NFL 2022: Grades, aftermath for teams coming off Week 14 bye
It was the final installment of off-weeks. Six teams return to action after some time away from the field of play. The NFL’s stretch run has arrived.
Every team in the National Football League has played 13 games this season. Each club has four contests remaining on its schedule. It’s that time of the year when everyone finds out who will be in the running for Super Bowl LVII.
Last week, a half-dozen teams got some time off. Now the Falcons, Bears, Packers, Colts, Saints, and Commanders are all back in action. How have these clubs fared in 2022 and what kind of grade have each earned?
NFL 2022: Grades for teams coming off Week 14 Bye
Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
Unless Arthur Smith’s club closes the season with four consecutive victories, the team will finish below the .500 mark for the sixth consecutive year. The defense has been a disappointment again.
Only three teams in the league have run the ball for more yards but the Falcons are also 31st in the league in passing yards per game. Perhaps that is one of the reasons the Falcons will go with rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the season.
Grade: C
Chicago Bears (3-10)
There has certainly been a lot of progress on one side of the ball and a definitive drop-off on the other. Second-year quarterback Justin Fields has shown a lot of progress, throwing for 13 scores (11 interceptions) while running for a team-high 905 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end Cole Kmet leads the club with five TD grabs.
Only three teams in the league have given up more points and Matt Eberflus’ squad is in the midst of a six-game losing streak.
Grade: D
Green Bay Packers (5-8)
Eight losses are easily the most in one season under head coach Matt LaFleur. In fact, the defending NFC North champions have dropped seven of their last nine games after a 3-1 start.
There figured to be some growing pains on offense after the team dealt Davante Adams to the Raiders. Aaron Rodgers has had better seasons although rookie wideout Christian Watson has awoken. However, Joe Barry’s defense has been a big-time disappointment.
Grade: D+
Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
Thanks to some key offseason additions on both offense (QB Matt Ryan) and defense (DE Yannick Ngakoue and CB Stephon Gilmore), many felt the Colts would win the AFC South for the first time since 2014.
All told, Indianapolis’ offense has scored just 20 touchdowns while the club (now under the command of head coach Jeff Saturday) has committed an NFL-high 26 turnovers. The Colts have scored more than 20 points just twice in their 13 outings.
Grade: C-
New Orleans Saints (4-9)
It was supposed to be a season where the club would be in the mix for another division title. Perhaps Dennis Allen’s club could run the table in the disappointing NFC South, which is led by the 6-7 Buccaneers.
But the Saints lost both games to Tampa this season. Turnovers have plagued the team regardless if Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton was the starting quarterback. Allen’s club has come away with just nine takeaways, the fewest in the NFL.
Grade: C
Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
A come-from-behind win over the Jaguars on the opening Sunday was followed by a four-game losing streak. Just when it appeared that Ron Rivera’s club was destined for a long year, this team rebounded in a big way.
The Commanders are 6-1-1 in their last eight contests and quarterback Taylor Heinicke has come up big when necessary. Washington’s defense has also awoken, ranking fourth in the league in fewest yards per game allowed.
Grade: B+
Aftermath
It’s worth noting that five of these six clubs are below .500. But in the wacky NFC, some actually still have playoff hopes. That does not include the Chicago Bears, who along with the Texans and Broncos have been eliminated from postseason contention.
In the NFC North, the Packers won’t be able to defend their division title. The Lions’ 34-23 win over the Vikings last week made life a little more difficult for Matt LaFleur’s club. Keep in mind that there are only seven teams in the NFC that are above .500 and four are in one division.
Speaking of the NFC East, the Commanders saw the Giants routed by the Eagles and the Cowboys rally to beat the Texans. Washington and New York tied in Week 13 at MetLife Stadium and the teams will clash again this Sunday.
As for the Falcons and Saints, they are chasing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – who lost last week at San Francisco (35-7) – and the resurgent Carolina Panthers. The latter surprised the Seahawks at Seattle last week, 30-24.
Then there are the Colts, who now trail both the Titans (7-6) and Jaguars (5-8) in the standing. Tennessee has dropped three straight, the latest a 36-22 home loss to Jacksonville last Sunday.