New Orleans Saints Season Recap

NFC South	Finished 3rd in Division
Overall Record: 7-9 (2-4 in division)	Draft Position: 11th
Head Coach: Sean Payton	GM: Mickey Loomis

Pro Bowlers

• QB Drew Brees

2016 Rankings

	Yards/Game	Points/Game	Passing Yards/Game	Rushing Yards/Game
Offense	1st	2nd	1st	16th	TDs – 2nd
Defense	27th	31st	32nd	14th	Sacks – 27th	INTs – T-27th

Top Passers

Name	Games Started	CMP. PCT.	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating	QBR
Drew Brees	16	70.0	5,208	37	15	101.7	72

Top Rushers

Name	Rushing Yards	Y/A	TDs
Mark Ingram	1,043	5.1	6
Tim Hightower	548	4.1	4

Top Pass Catchers

Name	Receptions	Yards	Y/C	TDs
Brandin Cooks	78	1,173	15.0	8
Michael Thomas	92	1,137	12.4	9

Top Defensive Players

• LB Craig Robertson - 115 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 1 INT
• S Vonn Bell - 87 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 2 forced fumbles
• DE Cameron Jordan - 58 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
• S Kenny Vaccaro, S Jairus Byrd, CB Sterling Moore all tied with 2 interceptions

Impending Free Agents

• OLB Paul Kruger
• DT Nick Fairley
• G Tim Lelito
• SS Roman Harper
• G Jahri Evans
• FB John Kuhn
• DE Darryl Tapp
• SS Jamarca Sanford
• ILB Jason Trusnik
• LS Justin Drescher
• RB Tim Hightower
• CB Kyle Wilson
• T Tony Hills
• RB Travaris Cadet
• CB Sterling Moore
• SS Shiloh Keo
• TE John Phillips
• ILB Sam Barrington
• OLB Michael Mauti
• RB C.J. Spiller

What I Said About Them Before the Season

• I actually perfectly projected the Saints' record this season, predicting them to go 7-9 like they did last season.  I thought that the team's offense, specifically their passing attack, would guide their team to any success that they found.  That proved to be the truth because their defense was horrible once again, as I guessed they would be.

Success/Failure

• Failure - The Saints have had an amazing offense, led by future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees at quarterback for years now.  Yet this talent, in addition to head coach Sean Payton, has only amounted to one Super Bowl and they have now missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.  The reason for this is pretty simple; their defense has been every bit as atrocious as the offense has been elite.  They were the second-worst scoring defense last season and dead last in the league in passing yards given up per game.  Their defense was actually pretty good against the rush but also struggled on the pass rush, ranking 27th in sacks.

Offseason Needs

• There have been rumors early this offseason that perhaps a team like the Rams or 49ers would trade for head coach Sean Payton, possibly because of how much the Saints have been struggling recently.  That hasn't happened thus far, but perhaps it still could.  Either way, 2017 could be the last year for the Saints with this talented of an offense as Drew Brees' contract can be voided after the season.  In this year's draft, they need to avoid going after offensive players and devote all of their picks to their mediocre defense.  They need a lot of help in the secondary and their linebacking corps is rough.  Mock drafts I have looked at have them taking linebacker Reuben Foster out of Alabama with the eleventh pick, but I think there is a chance that he won't be available when they pick.  If he is, drafting him would be smart because he is an NFL-ready prospect already and will help strengthen the middle of the defense.

*All stats and information come from espn.com, nfl.com, pro-football-reference.com, rosterresource.com, spotrac.com, overthecap.com, and cbssports.com

Buffalo Bills Season Recap

AFC East	Finished 3rd in Division
Overall Record: 7-9 (1-5 in division)	Draft Position: 10th
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (Fired); Anthony Lynn (interim, week 17)	GM: Doug Whaley

Pro Bowlers

• DT Kyle Williams
• G Richie Incognito
• OLB Lorenzo Alexander
• RB LeSean McCoy
• QB Tyrod Taylor
• CB Stephon Gilmore
• ILB Zach Brown

2016 Rankings

	Yards/Game	Points/Game	Passing Yards/Game	Rushing Yards/Game
Offense	16th	T-10th	30th	1st	TDs – T-6th
Defense	19th	T-16th	6th	29th	Sacks – 8th	INTs – T-18th

Top Passers

Name	Games Started	CMP. PCT.	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating	QBR
Tyrod Taylor	15	61.7	3,023	17	6	89.7	68.2
E.J. Manuel	1	42.3	131	0	0	58.3	29.3

Top Rushers

Name	Rushing Yards	Y/A	TDs
LeSean McCoy	1,267	5.4	13
Tyrod Taylor	580	6.1	6

Top Pass Catchers

Name	Receptions	Yards	Y/C	TDs
Robert Woods	51	613	12.0	1
Charles Clay	57	552	9.7	4

Top Defensive Players

• LB Zach Brown - 149 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles
• LB Prestown Brown - 139 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack,1 forced fumble
• LB Lorenzo Alexander - 76 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles
• CB Stephon Gilmore - 48 total tackles, 5 INTs

Impending Free Agents

• CB Stephon Gilmore
• QB E.J. Manuel
• WR Percy Harvin
• DT Corbin Bryant
• T Jordan Mills
• RB Reggie Bush
• WR Justin Hunter
• ILB Zach Brown
• WR Robert Woods
• FB Jerome Felton
• OLB Ramon Humber
• OLB Lorenzo Alexander
• DT Leger Douzable
• SS James Ihedigbo
• SS Robert Blanton
• CB Corey White
• SS Colt Anderson
• OLB Lerentee McCray
• WR Brandon Tate
• ILB Brandon Spikes
• FS Sergio Brown
• WR Marquise Goodwin
• TE Chris Gragg
• FS Jonathan Meeks

What I Said About Them Before the Season

• I projected that the Bills would go 6-10 this season and I was quite accurate with this prediction as they ended up going 7-9.  I thought that the Bills' offense was going to be driven by their rushing attack, led by LeSean McCoy, both of which ended up becoming true as McCoy had a Pro Bowl season.  Their defense was the team's best unit last season and I expected that to remain the same this year as Rex Ryan is a defense-first head coach.  I thought that the Bills would have a strong defense again with heavy pass rush and was strong against the rush.

Success/Failure

• Failure - The Bills had hopes of making the playoffs this season and Rex Ryan entered 2016 on the coaching hot seat.  This proved truthful as he was fired following week 16 after the team struggled in basically every area of the game.  On defense, their projected best unit, they ranked 16th in the league in overall defense and 29th against the rushing attack.  Their offense was just as bad, again 16th in overall offense, 30th in passing offense, but best in the league on the ground. I actually thought that Ryan deserved another year to prove himself as the head coach in Buffalo considering he had yet to have a solid roster that he helped build.  

Offseason Needs

• First of all, I think that the Bills' leadership group needs to fire GM Doug Whaley and hire someone new.  He is as responsible for the team's poor performances the past few seasons as Ryan was, considering he was the one responsible for the team's roster.  Regardless of what happens in the front office, the Bills have needs that they will certainly need to address through the draft, including offensive line help, talent at wide receiver with them potentially losing a few through free agency, and they need to address their secondary.  Fox Sports has them drafting offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk out of Wisconsin with their first round pick at ten, and CBS Sports has them taking wide receiver Mike Williams from Clemson.  Both of these players would be quality picks who could slot in and help them immediately in 2017.  I think that taking a wide receiver with their first pick would be ideal to help reduce some strain off of their run game, which has carried their offense in recent years.  I am also curious to know what they decide to do at quarterback where Tyrod Taylor was benched after starting the first 15 games of the season before being replaced by E.J. Manuel.  Taylor is clearly better but is he the franchise's future at the position? Who knows.

*All stats and information come from espn.com, nfl.com, pro-football-reference.com, rosterresource.com, spotrac.com, overthecap.com, and cbssports.com

Cincinnati Bengals Season Recap

AFC North	Finished 3rd in Division
Overall Record: 6-9-1 (3-3 in division)	Draft Position: 9th
Head Coach: Marvin Lewis	GM (and Owner): Mike Brown

Pro Bowlers:

• DT Geno Atkins
• DE Carlos Dunlap
• WR A.J. Green

2016 Rankings

	Yards/Game	Points/Game	Passing Yards/Game	Rushing Yards/Game
Offense	13th	24th	15th	13th	TDs – T-24th
Defense	17th	8th	11th	21st	Sacks – T-19th	INTs – T-4th

Top Passers

Name	Games Started	CMP. PCT.	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating	QBR
Andy Dalton	16	64.7	4,206	18	8	91.8	58.3

Top Rushers

Name	Rushing Yards	Y/A	TDs
Jeremy Hill	839	3.8	9
Rex Burkhead	344	4.6	2

Top Pass Catchers

Name	Receptions	Yards	Y/C	TDs
A.J. Green	66	964	14.6	4
Brandon LaFell	64	862	13.5	6

Top Defensive Players

• LB Karlos Dansby - 114 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack
• LB Vontaze Burfict - 101 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble
• DT Geno Atkins - 32 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks
• S Shawn Williams, S George Iloka, and CB Dre Kirkpatrick all tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions

Impending Free Agents

• LT Andrew Whitworth
• DT Domata Peko
• WR Brandon LaFell
• CB Dre Kirkpatrck
• G Kevin Zeitler
• RT Eric Winston
• RB Cedric Peerman
• DE Margus Hunt
• DE Wallace Gilberry
• DT Brandon Thompson
• CB Chykie Brown
• CB Brandon Boykin
• K Randy Bullock
• RB Rex Burkhead
• K Zach Hocker

What I Said About Them Before the Season

• I projected the Bengals to be even better than their 12-4 record last season, win the AFC North this year, and be a strong contender in the conference to advance to the Super Bowl.  I expected that offensive coordinator Hue Jackson leaving to become the head coach in Cleveland wouldn't have a big impact on the Bengals, yet its effect was profound.  The loss of wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu was more severe than I had anticipated as Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd weren't good enough to cover up their absences.

Success/Failure

• Failure - I'm guessing that most people had the Bengals at least returning to the playoffs this season even if they didn't project them to win the division like I did.  Losing their wide receivers caused issues for their offense all season, despite Andy Dalton still playing well at quarterback.  They also struggled to find consistency in running the ball, placing too much strain on the passing game.  This team is built to win in the present and should be a Super Bowl contender every year, so I think that there should have been some consideration given to firing head coach Marvin Lewis.  This year was the team's perfect opportunity to go deep in the playoffs considering their division was weak and the AFC only had one or two real contenders by the end of the season.

Offseason Needs

• Many of the mock drafts have the Bengals needing upgrades to their interior line to help their running game perform better.  By helping at the center or guard position it could also help take some stress off Andy Dalton.  The Bengals also need pass rushers on defense to help a secondary that intercepted the fourth most passes in the league this season.  Fox Sports has Cincinnati drafting defensive end Derek Barnett from Tennessee with the ninth pick in the draft.  However, they also have a need at linebacker and Reuben Foster should still be available when they pick and Foster was the best linebacker in college football this season by quite a distance.  I think that there is a chance that they draft Foster with their first round pick instead of Barnett.

*All stats and information come from espn.com, nfl.com, pro-football-reference.com, rosterresource.com, spotrac.com, overthecap.com, and cbssports.com