Intro: A new idea I had in order to help me go through the NFL team’s rosters and examine all the personnel and coaching changes, etc., one-by-one. I’m going to look at two teams head-to-head in seven key categories (my bias on what is ‘key’). The team that gets my vote in each category gets a ‘win’…the first team to 4 wins moves on to the next round. Just a quick, hopefully fun, way to take the temperature of each team heading into the 2023 preseason.
The seven categories…it’s actually six because one category is so important that it’s worth double:
1-2) The quarterbacks comparison…the winner of this gets 2 wins, or if too close to call it could be a 1-1 split.
3) O-Line -- Judging which team has the better O-Line…the most critical aspect of a team after the QB.
4) Cornerbacks -- After O-Line, I think the most critical position is shutdown corners (or not having any).
5) Head Coach/Organization -- A battle of which coaches will get in the way less, to some degree but also an edge given to teams that will attract free agents or be a desired destination in trades…and what teams are filling the stadium for home games, etc. Everything rolled into one judgment call.
6) Offensive Weapons -- Which team has the better, scarier RB-WR-TE group.
7) Kicker -- If it comes down to #7, of course the kicker should make the determination...as the kicker often determines the winner of a 59+ minute war prior with a last second make/miss.
As we lead into each category and tap a winner -- I’m also listing the major add/loss for each team in the offseason so far, just to eyeball it as a list.
Is this a brilliant way to judge teams over another? Who knows! But it struck me as something fun to do while studying each team this preseason, after the majority of offseason moves have been made.
JAX major adds: WR C. Ridley, OT A. Harrison, LB V. Miller, PK McManus, TE Strange
JAX major losses: OT J. Taylor, DE A. Key, PK Patterson
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KC major adds: OT J. Taylor, DE Omenihu, DE Anudike-Uzomah, WR R. Rice, OT W. Morris, OT Donv. Smith, LB Tranquill, SAF M. Edwards
KC major losses: OT O. Brown, WR JuJu, OT Wylie, SAF Thornhill, DT K. Sanders
QB (2x): Mahomes vs. Trevor…of course we’re going with generational talent Trevor Lawrence for the win!! Just kidding. This isn’t even a debate any day or any year, now or in the future.
Chiefs race out to a (2-0) lead in the 2022 playoff rematch!
O-Line: Both of these teams have really good/great O-Lines. Very close in sacks allowed per pass attempt (but edge to KC) and identical in yards per carry in the rushing game.
The Jags have a reduced sack advantage because Trevor gets rid of the ball 2 steps in a lot of times because he’s in a controlled, heavily scripted passing game…while Mahomes is all over, needing ace protection. Gotta give the edge to the Chiefs.
KC storms ahead (3-0).
CBs: This is a weaker spot for KC…young but sketchy with Watson-Sneed, and if they go ‘Mr. Toast’ Trent McDuffie again, then they are flirting with danger. The Jags duo of Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams are sneaky good and had a nice 2022. But I will go with KC because I think they have an ace in the hole, the best CB on either team…just waiting in the wings -- Joshua Williams. I’d rather have KC’s overall CB depth.
The Chiefs sweep to the series win (4-0)
HC/Organization: The Chiefs are solidly run, been having good drafts…and the team is so notorious, with Mahomes, that players will take less to go play there. Andy Reid is obviously a solid coach, and a fresh upgrade in 2022 with Eric Bieniemy off their back, finally.
Doug Pederson may be the best coach in the league, but he’s got a bunch of buffoons around him in the organization -- and their buffoonery will come back to haunt him soon if they don’t get rid of Trent Baalke…but they can’t fire the owner and his nepotistic front office.
Edge to the grownups in KC…apologies to Doug Pederson, who is the better coach, IMO.
KC extends to a (5-0) beat down.
Weapons: KC big edge at RB. Jags have the edge at WR, with depth…if it’s close after the RB-WR debate then Travis Kelce puts it away over a very talented Evan Engram. KC wins here too.
KC expands to a (6-0) lead.
Kicker: Long time solid enough kicker Harrison Butker, a two-time Super Bowl winning kicker…or Brandon bygod McManus, who’s best kicking trait was ‘kicks in the Denver altitude’…and he doesn’t kick there anymore. KC wins again.
The Chiefs shutout the Jags (7-0) and go on to face Cincy in the AFC Finals…as God intended.
Upcoming Matchups (next round):
PHI v. MIN in the NFC Final Four
NO v. SF in the NFC Final Four
CIN v. KC in the AFC Finals
