MY NEW WWE POWER RANKINGS

BECKY LYNCH AND DANIEL BRYAN LEAD SMACKDOWN CHARGE TOWARD WRESTLEMANIA

There's something about WrestleMania season that is unlike any other time of the year on the WWE calendar. From the time the Royal Rumble pay-per-view kicks off through the first week of April, the men and women who are destined to steal the spotlight on the biggest WWE show of the year step their game

Truth be told, everything seems to have clicked in a little more quickly on SmackDown than on Raw in recent weeks. That's evident in the latest ESPN WWE Power Rankings, as seven of the WWE superstars who make up this top 10 are SmackDown superstars, although reigning No. 1 Becky Lynch appears to be Raw-bound in the long term. Seth Rollins and Ronda Rousey are among the top three for a reason, though, and their performances at the Royal Rumble and in subsequent weeks have helped balance out some otherwise inconsistent shows.

While Lynch's work has been undeniable since last summer, and its little surprise that she remains firmly in the No. 1 position, there's also no denying Daniel Bryan, who is in the midst of some of the best work of his career. From introducing a new, environmentally neutral WWE championship made of hemp and reclaimed wood, to spouting radical truths mixed with hypocrisy and holier-than-thou rhetoric, Bryan has settled into a personality that

But the most telling sign in this edition of the WWE Power Rankings is what this list looks like as you dig deeper into the top 10. Andrade and Mustafa Ali have made the most of new opportunities to step forward on SmackDown, and as they step into the biggest matches and opportunities of their careers at Elimination Chamber, their upward trajectories project as major positives on SmackDown as the coming months shake out.

There are eight weeks of Raw and SmackDown to go before WrestleMania, plus two pay-per-view events, and the future looks bright. As of this moment, there's no sign of The Undertaker or John Cena. With the matches we already know of for WrestleMania and the potential for what could be on the horizon, the WWE feels fresh and exciting. A lot can change over the next two months, but in this moment, it feels as though a much-needed move toward the present and future stars of WWE is upon us. 

1

Becky Lynch (5)

-

The Man, fresh off her Royal Rumble victory, is the focal point of WWE programming heading into WrestleMania. Becky Lynch has kicked off Raw and SmackDown since winning the Rumble, and she has appeared on both shows over the last two weeks despite her knee injury. Her stare down with Triple H was the high point of WWE television for this past week. We all know where this is heading -- Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey in the main event of WrestleMania. That's right where they belong after several heated encounters that have brought the best out of both opponents. Just listen to the crowd when Lynch and Rousey are in the ring -- that's the sound of a WrestleMania main event. 

2

Daniel Bryan (2)

+1

Though Bryan might not be leaving much of a carbon footprint these days, he's making quite the mark as the WWE champion. The addition of Rowan by his side is brilliant, and if anything it likely guarantees a much longer for run for Bryan as champ. From his new environmentally conscious title belt to his weekly diatribes against anyone and everyone who gets in his way, Bryan rolls into the Elimination Chamber on a massive wave of momentum. 

3

Seth Rollins

-1

Even as someone who already has multiple world title reigns and high-profile main events under his belt, Rollins could well be heading into the most important match of his WWE career. He's representing the frustrated fan, who wants to see a grinder with a high work rate be rewarded with a title that Brock Lesnar has left in absentia. 

4

Ronda Rousey

+1

Listen, Ronda Rousey may really just be the greatest thing that ever happened to Becky Lynch -- and she told us just that earlier this week. The setup for these two is perfect. You have the international superstar and the woman -- err, "The Man" -- who is going to be an international superstar after WrestleMania. Ronda's wrestling evolution has been fun to watch and her promos are catching up. This is fun, and the ride to WrestleMania is going to showcase exactly what the WWE envisioned for Rousey when they signed her. 

5

AJ Styles

+2

Despite how big of a part he's played in recent years, the WWE (and SmackDown in particular) has enough compelling narratives at the moment that Styles has not been the centerpiece of any storylines, despite maintaining his place in the title mix. Styles could walk out of Elimination Chamber as the champ again, but the truth is, he is in need of a shakeup. Perhaps a move to Raw after WrestleMania

6

Andrade

NR

To say that Andrade's future is bright would be a massive understatement. We knew that throughout his NXT run. The spotlight on SmackDown is an entirely different level, however, and a lot more people have had a chance to see just how dynamic Andrade is in the ring over the last few months. His matches with Rey Mysterio over the past few weeks have been classics, and we're just scratching the surface. 

7

Samoa Joe

NR

Samoa Joe's intensity never relents. He didn't have to lay a finger on anyone to annihilate his five opponents for Elimination Chamber when he faced them in the ring on SmackDown two weeks ago. He interrupted Jeff Hardy, telling him to "act like it's an AA meeting and shut your mouth while I'm sharing with the group." He then looked to AJ Styles and said, "how's our old girl Wendy doing?" Brutal stuff, and then when he turns on the physicality, it reaches a different level entirely. Joe reaches a level of realism and intensity on the mic that few others can match. He deserves a marquee match at WrestleMania, something circumstances have prevented him from having in the past. 

8

Charlotte Flair

-2

Lynch and Rousey are making the headlines, but Charlotte Flair has started to seem like an integral part of the story going forward. Could Flair be a sacrificial lamb in a three-way bout, so that neither Lynch nor Rousey have to take a pinfall at WrestleMania? Perhaps, but no matter how things shake out at WrestleMania, it doesn't feel right moving forward without both Rousey and Flair as foils for Lynch. 

9

Finn Balor

NR

One of the toughest feats in wrestling is putting together a believable David vs. Goliath match. Balor did this with seeming ease against Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble -- and actually had fans thinking that he might pull off the upset against The Beast Incarnate. It's one of many talents Balor brings to the table, and it is why he should be highly featured in the run up to WrestleMania. 

10

Mustafa Ali

NR

For more than two years, Mustafa Ali had tremendous matches on 205 Live with the likes of Buddy Murphy, Cedric Alexander and Hideo Itami. The platform wasn't always very big, but every time there was a chance to shine at a pay-per-view or in a high-profile position, Ali stepped up. Ali was set apart by putting his character on display with a series of DIY promos, which garnered a lot of attention and eventually earned him a move to SmackDown. He hasn't felt remotely out of place in matches against Daniel Bryan, Andrade, Samoa Joe or Randy Orton, and Ali also enjoyed a standout performance in his Royal Rumble match debut. His journey to a spot in the Elimination Chamber WWE championship match is staggering, but there's little doubt that Ali has made the most of every opportunity presented to him. -- Fiorvanti

DROPPED FROM RANKINGS: Drew McIntyre, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Lesnar, Buddy Murphy, Asuka, The Miz & Shane McMahon, Orton, R-Truth, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks

AFC NORTH GRADES AND OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steelers averaged more than 11 wins per season from 2014 to 2017 but made 2018 more difficult with a three-game losing streak over a stretch of AFC West matchups in November and December. Defeating New England for the first time since 2011 was a breakthrough, but in a season when a playoff bye was attainable with more consistent play, the Steelers’ many lapses let the Ravens keep pace in the AFC North. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the season with a 16-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals to finish 9-6-1. Here’s a recap of the season and what’s next:

Season grade: Below-average. This season was well below the Steelers’ standards. They averaged more than 11 wins per game from 2014-17 but made 2018 more difficult with a three-game losing streak over a stretch of AFC West matchups in November and December. Defeating New England for the first time since 2011 was a breakthrough, but in a year when a playoff bye was attainable with more consistent play, the Steelers’ many lapses let the Baltimore Ravens keep pace in the AFC North. Considering the talent across the roster, it’s hard to escape the belief the Steelers could have done more with what they had. The largely lethargic Week 17 performance against Cincinnati highlights that belief.

Season in review: The Steelers faced tumult to start the season as Le'Veon Bell skipped Week 1, a decision that turned into a season-long holdout. Behind a stout offensive line and a proven passing game, tailback Conner remerged as a legitimate threat. Despite a relatively healthy roster, the Steelers’ 1-2-1 start set the wrong tone for a contender. The Steelers recovered, like they usually do, and the rest of the season featured an amalgam of explosive performances and uneven play. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger earned career highs in touchdowns and passing yards. Young stars such as T.J. Watt and JuJu Smith-Schuster strengthened their breakout campaigns in year two. But the Steelers consistently ranked near the bottom of the NFL in turnover margin, which sort of defined their season. Going four games without an interception in the second half of the year resulted in three losses during that stretch. They couldn’t dictate the tempo consistently enough, and closing out games was often a struggle.

He said it: "We can beat anybody. We can also lose to anybody." -- Steelers guard David DeCastro

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

What is the Steelers’ definitive plan at running back? The Steelers technically aren’t done with Bell, a reality that casts a pall over the offseason until a firm decision is made: Transition tag Bell or let him walk into unrestricted free agency. The Steelers could argue the tag should be worth somewhere between $9 million and $10 million, resorting to the slotted 2017 number since Bell skipped a year. But the Collective Bargaining Agreement says Bell deserves 120 percent of his last salary ($14.5 million). The tag would allow Bell to negotiate with other teams with the Steelers having the right to match any offer. But they might want to wash themselves of the Bell saga altogether. In that case, they have Conner and fifth-round pick Jaylen Samuels to develop as the future of the position. Both produced in expanded roles this season.

What will they do with Roethlisberger’s contract? Roethlisberger’s deal expires in March 2020, and the Steelers never relied more on Big Ben’s arm to win games than this season. The 15-year veteran performed among the league leaders in passing yards, touchdowns, passing attempts and interceptions. The mushrooming quarterback market calls for Roethlisberger to earn around $30 million per year, and with massive salaries for Bell and linebacker Ryan Shazier off the books, the Steelers will have cap space with which to maneuver. The Steelers drafted quarterbacks Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph in back-to-back years, but this is still Roethlisberger’s show. A three-year deal would take Roethlisberger close to age 40 and expand the Super Bowl window.

What does the defense need to get over the top? The Steelers' defense has been stuck on decent-to-good for a few years now. The leap to greatness has not been made. The Steelers consistently get pressure with their front seven behind Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and T.J. Watt. They ranked among the top 10 in rushing defense and total defense late in the year. Joe Haden leads a secondary that experienced ups and downs in 2018 but made plays down the stretch. From sub package linebackers to hybrid safeties, the Steelers tried just about everything at the inside linebacker spot opposite Vince Williams. The draft could provide a long-term solution for the loss of Shazier. Grab a speedy, rangy linebacker, maybe another corner, and Pittsburgh will be closer to a finished product. First, it must decide what to do with embattled corner Artie Burns, who was demoted early in his third season.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Ravens lost in the wild-card round to the Chargers. A poor showing in the playoffs aside, the Ravens believe they’ve found their next franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson, and they finished with the No. 1 defense for only the second time in team history.  The Baltimore Ravens ended the season a with a 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC wild-card game on Sunday. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Above average. A poor showing in the playoffs aside, the Ravens believe they’ve found their next franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson, and they finished with the No. 1 defense for only the second time in team history. Baltimore had one of the more impressive turnarounds of the season, going from 4-5 at the bye to AFC North champion. The season ended with a disappointing home playoff loss, but the Ravens have to be excited about their foundation going forward with the combination of Jackson and Coach John Harbaugh.

Season in review: In winning their first division title since 2012, the Ravens also ended a three-year playoff drought. The season looked like it was spiraling downward when the Ravens reached the bye on a three-game losing streak and starting quarterback Joe Flacco was sidelined with a hip injury. But Jackson sparked an unexpected turnaround, turning a pass-oriented offense to a run-dominated one. The rookie first-round pick went 6-1 in the regular season, the second-best seven-game start since the 1970 merger (Ben Roethlisberger was 7-0 in 2004). He led all NFL quarterbacks with 695 yards rushing and did enough in the passing game to lead the Ravens to their first double-digit win season since 2014. The Chargers solved Jackson for three quarters Sunday in their second meeting of the season, playing most of the game with seven defensive backs and containing the run. Defensively, this will likely rank as the Ravens’ best group behind the ones in 2000 and 2006. Baltimore finished the regular season ranked in the top five in fewest total yards, rushing yards, passing yards and points allowed.

He said it: "Every decision is based on what makes us the strongest possible team we can be. ... That's what it boils down to. That's how we feel about this decision and we're rolling." -- Harbaugh in explaining why he chose Jackson over Flacco as the starting quarterback on Dec. 13.

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

Will the Ravens sign Harbaugh to an extension? There's no uncertainty about Harbaugh in 2019. The Ravens announced on Dec. 21 that Harbaugh will continue to coach the team next season and the sides are working on an extension. But, in an unusual twist, Harbaugh has been evasive when asked about the news, calling it a "non-story." That has prompted speculation that Harbaugh will finish out the remaining one year left on his contract and see what he would command in the open market. Owner Steve Bisciotti has never let money get in the way of making what he feels is the right decision at head coach. He fired Brian Billick in 2007 even though he had to pay him for three more years. So, if Bisciotti wants Harbaugh long term, he will do everything in his power to keep him. It could make for an awkward 2019 if Harbaugh elects not to agree to an extension. At least two teams pondering a head-coaching change are considering calling the Ravens to inquire about Harbaugh, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

How much progress can Jackson make in the passing game? With four quarterbacks drafted before him this season, Jackson exceeded expectations in compiling a 6-1 record in the regular season and being the cog in one of the more unique run-heavy offenses. His biggest area of development is obvious. Jackson has to become more accurate in the passing game, which was especially evident against the Chargers on Sunday, and drive more passes downfield as well as outside the numbers. Coaches and players have defended Jackson’s ability to throw the ball, but he finished with a 58.2 completion rate and an average of 157 passing yards per game in his seven regular-season starts. That forced Jackson to run the ball more than any other quarterback in his first season as a starter and exposed him to too many hits. In order for the Ravens' offense to evolve, they have to be able to count on Jackson as a passer.

How much will new GM Eric DeCosta overhaul the roster? DeCosta will face several tough decisions in taking over for Ozzie Newsome, who is stepping down after being the only general manager in the franchise’s 23-year history. The Ravens’ top free agents are linebacker Terrell Suggs, the most tenured player on the roster, as well as Pro Bowl middle linebacker C.J. Mosley and wide receiver John Brown. Suggs will enter free agency for the first time in his career, and it’s unknown whether the Ravens would extend him more than a one-year deal. Its surprising Baltimore hasn’t reached an extension with Mosley, an indication the sides might part ways. Flacco, the former Super Bowl MVP and the starter for the past 11 years, is not expected to return. Baltimore is expected to release Flacco if it can’t trade him to someone like the Washington Redskins or Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore can free up $10.5 million in cap space by parting with him before June 1 and $18.5 million after that date. Other salary-cap cut candidates include: cornerback Jimmy Smith ($9.5 million in cap savings) and safety Eric Weddle ($6.5 million).

CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Browns' strong finish generates a lot of excitement for the future and that begins and ends with the quarterback. General manager John Dorsey nailed it when he made Baker Mayfield the first overall pick of the 2018 draft. Mayfield played with far more savvy than many veterans and revived the Browns' offense. 

The Cleveland Browns ended the season a with a 26-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens to finish 7-8-1. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Above-average. The Browns' strong finish generates a lot of excitement for the future, and that begins and ends with the quarterback. General manager John Dorsey nailed it when he made Baker Mayfield the first overall pick of the 2018 draft. Mayfield played with far more savvy than many veterans, and revived the Browns' offense with a record-setting season when he set the mark for most TD passes by a rookie. It took a midseason coaching change to bring things together, but when the Browns jelled they played like a team that should compete for a playoff spot in 2019.

Season in review: There were two elements to 2019. The first centered on coach Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. They were going to guide the Browns. But Jackson won just two of the first eight games, Haley did not work out and Taylor started three games before losing his job to Mayfield, who took firm hold of it the second he stepped on the field. When the Browns fell to 2-5-1, Jackson and Haley were fired, and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was named interim coach with Freddie Kitchens offensive coordinator. The entire season changed. Mayfield used more quick drops and found synergy with Kitchens. Williams made everything competitive, pitting starters against starters in practice. Mayfield talked of a reset, and the Browns responded by playing Kansas City well in a loss, then reeling off five wins in the last seven games. The Browns finally flipped the script on the losing culture, and buoyed by Mayfield, rookie running back Nick Chubb, Dorsey and an aggressive defense that includes young talent like Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett, they point to 2019 with optimism and high expectations.

He said it: "When I woke up this morning, I was feeling pretty dangerous." -- Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, after the Browns' win over Atlanta, uttering a phrase that was his rallying cry at Oklahoma and which became the Browns' in 2018.

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

Who's the coach? Dorsey's task a year ago was to identify and find a quarterback. Having checked off that task, Dorsey now must find the coach who can guide the quarterback. This hire will be every bit as important as finding the quarterback, because this hire will guide Mayfield's long-term future.

Who calls plays? Kitchens was little-known and much-questioned when he took over play calling duties. But he stepped into the job like he'd done it all his life. Kitchens used different formations and creativity to jump start the offense. He aligned with Mayfield, and relied on his players to tell him what they liked and what would work. His impact was immense. Keeping him as the playcaller would seem wise, but if the Browns hire an offensive coach, that new coach may well want to call the plays himself.

How will Dorsey use all that salary cap room? The Browns are projected to have close to $80 million in salary cap room in 2019, an enormous amount of space that will again allow Dorsey to add veterans to the roster. He will need to save some of that space for draft picks and future contract extensions -- Joe Schobert's is one deal that is up after next season -- but he still will have tremendous flexibility to bolster certain positions. Among them: Receiver, offensive line depth, linebacker and secondary depth. Dorsey was a whirlwind last offseason; he has the ability to be just as busy this one.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals started the season 4-1 and seemed prepared to make a playoff run. However, they came out of their bye week with five straight losses and got blown out by several teams. They’ll miss the playoffs for the third straight year. 

The Cincinnati Bengals ended the season with a 16-13 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish at 6-10. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Below average. Expectations weren’t high for the Bengals coming into the 2018 season. In fact, they’ll finish with a record similar to what many pundits predicted. However, it is a disappointment because the Bengals started the campaign 4-1 and seemed prepared to make a playoff run for the first time since the 2015 season. However, they came out of their bye week with five straight losses and got blown out by several teams. They’ll miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

Season in review: Bad luck surrounded the Bengals from the beginning, as their best players couldn’t stay on the field. They lost starting quarterback Andy Dalton, their best receiver in A.J. Green, tight end Tyler Eifert, middle linebacker Preston Brown and a number of others. Meanwhile, fans had long grown frustrated with the Marvin Lewis regime and stopped showing up to home games. This will be a season to forget in Cincinnati.

He said it: “It is very frustrating. I have never been a part of a losing program. I am never going to get comfortable with being part of it. At the end of the day, I am going to take it for what it is this year, build and try to get better and get ready for next year. ... I promise you, we are not going to be in this for long and that is a fact.” -- Bengals running back Joe Mixon

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

Will Marvin Lewis be coaching the Bengals in 2019? Lewis’ future has been a question mark for the past several years, and it’s certainly no different with the Bengals out of the playoffs again. Lewis’ 0-7 playoff record will always be a stain on his tenure, and fans seem to be fed up with the status quo. Although Lewis, the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, is signed through the 2019 season, this certainly could be the year the franchise moves forward without him.

What is Vontaze Burfict’s future? Burfict signed a contract extension last season, but it has been a failure so far, marked by suspensions and injuries. What’s more concerning is Burfict’s history of head injuries. He sustained his seventh concussion and second in a month against the Cleveland Browns last week. All of those factors could mean the Bengals part ways with him. However, the Bengals never found a real backup plan behind Burfict, and the younger linebackers haven’t panned out. Preston Brown’s contract also is up this season, so the Bengals need to figure out how to revamp that group if those two aren’t in their future.

How can the defense be fixed? The Bengals do have some of the components necessary for a good defense. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins and defensive end Carlos Dunlap were signed to extensions, while cornerback William Jackson and safety Jessie Bates are talented young players who could be the next generation of Cincinnati Pro Bowlers. The defense fell apart this season for a number of reasons: Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was fired before the season was over, the defensive line didn’t get enough pressure and tackling was an issue. The biggest priority, though, is the linebacker position.

NFC NORTH GRADES AND OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

CHICAGO BEARS

The Chicago Bears ended the season with a heartbreaking 16-15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles to finish the year at 12-5. Here’s a recap of the season and what’s next.

Season grade: Near perfection. The Bears came out of nowhere to win the NFC North, their first division title since 2010. First-year head coach Matt Nagy changed the entire culture of the team. The Bears entered the playoffs winners of four straight and nine of 10. The team won a total of 14 games under John Fox from 2015-17. The Bears wildly exceeded expectations, and for that, Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace need to be commended. They just couldn't keep it going in the playoffs as Cody Parkey once again hit an upright to keep the Bears from advancing.

Season in review: Nagy’s first order of business was to fix the offense. The Bears had been dreadful offensively in the Fox era, but Nagy brought the Andy Reid system with him from Kansas City and the results in year one were encouraging. The Bears went out in the offseason and assembled a better supporting cast (Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller) for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who had a mediocre rookie year in 2017. But under Nagy, Trubisky improved and finished the regular season with 3,223 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a passer rating of 95.4. Chicago’s real strength, however, was its defense. The acquisition of linebacker Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders turned an already good Bears defense into a great defense. The Bears led the NFL in virtually every statistical category. They took firm control of the NFC North in the middle of November and never looked back. Chicago had five players voted to the Pro Bowl (Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, Tarik Cohen, Kyle Fuller and Mack) and became the first Bears team to go from worst to first since 2005.

He said it: “The coaching staff is doing a great job of creating a culture that caters to the players. It’s not like public school and it’s not like private school, it’s just in the middle where we have enough boundaries but we have room to be who we are in those boundaries. It’s working.” -- Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara

KEY OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

Future of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio: Fangio is expected to interview for head coach openings in Denver and Miami, and perhaps others, as early as Monday. Fangio is the architect of the Bears’ 3-4 defense, and losing him would be tough. The Bears could opt to replace Fangio with respected secondary coach Ed Donatell, but Chicago’s best-case scenario is for Fangio to return for a fifth season.

Backfield in motion: Running back Jordan Howard finished the regular season on a high note, but questions remain as to whether Howard is a long-term fit in Nagy’s offense. At some point, Howard is going to want a new contract. Are the Bears prepared to pay him? Chicago could look to trade Howard and recoup a draft pick. The Bears probably need to make a decision on Howard in the offseason. Howard is entering the final year of his original rookie deal.

Kicking quandary: The Bears guaranteed Parkey $9 million last offseason, but Parkey missed 10 total kicks (seven field goals, three extra points) during the regular season, and he missed the game-winner in the playoff loss to the Eagles. Chicago’s kicking game has to improve in 2019. Interestingly, the Bears’ all-time leading scorer, Robbie Gould, will be a free agent. There’s no guarantee Gould re-signs with San Francisco, even though he had two terrific years for the 49ers: Gould made 72 of 75 field goal attempts from 2017-18. Gould may want to return to the Midwest. The Bears should be all over that.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings ended the season a with a 24-10 loss to the Chicago Bears to finish 8-7-1. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Average. The Super Bowl-or-bust expectation was set the moment quarterback Kirk Cousins signed his three-year, $84 million contract with the Vikings in free agency. A commitment of that magnitude put pressure on a team coming off a deep postseason run in 2017 with one of the most talented rosters in the NFC. The Vikings believed with their stout defense, an upgrade at quarterback would help propel them into uncharted territory. While Minnesota finished above .500, there was no marquee victory. The Vikings struggled against superior opponents and weren’t able to pull everything together until late in the season.

Season in review: The Vikings' splash in free agency, landing Cousins and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, is just one part of the 2018 story. The season started out with tragedy when offensive-line coach Tony Sparano died suddenly at age 56 two days before rookies and quarterbacks reported to training camp. Minnesota scrambled to fill the void left by the loss of Sparano, a deeply trusted confidant of Coach Mike Zimmer. The offensive line became the team’s weakest link. Down three starters to begin the season following Joe Berger's retirement, Mike Remmers moving from right tackle to right guard and Nick Easton's season-ending injury, the line battled ups and downs. Former offensive coordinator John DeFilippo orchestrated an effective passing attack with Cousins, but his unit ranked in the bottom half in scoring and efficiency. A difference in offensive philosophy between DeFilippo and Zimmer over the run game -- particularly involving the usage of Dalvin Cook once healthy -- reached a breaking point after losses at Chicago, New England and Seattle. DeFilippo was fired ahead of Week 15. Minnesota’s vaunted defense struggled early on, hitting rock bottom in a 38-31 loss to the Rams in Week 4 before finding its identity again. The modifications to the scheme put in place after the Vikings got bounced from last season's NFC title game had to be simplified. For as much talent as Minnesota has across the board, this team wasn’t able to string together many complete games when all three phases were playing at the same level.

He said it: "I do think that we can point to some times throughout the year where we’ve underachieved, not because we weren’t giving effort or preparation, but we just haven’t been able to sustain the level of potential in this locker room, play in and play out." -- Cousins

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

What happens to the coaching staff and front office? The Wilf family might have some important decisions to make this offseason. Will blame be placed on the coaches or front office for the Vikings underachieving in 2018? Zimmer’s defense, despite a rough start, held up its end for the better portion of the season, but ownership needs to determine how much of the blame should fall on the head coach. Zimmer’s contract is up in 2019, so he would likely enter next season on the hot seat. General manager Rick Spielman might also come under fire due to the signing of Cousins not yielding quicker results and the state of the offensive line, which didn’t receive the upgrade it needed via free agency or the draft. Beyond Zimmer and Spielman, the Vikings need to decide about removing the interim tag from the title of offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. Sources confirmed to ESPN that Stefanski did not sign the rollover in his contract after the 2017 season, meaning he’s not under contract in 2019. If Stefanski chooses to leave, the Vikings will be in the market for yet another offensive coordinator.

Will the Vikings upgrade their offensive line? The offensive line is going to receive a bulk of the blame, which means the pressure is on Spielman and the scouting department to address the weak link. Minnesota has not spent a first-round pick on an offensive lineman since 2012, when it selected Matt Kalil fourth overall. While Kalil didn’t pan out here, most offensive linemen drafted in the higher rounds have a better shot at becoming long-term starters. The Vikings would be wise to spend their draft capital on the offensive line after seeing how beneficial it was to take tackle Brian O'Neill 62nd overall in April. The easiest way to yield a strong return on investment in Cousins is by bringing in the right personnel to protect him. This offseason, it starts with addressing the interior and finding upgrades for Tom Compton and possibly Remmers.

What happens to Anthony Barr and other pending free agents? Barr was the odd man out after the Vikings signed Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs to extensions in the offseason. The linebacker was an effective pass-rusher at times, and he might want to get paid like one and be a part of a defense that regularly plays to his strengths (i.e., as a 3-4 outside linebacker who rushes the passer). The Vikings don’t have a lot of salary-cap space in 2019, and placing the franchise tag on Barr would make it tough to make any significant moves. Remember, Minnesota also has to decide whether to work out a long-term deal with Richardson while accounting for possible contract restructures with Kyle Rudolph, Everson Griffen, Andrew Sendejo and others.

DETROIT LIONS

The Detroit Lions ended the season with a resounding 31-0 win over the Green Bay Packers to finish 6-10. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Below-average -- The season began with playoff aspirations in coach Matt Patricia’s first year. It ended with the team’s worst record since 2012. The offense, which was supposed to be the team's strength, sputtered and ended up ranked in the bottom third of the league in almost every major category. Jim Bob Cooter, the offensive coordinator who once looked like a future head-coaching candidate, could be out of a job, joining already fired special-teams coach Joe Marciano. Detroit, a year after firing Jim Caldwell following back-to-back 9-7 seasons, feels much closer to a rebuilding team than a contender.

Season in review: The biggest low came at the beginning, with a 48-17 blowout loss to the New York Jets on Monday Night Football that reset expectations. Detroit showed signs of progress at various points -- wins against New England, Green Bay, Miami and Carolina -- but too often it came in inconsistent increments. The trade for Damon Harrison gave the Lions hope. That’s a dangerous thing because the hope was often replaced by the real theme of Detroit’s season: inconsistency. The Lions, as safety Tavon Wilson pointed out, hadn’t won games in back-to-back weeks all year long (the Green Bay and Miami wins were separated by a bye). The offense, as mentioned above, faltered and then saw its pieces (Golden Tate) traded away and injured (Marvin Jones Jr., Kerryon Johnson), leaving the unit in tatters. And, now, it’ll lead to a long offseason in which changes are coming.

He said it: “Just to be completely honest, I don’t know if we won two games in a row this year. We didn’t. We haven’t. You can’t call yourself a consistent team if you haven’t done that.” -- Lions safety Tavon Wilson

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS

Who is the offensive coordinator? There’s a chance, of course, that Cooter keeps his job -- but assuming the Lions go in a different direction, who handles the offense will be the main question of the offseason. Will Patricia go with someone he is familiar with, such as Rams passing-game coordinator Shane Waldron or former Jaguars OC Nathaniel Hackett? Or will he look outside his web of familiarity? Kliff Kingsbury was an obvious possible choice -- and someone Patricia knows -- but he’s off the market after becoming USC's offensive coordinator. Another possibility, if Cooter is let go and Miami fires Adam Gase, would be Gase. He knows the state well, went to college at Michigan State and had a home nearby until recently.

What happens with Glover Quin (and others)? The Lions have a lot of veterans who could be salary-cap casualties over the next few months, led by right guard T.J. Lang and safety Glover Quin. Detroit could keep one or both, especially with an escalating salary cap, but there could be a lot of roster turnover with both expected and unexpected names over the next two months as GM Bob Quinn and Patricia continue to remake the roster. That will also include the likely non-signing of veteran free agents, including defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. At least half of the 2019 Lions roster could be newcomers.

What does owner Martha Ford think? Lions owner Martha Ford and her family have not said anything about the franchise in at least two seasons. Since she spoke last, the Lions fired Caldwell, a coach she loved, and replaced him with Patricia. It went from a winning franchise to a losing one. The offseason is the time when owners usually speak. Will Ford break her silence?

GREEN BAY PACKERS

The Green Bay Packers ended the season a with a 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions to finish 6-9-1. Here's a recap of the season and what's next:

Season grade: Below-average. If there was a lower category, the Packers would be in it. Anything less than a playoff berth when Aaron Rodgers starts 16 games is disastrous. Part of that is on Rodgers for not playing at his usual MVP level, which would have covered up for myriad other issues. Part of it is on a roster that wasn’t nearly as talented or deep as it should have been thanks to some subpar drafts in Ted Thompson’s final years as general manager. Part of it is on coaching, which is why the Packers have a coaching search on their hands.

Season in review: When Rodgers marched back onto the field in the season opener against the Chicago Bears with his injured left knee wrapped up and led the Packers back from down 20-0 to a 24-23 win, it looked like it would be just the start of a season filled with thrilling victories. Instead, that was the zenith. It was a slow, agonizing fall from there. Road loss after road loss – seven of them to start the season before the Packers finally avoided a winless road record by beating the hapless Jets in Week 16 -- was like slow torture. The low point came on Dec. 2 at home against the Arizona Cardinals, a listless performance that convinced team president Mark Murphy to dump Mike McCarthy with four games left in his 13th season as head coach.

He said it: "I really felt that change was needed and kind of Mike's tenure had run its course. I think we needed a new voice, and it happens in our league.” -- Packers team president Mark Murphy the day after he fired McCarthy.

KEY OFFSEASON QUESTIONS:

When will the new coach be in place? When the Packers hired McCarthy in 2006, it took less than a week after Mike Sherman was fired. There’s reason to think it will take much longer this time. Indications are that Murphy and GM Brian Gutekunst want to talk to as many candidates as possible. Neither has ever been through a coaching search in his current role, and they believe they will benefit from conducting a wide array of interviews. And then there’s the possibility that they’ll hire someone who’s coaching in the Super Bowl, which means they can’t sign him until early February.

Who will the new coach keep? If interim coach Joe Philbin doesn’t get the job on a full-time basis, how much of the existing staff will the new coach retain? Rodgers has spoken highly of Philbin, but if it’s an offensive-minded head coach, then what are Philbin’s chances of staying on? The new coach needs to connect with Rodgers and get him to buy into whatever system he plans to run. Philbin certainly could assist with that. And then there’s defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, whose unit has played perhaps better than its talent in his first year on the job. There certainly will be plenty of change on the staff no matter who’s hired, but the Packers have two highly regarded coordinators in place now in Philbin and Pettine.

How active will Gutekunst be in free agency? The Packers need at least one more game-changing weapon on offense (free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham wasn’t it), help on the offensive line and pass-rushers galore. That’s too much to fill in the draft. Gutekunst showed a more aggressive approach to free agency last offseason, and even though a few of the moves failed, he’ll need to jump back in this March in order to make the Packers a contender again. He said recently that last year’s free-agent results won’t deter him this year, and he’ll have plenty of salary-cap space to be an active participant.