The current NFL season is rumbling towards its business end, as it becomes clear which franchises will make it to the playoffs and those that will not.
However, there are some teams that were highly touted before the season began who are beginning to show signs of wear and tear; risking coming apart at the seams before the post season is even under way.
Here we take a look at some of the NFL franchises that have flattered to deceive this season, leaving their fans with that sinking feeling that perhaps their team is not as good as they thought they were.
Kansas City Chiefs – Mahomes on the Decline
It seems like a lifetime ago that Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to Super Bowl glory, and after backing that performance up with a strong playoff run, they now find themselves stuck in reverse gear, and 4-4 after 8 games. That sort of underwhelming performance flies in the face of what sports bookmakers and betting pundits thought they would see this season, as Mahomes was expected to build on his already glittering legacy by delivering another deep playoff run at the very least. That just has not come to fruition with things coming to head at the end of October, when in an even-money game against the Titans, the NFL betting odds and tipster columns were turned upside down as the Chiefs found themselves down 27-0 at halftime. They still have the raw talent at their disposal to make a miraculous recovery, but the signs are not good for the Kansas faithful.
Atlanta Falcons – Offense Missing in Action
Prior to the season getting underway the Falcons were seen as being potential contenders to go all the way to the Super Bowl. Those dreams have fallen flatter than a pancake, as their entire offensive line appears to be resting on their laurels and not putting the hard yards in during training or match time. Calvin Ridley has been one of the worst offenders, having only run in one solitary touchdown during his first four appearances in Falcons’ colors this season. A 48-point whipping at the hands of Tom Brady’s Bucs also did not help the early season feeling that Atlanta are falling well short of what they should have been capable of this term.
Miami Dolphins – A Rebuild Gone Wrong
The NFL’s perennial disaster franchises are always coming out with bold stories about how they plan to build back better, to rise from the ashes and compete against the league’s proper teams. More often than not, though, such well laid plans turn out to be nothing more than hot smoke built on cream cracker foundations. Miami were touted by many as being the one rebuild project that might just get off the ground, then they helped the Jags break their 20-game losing streak and everyone saw the Dolphins for what they were: a complete mess. Their first mistake was sticking with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who spends more time nursing injuries than firing up his offense. There now seems no way back for Miami, as they plunge headfirst into another NFL regular season of doom, gloom, and despondency.
Washington Football Team – Going Back to What They Know
Football fans in DC must have tough skin to deal with the sort of ribbing they receive from other fans from around the league. All that seemed to be in the past at the start of this campaign, as Washington registered impressive wins against the Giants and the Falcons. That led to some diehard fans beginning to believe for real that Taylor Heinicke could take them places. Unfortunately, their defensive team did not get the memo, and are leaking points like nobody’s business. It appears unlikely that Ron Rivera will be able to stem that leak sufficiently to deliver many more wins than the two they already have.
