Super Bowl 50 features a pair of extremely intriguing teams who feature dominant defenses and great quarterbacks with polar-opposite styles and it seems that everyone is talking about it. Five-time NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning looks to top off his Hall of Fame-quality career with one more Lombardi Trophy while this year’s MVP, Cam Newton, looks to begin what could be a historic run of his own. While no game is as important as this one, 32 teams began their journey months ago in hopes of being where Denver and Carolina are now. Let's take a look at what each team did this season, in the order they finished the year, leading to this year's big game.
After the Tennessee Titans were the second worse team in the NFL in 2014 they thought they could only go up. They were wrong. Though they saw their number two overall pick, quarterback Marcus Mariota, shine early and it looked like they may have found their franchise QB, it wasn't enough to turn the franchise around. After a brutal 1-6 start, head coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired and the Titans finished the year just 3-13 and will have the number one overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
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The 3-13 Cleveland Browns, if nothing else, gave us plenty of headlines in 2015, specifically at the expense of Johnny Manziel. The second year quarterback still struggled to find his way into a wide open starting QB position on the field and became an even bigger distraction off the field. It wasn't all bad news for the Browns, though, as the emergence of Gary Barnidge gives the franchise hope that they may have found a big receiving threat at the tight end position for years to come.
In San Diego, the Chargers had an extremely disappointing 4-12 season. The franchise which is trying to get a new stadium built to avoid leaving SoCal didn't do itself justice with such a poor season. Pro Bowl caliber players such as quarterback Philip Rivers and safety Eric Weddle became openly unhappy and the bolts really just fell apart.
The pre-season lock to win the NFC South, the Dallas Cowboys, saw their season come to a screeching halt early as Dez Bryant broke his foot and Tony Romo broke his collarbone. Jason Garrett's team couldn't find a way to claw back into contention in the brutal NFC East and America's Team finished 4-12.
The Jacksonville Jaguars came into 2015 with little expectation and performed exactly as expected. A very young team, though, with emerging playmakers on both sides the ball, the Jags have optimism moving forward, despite finishing the season at 5-11.
The Baltimore Ravens' once vaunted defense struggled mightily in the 2015 season and in a division which features Antonio Brown and AJ Green they were in desperate need of help in the defensive secondary. A slew of injuries along with an underperforming Joe Flacco led to a disappointing 5-11 record.
At 5-11 the San Francisco 49ers actually over performed to some expectations. Coming into the season with an extremely revamped roster and inexperienced coaching staff, many thought the 49ers would struggle to win more than a game or two. The 49ers hope the hiring of new head coach Chip Kelly will be exactly what quarterback Colin Kaepernick needs to turn his career back in the right direction.
After making a few big splashes in free agency, the Miami Dolphins hoped 2015 would finally be the year they make a playoff push behind Ryan Tannehill. A lack of continuity, and poor coaching led to the midseason firing of head coach Joe Philbin and ultimately a 6-10 record which left them, yet again, on the outside looking in.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in last year's draft despite off-field concerns, and the quarterback didn't disappoint as he came on stronger and stronger throughout the season and finished the year with a Pro Bowl invitation. This team still has plenty of needs and will undergo yet another coaching change this year but there is optimism moving forward after a 6-10 finish.
The New York Giants had an extremely interesting 6-10 season which ended with a suspension to superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and the firing of long-tenured head coach Tom Coughlin. That record could've easily been flipped around at 10-6 if it weren't for so many late-game blunders. Aging veteran quarterback Eli Manning hopes his team's abysmal defense can turn things around for him quickly and give him one more shot at a Lombardi Trophy.
The Chicago Bears, similarly to the 49ers, overachieved to some people's standards at 6-10. With seemingly endless changes to the defense many expected the Bears to have an even more embarrassing season than they did. Head coach John Fox and seemingly revitalized quarterback Jay Cutler found their stride later in the season, though, and the Bears look like they could quickly become a contender again in the tough NFC North.
The New Orleans Saints finished the season 7-9 and couldn't figure out how to stop teams defensively. Drew Brees doesn't seem to have too many years left in the tank and he and head coach Sean Payton could both be on their way out within the next couple years.
Chip Kelly's run as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles came to an abrupt halt just before the end of the 2015 season as the Eagles finished 7-9. After completely revamping Philly's roster and running the highest based offense in the NFL the Eagles just couldn't seem to get it done when it counted in 2015.
A lot of optimism surrounds the Oakland Raiders and for good reason. A young, talented offense led by quarterback Derek Carr, showed flashes of brilliance in 2015 and emerging superstar Khalil Mack became the first player ever voted All-Pro at multiple positions in the same year at linebacker and defensive end. Though they only finished 7-9 the Raiders could be dangerous in the years to come. First, though, they need to find a new home.
The St. Louis, or should I say Los Angeles Rams had a disappointing season given the optimism surrounding the team coming into the year. After acquiring steady quarterback Nick Foles and drafting this year's offensive rookie of the year, running back Todd Gurley, the Rams hoped and improved offense would complement an impressive defense and lead to a playoff berth. They didn't have enough, though, to make it happen in the tough NFC West division and finished the year 7-9.
The Detroit Lions lost a lot of talent on the defensive front and it showed in 2015 as the once dominant defense wasn't so scary anymore. Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah underwhelmed in the pass-happy failed to sustain a running attack. The combination of a weakened defense and one-dimensional offense wasn't enough to compete in the tough NFC North and the Lions finished the year 7-9.
The emergence of second-year running back Devonta Freeman and the hot start by quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones led to a 6-1 start for the Atlanta Falcons. They struggled in the second half of the season, though, going 2-7 down the stretch. Finishing the year 8-8 wasn't quite enough for a playoff berth which seemed inevitable two months into the season.
Indianapolis was an early pick to be a contender in 2015 but injury to Andrew luck and the underperformance of an aging offense led to a disappointing 8-8 finish for the Colts. Rumors began circulating about head coach Chuck Pagano being on the hot seat but in classic Jim Irsay fashion, the Colts owner surprised everyone and instead gave Pagano a contract extension.
After preseason competition at the quarterback position named Tyrod Taylor the starter, the Buffalo Bills got out to a hot start under new coach Rex Ryan. Injury to tailor, poor offensive line play, and a weak linebacking corps led the Bills to just a .500 record and the 8-8 squad just missed the playoffs.
The New York Jets season got underway with a backup linebacker punching starting quarterback Geno Smith in the face forcing him to miss the beginning of the season. This ended up actually being a good thing for the Jets, as Ryan Fitzpatrick played well for his fourth team in as many years and the Jets finished the season with 10-6 record.
The Washington Redskins began the season as the only team being counted out of contention in what looked like a competitive NFC East division. The team surprised everyone, though, and quarterback Kirk Cousins definitely liked that. The Redskins won the division but would go on to lose their first-round home playoff game to the Green Bay Packers.
The Houston Texans started the season 2-6 and frankly looked terrible, but nobody could be counted out in the weak AFC South. They got hot down the stretch and finished the season on top of the division at 9-7. In the first round of the playoffs, though, they ran into the even hotter Kansas City Chiefs and got crushed 30-0.
The Minnesota Vikings came in this season as the common "sleeper" pick in the NFC. They didn't disappoint as Adrian Peterson returned and, along with a stellar young defense, led the team to an 11-5 record and an NFC North division title. The Vikes would go on to lose a heartbreaker to the red-hot Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs, but a lot of optimism surrounds this team moving forward.
The Cincinnati Bengals impressed many this year as Andy Dalton took a huge step forward and had the best year of his career before being injured late in the season. A very good defense and playmakers at each offensive skill position helped the Bengals to a 12-4 record and the AFC North division title. Without Dalton, though, they would lose to rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs in what was a heartbreaker of their own.
Those Pittsburgh Steelers had an intriguing season of their own. The running back position was a strength all year between LeVeon Bell and DeAngelo Williams and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger impressed week in and week out finding Antonio Brown regularly. The Steelers made the playoffs as a wild-card team beating Cincinnati in the first round, but losing to Denver in the second.
The Seattle Seahawks surprisingly started the season 2-4 and it looks like the two-time defending NFC champions might not find their stride in 2015. This proved to be false as Russell Wilson put on a show seemingly every week and let the Seahawks to victories in eight of their last 10 regular-season games. They would go on to beat Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs but would lose to Carolina in the second round.
Green Day started their season on a disappointing note, losing wide receiver Jordy Nelson in the preseason to injury. This didn't seem to be a problem early, as they started the season 6-0, but defenses quickly figured out how to slow down Aaron Rodgers and that once lethal offense. Rogers, of course, would go down without a fight. Green Bay lost their last regular-season game of the year at home to Minnesota which meant they would be a wild-card team in the playoffs. They would beat Washington in the first round but lose in overtime to Arizona and second.
The Kansas City Chiefs started the season just 1-5 but would go on to win 10 straight regular-season games to finish the year 11-5 behind a steady performance from Alex Smith and a strong defense led by comeback player of the year, safety Eric Berry, and defensive rookie of the year, cornerback Marcus Peters. KC would crush Houston in the first round of the playoffs but would lose to the New England Patriots in the second round to end their season.
Tom Brady was suspended for four games, then un-suspended, and it was fairly obvious he had a chip on his shoulder all season and he played at a high level, even for Brady, all year long despite losing playmakers all over his offense to injury. The New England Patriots had a tremendous 12-4 year and fell just short of another Super Bowl appearance. After a first round bye, the Pats beat Kansas City in around two, and fell just short against Denver in the championship round of the AFC playoffs.
The return of injured quarterback Carson Palmer, the revitalization of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and the stellar play of young running back David Johnson led Arizona's high-powered offense to a stellar season along with a young, fast defense. this combination led Arizona to a 13-3 record in a number two seed in the NFC playoff picture. After a first-round bye, Arizona barely snuck past Green Bay in a poorly played overtime win, but would get crushed by Carolina in the NFC championship round to end their season.
The Denver Broncos may have had the most roller coaster, topsy-turvy season of any team in the NFL. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning started the year with plenty of struggles and after coming back from injury he was even benched for the start of the game, the first time he was a backup since college. Their defense was the best in the league all year long, though which kept them in the hunt and led them to a 12-4 record. After being read in the starter, Manning once again shined and has led his team to his fourth Super Bowl beating Pittsburgh and New England in the playoffs after a first-round bye.
The Carolina Panthers, led by 2015 NFL MVP cam Newton, and 2015 NFL head coach of the year Ron Rivera, along with another stellar defense has only one loss all season. After going 15-1 in the regular season, Carolina was the number one seed in the NFC and rolled past Seattle and Arizona on their path to Super Bowl 50. Much controversy has surrounded Cam Newton's dancing and "antics" throughout the year, I think it's safe to say Cam has enjoyed this season and it looks as though he'll enjoy many more as one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the NFL.
