NFL Surprises and Disappointments

 With the NFL season quickly approaching the opening kick-off, the time is right to start looking at the teams and their season win totals heading into this year. Here are the pair of teams we look to both over-achieve and under-achieve this season.

NFL’s Biggest Surprise Team

 Buffalo Bills :

The Bills just recorded their 11th losing season in the last 15, but this team was surprisingly feisty at times in '18, upsetting the Vikings in Week 3 and finishing with the second-stingiest defense in terms of yards allowed. Buffalo Bills HC Sean McDermott doesn’t have bad defenses, in fact, last season he featured one of the best defenses in the NFL. Buffalo has won 6 or more games the past eight seasons and the Bills have won at least 7 in four of the past five years. Second year QB Josh Allen went 3-3 and averages 2.7 touchdowns per game which was above the league average. GM Brandon Beane has done a fantastic job building this roster. Most all off-season additions were all designed to give quarterback Josh Allen a better chance of growing in his second NFL season. No other team in the division did more to improve their roster and narrow the gap with the Patriots. An easy schedule only adds to the bright outlook for Buffalo.  

NFL’s Biggest Disappointment

Baltimore Ravens :

This is setting up to be a tough year for the Ravens. The Baltimore offense under QB Lamar Jackson averaged 1.9 touchdowns which was the 7th worst in NFL last season. The Ravens QB Jackson was also the 4th worst in completion percentage. Defense is where Baltimore has dominated as again they were in the NFL’s top two in yards and points allowed. However, the Ravens have lost their #1, #2, #5 and #7 snap getters and they can’t all be replaced by the Earl Thomas pick-up. Jackson is going to have to win games with his arm at times this season, and he doesn't have the best stable of weapons to make it easy. This season looks to be the year of development for QB Lamar Jackson and a huge step backwards for the Ravens.

                                                              James Patrick Sports