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The thankful vibes of November's final week extend to the NFL realm.
Fans of contenders are happy, obviously. But even the bad teams have something to be thankful for as holiday season kicks into full gear.
Whether it's a superstar player, underappreciated guy, an encouraging trend or something else, teams' fanbases can point to at least one thing worth feeling some pride over.
Here is one thing each NFL team and its fanbase should be thankful for right now.
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The Arizona Cardinals might not sniff contention this year or the next, but the hardest part of the rebuild seems to be out of the way.
Quarterback.
Kyler Murray hasn't appeared to have much in the way of first-year struggles. He's completing 64.6 percent of his passes and leading the team in rushing despite playing behind a line that has coughed up 35 sacks.
It was only a few months ago that there were questions about his commitment to football and whether he'd bolt for baseball. He's staying, and not only does he have major upside, but the Cardinals are also free to use premium resources to flesh out the roster around him.
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Yes, the Atlanta Falcons appear to be in a precarious position. The team is struggling, has questions at head coach and has a quarterback well into his 30s.
But Atlanta also has Julio Jones.
A transcendent talent like Jones just makes everything easier. Even with 11,000-plus career yards, he doesn't seem to be slowing as he nears the age of 31 early next year.
Rostering one of the best to ever do it on its own is reason to be thankful. That Jones can make what could be a tough few years mightily easier sure doesn't hurt.
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The knee-jerk reaction is to call Lamar Jackson the best thing going in Baltimore—and that's true!
But make sure to give Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman his shine, too. After all, Roman is a first-year arrival in Baltimore who has Jackson playing like an MVP. And it hardly starts there for Roman. He got great seasons out of Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco and then did the same with Tyrod Taylor in Buffalo.
Back to Jackson: The MVP contender already rivals Michael Vick in running ability and has blossomed as a passer during his second season. Through 10 games, he had completed 66.3 percent of his passes with 2,258 yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions. All while losing just two outings, for what it's worth.
Then he came out and put up another five touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams in a blowout victory on Monday Night Football.
Jackson is the player defenses will strain to adapt to and stop in the coming years. Something seems to suggest the Ravens quarterback is only scratching the proverbial surface.
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The Buffalo Bills are a scary team.
But ask a casual NFL fan outside of Buffalo, most probably wouldn't notice the Bills are 8-3 because it is understandably hard to escape the shadow of the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
The Bills probably love having it that way.
What doesn't Buffalo have? Josh Allen has accounted for 22 scores and has flashed elite upside. The running game averages 4.7 yards per carry. The defense ranks among the top five in yardage permitted and points allowed.
Allen and Co. aren't getting headlines, but they will if they start matching some of the numbers and make some postseason noise.
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The future of Cam Newton with the Carolina Panthers might seem murky.
But if this season to date is any sign, the stunning play of Christian McCaffrey could help the Panthers navigate some choppy waters rather well.
McCaffrey has piled up 1,123 rushing yards while also slotting second on the team in receiving with another 586 yards.
Opinions on the value of running backs might vary these days, but McCaffrey is electric to watch every time he touches the football and he might just be the best in the NFL. Scary, considering he's only in his third season and seemingly continuing to get better.
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In a perfect world, this would be Mitchell Trubisky.
Settling for Khalil Mack isn't so bad, right?
Mack cost the Chicago Bears much in the way of resources, just like Trubisky did. But unlike the struggling passer, Mack is a generational player. After putting up 26 hurries, 12.5 sacks and 47 pressures over 14 games a year ago, Mack has posted another 22, 6.5 and 32 through 11 games this season.
Few game-breaking defenders like Mack exist, and the fact that he's just 28 years old is probably something the rest of the NFC North doesn't want to think about often.
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There's no way to throw some cheery holiday spirit at this one—the Cincinnati Bengals are in a bad place.
But there is always a silver lining. And for fans, it's the simple fact that the organization might be shedding its conservative skin a bit.
The Bengals finally moved on from Marvin Lewis last year. More recently, they cut linebacker Preston Brown hardly half a season into a three-year extension. In the past, the front office that does business quite unlike anywhere else might've let Brown stay for the duration of his deal.
It's not an insignificant trend for a team so bad it has no choice but to modernize. There's hope, Bengals fans.
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Listen, 90 percent of NFL teams would love to have the talent the Cleveland Browns have.
The Browns have disappointed this year, but a change at head coach and some better talent in the offensive trenches could go a long way.
Cleveland still has top-10 upside with Baker Mayfield. The Nick Chubb-led ground game is elite. Little about Odell Beckham Jr.'s talent needs to be said. Same for David Njoku at tight end. Defensively, Myles Garrett (whenever he returns) is a potential Defensive Player of the Year.
The Browns are going through some growing pains as they morph into contenders, yes. But it won't be long now.
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Hey, don't laugh. What isn't there to be thankful for when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys?
It all loops back to Jerry Jones. Who paid up to keep an elite tackle like Tyron Smith? Jones. Elite guard like Zack Martin? Jerry Jones. Who made the move for Amari Cooper? Jones. Paid up for DeMarcus Lawrence? Jones. Ezekiel Elliott? Yep.
Oh, and looking ahead? Who surely pays up for Dak Prescott, if not an elite corner like Byron Jones? It's Jerry Jones.
Jones might not be the most endearing public figure at times. But he's the sort of presence at the helm any NFL fan would love to have.
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Even for non-Denver Broncos fans, it has been a joy to watch Von Miller terrorize quarterbacks since 2011.
Remember 2011? Miller broke onto the scene with an almost-casual 11.5 sacks, and he's had double-digit sacks seven total times.
Granted, Miller only has six sacks this year. But it's not like he wasn't performing as his usual self, not with 12 hurries and 24 pressures atop everything else he does on each snap.
Miller, still only 30 years old, continues to be the face of the Broncos and one of the few faces non-Broncos quarterbacks see in their nightmares.
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Congratulations, Detroit Lions fans—the team is one of the few not stuck in quarterback purgatory.
Matthew Stafford is missing games with injury for the first time since 2010. But he's a rare one in the NFL landscape as a guy with 41,000-plus passing yards and more than 250 passing scores. He's done this while not always having the best roster around him, hence the 347 sacks, checking in at 30-plus in six different seasons.
And yet, Stafford has largely been durable, accurate, is an impeccable leader and is tied for fourth all-time in fourth-quarter comebacks, illustrating his propensity for clutch plays.
One more thing—he's only 31.
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The Green Bay Packers have done business different lately, most recently spending big on pass-rushers Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith.
To say big spending has paid off would be an understatement. Preston Smith, who topped out at eight sacks in a given season during his time in Washington, hit the double-digit mark with the Packers in just 10 games. And the Baltimore Ravens were comfortable losing Za'Darius Smith because he never had more than 8.5—a total he matched over 10 games in Green Bay.
With seemingly a snap of the fingers, the Packers have one of the most-feared pressure tandems. And, yes, the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers, but spending smartly like this is how to prepare for the future with the star quarterback turning 36 in December.
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The Houston Texans took the easy layup in 2017 and landed Deshaun Watson while other teams sold the farm for players like Mitchell Trubisky.
Waston's storied collegiate career has translated to the pros, to say the least. He's approaching the 10,000-yard mark despite only playing in seven games as a rookie, and he's already thrown for more than 60 scores.
Then there's DeAndre Hopkins. Nuk has just quietly gone about his business to the tune of four 1,000-yard seasons since 2013 and is about to add a fifth. He's scored double-digit touchdowns in three seasons and has a good chance to add a fourth this season.
There will always be stiff competition for best QB-WR tandem in the AFC based on the happenings in Kansas City, but with these two, the Texans never figure to be out of the running.
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The AFC South is always combustible and ripe for the taking.
Case in point, the Indianapolis Colts are still right in the middle of the playoff hunt despite losing Andrew Luck before the season. It's incredible, really. Jacoby Brissett is playing passable football. Eric Ebron regressed and was placed on IR on Monday. T.Y. Hilton has been hurt. The defense has just 26 sacks.
And yet, the Colts are right there in a division in which nine wins has won it in two of the last four seasons. Three different teams have won it over the last five seasons.
The Colts have endured losses most franchises couldn't handle, and while the front office has done a good job, the division seemingly cannibalizing itself has lent a helping hand.
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The breakout is real.
DJ Chark Jr. managed just 14 catches as a second-round rookie out of LSU last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite Gardner Minshew II coming in for Nick Foles under center, Chark has erupted as a sophomore, catching 56 of his 81 targets for 834 yards and eight touchdowns. Again, that's with a sixth-round pick under center for most of the season. These aren't little gains—Chark averages 14.9 yards per catch.
Bad season or not, it sure doesn't hurt to find comfort in the fact that the Jaguars have a threat of a No. 1 wideout who should form a nice tandem with Nick Foles.
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Come on, really?
There's a lot to like about the Kansas City Chiefs. But nothing touches Patrick Mahomes, who probably even caught the team that drafted him by surprise once he got on the field.
The 10th pick in 2017 cruised to an MVP with 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns against 12 interceptions last year. And Mahomes was flourishing this season before his injury. He's still completing better than 65 percent of his passes with a silly touchdown-to-interception ratio (19-2).
At the age of 24, Mahomes is the next big thing. Defenses won't be able to easily counter him in the short term.
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The apparent end of the Philip Rivers era is scary, but the good news is the Los Angeles Chargers have Joey Bosa as the foundation for a strong defense.
All the third pick from 2016 does is produce. He put up 10.5 or more sacks in two of his first three seasons and has 8.5 over 11 games in his fourth year. It looks like the only exception will be his injury-shortened third season.
But why stop there? Bosa hasn't just tallied 8.5 sacks over 11 games. He's managed 19 hurries and a ridiculous 39 pressures in the process. He's the type of game-altering presence who makes his entire unit better, which has to be comforting as the Chargers head for uncharted waters.
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Nobody said it was always going to be easy for the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay.
But the era sure is off to a great start through two seasons and change after 11-5 and 13-3 seasons. McVay is an innovator who salvaged the Jared Goff gamble and has the rest of the league not only copycatting his approach but elbowing each other out of the way to poach from his coaching staff.
Provided the roster building around him continues to be strong, he'll have the Rams consistently contending.
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Losing players like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Laremy Tunsil isn't fun. Heck, losing isn't fun.
But the Miami Dolphins have a plan, which is seemingly more than many teams stuck in a .500 purgatory of sorts can say.
The running tally? Miami has three first-round picks in 2020 and 14 overall picks. That's a major roster turnover in a single offseason before even counting free agency. All under the watchful eye, by the way, of a regime with a cemented plan in place. It sure beats the tar out of changing the apparent plan every season or two.
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Look, fans can bring up Kirk Cousins' record in prime time or try to nitpick other items about his pay.
Almost every team would do anything to have a guy who completes north of 70 percent of his passes and doesn't turn the ball over.
So goes the story of Cousins this year, as he's had a monster statistical season for the contending Vikings. His surroundings are good, sure, but he's thrown three or more scores four times—and he only has three interceptions.
One look at that position leaguewide reveals the Vikings have it pretty good.
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Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Next.
But seriously, the New England Patriots have lost a single game this season with a 42-year-old passer under center. Tom Brady seems ageless, and Bill Belichick has somehow crafted one of his best defenses, which has allowed more than 14 points once. One time, to MVP contender Lamar Jackson.
When one loss by November seems like the end of the world, a fanbase has it pretty good.
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Speaking of quarterbacks aged 40 or older, Drew Brees continues to hold up quite well for the New Orleans Saints.
The man who joined the Saints back in 2006 as something of a question mark has had incredible success on his way to 75,000-plus passing yards and more than 500 touchdowns.
In six games this season, Brees has a 75.7 completion percentage and an 11-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Predictably, his Saints are legitimate contenders once again.
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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has Offense Player of the Year upside, and he's seemingly just getting started.
Barkley ripped off 1,307 yards and 11 scores on an average of five yards per carry as a rookie, catching 91 passes for 721 yards and four scores as well. This year, it's a minor miracle he has 720 yards from scrimmage given his surroundings.
It's hard to slap Barkley with a "sophomore slump" tag. He's a prime example of a modern do-it-all back. If quarterback Daniel Jones succeeds, Barkley will get a lot of the credit.
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Most of the NFL would love to have a player like Jamal Adams heading up the defensive secondary.
The sixth pick in the 2017 draft is a force for the New York Jets, even during this down season. Adams has posted 63 total tackles with two forced fumbles, 6.5 sacks, six passes defensed and one interception.
Over Adams' last two seasons, he's permitted no better than a 55 percent completion percentage. Also over the past two years, he hasn't graded worse than an 88 at Pro Football Focus.
One of the NFL's best young defenders resides in New York.
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Mike Mayock sure looks like he knows what he's doing.
Other than the odd gamble the Oakland Raiders took on Antonio Brown, Mayock's stint as general manager has gone off without a hitch.
Look at his first round. Fourth pick Clelin Ferrell has been a force against the run. The jury remains out on 27th pick Johnathan Abram, but 24th pick Josh Jacobs has been brilliant, piling on 957 rushing yards and an average of more than five yards per carry with seven scores. Don't forget breakout fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby, owner of 7.5 sacks.
Maybe the Raiders don't contend this year. But with Mayock's watchful eye over the roster, it seems only a matter of time.
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Can Brandon Graham get some spotlight?
The Philadelphia Eagles stalwart edge presence looked like he might not be long for the roster before re-upping with the team this offseason.
Graham just quietly is the Eagles. He's been there since 2010 and has rattled off 50 sacks since. This year, even at the age of 31, he's hit the 7.5-sack mark for the second time over the last three seasons, posting nine hurries and 23 pressures in the process.
The veteran edge just seems like he'll never slow down, which means he'll continue to serve as a foundational building block.
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Hindsight is going to smile quite a bit on Mike Tomlin.
Forget the overwhelming winning percentage, Super Bowls and whatever else for the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.
Think about the drama.
The stranger and more serious the Antonio Brown saga gets, the better Tomlin looks. Over the years, he's also had to juggle a locker room including Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell, to name a few. Through it all, he's largely kept a lid on things while helping the franchise remain as one of the league's most consistently successful. Even now, the Steelers are right in the playoff hunt.
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Kyle Shanahan is one of the NFL's foremost offensive thinkers.
It didn't really show over Shanahan's first two years with the San Francisco 49ers, as they finished 6-10 and 4-12.
But with Jimmy Garoppolo healthy, Shanahan has fully flexed his talent. The 49ers have lost a single game over their first 11, and Garoppolo has thrived with a 68.8 completion percentage and 20 scores against 10 picks. The ground game has put up 4.3 yards per carry with 15 scores, and the team as a whole has scored 30 or more six times.
Now fully blossoming into his own, Shanahan will have defenses scrambling to keep up for years.
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Russell Wilson is an anomaly.
Since entering the league in 2012, he's put up 28,000-plus passing yards and 200-plus passing scores, never mind the nearly 4,000 rushing yards and nearly 20 scores on the ground.
But it goes beyond the numbers. He's something of a magician in the pocket, and he has to be because of a messy team-building strategy that has resulted in a poor pass-blocking offensive line. The Seahawks have allowed more than 30 sacks in every season of his career.
Wilson has brought a Super Bowl to Seattle already. His one-of-a-kind ability could mean more. Keep in mind he's only 30 (turns 31 on Friday).
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Mike Evans is a superstar.
The seventh overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 has done nothing short of dominate since entering the league. He's posted 1,000-plus yards in every season while averaging north of 15 yards per catch. He's scored seven or more touchdowns four times, including a pair of 12-touchdown seasons.
This is all the more impressive considering Evans' surroundings. Since Evans was drafted, the Bucs have won more than six games in a season just once.
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The Tennessee Titans seem headed for another major quarterback question.
But it isn't all bad for them. Derrick Henry is stellar back who is averaging 4.6 yards per carry for his career. A.J. Brown and Corey Davis are blossoming into one of the league's better one-two punches at wideout.
Defensively, Rashaan Evans is on the upswing at linebacker. Kevin Byard is one of the game's best safeties. Harold Landry is an ascending edge-rusher.
Granted, the quarterback question looms over all. But when talking about teams primed for a quick turnaround, the Titans have to be near the top of the list.
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There's a lot of bad surrounding the Washington Redskins right now.
But through it all, despite the Trent Williams drama and firing Jay Gruden, stands Terry McLaurin. The third-round pick and college teammate of first-round quarterback Dwayne Haskins has blossomed.
He's caught 40 passes for 638 yards with five scores, including 11 catches of 20-plus yards.
Not only is this impressive for a rookie, but it's also impressive for his surroundings given the quarterback problems and everything else.
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