Stock Up, Stock Down for NFL's Cellar-Dwellers
All 32 teams in the NFL encounter ups and downs throughout a season. It is how they deal with the adversity that separates the clubs that make the playoffs from those that go home in early January.
Here, we are doing a little "stock up, stock down" on some teams that likely won’t reach the playoffs this season.
There is an exception to the rule when it comes to these struggling clubs. The Miami Dolphins are all by themselves in the basement of the AFC East but sport a 5-7 record. It’s conceivable they could run the table and finish with a winning record, so we’ve opted to leave them out of the mix here and focus on the 10 clubs (in team alphabetical order) that will not finish above .500 in 2015.
Got it? Once again, we are not saying the following clubs are already making offseason plans (especially one team in the NFC East). And while there’s plenty of disappointment to go around, not every team listed is all about doom and gloom.
Baltimore Ravens: Stock Up
1 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
Another week, and another narrow loss for the Baltimore Ravens, who will not finish with a winning record for the second time in three seasons.
It’s been one of those years for John Harbaugh’s club, which fell to the Miami Dolphins, 15-13, on Sunday—the 12th time in as many contests this season that the Ravens were in a game decided by eight points or less.
This is a team without the services of quarterback Joe Flacco, wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Justin Forsett and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. But even with some of those performers in the lineup, this was a club that never really found its footing in 2015. The Ravens opened 0-3 this season for the first time in their 20-year history, and Harbaugh’s squad never dug itself out of that hole.
Still, given this franchise’s pedigree, the Ravens deserve a huge benefit of the doubt.
Cleveland Browns: Stock Down
2 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 2-10
The numbers are ridiculous, and we don’t mean that in a flattering sense.
After a three-year hiatus following the franchise’s relocation to Baltimore, the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999.
In just under 17 seasons since, the organization has gone through eight head coaches, 24 different starting quarterbacks and has managed a disappointing 86-182 record.
Sunday’s 37-3 home loss to the rival Cincinnati Bengals marked the team’s seventh straight setback, with no relief in sight. That is, unless you think that handing the starting quarterback job back to Johnny Manziel for the final four games of the season, per Tony Grossi of ESPN.com, is a move in the right direction.
Dallas Cowboys: Stock Down
3 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 3-8
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for their first meeting of the season with the Washington Redskins, they know that a win would put them back in the race for the NFC East title—for what that is worth these days.
Yes, no team in that division owns a winning record this season. Even if the Skins pull out a home victory on Monday night, that statement holds true.
But the focus here is the Cowboys, who have lost twice as many games as they did last season and never really overcame the free-agent loss of 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray despite a few flashing moments from Darren McFadden.
Of course, losing quarterback Tony Romo twice and missing wideout Dez Bryant for a few weeks were major factors. But the team appeared unprepared for any adversity this season, and it’s too bad considering the defense made some strides this year.
Could the Cowboys make an unlikely run and actually win the NFC East? It’s not impossible, but that doesn’t mean it adds up to a team headed in the right direction.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Detroit Lions: Stock Up
4 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
Following a disappointing start that saw Jim Caldwell’s club drop seven of its first eight games, the Detroit Lions managed to string together three straight wins, including an 18-16 win at Green Bay in which the club beat the Packers in Wisconsin for the first time since 1991.
All of that momentum came to a crashing end on Thursday night in a 27-23 home loss to the Pack. Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers for 61 yards on the final play of the game wrapped up a contest in which the Lions squandered a 20-0 lead.
“I’m still in shock,” tight end Eric Ebron said to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. It happened, though.”
“At this moment, it’s anger,” defensive end Darryl Tapp said. “Anger that we didn’t finish the job. That’s the part that hurts.”
Despite Thursday’s stunning loss and the Lions’ various shortcomings, Caldwell has had his team playing well for the last month or so, and rather than just totally collapse for the remainder of the season, the Lions look like a club that will make life difficult for its final four opponents.
Give credit to the second-year head coach, who has watched the organization make wholesale changes the last few weeks, including the dismissal of the team president (Tom Lewand), general manager (Martin Mayhew) and offensive coordinator (Joe Lombardi).
Jacksonville Jaguars: Stock Up
5 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
We haven’t seen the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs since 2007, and odds are they will be home for the postseason once again this year. Sunday’s wild 42-39 setback at Tennessee was a crushing blow to Gus Bradley’s club.
You have to like what you’ve seen from quarterback Blake Bortles in his second NFL season. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft has thrown more than twice as many touchdown passes this season (27) as interceptions (13) in a dozen outings. As a rookie, Bortles threw for just 11 scores and was picked off 17 times.
Along with Bortles, wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns and tight end Julius Thomas have made Jacksonville’s offense relevant again. Bradley’s team has scored 275 points this season, already topping the Jags' totals from both 2013 (247) and ’14 (249).
A little more work in the secondary, and the Jaguars could make things interesting in the AFC South the next few years.
New Orleans Saints: Stock Down
6 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
In the span of five weeks, we have seen the New Orleans Saints score 52 points and win a game by three points and then total 38 points and lose by a field goal.
That makes for some exciting football and unfortunately not a lot of sustained success.
Following a midseason surge that produced three straight wins and enabled the team to rebound from an 0-3 start, Sean Payton’s club has now dropped four straight games and is the lone team in the NFC South with a losing record these days.
The play of the defense tells us all we need to know. The Saints are giving up a whopping 425.2 yards per game and have allowed 380 points—both league worsts. Sunday’s 41-38 loss to the Carolina Panthers marked the third time in five games that Payton’s squad allowed 40-plus points.
Yes, quarterback Drew Brees has had his ups and downs in 2015. But until this organization makes a commitment to fixing the defense, all of those ups won’t amount to much when it comes to victories.
St. Louis Rams: Stock Down
7 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
The St. Louis Rams have not enjoyed a winning season since 2003 and haven’t reached the playoffs since finishing 8-8 in 2004. The reasoning for the drought more times than not has been the lack of quality quarterback play.
This offseason, the team swung a deal that would bring former Pro Bowl quarterback Nick Foles to the Gateway to the West.
It’s been anything but a successful move for a team built on defense and with promising rookie running back Todd Gurley in the backfield. Foles has been underwhelming to say the least, and if not for backup Case Keenum being out, the former Eagles standout would be on the bench. He’s completed just 56.4 percent of his passes and has thrown seven scores while committing 12 turnovers.
“It’s kind of a broken record thing with the offense,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said, per R.B. Fallstrom of the Associated Press. “It doesn’t give yourself a chance.”
Fisher’s team finds itself in the midst of a five-game losing streak following a 4-3 start. The Rams have been outscored a combined 58-10 the last two Sundays in setbacks to the Bengals and Cardinals, respectively.
“We’re getting what we deserve,” Rams defensive end Chris Long said, per Fallstrom. “We’re not playing well enough to win on either side of the ball.”
San Diego Chargers: Stock Down
8 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 3-9
The good news for the San Diego Chargers on Sunday was the fact that for the first time in 12 games this season, Mike McCoy’s club did not allow at least 20 points in a game.
But a 17-3 loss to the Denver Broncos marked the Bolts’ fifth consecutive home loss and ensured the Chargers of a losing season. Those setbacks at Qualcomm Stadium this season include losses to all three of their AFC West rivals, and Philip Rivers and company will play three of their final four games on the road against the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos.
The lack of a running game has certainly hurt this season—the Chargers have two rushing touchdowns in 12 games—and the defense has been lifeless, to be kind. The turnover bug has once again bitten Rivers too many times (nine interceptions, two lost fumbles).
Meanwhile, the Bolts have totaled only 11 takeaways in a dozen games this season. All told, the Chargers are 1-7 in their last eight games following a 2-2 start.
San Francisco 49ers: Stock Up
9 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 4-8
Who would have thought that a team with as much offseason turmoil as the San Francisco 49ers could be listed as a club with on-the-rise stock?
The bottom line is that this is a squad that has played hard despite some miserable results in 2015. Even with Sunday’s 26-20 overtime win at Chicago, the Niners have scored an NFL-low 178 points in a dozen contests. We are talking about an offensive unit that, under the guidance of two different starting quarterbacks (Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert), has scored only 17 touchdowns this season.
While the 49ers have been tough at home this year, the win over the Bears snapped a seven-game road losing streak that dates back to 2014.
We don’t exactly know where the team is headed in the long run. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kaepernick could be back with the team next year after many assumed his days with the organization were done when San Francisco benched him a few weeks ago.
Despite laying a few eggs this year, this has been a Niners team that has played a lot harder than advertised.
Tennessee Titans: Stock Up
10 of 10
Win-Loss Record: 3-9
For the first time in 12 home games, the Tennessee Titans walked off their own field as winners.
Sunday’s 42-39 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars featured big play after big play, including an 87-yard touchdown run from rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.
It’s been an interesting year for the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. Against the Jaguars, he threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns and finished with 112 yards rushing and the aforementioned score. Jacksonville sacked him four times and picked him off once. He lost a fumble, too.
Although it hasn’t looked the part all year, the defense is a much-improved unit thanks to coaches Ray Horton and Dick LeBeau.
While it may be hard to believe that the Titans—on their second head coach this season—are an improving team, you can see the pieces slowly coming together.
Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")