13 games. There were wins over the playoff-bound Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. But far too often the team was overmatched by the opposition. The club lost eight games by 10 or more points. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill started the season but injuries once again became an issue and he missed some action, with Brock Osweiler filling in. Despite some new faces on the defensive side of the ball, this unit picked up where it left off in ‘17 when it faded late in the year.

2018 Turning Point: After wins over the Titans, Jets and Raiders to start the season, the Dolphins headed north to Foxborough and were manhandled by the Super Bowl-bound Patriots, 38-7. Adam Gase’s team was never really the same after that even though it owned a winning record (7-6) after 13 outings.

2019 Priorities: Patriots’ defensive whiz Brian Flores will be the Dolphins’ new sideline leader on Monday. And the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero says the team will be parting ways with Tannehill. Besides a new quarterback, the Dolphins still need a lot of help on defense.

20. GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-9-1)

3RD PLACE, NFC NORTH

Season Review: For the second consecutive season, the Packers finish with a losing record. It’s something that hasn’t happened to this franchise since the 1990 and ‘91 seasons. If not for a Week 16 victory at MetLife Stadium over the Jets, the club would have finished winless on the road in 2018. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took his share of heat and some of it was warranted. But the lack of commitment to the running game and the continued failures of the defense were major contributors as well. Wideout Devante Adams had a Pro Bowl year. But Green Bay ranked as one of the league’s disappointments in ’18.

2018 Turning Point: The Packers hung around in the NFC North despite the team’s inability to win on the road. At 4-6-1, the team returned home to play the struggling Arizona Cardinals. An embarrassing 20-17 loss was the club’s third straight and the end of the Mike McCarthy Era in Green Bay.

2019 Priorities: The team has a new head coach (Matt LaFleur) as well as a pair of first-round picks in April’s draft and the team could use help in a number of areas, especially on the defensive front-seven. Also, outside linebacker Clay Matthews and wide receiver Randall Cobb are potential free agents.

19. DENVER BRONCOS (6-10)

3RD PLACE, AFC WEST

Season Review: For the sixth consecutive you’re dating back to 2012, the Men from Mile got off to a 2-0 start. But for the third straight year, it would not result in a playoff appearance. Too often, the Broncos looked like an overwhelmed football team, especially on offense as veteran quarterback Case Keenum failed to impress in his first season with the club. On the plus side, undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay ran for 1,037 yards and nine scores and was named to the Pro Bowl. And first-round pick Bradley Chubb racked up 12 sacks. But it was another up-and-down year that lost 10 of its last 14 contests.

2018 Turning Point: Despite all their problems, the Broncos strung together three straight wins in late November and early Decembers to draw even at 6-6. But the offense disappeared down the stretch as the team combined for only 53 points in dropping their final four games.

2019 Priorities: And a team that went a combined 11-21 under Vance Joseph the past two seasons will have a new sideline leader in 2019 in Vic Fangio. The former Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator was the ’18 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. As for free agency, re-signing cornerback Bradley Roby is important.

18. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-9)

3RD PLACE, NFC EAST

Season Review: During the first half of the season, Jay Gruden’s attack more resembled Dean Smith’s “Four Corners” offense as the Redskins played stall-ball with rejuvenated Adrian Peterson in the backfield and veteran signal-caller Alex Smith. When the team was able to play its game, it resulted in wins. But when things went wrong, it all went south in a big way. Smith would go down with a broken leg and eventually, so would backup Colt McCoy. The ‘Skins were limited to 16 or fewer points in each of their final five games. Meanwhile, Washington’s defense played very respectable football for the most part.

2018 Turning Point: The ‘Skins were 6-3 as they hosted the hot Houston Texans. As previously mentioned, Smith would wind up going down for the season and the club would fall, 23-21. It would be the first of four straight losses and six setbacks in seven games for Gruden’s battered team.

2019 Priorities: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported in late January that the team would be “pleasantly surprised” if Smith was ready for the start of 2019. Could the team bring back quarterback Josh Johnson, the team’s main starter down the stretch after Smith and McCoy went and Mark Sanchez was ineffective?

17. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-9)

2ND PLACE, NFC SOUTH

Season Review: The Falcons entered 2018 as the only team in the NFC to reach the playoffs each of the previous two seasons. But there would not be a third straight postseason appearance as a series of major injuries on defense saw the team dig itself a hole early in the season. Not having running back Devonta Freeman for a long spell hurt the club as well. Quarterback Matt Ryan put up the kind of numbers that more resembled his 2016 NFL MVP season, throwing for 4,924 yards, 35 scores and only seven picks. But Dan Quinn’s club wilted down the stretch often, allowing 144 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

2018 Turning Point: A battered Atlanta defense was a big reason Quinn’s team got off to a 1-4 start. The Falcons rallied with three straight wins to get back to the .500 mark and headed to Cleveland to face the Browns. But the team was humbled, 28-16, the first of four straight costly setbacks.

2019 Priorities: A year ago, the franchise did very little in free agency and in retrospect; the team is in need of depth on defense. The Falcons also have some big-time questions to answer in terms of 19 potential unrestricted free agents in running back Tevin Coleman and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

16. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-7-1)

2ND PLACE, NFC NORTH

Season Review: There were a lot of high expectations for a team that had finished 13-3 the previous year. And the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins seem to “guarantee” those sentiments. But the former Redskins’ Pro Bowler, while hardly without fault, received little or no help from the ground attack (30th in the NFL) and Minnesota’s offensive line failed in a big way. Meanwhile, Mike Zimmer’s defense simply was not as stout as it was in ‘17. It all added up to this team being outclassed again some of the more physical clubs in the league and a failure to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

2018 Turning Point: It was a very uneven year for the defending NFC North champions. But all the Vikings had to do was hold serve in Week 17 at home against the Chicago Bears. But the club was pushed around, 24-10, and there would be no return to the playoffs for Zimmer’s talented squad.

2019 Priorities: Could general manager Rick Spielman and the organization slap the franchise tag on talented outside linebacker Anthony Barr, a potential free agent? The team may also want to hang onto running back Latavius Murray as an insurance policy for oft-injured Dalvin Cook.

15. CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-8-1)

3RD PLACE, AFC NORTH

Season Review: It was a big year for a team that could not win a game in 2017. While the latest edition Browns failed to finish with a winning record, the club’s seven victories were its highest total since 2014. Quarterback Baker Mayfield would eventually be the team’s starting quarterback and he provided a spark for a club that had struggled to score points in recent seasons. The first overall pick in the ’18 draft set a new NFL rookie record with 27 TD passes. But there were also 17 turnovers. Fellow rookie Nick Chubb led the ground attack with 996 yards. And only the Bears (36) forced more turnovers (31) than the Browns.

2018 Turning Point: A 33-18 loss at Pittsburgh in Week 8 proved to be not only the final game for head coach Hue Jackson but the last for offensive coordinator Todd Haley as well. Interim head coach Gregg Williams led the club to a 5-3 finish. And now the team is ready to embark on a new era…again.

2019 Priorities: Freddie Kitchens, promoted to offensive coordinator to take over for Haley, is now the team’s 11th different head coach since 1999. The team doesn’t have a lot of players to re-sign but may want to bring back one-time Ravens’ first-round wideout Breshad Perriman, who was a pleasant surprise.

14. TENNESSEE TITANS (9-7)

3RD PLACE, AFC SOUTH

Season Review: For the third consecutive year, the Titans finished with nine victories. But for the second time in three seasons, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. It was a season of streaks for Mike Vrabel in his NFL head-coaching debut. The club put together stretches of both three and four wins during ’18. But there was also a three-game skid. Fourth-year quarterback Marcus Mariota had problems staying healthy while the offense was carried down the stretch by power running back Derrick Henry. Tennessee’s defense was a bit sporadic and really struggled down the stretch, especially vs. the Texans and Colts.

2018 Turning Point: After an up-and-down start to the season, the team put together quite the seven-day stretch with a Monday night conquest of the Cowboys at Dallas, followed by a 34-10 rout of the Patriots. But in Week 11, the Titans were humbled at Indianapolis, 38-10, the first of two losses to the Colts.

2019 Priorities: With offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur moving on to become the Packers’ head coach, the Titans promoted tight ends coach Arthur Smith to fill his position. Will outside linebacker Derrick Morgan be allowed to test free agency? He finished with .5 sack despite playing in 13 games in ’18.

13. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-6-1)

2ND PLACE, AFC NORTH

Season Review: One year after finishing 1-3, Mike Tomlin’s club stumbled out of the gates courtesy of a 1-2-1 start. The club would settle in and reel off six consecutive victories. But all was not well in the Steel City and the team’s numerous issues bubbled to the surface down the stretch (and now beyond). Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the NFL with 5,129 through the air but was also picked off a league-high 16 times. James Conner did his best to fill the void left by the season-long absence of running back Le’Veon Bell. But the defense was shaky again and this was a team prone to turnovers (26).

2018 Turning Point: The team had to rally for a 20-16 win at Jacksonville in Week 11. And it was in that game that the once-balanced Steelers’ offense began to take on a one-dimensional quality. The result was four losses in the next five games and the team would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

2019 Priorities: Who knows what the future holds for Brown and Bell? What’s evident is that this is an organization that has lost seemingly its way. And the current issues can hardly be blamed on any one individual. Priority one is for this team is taking a hard look at itself and that means from top to bottom.

12. BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-7)

WON AFC NORTH

Reached AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Season Review: Joe Flacco and company got off to an erratic start and nine games into the season, the Ravens owned a 4-5 record and were in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The veteran signal caller was injured and in came rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, the club’s second first-round pick in 2018. The offense was revamped to cater to his running ability and the club went on a late-season run. Baltimore’s defense, less dependent on takeaways than in recent seasons, rebounded after a shaky and inconsistent start. And when it was all said and done, the club captured its first division title since 2012.

2018 Turning Point: It’s a bit of a broken record to what had already been stated. But John Harbaugh’s club went 6-1 (losing in overtime at Kansas City) after losing five of their first nine games. And perhaps the real turning point is the fact that Jackson is apparently the team’s quarterback of the immediate future.

2019 Priorities: Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith led the Ravens with 8.5 sacks and ageless Terrell Suggs was tied for second on the club with seven QB traps. Both can become unrestricted free agent in March so stay tuned. And could the team re-sign wide receiver John Brown, who led the club with five TD grabs?

11. HOUSTON TEXANS (11-6)

WON AFC SOUTH

Reached AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Season Review: For only the sixth time in NFL history, a team overcame a 0-3 start to reach the playoffs. Bill O’Brien’s Texans rebounded from three straight losses to win nine consecutive games and eventually the club’s third AFC South title in four years. It took second-year quarterback Deshaun Watson a few games to settle in and get comfortable (after injuring his knee the previous November) and the Texans put their share of points on the board, with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins having  huge year. Defensive end J.J. Watt was another great comeback story. But the club’s postseason stay lasted only one afternoon.

2018 Turning Point: It would easy to say it was the start of a nine-game winning streak that would propel the Texans to the playoffs. But it was actually a 24-21 home loss to Indianapolis in Week 14 that would be the first of two to the Colts at home in the span of five games, making for a short postseason experience.

2019 Priorities: Will the Texans put the franchise tag on outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney or get the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft under contract before free agency starts? The Texans would also surely love to retain talented safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was solid in his first year with the team.

10. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-7)

2ND PLACE, NFC WEST

Reached NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Season Review: Back in 2015, Pete Carroll’s club rebounded from a 0-2 start to capture a Wild Card berth. And it was déjà vu all over again as the Seahawks fell at Denver and at Chicago to begin the season and won 10 of their final 14 contests. The turnaround was sparked by a ground attack – led by unsung Chris Carson – that led the NFL in yards gained. Seven-year quarterback Russell Wilson was his usual steady self, hitting on 65.6 percent of his throws and five times as many scores (35) as interceptions. This Seattle defense was suspect all season and certainly benefitted from the team’s ability to control the football.

2018 Turning Point: This was a Seattle team that owned only a 4-5 record after nine games. Carroll’s club managed to get back to the .500 mark with a Thursday night home win over the Packers. But the ‘Hawks rallied for a crucial 30-27 victory at Carolina in Week 12 that really propelled the team forward.

2019 Priorities: It was supposed to be a rebuilding year in the Pacific Northwest. But this team has now been to the playoffs six times in the last seven years. And if the Seahawks’ young players continue to develop, this could be a dangerous team again. So what’s the future hold for free safety Earl Thomas?

9. DALLAS COWBOYS (11-7)

WON NFC EAST

Reached NFC Divisional Playoffs

Season Review: For the second time in three years, running back Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards. But the Dallas’ offense was still sporadic, even though the midseason addition of one-time Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver Amari Cooper was a huge plus. Quarterback Dak Prescott came up big on more than one occasion but also disappeared at times, as did the Cowboys’ attack in general. Jason Garrett’s defense was solid and linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch were standouts. But this unit was also pushed around by some of the league’s better offensive lines and could still use some help.

2018 Turning Point: Some may make the argument that the trade for Cooper was the pivotal moment. But look no further than a 27-20 Sunday night win at Philadelphia (Week 10), the start of a five-game winning streak and the first of two victories over the Birds as the team would capture the NFC East.

2019 Priorities: Less than one week after their playoff loss to the Rams, the team opted to part ways with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and the Cowboys promoted Kellen Moore in the process. The club will look to get potential free agent defensive end Demarcus Lawrence under contract sooner than later.

8. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-8)

2ND PLACE, NFC EAST

Reached NFC Divisional Playoffs

Season Review: It was an uneven and ultimately a disappointing year for a club that won 13 games in 2017 and put up big numbers on the way to a Super Bowl title. But the team also managed to shake off a 4-6 start and won five of its final six games to secure a wild-card berth. Quarterback Nick Foles started and ended the season, with a lot of Carson Wentz in between. The lack of a running game was a big issue as the team would be without Jay Ajayi for most of the season. Philadelphia’s secondary once again was very suspect and the defense was slowly pushed around in the NFC Divisional Playoffs by the Saints.

2018 Turning Point: At 6-7, the Birds would likely have to run the table to have a shot of getting back to the playoffs to defend their NFL title. Foles would spearhead a 30-23 Sunday night win over the Rams at Los Angeles to get the team back to .500. And the team closed the season with two more victories.

2019 Priorities: One of the team’s first moves after the season was to re-do free safety Rodney McLeod’s contract. And now there’s talk that Foles could receive the franchise tag and be used as trade bait, via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. What does the future hold for Tate and defensive end Brandon Graham?

7. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (13-5)

2ND PLACE, AFC WEST

Reached AFC Divisional Playoffs

Season Review: Although Anthony Lynn’s team was pushed around by the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, it was still a very successful season for a franchise that made its first postseason appearance since 2013. The team was able to overcome key absences all season, from defensive end Joey Bosa to running back Melvin Gordon. The club won 12 games and also snapped a nine-game losing streak to the rival Chiefs during the season. Resilient quarterback Philip Rivers continued to lead the way. But he didn’t play his best football down the stretch and was far from sharp in the playoff loss at Foxborough.

2018 Turning Point: The Bolts were in Pittsburgh for a Sunday night tilt with the Steelers and fell behind 23-7 by intermission. But the Chargers came all the way back for a scintillating 33-30 triumph at Heinz Field. A huge 29-28 Thursday night win at Arrowhead Stadium would follow less than two weeks later.

2019 Priorities: The club would likely want to re-sign potential free agent wide receiver Tyrell Williams. One-time first-round cornerback Jason Verrett, who missed the entire 2018 season, could also be allowed to test the market. The team could also look to the future in terms of Rivers’ eventual successor.

6. CHICAGO BEARS (12-5)

WON NFC NORTH

Reached NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Season Review: It was quite a turnaround in the Windy City as a team that finished in the NFC North basement four consecutive years rebounded to win 12 games and claim their first division title and playoff berth since 2010. While it was one-and-done in the playoffs for 2018 NFL Coach of the Year Matt Nagy and his team, his first season at the helm was a major success. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky showed big improvement in his second NFL season, while general manager Ryan Pace did a superb job providing this team with talent via free agency, the draft and a major trade that brought Khalil Mack to Chicago.

2018 Turning Point: It may be forgotten by some that after six games, Nagy’s team owned a 3-3 record and was coming off consecutive losses to the Dolphins and Patriots. The team finished with nine wins in their final 10 outings, the eye-opener a 15-6 prime time home victory over the Rams in Week 14.

2019 Priorities: The Bears don’t appear to have any real pressing needs in terms of their 13 potential unrestricted free agents, although retaining defensive backs Adrian Amos and Bruce Callahan may be on the list. But there’s little doubt that the Nagy’s team will be searching for a new placekicker.

5. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-7)

2ND PLACE, AFC SOUTH

Reached AFC Divisional Playoffs

Season Review: Thanks to nine wins in their final 10 games, the Colts claimed their first playoff berth since 2014. Kudos to first-time NFL head coach Frank Reich, who pushed all the right button after six weeks of growing pains. The team got a big year from quarterback Andrew Luck, who got better as time wore on and captured NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors via 39 TD passes (15 interceptions). Om the other side of the ball, linebacker Darius Leonard was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. On the other hand, an often-maligned unit was much-improved under coordinator Matt Eberflus.

2018 Turning Point: Off to a 1-5 start, Luck and company was coming off an ugly 42-34 road loss to the Jets. The Colts would start by taking out their frustrations on the visiting Bills (37-5). But it was a 27-0 shutout of the Cowboys at Indianapolis (Week 15) that opened a lot of eyes around the league.

2019 Priorities: Heralded general manager Chris Ballard had quite the draft in 2018 and does has three selections in the first two rounds this April to add to the team’s talent base. The Colts also have a lot of cap space at their disposal. However, the NFL’s all-time scoring leader (Adam Vinatieri) will return in ’19.

4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (14-4)

WON NFC SOUTH

Reached NFC Championship Game

Season Review: Off last season’s heartbreaking playoff loss at Minnesota, Sean Payton’s team kicked off 2018 at home with a stunning 48-40 loss to the Buccaneers. But that was merely a bump for the eventual NFC South champions as the Saints would not lose a game until late November. Veteran quarterback Drew Brees was sharp (74.4 completion percentage) and threw for 32 scores compared to only five interceptions. Payton’s club finished third in the NFL in points scored (504) thanks to a balanced attack. But the season would end in controversial fashion in overtime at home vs. the Rams in the NFC title game.

2018 Turning Point: Obviously, the team saw its 10-game losing streak snapped on a Thursday night at Dallas (13-10) in Week 13. But there has been speculation that Brees may not have been healthy late in the year. Conspiracy theories aside, the Saints did appear to lose a lot of steam down the stretch.

2019 Priorities: Despite being winners of two straight division titles for the first time in franchise history, this is a team strapped with some salary cap issues and without picks in the first, third and fourth rounds in this April’s draft. Will the team allow veteran running back Mark Ingram to test free agency?

3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (13-5)

WON AFC WEST

Reached AFC Championship Game

Season Review: Led by second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs rolled up a NFL-high 565 points in 16 outings (third-highest total in league history) and managed exactly 31 points in each of their postseason contests. The young signal-caller threw for 5,097 yards and 50 scores (12 interceptions) on the way to being named both the league MVP and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. But the defense proved to be the club’s undoing as Bob Sutton’s unit allowed 524 yards on 94 plays in the 37-31 overtime loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game. And it ultimately cost the defensive coordinator his job.

2018 Turning Point: Kansas City was the AFC’s top playoff seed for the first time since 1997. Still, it didn’t result in a Super Bowl appearance. Ultimately, the team’s failures on defense were what cost the club. And the Chiefs did lose to the Patriots twice in ’18, including at home in the conference title game.

2019 Priorities: It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs re-up with outside linebacker Dee Ford, who could test the free-agent market if the team doesn’t slap him with the franchise tag. Regardless, the team’s new defensive coordinator is Steve Spagnuolo, who has made his rounds in the league.

2. LOS ANGELES RAMS (15-4)

WON NFC WEST

Lost Super Bowl LIII

Season Review: Sean McVay’s team was the last NFL club to lose a game in 2018 and would not only finish with 13 wins and a second straight NFC West title but the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 2001. Only the Kansas City Chiefs scored more points than this club, which was led by a variety of offensive weapons such as quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. Relentless Aaron Donald (20.5) totaled exactly half of the team’s 41 sacks was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. But the year did end in disappointment with a tough 13-3 loss in Super Bowl LIII.

2018 Turning Point: You could argue that McVay’s gamble early in the second quarter of the NFC title game at New Orleans was huge. The Rams converted on a fake punt (Johnny Hekker to Sam Shields), overcoming a 13-0 deficit to win at overtime at the Superdome, 26-23.

2019 Priorities: The team has a lot of veteran players to re-sign should they choose, such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety LaMarcus Joyner and guard Rodger Saffold. Veteran running back C.J. Anderson was a late-season pickup and could return to the club in 2019.

1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-5)

WON AFC EAST

Won Super Bowl LIII

Season Review: It was a somewhat-erratic year for Bill Belichick’s team, which had all kinds of issues on the road during the regular season (3-5). But the Patriots managed to make it to the Super Bowl for the ninth time in the last 18 seasons after all. Tom Brady was in command of a team that finished fourth in the NFL in points scored. Rookie running back Sony Michel brought some power to the Patriots’ ground attack. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy and All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore keyed the defense. And wide receiver Julian Edelman won Super Bowl LIII MVP honors in the club’s 13-3 victory over the Rams.

2018 Turning Point: Following a 17-10 loss at Pittsburgh in Week 15, the Pats just didn’t look like their usual reliable selves. It really took a dominating performance in the AFC Divisional Playoff against the Chargers to jumpstart the club. And the team played smashmouth football on the way to a title.

2019 Priorities: Obviously, there are no questions surrounding Brady’s return in 2019 as the veteran passer has already made his intentions known. The Patriots’ most notable potential free agents include kicker Stephen Gostkowski, defensive end Trey Flowers and wide receiver Chris Hogan.