What Went Wrong for NFL's Most Disappointing Teams in 2015?

Who is to say what constitutes a disappointing season in the NFL?

It’s a very subjective topic—as are league’s power rankings by the various outlets all over.

Here we get our say, and we’ve opted to pick eight teams that fell on their faces a bit, be it due to injury, poor play and a little or a lot of both. As far as expectations, our focus was placed on clubs that finished at or above .500 in 2014 and, in some cases, had made significant additions to their clubs.

No doubt some of you will have your own thoughts as well, and we welcome them, even if the subject matter isn’t on the positive side. But that’s the business, and soon the discussion will shift to those 12 teams vying for a title in Super Bowl 50.

Baltimore Ravens

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 5-10

2014 W-L Record: 10-6 (Reached playoffs)

Analysis

There is one thing we learned about the Baltimore Ravens this season: They know how to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Of course, the 2015 sweep of the Black and Gold is little solace for a team that has won half as many games as it did last season and is in the midst of its first losing campaign under head coach John Harbaugh, hired by the organization in 2008.

Baltimore started with disappointing losses to the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals, getting off to its first 0-3 start in its 20-year history. Along the way, the team lost outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, wide receiver Steve Smith and then in one afternoon running back Justin Forsett and quarterback Joe Flacco.

On Sunday, the Ravens cooled off Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing attack, quite an effort after losing back-to-back home games—to the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs—by a combined 69-20 count.

However, playing playoff spoiler doesn’t do much for Harbaugh and co., who made a postseason appearance in six of the previous seven years.

Buffalo Bills

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 7-8

2014 W-L Record: 9-7

Analysis

Sunday’s 16-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys can’t have been very satisfying to a Buffalo Bills franchise that hasn’t made a playoff appearance since 1999. Remember, that’s when the league had six divisions and 31 teams.

The Bills made some positive moves this offseason to bolster their team, particularly on the offensive side of the football. With free-agent pickup Tyrod Taylor emerging as the starting quarterback and 2013 NFL rushing leader LeSean McCoy obtained in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, things appeared to be looking up for a team that already boasted one of the league’s best defenses supplemented by the mind of new head coach Rex Ryan.

But that’s where the story takes a bizarre turn. While the Bills looked better on offense, Ryan’s defenders looked a bit dazed and confused in his system. A team that totaled 57 sacks in 2013 and 54 more quarterback traps a year ago has 20 sacks in 15 games. A club that forced 30 turnovers in each of its previous two seasons has only taken away the football 22 times this year.

Despite the emergence of young players such as rookie running back Karlos Williams and second-year wideout Sammy Watkins, the Bills are scrambling to finish at .500 instead of pushing for the playoffs. You get the feeling that wasn’t in the script after a 9-7 showing in 2014.

Dallas Cowboys

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

2015 W-L Record: 4-11

2014 W-L Record: 12-4 (Won NFC East)

Analysis

Is there some symmetry in the fact the Dallas Cowboys have four wins and have used four different starting quarterbacks this season?

Unfortunately, it’s no laughing matter for head coach Jason Garrett—now the longest-tenured head coach under Jerry Jones. It was Kellen Moore at the controls for the dethroned NFC East champions on Sunday, when the Cowboys managed only a pair of field goals in a 16-6 defeat to the Bills.

Yes, the long absences of quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant hurt significantly, as did the failure to re-sign 2014 NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray this offseason. A team that had gotten off to a 2-0 start with wins over the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles embarked on a seven-game losing streak, and while the NFC East struggled as a group all season, the Cowboys sort of remained in the division's title picture for most of the season.

Now it’s back to the drawing board for Jones and the organization, who have to decide whether veteran signal-caller Romo, who will turn 36 in April, is capable of staying upright in 2016. In any case, it has been quite the fall from grace from a year ago.

Detroit Lions

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 6-9

2014 W-L Record: 11-5 (Reached playoffs)

Analysis

We almost feel a little guilty for putting Jim Caldwell’s club on the list after the team managed wins over the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers in the span of seven days.

But the Detroit Lions will finish with a losing record just one year after the team reached the playoffs and won 11 games, the franchise’s best total since 1991.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate spent most of the early season getting on the same page. An inconsistent defense has done a better job than expected in terms of rushing the passer—defensive end Ziggy Ansah is leading the club with 13.5 sacks—but still has its issues.

As we saw over the last month or so, the team has parted ways with team president Tom Lewand, general manager Martin Mayhew and made changes to the coaching staff, including the dismissal of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Will this spring bring more upheaval?

“I don't anticipate it's going to be anything other than what it’s been,” Caldwell told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press on Sunday when asked about the future of Calvin Johnson. He continued:

"

That he's here, he’s a great Lion and does a tremendous job. That’s what I expect and that's all I’m going to say about that. You guys are expecting me to talk into the future. I don't have my bosses—who knows what's going to happen there at this point so don’t ask me questions that I don't have answers to.

"

Trust us, the questions will be getting tougher in a few weeks. But keep in mind this is a club that has won five of its last seven games after a brutal 1-7 start.

Indianapolis Colts

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 7-8

2014 W-L Record: 11-5 (Won AFC South)

Analysis

There’s still a chance the Indianapolis Colts will be crowned AFC South champions on Sunday.

Unfortunately for this club, the negatives still outweigh the positives.

The absence of quarterback Andrew Luck aside, this team has disappointed on defense. And be it Luck or backup quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst, holding onto the football has been a major concern for Chuck Pagano’s squad for the second consecutive year.

One season after committing 31 turnovers, the Colts have coughed up the pigskin 29 times in 15 contests. The club is coming off an ugly 18-12 win at Miami, but it also marked the fourth straight game this team totaled less than 20 points.

The offseason additions of running back Frank Gore, wide receiver Andre Johnson and outside linebacker Trent Cole have done little to make the team better. And when available, Luck’s own ball-security issues didn’t help matters at all.

A victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 means the Colts will avoid a losing season. It will also mark the first time since 1997 that the franchise will not have won or lost 10-plus games. But just breaking even wasn’t in the cards for Pagano and his players this year.

Miami Dolphins

Andrew Innerarity-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 5-10

2014 W-L Record: 8-8

Analysis

Once upon a time, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away, the Miami Dolphins finished 11-5 and were AFC East champions.

That was back in 2008, but over the past seven seasons, the franchise has failed to become a force in the league. Miami has failed to post a winning campaign since, and this year, it all came to a head via a 5-10 record under two different head coaches. Joe Philbin was let go after a 1-3 start, and while Dan Campbell provided a brief spark with back-to-back victories, the Dolphins are 2-7 in their last nine outings, in the midst of a three-game skid and on a four-game losing streak at home.

It was supposed to be different this year, what with talented additions such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, wide receiver Kenny Stills and tight end Jordan Cameron. The midseason loss of defensive end Cameron Wake to injury didn’t help matters when it came to a defense that has produced just 29 sacks this season.

While quarterback Ryan Tannehill has had problems holding onto the football, committing 15 turnovers in as many games, he’s also been sacked 44 times.

“I've been fortunate,” the fourth-year quarterback said to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald on Sunday. “I’ve been fortunate not to have any major injuries. I pride myself on being tough and getting up if I can if at all possible. I think I’ve done that up to this start. I’ve also been fortunate not to have a major injury that you can’t tough out.

Perhaps Yoda himself has some answers for Tannehill and this franchise, stuck in neutral or worst for far too long.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

2015 W-L Record: 6-9

2014 W-L Record: 10-6

Analysis

The grand experiment in the City of Brotherly Love known as the Chip-of-all-trades formula hit a few stumbling blocks this year.

This offseason, Chip Kelly’s decisions to part ways with running back LeSean McCoy (traded to Buffalo), wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (signed with Kansas City) and veterans such as guard Evan Mathis, tackle Todd Herremans, outside linebacker Trent Cole and cornerback Cary Williams (all four players released) have been and will continue to be questioned.

That’s because the bottom line is that after a pair of 10-win seasons, one resulting in 2013's NFC East title, the Philadelphia Eagles are one defeat away from a 10-loss campaign.

The defense has been substandard, with the team allowing 38-plus points in four of its last six games. One season after leading the NFL with 36 turnovers, these Birds have coughed up the ball 29 times in 15 contests.

But how about a statistic that appears to be very telling? In 2014, both quarterbacks in Nick Foles (13) and Mark Sanchez (14) finished with just as many touchdown passes as turnovers. This year, Sam Bradford has thrown for 17 scores and given up the ball 16 times while Sanchez has four touchdown passes and five turnovers.

San Diego Chargers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

2015 W-L Record: 4-11

2014 W-L Record: 9-7

Analysis

Talk about falling down and barely getting back up.

Back in 2013, the San Diego Chargers won their final four games to finish 9-7 and reach the playoffs. One year later, the Bolts equaled that mark, but it wasn’t good enough to earn a postseason invitation.

However, it all came apart for veteran quarterback Philip Rivers and his teammates this term. After splitting their first four games, Mike McCoy’s men embarked on a six-game losing streak and are now in the midst of the team’s worst showing since 2003.

What has been surprising is the team’s showing within the division. Dating back to last season, the Chargers have dropped seven straight games to AFC West rivals and are 0-5 this year. The Bolts are coming off a bizarre 23-20 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders, but at least they managed to score touchdowns in both their games against the Silver and Black.

In both losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and a home setback to the Denver Broncos, McCoy’s squad scored exactly three points in each outing.

Yes, the future of the Chargers in San Diego is somewhat unknown. And that may only be the beginning for a team that came apart on the field this season and simply found too many ways to lose on a weekly basis.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.