Has the Championship window closed
The playoffs are near over with just the Super Bowl left in store. Only two teams remain with a chance at being Super Bowl Champions, 49ers and Chiefs. One of the common statements that will be said about the eliminated teams is "they'll be back". That is simply incorrect. Many of the teams that made the playoffs may have had their best chance to win and will not see this opportunity again. This season only saw half of the teams that made the playoffs last season and this season.
The point being driven here is that some teams will be back. Some teams won't. Some teams still have a big window that is wide open to win. Some teams just saw their best opportunity to win slip away. Let's go through each of the eliminated teams that made the playoffs and see how open that championship window is. I'll put teams into four categories; on the door step of a championship, almost there but still need a few more pieces, a lot will need to be done to keep the window open, and closed/that was their best chance.
Buffalo Bills: Almost there but still need a few more pieces- A pleasant surprise that could just be an overachievement. The Bills have a bright future that will correlate with the progression of Josh Allen. Allen made rapid improvements from his rookie year and he should only get better. The Bills also have many of their better players under cheap contracts or still in their early years, leaving the window open for the next few years. The Bills lack weapons and depth on the offensive side of the ball. If they can lure one or two free agents and have another great draft class (something they've been doing as of late) than we can see this team possibly contending for a Super Bowl.
New England Patriots: A lot needs to be done to keep their window open- I can't say that the Patriots dynasty is dead. Just when you think that the team can't win again, they rattle off six or seven straight wins and another Super Bowl. The Patriots need a lot to happen to keep the dynasty open. To start, Tom Brady is a free agent, will they re-sign him? do they want to re-sign him? if they don't re-sign him, what is the answer at quarterback? this will be the story of the off-season. After that the Patriots will need to figure out who is returning. Moreover, the team does need some play-makers on the offensive side of the ball (Rob Gronkowski's absence was clear this season). The defense is great and Belichick is the best coach in the game but to return to the Super Bowl they will need to be busy this off-season (and busy they will be).
New Orleans Saints: A lot needs to be done to keep their window open- Like the Patriots, the Saints have a quarterback that is a free agent and at the near-end of his career. I don't know who the Saints will resign but between Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater, the Saints need to pay one of them (unless they truly believe Taysom Hill is the future). I think the Saints best chance was two years ago, they couldn't win the 2019 NFC Championship game. Now the Saints are entering the years where a lot of those key players that make the Saints roster as strong as it is are going to be heading to free agency. The Saints already paid Michael Thomas top receiver money, this hints to letting star players like Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore test free agency. The Saints can still be Super Bowl contenders but they might be looking at closed window at this point, the hope for Saints fans is the fact that the roster has enough depth for now.
Philadelphia Eagles: Almost there but still need a few more pieces- I see the Eagles closer to a Super Bowl than most. The team didn't have a good season (9-7 record) but I think the injury plague hit them harder than usual. The Eagles have a few advantages, the key players are locked up for the future, Doug Pederson always gives the Birds a chance to win, The Eagles have a strong team in the trenches (where games are won). The Eagles are still going to be one of the top teams in the NFC East again next season. The only reason to doubt the championship window of the Eagles is the injury history of Carson Wentz, the quarterback has only played one full season in his early career (he played all 16 regular season games this season but left the playoff game early with a concussion). If Wentz's injury woes continue, the Eagles window won't be open for long.
Minnesota Vikings: Closed/that was their best chance- I don't think that this season was the closest the Vikings will get to a Super Bowl. The reason I don't have optimism for the Vikings is Kirk Cousins. Simply put, Cousins has a low ceiling. Cousins won't be able to lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl, he can get the team to the playoffs a few times but won't play the same in the playoffs. I think the Vikings have a talented roster around Cousins and if the team adds more pieces they might be Super Bowl contenders. Then again the Vikings already have a large sum of money going to many of the veterans on the roster, it's more likely the Vikings will have to let some of their star players test free agency. Like the Saints, the Vikings had a golden opportunity a few years ago, they lost in the 2018 NFC Championship game.
Baltimore Ravens: On the door step of a championship- The Ravens have not looked good in the Lamar Jackson era when it comes to playoff games (0-2 record being outscored 51-29). I will give the Ravens a break being that Lamar Jackson is only at the beginning of his career (only 23 years of age). Lamar Jackson is one of the best players in the league and has a bright future ahead of him. The Ravens championship window is open as long as they keep Lamar Jackson and that should be a long time. The roster might also be one of the best in the league. Besides for the receivers, the team doesn't have any unit that is weak. This team was considered a Super Bowl team throughout the season, expect them to be contenders next season and for seasons to come.
Houston Texans: Almost there but still need a few more pieces- Like the Ravens, a young quarterback gives the Texans many years where they will be contenders for the Super Bowl. I never thought a coach should be fired more than Bill O'Brien after their defeat in Kansas City on divisional weekend. I don't think the absence of O'Brien would limit the Texans, on the contrary it may bolster them closer to a championship. The Texans have many positions they need to upgrade but in any off-season, they can become a Super Bowl squad. Deshaun Watson has proven he can beat anybody, it wouldn't surprise me if he can do that in a championship run one year.
Seattle Seahawks: Almost there but still need a few more pieces- For most of this season, the Seahawks looked like a Super Bowl team. Two major factors hurt them at the end of the season, they lost all their running backs to injury and lost to a Super Bowl destined team in the 49ers (everything went right for the 49ers). Russell Wilson has continued to prove that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the roster doesn't have a weak link (maybe the O-line but it has improved with the strength of running the ball). Expect the Seahawks to be in the conversation for winning the Super Bowl in the near future. The Seahawks are only a few players away from the same dynamic team they had back in 2013.
Tennessee Titans: Closed/that was their best chance- Anyone watching this team could tell that all the pieces were falling right for this season. This team has many players set to hit free agency, including revitalized quarterback Ryan Tannehill and rushing champ Derrick Henry. This team will look completely different next year and with the salary cap forcing them to let some veterans go it looks to be a declining roster for the Titans. Every was goin g right for the Titans, they upset New England, then upset the Ravens but luck ran out in Kansas City. Unfortunately, this team will not be back next year or for the foreseeable future.
Green Bay Packers: A lot needs to be done to keep their window open- I was surprised at how well the Packers did this season. Last season was an utter disaster and with a rookie coach, the Packers made it to the NFC Championship game. My problem with the Packers is the fact that so many things went right for them this season. Moreover, Aaron Rodgers has been in the league for a while, he's had some teams that are good and some teams that are bad. This roster may have been one of the best ever given to him and the Packers couldn't get the job done. The other reason to be skeptic of another Packers championship run is the fact that Aaron Rodgers has played in these playoff games before, ever since the Super Bowl run it seems that Rodgers disappears and losses to a better team. I think the Packers could be back but they still need to make a lot of moves this off-season. The Packers have a good roster but anyone who saw how they played in the NFC championship game knows that they are still a long way from having the best roster in the NFC.
