A takeaway from each of the eight teams we saw this weekend (not so much for the current postseason, but with an eye on 2016).
Kansas City: Two days ago, I would have thought that Jason Avant was playing his last NFL game. He’s 32, he’s really slow, and he hardly played in the regular season. He’s not even their No. 3 receiver, and I don’t think he plays on special teams. But Avant knows Andy Reid’s system, and he was very impressive against the Patriots – a veteran who knows what he’s doing. Made some big, contested catches in this game. Caught a pair of 26-yard balls on third downs, and he converted a pair of fourth downs. Jeremy Maclin is definitely their No. 1, Albert Wilson was their other starter, and Chris Conley seems to be the up-and-comer, but Avant could have another year left in him.
New England: The plan was for Steven Jackson to fill that LeGarrette Blount role, but it just hasn’t happened. Not in the regular season, and not against Kansas City. Jackson just doesn’t seem to have it anymore, and he’s not getting good enough blocking. Can’t seem to average anything better than about 2 yards per carry. So this is very much a one-dimensional team that isn’t nearly as good as the group they had last year. The running backs aren’t as good, the offensive line isn’t as good, and Brandon LaFell isn’t as good. But they can still do a lot of damage with Tom Brady spreading the field and getting the ball out quick. I think they’ll be in Super Bowl 50.
Green Bay: Eddie Lacy had a good 61-yard run to salvage a decent statistical day, but he just looks terrible to me. Seems to be out of shape, like he might be 15-20 pounds overweight. In each of the last two weeks, he got into the clear, and he looked like an offensive lineman trying to lumber down the field, slowing down and looking over his shoulder because he knew he would be caught quickly. Not a guy I think the Packers will ever give a big contract. Unless he shows up next year on some kind of mission, he’ll need to be used in combo with some other running back next year.
Arizona: Carson Palmer finished with 349 yards and 3 TDs, but he had a pretty lousy game. One terrible end-zone interception, and he should have been picked down at the goal line on the next possession. Very fortunate to get his first playoff win.
Seattle: What now for Marshawn Lynch? He’ll be 30 in April, and it makes a lot of sense for the Seahawks to release him, freeing up salary cap space. I’m thinking Thomas Rawls will be their starting tailback next year, but with the amount of punishment he takes, they’ll need another one they can count on. Maybe Christine Michael. Lynch is a Bay Area guy, so maybe he’ll end up with the Raiders.
Carolina: Cam Newton is making throws now that he didn’t make in previous years – like the touchdown-on-a-rope throw to Greg Olsen. He’s connecting on a lot more of his third down balls. In the past, he sailed a lot more of those balls. With this in mind, I’m thinking Kelvin Benjamin could be really something special inside the red zone next year, assuming he comes back at anything close to full strength.
Pittsburgh: LeVeon Bell is one of the very best backs in the NFL, I think, but some of his success can be attributed to the team’s scheme. How else to explain there not being much of a dropoff when DeAngelo Williams took over? And with Williams out the last two weeks, the Steelers have been surprisingly functional at tailback with a couple of guys they found on the street, Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman.
Broncos: Denver appears to have given up Vernon Davis. He had a couple of key drops late in the year, and he’s hardly even gotten on the field in their last three games.