Final 2021 NFL Power Rankings: Colts falter; 49ers and Raiders are in

Despite a 7-game winning streak after starting poorly, Miami finished the season strong by knocking off New England. Unfortunately, that was not enough to save Brian Flores’ job as he was stunningly fired on Monday morning. Chris Grier will be retained as general manager, and now, all eyes turn to a potential trade for Deshaun Watson.

Miami’s initial offer was three first-round selections, but is owner Stephen Ross willing to offer the same package once again? Watson’s legal issues have not been resolved as of yet, and the future of Tua Tagovailoa is still up in the air.

However, as a bright note, there is no doubt that at least there was a culture change in Miami, a form of resilience that led to a fight to the bitter end. They could have easily folded after a horrendous start, but they rebounded and had a chance to make something out of nothing, yet it fell short in the end.

Ending the season on a long losing streak hurts. When several of those losses are by one possession or less, it hurts even more. But Baltimore should know that it was primarily injuries that derailed their season. It’s not an excuse; it’s just reality.

The loss of Lamar Jackson may have hurt, but Tyler Huntley has filled in admirably, and there is the possibility that teams may call the Ravens about a potential trade. That said, Baltimore will need the draft to help rebuild their team, particularly their defense.

John Harbaugh’s aggressiveness has helped him tremendously in the past, and unfortunately, it didn’t pan out this season. Given a healthy corp, this team has the potential to be a true contender in the AFC. They came close to the playoffs this season, but they should bounce back.