Not every NFL franchise enters the year on the same timeline. Sure the end goal may be to win the Super Bowl – but a team like the Washington Commanders – which is led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels – was not expected to compete for a Super Bowl this year. However other teams have high expectations entering the season and haven’t exactly started the year on the right foot. The teams we’re going to discuss in today’s video may not have Super Bowl expectations – although one – and maybe even two of the teams definitely do – but they certainly envisioned better starts than what they’ve had. And because of that – they are now in a desperate situation and if they don’t get things back on track – they could be select in the top 10 of the 2025 NFL draft. Now Injuries are unfortunately a part of football and they a derail a teams season – and quick. And for that reason – we will not be discussing the Los Angeles Rams in today’s video because they have had several injuries through just two games. This is also not a ranking of the most desperate teams, rather a discussion of each of the most desperate teams at the moment – and with those prefaces out of the way – let’s begin
And we are starting today’s video with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have started the year with back to back losses to the Bears and Jets. Both of those games ended with a score of 24-17 and I know the first thought you probably had with the Titans has been the insane Will Levis plays in each of the first two weeks. And we’ll get to that – but there’s a few problems with this team that need to be addressed. Now the Titans were in an interesting situation this offseason because they had a quarterback show some flashes last year and had every reason to roll with Will Levis in 2024 – especially considering the circumstances from 2023. They had no offensive line, and he was hung out to dry. And while I credit the Titans for drafting JC Latham with a top 7 pick, and even going out and signing Center Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency – the right side of the line is still a major problem. And I know Rome wasn’t built in a day – but Nicholas Petit – Frere has not been playing well through two games and he actually leads the league in pressures allowed through the first two weeks with 11 – and that’s obviously concerning – but it’s even more concerning when you realize he’s only logged 77 pass blocking snaps – which is 70th among all offensive lineman. He allowed a staggering 9 pressures against the Jets in week 2 and this is obviously a problem – but another reason why I worry about this – is – because of Will Levis. Will can make a lot of throws that other quarterbacks can’t. And in some ways – he reminds me of a young Josh Allen in the sense of him being an athletic quarterback with a borderline reckless mindset to make a play at any and all costs.
And Josh has certainly toned that part of his game down over the past few years – but just because Josh has – doesn’t mean that Will is automatically going to and that he will become an elite player like Josh has. And I worry with how bad the right side of the offensive line has played – that Will will continue to make those plays trying to give the Titans a chance to win. Now the positive for Levis and the Titans is – those are easily correctable. I know everyone probably saw the clip of Brian Callahan on the sidelines after the play against the Jets say “what the F are you doing” – but I will reiterate – that I love what the Titans did this offseason to bring in talent and to give their quarterback a chance. But what also needs to be remembered is – I don’t think this offense outside of a few players is good – and through two games they’ve shown that. They’re 24th in yards and I know yards doesn’t explain everything – but they’re 26th in EPA per play which is one spot above the Browns, and one spot below the Bears. The problems with Will Levis can certainly be fixed – and obviously they’ve been magnified over the past few weeks – but it’s not like this team is putting up 25 or 30 points per gam either. Positively, I think Tony Pollard has played well through the first few weeks and I do think Calvin Ridley is a very underrated player – and well worth the contact. And I know I didn’t mention the Titans defense – but I have very few concerns with that unit moving forward. They’re a very good unit. I just worry that if the Titans don’t right the ship – things could get worse before they get better. And that has to start in week 3.
To the big apple to discuss the New York Giants and there’s a few reasons they’re in today’s video. It’s more than just Daniel Jones – and to be completely honest – I thought Daniel played alright in week 2 against Washington and I thought he had a much better game than he did in week 1. But the situation the Giants are in at the moment is scary for a couple of reasons. Since the start of the 2023 season they are just 6-13 and their upcoming schedule is brutal. They play at Cleveland in week 3, home against Dallas in week 4, at Seattle in week 5, and home against the Bengals in week 6. And to be honest – I would be surprised if they win any of these games. I think Cleveland’s defense is really good and maybe outside of a few plays to Malik Nabers and a couple of Devin Singletary runs – it has the potential to be a long day for the Giants offense. And to go a little further into their schedule – I think Dallas is a flat out better team, and the same applies to Seattle and Cincy as well. And to be honest – I do think Cleveland is better team than the Giants – they just have a $230 million dollar problem and a wild card at the quarterback position that you don’t know what you’re going to get. But for the rest of the roster – the Browns are better than the Giants. So when you look at the Giants upcoming schedule – truly is it unreasonable to think this team starts 0-7 or even 1-7 through the first 8 games? And to me the answer is no. But it’s not just a talent discrepancy either with the New York Giants. It goes back to the first two selections of the Joe Schoen era – which were pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal. Evan Neal hasn’t played a snap in 2024 and there’s a reason for that – and it’s that he’s not a good player.
Kayvon Thibodeaux on the other hand to me is a player that isn’t very good and I don’t think he’s technically refined at all. He went up against the Vikings tackle duo in week 1 of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill – both of whom have made pro bowls in their career – and he registered a single pressure on 22 pass rushing snaps. And I understand they’re a good tackle duo – but you were drafted number 5 overall. You’re going to have to play good tackles and that’s a part of the job. Not only has Kayvon and Evan Neal both been disappointing – but I will stand by the fact that I think Brian Daboll is a really good offensive mind and that he is in a failing situation. Whether you think the best offensive mind in the NFL is Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Big Red or whoever – truly do you think they would succeed in a situation led by Daniel Jones at quarterback, Devin Singletary at running back, and rookie Theo Johnson at tight end? And through the first two games – the Giants tight end production has been a total of 2 catches for 21 yards – one from Theo Jonson, and one from Daniel Bellinger. Malik Nabers is obviously a bright spot on this team – and so is Dexter Lawrence on the defensive of the ball – but they can only do so much. And I really think this team is going to be selecting in the top 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft. And this upcoming quarterback class – is nowhere near where the 2024 class was – and we’ve seen how much they’ve struggled right out of the gate. The giants do not have a lot of talent on their roster, and I think Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are sitting ducks – and I would be pretty surprised if they’re not gone at seasons end.
Down i-95 to Jacksonville to discuss a plethora of issues. And for the Jags this is more than just an 0-2 start to the year. This is years of frustration and lack of achieving anything really outside of one of the biggest collapses in NFL history. And I think because Jacksonville isn’t a New York or a Chicago or a big media market – that they kind of get – both forgotten about – and left out of a lot of criticism this team should regularly face. Doug Peterson did a great job during the back half of the 2022 season. The Jags played well down the stretch and went from 3-7 – to 9-8 with a division win. But what I think needs contextualized within the 2022 division race is – yes they beat the Titans in week 18 to secure the AFC South – the lone division title in Trevor Lawrence’s career – and I would be absolutely shocked if they win the south this year – but the point is – the quarterbacks in the South in 2022 were Trevor, Matt Ryan for the Colts, Ryan Tannehill before he got hurt, and the legend himself – Davis Mills. The Jags had a chance to take over the AFC South for several years to come – and they failed – miserably might I add. I legitimately think there is only one general manager in the NFL that would have taken Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson – and that’s Trent Baalke.
Hutchinson is one of the best pass rushers in the league and was just 1 of 2 players to have over 100 pressures last year – the other being Micah Parsons – and this is one of just several mistakes the Jags have made over the past few years. Excluding 2021 because there’s too much to break down with tha specific season – but we’re in year 4 of the Trevor Lawrence era and his leading receivers after two weeks are Brian Thomas Jr – who I think will be a stud and he is definitely not a part of the problem, Gabe Davis, Brenton Strange, and Christian Kirk. And the thing with the Jags is – they’re not a bad team – and you wouldn’t confuse them with some of the other cellar dwellers across the league – but we all know the answer to this question – and the question – do you trust this team to go into any of the true contending teams stadiums with the season on the line and win? And the answer is a resounding no. I also think the Jags have other problems and I think they have a potential draft disappointment on their hands in Anton Harrison who was their first round pick last year. Trevor isn’t a perfect player, but the situation around him – and correct me if you’ve heard this before – is terrible. There’s going to be splash plays throughout the 2024 season – like the big plays we’ve already seen from Brian Thomas – and praise where it’s due – I think Thomas will be a very good player for a long time – and the current all time leading receiving records in Jacksonville outside of Jimmy Smith isn’t a lot – and if BTJ has over 4,500 career receiving yards – he’ll be top 3 all time in Jags history – and if he stays healthy – I’d be surprised if he’s not in the top 3 in the next few years. But for the rest of this team – outside of a few players – this situation stinks. Drops from Trevor Lawrence has always been a problem and what do you know – it’s already been a problem to start the 2024 season. And the Jags next two games are at Buffalo and at Houston – and just being honest – I think this team starts 0-4.
And I don’t think Jacksonville will finish the year 10-3 in their final 13 games to potentially get them into the playoffs. And because of this – I think Doug Peterson is on the hot seat. So Klint Kubiak if you’re watching – consider checking out the real estate in Northeastern Florida
The 4 most desperate NFL teams Youtube video can be found here:
