Five most disappointing teams of 2022 NFL season
The 2022 NFL season is in its final chapter, but what a year it has been. There have been enormous highs for some, but for others, it has been really disappointing.
While there is still time for teams to make the postseason and lock up their draft spot for the new year, the teams who have not lived up to their potential is obvious for the world to see. Here are the most disappointing teams of the 2022 NFL season:
5. Green Bay Packers
After signing the biggest contract in NFL history in the spring, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The back-to-back MVP winner from the past two seasons has failed to lead his team into Super Bowl contention.
Their defense has regressed, the offensive weaponry looks weak without Davante Adams (although Christian Watson is now emerging), and there is just a general sense that the tides are changing in Green Bay.
Is it fair to say that the Packers’ championship window has now closed? Anything is possible with Rodgers at the helm. But with his career in Green Bay still uncertain, it may be time for a bit of a rebuild at Lambeau Field.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The AFC West was thought to be the strongest division in the NFL in preseason, with predictions as high as expecting all four teams group into the playoffs come the end of the 2022 season.
The Las Vegas Raiders were one of a handful of teams in the offseason brought in a new head coach, and a big name signing. Davante Adams’ addition has been electric, but it’s largely been the rest of the team who’ve disappointed.
The Raiders had looked to be improving in recent games. But with Derek Carr benched and set for the exit, all eyes are on improving for 2023 in Las Vegas.
3. Indianapolis Colts
What a turbulent year it has been in Indianapolis. The head coach dismissed, another QB benched and heading for the exit, conceding the biggest comeback in NFL history… The list goes on. With just four wins going into the final two games of the season, this definitely wasn’t in the script they had planned at the start of the year.
Matt Ryan was meant to be the saviour for what was profiled as a contender coming into the 2022 season. Unfortunately, that marriage has failed dramatically.
There has been a lot of doom and gloom around this team for a while, so it will undoubtedly be a busy offseason making changes for the Colts. Let’s hope they finally get it right.
2. Los Angeles Rams
From the Lombardi Trophy to missing the playoffs completely in the space of 10 months. Life comes at your quick for LA.
Injuries, coupled with retirements in the offseason, has made it difficult for the Rams to get anywhere close to Super Bowl form. But it has been clear from the start that this team was never in a position to effectively defend their crown.
Worse still, the Rams are in serious trouble for the future. An ageing roster, with their greatest ever player Aaron Donald getting older, having no premium picks to rebuild in the offseason must be a huge blow to making improvments.
The recent upturn in form, coinciding with the addition of Baker Mayfield, prevents Los Angeles from taking number one spot on this list. But make no mistake, it has been a monumental fall from grace for the Rams.
1. Denver Broncos
In preseason, we predicted that the trade for Russell Wilson would transform the prospects of the Denver Broncos in 2022. How wrong we were.
Wilson has struggled enormously, and the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett completely backfired. An impressive offensive mind in Green Bay, the new head coach failed to get things moving in Denver and was sacked in his maiden NFL season as HC.
Even still, the Broncos defense has been stellar and incredibly impressive. With the pieces they have, there is no question about the potential of this side, if everything can fit together.
So if Denver can get things right on offense, by hiring the right coach to get the best out of Wilson, then they can become a great team.
But wow, what a horror show the 2022 NFL season has been.
