NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Chicago Bears
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Fourth in NFC North
Record: 6-10
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 1-5
Total offense: 344.6 (21st)
Rushing: 115.7 (11th)
Passing: 228.9 (23rd)
Total defense: 345.4 (14th)
Rushing: 120.9 (T22nd)
Passing: 224.6 (4th)
COACH: John Fox
2nd season with Bears
6-10 overall
15th season as NFL coach
133-106 overall; 8-7 postseason
XTRA FACTOR
— For years, quarterback Jay Cutler committed one sloppy mistake after another and still wound up with an $18 million salary and $54 million in guaranteed money. Now circumstances have changed, and it’s ironic that after Cutler finally achieved a more error-free style of play he could face a potential exit. After this season, Cutler would cost the Bears only $3 million in dead cap space and becomes expendable. With a respectable backup in Brian Hoyer to challenge him, and a roster closer to being competitive, any slip in production could cause general manager Ryan Pace to seek a suitable replacement.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Jay Cutler. Backups – Brian Hoyer
RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Jeremy Langford. Backups – Ka’Deem Carey, Jordan Howard, FB Paul Lasike
TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Zach Miller. Backups – Logan Paulsen, Greg Scruggs
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White. Backups – Eddie Royal, Deonte Thompson, Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Charles Leno Jr., LG Josh Sitton, C Cody Whitehair, RG Kyle Long, RT Bobby Massie. Backups – C/G Ted Larsen, C Eric Kush, T Mike Adams, T Jason Weaver
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – DE Akiem Hicks, NT Eddie Goldman, DE Mitch Unrein. Backups – DE Jonathan Bullard, NT Will Sutton, DE Cornelius Washington
LINEBACKERS: Starters – OLB Lamarr Houston, ILB Jerrell Freeman, ILB Danny Trevathan, OLB Willie Young. Backups – OLB Leonard Floyd, OLB Sam Acho, LB Christian Jones, ILB Jonathan Anderson, ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – FS Adrian Amos, SS Harold Jones-Quartey, LCB Tracy Porter, RCB Kyle Fuller. Backups – CB Bryce Callahan, CB Cre’Von LeBlanc, CB Sherrick McManis, CB Deiondre’ Hall, CB Jacoby Glenn, S Deon Bush, S Chris Prosinski, S DeAndre Houston-Carson
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Connor Barth, P Patrick O’Donnell, LS Patrick Scales, KR/PR Deonte Thompson
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, at Houston, 12:00
Sept. 19, PHILADELPHIA (Mon.), 7:30
Sept. 25, at Dallas, 7:30
Oct. 2, DETROIT, 12:00
Oct. 9, at Indianapolis, 12:00
Oct. 16, JACKSONVILLE, 12:00
Oct. 20, at Green Bay (Thu.), 7:25
Oct. 31, MINNESOTA (Mon.), 7:30
OPEN DATE
Nov. 13, at Tampa Bay, 12:00
Nov. 20, at N.Y. Giants, 12:00
Nov. 27, TENNESSEE, 12:00
Dec. 4, SAN FRANCISCO, 12:00
Dec. 11, at Detroit, 12:00
Dec. 18, GREEN BAY, 12:00
Dec. 24, WASHINGTON (Sat.), 12:00
Jan. 1, at Minnesota, 12:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Detroit Lions
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Third in NFC North
2015 RECORD: 7-9
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 3-3
TOTAL OFFENSE: 346.7 (20th)
RUSHING: 83.4 (32nd)
PASSING: 263.3 (9th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 349.6 (18th)
RUSHING: 112.8: (19th)
PASSING: 236.8 (15th)
COACH: Jim Caldwell
3rd season with Lions
18-15 overall; postseason 0-1
6th season as NFL head coach
46-39 overall; 2-3 postseason
XTRA FACTOR
–The importance of momentum in sports is often overstated, but several Lions players are confident now because of their 6-2 close to last season. It even something wide receiver Marvin Jones and other free agents say Detroit is attractive. The issue is that the Lions only played one playoff team during that stretch, but anything that improves the confidence should be a good thing.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Matthew Stafford. Backup – Dan Orlovsky
RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Ameer Abdullah. Backups – Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington, FB Michael Burton
TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Eric Ebron. Backups – Cole Wick, Orson Charles, Andrew Quarl;ess (suspended two games)
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin. Backup – Andre Roberts
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Taylor Decker, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Travis Swanson, RG Larry Warford, RT Riley Reiff. Backups – T Cornelius Lucas, T Corey Robinson, C Graham Glasgow, T/G Joe Dahl
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LDE Devin Taylor, DT Haloti Ngata, DT Tyrunn Walker, RDE Ziggy Ansah. Backups – DE Wallace Gilberry, DE Brandon Copeland, DE Anthony Zettel, DE Kerry Hyder, DT A’Shawn Robinson, DT Khyri Thornton, DT Stefan Charles
LINEBACKERS: Starters – WLB DeAndre Levy, MLB Tahir Whitehead. Backups – SLB Kyle Van Noy, LB Antwione Williams, LB Jon Bostic, LB Thurston Armbrister, LB Josh Bynes (reserve/injured, eligible to return).
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – CB Darius Slay, CB Nevin Lawson, NCB Quandre Diggs, FS Glover Quin, SS Tavon Wilson. Backups – CB Johnson Bademosi, CB Adairius Barnes, S Rafael Bush, S Miles Killebrew, S Don Carey.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Matt Prater, P Sam Martin, LS Don Muhlbach, KOR Ameer Abdullah, PR Golden Tate
PRACTICE SQUAD: QB Jake Rudock, WR TJ Jones, WR Jace Billingsley, WR Isaac Fruechte, RB George Winn, TE Brian Leonhardt, OG Brandon Thomas, S Charles Washington, CB Alex Carter, LB Steve Longa
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, at Indianapolis, 4:25
Sept. 18, TENNESSEE, 1:00
Sept. 25, at Green Bay, 1:00
Oct. 2, at Chicago, 1:00
Oct. 9, PHILADELPHIA, 1:00
Oct. 16, LOS ANGELES, 1:00
Oct. 23, WASHINGTON, 1:00
Oct. 30, at Houston, 1:00
Nov. 6, at Minnesota, 1:00
OPEN DATE
Nov. 20, JACKSONVILLE, 1:00
Nov. 24, MINNESOTA (Thu.), 12:30
Dec. 4, at New Orleans, 1:00
Dec. 11, CHICAGO, 1:00
Dec. 18, at N.Y. Giants, 1:00
Dec. 26, at Dallas (Mon.), 8:30
Jan. 1, GREEN BAY, 1:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Green Bay Packers
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: Second in NFC North
Record: 10-6, 1-1 in postseason; Wild Card
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 3-3
TOTAL OFFENSE: 334.6 (23rd)
RUSHING: 115.6 (12th)
PASSING: 218.9 (T25th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 346.7 (15th)
RUSHING: 119.1 (21st)
PASSING: 227.6 (6th)
COACH: Mike McCarthy
11th season as Packers/NFL head coach
112-62-1 overall; 8-7 postseason
XTRA FACTOR
–Last year was a tough one for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Nelson is his favorite target and safety blanket. He also didn’t trust some of the team’s young receivers, most notably Jeff Janis, so he held the ball more rather than risk a tight throw. Rodgers’ 92.7 rating, the first time he’s been under 100 since his first season as starter (2008), tells his season’s story in one number. With Rodgers’ receiving corps healthy and a tight end (Cook) who might be able to stretch the middle seam, the Packers are expecting to see Rodgers return to MVP-type form.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Aaron Rodgers. Backups — Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Eddie Lacy, FB Aaron Ripkowski. Backups — James Starks, Jhurell Pressley
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Richard Rodgers. Backups — Jared Cook, Justin Perillo
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb. Backups — Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT David Bakhtiari, LG Lane Taylor, C JC Tretter, RG T.J. Lang, RT Bryan Bulaga. Backups — T Jason Spriggs, T Kyle Murphy, T/G Don Barclay, C Corey Linsley
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Kenny Clark, NT Letroy Guion, DRE Mike Daniels. Backups — DE Dean Lowry, DT Christian Ringo, DT Mike Pennel (suspended four games)
LINEBACKERS: Starters — LOLB Julius Peppers, BLB Jake Ryan, MLB Blake Martinez, ROLB Clay Matthews. Backups — OLB Nick Perry, OLB Datone Jones, ILB Joe Thomas, OLB Jayrone Elliott, OLB Kyler Fackrell
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Damarious Randall, RCB Sam Shields, SS Morgan Burnett, FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Backups — CB Quinten Rollins, S Micah Hyde, CB LaDarius Gunter, S Chris Banjo, CB Josh Hawkins, S Marwin Evans, S Kentrell Brice, CB Demetri Goodson (suspended 4 games)
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Mason Crosby, P Jake Schum, LS Brett Goode, KOR/PR Jared Abbrederis, PR Micah Hyde, KOR/PR Trevor Davis
PRACTICE SQUAD: WR Geronimo Allison, LB Carl Bradford, LB Beniquez Brown, LB Reggie Gilbert, RB Don Jackson, G Blake Muir, G Lucas Patrick, DT Brian Price, WR Herb Waters, S Jermaine Whitehead
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, at Jacksonville, 12:00
Sept. 18, at Minnesota, 7:30
Sept. 25, DETROIT, 12:00
OPEN DATE
Oct. 9, N.Y. GIANTS, 7:30
Oct. 16, DALLAS, 3:25
Oct. 20, CHICAGO (Thu.), 7:25
Oct. 30, at Atlanta, 12:00
Nov. 6, INDIANAPOLIS, 3:25
Nov. 13, at Tennessee, 12:00
Nov. 20, at Washington, 7:30
Nov. 28, at Philadelphia (Mon.), 7:30
Dec. 4, HOUSTON, 12:00
Dec. 11, SEATTLE, 3:25
Dec. 18, at Chicago, 12:00
Dec. 24, MINNESOTA (Sat.), 12:00
Jan. 1, at Detroit, 12:00
NFL 2016 Season Analysis: Minnesota Vikings
FACTS AND STATS
2015 Finish: First in NFC North
Record: 11-5, 0-1 in postseason; Won division
DIVISIONAL RECORD: 5-1
TOTAL OFFENSE: 321.2 (29th)
RUSHING: 138.2 (4th)
PASSING: 183.0 (31st)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 344.2 (13th)
RUSHING: 109.3 (17th)
PASSING: 234.9 (12th)
COACH: Mike Zimmer
3rd season as Vikings/NFL head coach
18-15 overall; postseason 0-1
XTRA FACTOR
–The Vikings went 11-6 in two seasons in their temporary home at TCF Bank Stadium. Their .687 regular-season winning percentage (11-5) is the highest ever among teams playing in a temporary home stadium. But, that being said, the excitement surrounding the team’s move back inside to state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium promises to be a season-long jolt of energy starting with a prime-time regular-season home opener against the Packers.
2016 UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
By TSX reporter covering team:
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Adrian Peterson, FB Zach Line. Backups — Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Kyle Rudolph. Backups — Rhett Ellison, MyCole Pruitt, David Morgan
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Charles Johnson, Stefon Diggs. Backups — Adam Thielen, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright, Laquon Treadwell
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Matt Kalil, LG Alex Boone, C Joe Berger, RG Brandon Fusco, RT Andre Smith. Backups — LT T.J. Clemmings, RT Jeremiah Sirles, C Nick Easton, G Zac Kerin
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — RE Everson Griffen, DT Sharrif Floyd, NT Linval Joseph, LE Brian Robison. Backups – LE Danielle Hunter, RE Justin Trattou, T Shamar Stephen, DT Tom Johnson
LINEBACKERS: Starters — SLB Anthony Barr, MLB Eric Kendricks, WLB Chad Greenway. Backups — MLB Kentrell Brothers, LB Audie Cole, WLB Emmanuel Lamur, SLB Edmond Robinson.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — RCB Xavier Rhodes, FS Harrison Smith, SS Andrew Sendejo, LCB Terence Newman. Backups — CB Trae Waynes, CB Captain Munnerlyn, CB Mackensie Alexander, S Anthony Harris, S Jayron Kearse, CB Marcus Sherels
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Blair Walsh, P Jeff Locke, PR Marcus Sherels, KR Cordarrelle Patterson.
PRACTICE SQUAD: QB Joel Stave, RB C.J. Ham, CB Tre Roberson, G Willie Beavers, G Isame Faciane, WR Moritz Bohringer, TE Kyle Carter, DT Toby Johnson, DE Stephen Weatherly, S Shamiel Gary
2016 SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
Sept. 11, at Tennessee, 12:00
Sept. 18, GREEN BAY, 7:30
Sept. 25, at Carolina, 12:00
Oct. 3, N.Y. GIANTS (Mon.), 7:30
Oct. 9, HOUSTON, 12:00
OPEN DATE
Oct. 23, at Philadelphia, 12:00
Oct. 31, at Chicago (Mon.), 7:30
Nov. 6, DETROIT, 12:00
Nov. 13, at Washington, 12:00
Nov. 20, ARIZONA, 12:00
Nov. 24, at Detroit (Thu.), 11:30
Dec. 1, DALLAS (Thu.), 7:25
Dec. 11, at Jacksonville, 12:00
Dec. 18, INDIANAPOLIS, 12:00
Dec. 24, at Green Bay (Sat.), 12:00
Jan. 1, CHICAGO, 12:00