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All aboard for takeoff! The first flight to Cancun left on Tuesday morning as six teams hit vacation to privately sorrow their playoff exits. A time for them to hide from the media... and the smoke. For most of the six, the smoke looks real-real thick. Pitchforks at the steps thick. Thanks to a mashup of awful coaching, poor preparation, and lackluster do or die attitudes the hotel will sound very quiet this week.
Rams are the only team of the six that might actually have a half-smile by the pool before they feel the pain of watching the Lions play in the Divisional Round. Despite the exit, they played a helluva game and along with the Lions- gave us the ONLY competitive game between a six-game slate during Wild-Card weekend. Quite pathetic by the other four it was. Pathetic isn't the only negative word to be used to define some of the nastiness we saw transpire. Nasty to such a degree it had three fan bases screaming for coaches' heads at the gallow. Never a good thing. I got some time and some smoke of my own to deliver to the losin' cats enjoyin' that southern Sun (I hope you know Cancun is just a hyperbole). Allow me to give some thoughts on what I saw in each team's demise and what each team needs to move their immediate focus on as they start their off-seasons.
Rams may have fell short, but they showed up and showed out in one of the most feared enemy battlegrounds known. A battleground that hadn't seen a playoff war in 30 years. A war is exactly what we got as Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff gave us a classic inside Ford Field. Stafford was unreal in his former home against his former team. Peak Stafford was let loose as he was straight slingin' the laces, side armin', and no lookin' like a step hasn't been lost. His performance was stellar- it just wasn't to prevail. The Rams came up short. Went in against a ferocious and STARVING opp, and lost by just one point. Dagger to the core? Of course. It's battle! A one point loss is always brutal. It hurts to lose, but at-least they didn't have a laundry list of negatives to reflect on and be shamed for.
Los Angeles felt demise due to a lack of capitalizing. They couldn't capitalize, that's the only factor out of this loss--- Rams lacked the ability to capitalize on offense when given several opportunities to take the game in the second half; including the first possession of the 3rd quarter down 17-21 (Punt), and a final possession in the 4th that just needed a field-goal to take a lead for a potential win (Punt). Obviously we must give major cred' to Lions' DC Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell for the adjustments made on defense in the second half. The defense won the Lions the game... something that couldn't be said last season, which is why Detroit now has their first playoff dub in 32 years. Credit is owed to the winning side, no doubt, but blame must be pointed at the Rams' offense for going quiet in the second half. The O's lack of second half production is a big reason the Rams are sippin' on those Cancun margaritas. It wasn't just Stafford, it was all members, including the coaching staff. LaFleur and McVay couldn't out chess Glenn and Campbell. Just couldn't get it done. Puka Nacua is the only cat that shouldn't get any shame or finger pointing. The kid SHINED.
Rams have the least to worry about out of the six losers. They may face the possibility of an Aaron Donald retirement, have 17 free agents takin' some hits in the secondary, and need to fill some missing pieces, but all in all not too much to worry about. Stafford showed there is some gas left in that tank with a great 1-2 combo in Nacua and Kupp. They also have Kyren Williams, who should be a solid staple in the backfield for the future to assure offensive balance. Make the adjustments and get yourself back there... just maybe not inside Ford Field. I'd avoid playing a playoff game there (good luck Tampa Bay...).
Lets be real... the Steelers were not winning a playoff game in Buffalo with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback. Not against Josh Allen and Sean McDermott. Lets not forget that T.J. Watt didn't play due to injury. I thought Pittsburgh fought hard. 31-17 isn't a bad result when considering all factors. The main one being that the Bills are a far more prepared team to have a lengthy playoff run. People using this Steelers loss as a reason to shed blame towards Mike Tomlin are just goofy individuals. You really are. You get even goofier after calling for his head at the gallow. Especially Pittsburgh fans, that's just wrong. Steelers shouldn't have even made the playoffs or have won ten games this season if it wasn't for Tomlin's leadership. The only consideration of a termination would be that of GM Omar Khan (OC is already gone don't worry).
Steelers have lost five straight playoff games and haven't made it past the Divisional Round since 2016. They have a list of to-dos to make that change in 2025 and firing Mike Tomlin is not on that list. First, they need themselves a quarterback and someone who can elevate them with a legit scheme. You start with bringing in a guy to pressure Kenny Pickett, as they won't have much luck getting a QB in the draft, plus can't with not havin' a solid OC. They have a project in Pickett already, you don't back pedal after another playoff loss- you go forward. I'm talkin' a Sam Darnold or Carson Wentz. Both cats showcased to be better than Pickett in their WK-18 clash against one another. Tomlin has to find a better offensive coordinator. He may have to replace his DC as well with Teryl Austin interviewing for the head job at Syracuse, but the main concern is offense. Steelers have some work to do in the offseason, but they have a solid roster in full regard and a winning culture under the reign of Tomlin.
Most people don't understand the recipe of a winning HEAD coach at the pro-level. Bold and underlined for emphasis. Mike Tomlin has had a winning season for the last 17 years for a damn reason. Tomlin is a remarkable head coach. Head coaches aren't paid to know and do every aspect of the game. Some don't need to have any play-call skill to be successful. I don't want my head coach being the OC, DC, play-caller, and leader. That perfect guy doesn't exist and Bill Belichick has proved it for the 21st-centruy eval'. There is a reason each team has a couple dozen coaching/training career positions. A good head coach at the pro level is one who can build a winning staff, one who has skill in game IQ and game management, and one who can motivate men. Tomlin knows winning culture. He knows how to motivate and lead a group of extraordinaire competitors. Usually he can build a great staff... lately he hasn't. Which has been the Steelers downfall under what Tomlin can control. Matt Canada and Randy Fichtner were awful offensive coordinator hires after havin' the likes of Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Arians, and Todd Haley. Tomlin certainly doesn't have a Dick freakin' LeBeau on the defensive side. Ahh, everything is clickin' in your brains now. Canada was... just yuck. Canada is gone. Nothin' more than poor history. Time to move on and find a better hire that will help Tomlin get back to playoff success. We know what recipe is to be created for Tomlin to deliver playoff wins... so if Omar Khan can't find the ingredients, then he can go and someone else can try. Tomlin stays.
Now we get to the smoke. Now we get to the nasty. What in the blue hell happened to Dan Quinn and Mike McCarthy's Cowboys? A straight dumpster fire of a playoff exit as the Cowboys got THRASHED and flat out embarrassed by the Packers in Arlington. The 32 has no weight; garbage points. Dallas had an 8-0 home record in the regular season to earn a playoff home game just to shatter their fans' hearts, bank account (for bond), and livers. Just a nasty display of losing. Dan Quinn went into the game as a big defensive minded bulldog with his cap backward and a slew of head coaching interviews waiting in the wind. Quinn didn't have the same strut nor the same value post game.
The coffin was just about nailed in by halftime as the Packers went into the locker-room with a thunderous 27-7 lead over the 'Boys that forced viral clips of Cowboys fans fighting... other Cowboys fans in the stands. Civil War as the fans showed more fight in the stands than the players did on the field. It was such a nasty performance that fans and football followers called for Mike McCarthy's head at the gallow despite three straight 12-win regular seasons. Cowboys are 1-3 in the playoffs under McCarthy. The outrage has since been tamed with Jerry Jones announcing that McCarthy will return as head coach in 2024-25. The loss was horrid, if they canned McCarthy then I wouldn't have been too surprised, but the decision to keep him isn't a bad decision. I will say- there is some solid head coaching candidates for a change this off-season. This would have been the time to cut ties if you felt the doom. McCarthy is 11-11 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl ring, they give him one more crack at it. Fair play. So, what needs to change to make this not happen next season? That's the question McCarthy and Jones is tasked to answer by September.
First importance is to have a real plan with the coaching staff. Dan Quinn leaving will create a big hole to replace off the jump. Maybe the crap-shoot performance keeps Quinn put, but as of now they need to understand that position will likely need a replacement. They need to look at baby Schottenheimer and ponder if he is the right guy for OC and their devise. Once they complete that, they must shift their focus to their free agents. Dallas has a few big names with T Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard, and S Jayron Kearse makin' up the spotlight. A departure of either one of those cats will create a solid hole to fill. Pollard holds an expensive tag, if they dare tag him in consecutive years. Jones and McCarthy have a lot to ponder and act on in the coming weeks after they sorrow in Cancun. Dark times in Dallas continue as they haven't made it past the Divisional Round since their last Super Bowl win in 1995. They have only won five playoff games since that Super Bowl dub in '95.
We knew the Browns weren't a very dangerous 11-win team going into the Wild-Card, but we didn't think they would get SMASHED by 31 points in the opening round. Browns' winning ways despite injuries, came to dust when they ran into the mighty rookies in DeMeco Ryans (rookie HC) and C.J. Stroud. The downfall is quite simple: the injuries had finally caught up. Texans were far too furious, and the crowd in Houston was far too impactful. The scoreboard and game sucked. Plain and simple. That loss doesn't define what needs to be done next. Browns faced major injuries all campaign long. Frankly, they had no business being in the playoffs. Stefanski led them to an 11-win season and now has coached the 'chise to the playoffs for two of the three playoff appearances in the 21st-century. Stefanski has delivered the Browns their lone playoff dub since this man delivered the last playoff dub in '94:
Stefanski's seat is not hot. Does Cleveland have some off-season work to do? Yes, quite a bit as they have 24 pending free agents that could create a busy free agency period for GM Andrew Berry. They also seek a new offensive coordinator to complete the staff alongside Jim Schwartz and Stefanski. If Cleveland gets a top tier OC, then they will look scary headin' into 2024-25. Klint Kubiak, Brian Griese, and Jerrod Johnson should be on the top of their hit list. Johnson would be a great match for Watson. Lots of work ahead in Cleveland, but their playoff loss isn't as concerning as the Cowboys and my final two to hit next.
You all know this one hits home for me- what an awful display in the Wild-Card by the Philadelphia Eagles. There is losing, then there is losing the way they lost. A team that showed no motor, will to win, or energy (outside of DeVonta Smith). A staff who looked depleted and like they didn't belong. It was nasty. Philly was once atop the league at 10-1, just to lose six of their last seven games including a playoff blowout. Their historic collapse points purely to poor coaching.
Eagles have a busy off-season ahead as they play damage control to such a horrendous downfall. A downfall that has MANY people, rather Eagles' fans, alumni, or those who cover the sport in full pitchfork mode towards Nick Sirianni demanding his head at the gallow. Despite going to the Super Bowl last season and a 10-1 start this season- I find it hard to disagree with them. I say that due to his complete lack of accountability. His body language and lack of coaching on the sideline during not just the playoff loss, but the other five losses leadin' up, was despicable and a shame to watch. Sirianni had no issues being vocal and quite frankly, obnoxious in the tone of winnin' but went to jello during the losing. That screams awful leadership. We have the Dan Campbells, the DeMeco Ryans, the Todd Bowles, and then there is the Nick Siriannis. If Jeffrey Lurie finds the need to move on from Sirianni; I would certainly respect the decision. If he doesn't, that's fine for now, but Sirianni better have a damn good plan movin' forward. A plan that showed accountability of the collapse and the will to build a proper staff in the now- one like the staff that helped him lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl last season.
As angered as I got watching Sirianni coach the past two months, I can agree that he can create a winning culture with the right staff and help around him. He just showed that true last season, just as his predecessor did. Eagles have literally just gone though this in case you all aren't aware. Lurie and Roseman made the right decision last time, lets see if they can make the right decision again this go around. The decision to take away the play-call responsibilities from Sean Desai and hand them to Matt Patricia was atrocious. Patricia needs to be out the door... like yesterday. They need a veteran DC, like a Leslie Frazier or Brian Flores.
Flores would be my pick with the need to revolutionize the middle of the defense and linebacker room. Flores is a top DC and needs to understand that along with the rest of the league. Don't let people interview him for a head coaching job that won't work out, spend some coin and get a top tier DC. I think they should take some coin from Jalen Hurts and Darius Slay and persuade Ben Johnson to remain an OC or have "two" head coaches! Ha. I'm kidding, but not really. Brian Johnson needs to go regardless if he takes a job somewhere else or not. Jalen Hurts won't admit it, because he feels he owes something to Brian for being a role model in his life, but they can't have a successful offense together in the NFL. Bottom f'n line.
First importance goes to the staff and getting coordinators to fix Sirianni (if they keep him). Then you sign D'Andre Swift or tag him. He is better than Miles Sanders and is a pivotal piece to have as you will need time to create the right scheme. They then will need importance in the draft and in getting young free agents to fill the depth. The cornerback room needs to have athletic youth brought in who can be developed by a guy not named Matt Patricia. 30+ year old corners can't cut it across 4-quarters in the NFL, not when you have a defensive scheme that the Eagles have (hopefully, had). Roseman did great last year to avoid a rebuild and maintain being a top of the league power... he is tasked to do that again this season. Get to work.
Same song, same dance for the Dolphins in terms of poor coaching being the reason for their demise. Mike McDaniel and his staff got out-worked and little bro'd by Andy Reid, Spags, and the rest of the Chiefs' staff. Everyone wants to blame Tua Tagovailoa; go figure. No shock there, I'll tell ya. A major finger pointin' fiddle. In reality, McDaniel gave up on Tua and got brought to coaching school by Steve Spagnuolo and Big Red. That's no cap. A paper Tiger they are, and the best teams and coaching staffs have proved it all season long in the big games.
Dolphins have now lost eleven straight games with the kickoff temperature being below 40 degrees. If you think cold weather is a valued excuse for the Dolphins to make for their playoff loss, then you are goofy. Chiefs would have beat them inside HardRock with the sun in their face, no problem. There is some slack to be cut as the Dolphins had a laundry list of injuries going into the playoffs. Injuries that sure caused impact; just like with the Browns. The offensive line faced a huge injury bug and so did the defense. That can be an excuse, no doubt, but it doesn't change the fact that Miami needs more growth as a unit before they can be legitimate championship contenders. They need to prove they can win amongst the best.
I won't sit here and scream for coaching changes in Miami, they aren't at that point yet. A playoff loss like this one is nothing but a learning experience for Mike McDaniel. A learning experience that all great coaches have to go through. With that, they still have some work to do. Which starts with resigning some key free agents in the likes of DT Christian Wilkins, LB Jerome Baker, and C Connor Williams. Along with a few other offensive lineman. They have a total of 26 pending free agents... work to do forsho. Bolster up the roster, make adjustments by learning from your mistakes, and maybe clean out the entire medical staff. That's the three main to-dos for Mike McDaniel and staff. With all the talent the Dolphins have at skill positions; I hope they can find the right adjustments to be a serious contender next season. We will just have to wait and see.
Now it's time to move on from those six for a bit. Allow them some time to sorrow in Cancun. We move forward to the Divisional Round of the Big Dance as we prep the next plane to Cancun for four more "unlucky" teams. Who will pack their bags next? Who will move onto the next round and closer to the Lombardi? One more sleep and we start to find out. By the graces of the football Gods will I not have to write the next Cancun flight log with another swarm of negatives and head shakers. Turn up the noise and coach better!
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