NFL 2021: Grades, aftermath for teams coming off Week 13 bye
The final installment of NFL off-weeks takes place in Week 14. But the Panthers, Browns, Packers, and Titans are coming off a little vacation time.
By the time next late Monday night or Tuesday morning rolls around, every team in the National Football League will have played 13 games. That means the final handful of weeks of the 2021 season — starting after exciting Week 14 action — will each feature a 16-game slate. And there are a few Saturday doubleheaders coming up as well.
This week, the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles have some down time. Last week, it was the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and Tennessee Titans who got some time off. So how have the latter four teams fared this season to date?
NFL 2021: Grades for teams coming off Week 13 Bye
Carolina Panthers (5-7)
Matt Rhule’s club got off to a 3-0 start this season but is 2-7 in its last nine games. Sam Darnold, acquired via trade from the Jets in the offseason, was solid early on. But he reverted back to his turnover-prone nature.
The Panthers have had three different starting quarterbacks (Darnold, P.J. Walker, and Cam Newton). Running back Christian McCaffrey has had trouble staying healthy again. And offensive coordinator Joe Brady was fired last Saturday.
Grade: C-
Cleveland Browns (6-6)
It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for a team that was 11-5 and in the playoffs a year ago. But the Browns have now lost more games than it did a season ago. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has had his ups and downs and has been trying to play through injuries.
The team’s running game is still impressive but Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have also been in and out of the lineup. And relentless Myles Garrett has stood out on a very erratic defensive unit.
Grade: C
Green Bay Packers (9-3)
It’s still unimaginable that Matt LaFleur’s club began the season with a 38-3 loss to the Saints at Jacksonville. The Packers have won nine of their last 11 contests and Aaron Rodgers (who missed the team’s 13-7 loss at Kansas City in Week 9) has been his usual effective self.
Green Bay’s defense looks much more physical than in recent seasons and the Pack has 19 takeaways – one more than all of 2020. Green Bay can wrap up the NFC North this weekend.
Grade: A-
Tennessee Titans (8-4)
Mike Vrabel’s team still owns the top spot in the AFC South despite losing its last two games, the most recent a 36-13 loss at Foxborough. The Titans have been limited to 13 or fewer points in their last two outings.
The club managed to win two games minus Derrick Henry but it’s been a different story as of late. So when will the NFL’s leading rusher in both 2019 and 2020 be back (via Matt Burke of The Lines)? Ryan Tannehill has struggled lately.
Grade: B
NFL Week 13 Bye Week Aftermath
The Panthers are now in a three-way tie at 5-7 with the Saints and Falcons. Both lost at home this week, the former to the Cowboys on Thursday night, 27-17, and Atlanta to the NFC South-leading Buccaneers, 30-17. The Browns are now alone in last place in the AFC North after the Steelers rallied to beat Baltimore, 20-19, and the Bengals lost at home to the Chargers, 41-22.
With the Packers off, the only winless team in the league wound up getting the only victory for the NFC North. The Lions got a touchdown pass from Jared Goff on the final play of the game to knock off the Vikings, 29-27. And the Bears were flattened at home, 33-22, by the Cardinals.
Finally, the Colts rolled the Houston Texans, 31-0, and moved a bit closer to the Titans. On the other hand, the Jaguars were overwhelmed by the Rams at Los Angeles, 37-7.