NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL 2021 has been rough on defending division champions

By Russell S. Baxter

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 21: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after being unable to convert on fourth down against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on November 21, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 21: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after being unable to convert on fourth down against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on November 21, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s never easy winning an NFL divisional title. And this season, it’s been tough living up to such high standards when it comes to most of those teams.

It’s a battle of two teams (via Adam Maya of NFL.com) that finished in first place a year ago as the Washington Football Team host the Seattle Seahawks. But all is not right when it comes to Pete Carroll’s squad. It is one of many clubs that won division titles in 2020 and are now finding things a bit more difficult this season.

Getting back to the playoffs on a consistent basis is not easy in the NFL. Just look at the current postseason runs around the league. The longest belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs, which has qualified for the playoffs in each of the previous six seasons. That’s followed by the New Orleans Saints and their four straight NFC South titles.

Rounding out the field are the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, both of who have reached the postseason each of 10 of the previous three years. Those are the only four teams to make the playoffs at least three consecutive seasons.

It’s even tougher when it comes to winning consecutive division titles. The Saints have already been mentioned as winners of four consecutive NFC South crowns. That’s topped only by the Chiefs, who have won the AFC West the last five seasons.

So what about the eight defending division champions this season to date? The Buffalo Bills (7-4), Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1), and aforementioned Chiefs (7-4) have already lost more games than they did a year ago when they finished 13-3, 12-4, and 14-2, respectively.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers are 9-3 after a 13-3 showing in 2020. The Saints are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and sit at 5-6 – this after a 12-4 finish last season. And the disappointing 3-7 Seahawks – a 12-4 division champion in ’20 – may be on the verge of losing twice as many games as a year ago.

That leaves 4-6 Washington, who won the NFC East with a 7-9 mark a season ago. And then there’s the Tennessee Titans, now sitting at 8-4 after two straight losses. Mike Vrabel’s squad won the AFC South with an 11-5 record in 2020.

The Seahawks have to prevail in the rest of their games to reach the 10-win mark. Washington has won two in a row and has an opportunity to surpass last year’s seven-win campaign. Tonight’s clash may not have much of an impact on the NFC West but could have a lot to say when it comes to the NFC East. In any case, it’s been quite a challenging year for teams trying to stay at the top.

Home/NFL