It’s that time of year when some NFL teams have started looking toward next season. As each is officially eliminated from playoff contention, The Ringer will examine what went right, what went wrong, and where the franchise could go from here.
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February 3, 2019
Exit Interview: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ grand plan was working to perfection—until they whiffed in the Super Bowl. After making several aggressive moves to position themselves to win this season, they face difficult decisions about how to keep their roster intact in the seasons to come.
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February 3, 2019
Exit Interview: New England Patriots
It looked like a down year for New England, but here we are again. What could next season look like for the defending champs?
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January 21, 2019
Exit Interview: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have the most exciting offense in the league, but their most pressing offseason questions will likely focus on the other side of the ball
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January 20, 2019
Exit Interview: New Orleans Saints
One of the best seasons in franchise history ended in heartbreak, but the Saints are poised to be back in this position next year
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January 13, 2019
Exit Interview: Philadelphia Eagles
The defending champs clawed their way to the divisional round after a slow start, only to be bounced by the Saints on Sunday. The Eagles’ attention now turns to the offseason, when a big question will loom at quarterback.
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January 13, 2019
Exit Interview: Los Angeles Chargers
Philip Rivers and the Chargers had one of their most successful seasons in years, but experienced little postseason success. Should the team run it back, or look to reconfigure itself?
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January 13, 2019
Exit Interview: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys exceeded preseason expectations before falling short against the Rams. Now, they’ll need to carefully manage how they extend their young stars to avoid salary cap hell.
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January 12, 2019
Exit Interview: Indianapolis Colts
After a 1-5 start, the Colts clawed back to make the divisional round. Saturday’s loss to the Chiefs stings, but the future is bright for Andrew Luck and Co.
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January 6, 2019
Exit Interview: Chicago Bears
The Bears’ season ended in a heartbreaking metal clang, but the NFC North champs can point to the Khalil Mack gamble that paid off and Matt Nagy’s offensive acumen as signs that they’re headed in the right direction. Will the team be able to keep its defensive talent together this offseason?
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January 6, 2019
Exit Interview: Baltimore Ravens
After a quarterback change and a late-season playoff run, Baltimore looks to have a path forward. But can it build successfully around Lamar Jackson?
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January 6, 2019
Exit Interview: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks outperformed preseason expectations but ultimately fell short against the Cowboys because of an overly conservative game plan. Now, the team faces a future in which it may already have to retool the post–Legion of Boom defense.
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January 5, 2019
Exit Interview: Houston Texans
Houston overcame an 0-3 start to win the AFC South and host a playoff game. But after another one-and-done postseason, questions loom about head coach Bill O’Brien and his team’s ability to protect Deshaun Watson.
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December 30, 2018
Exit Interview: Tennessee Titans
Tennessee came within one game of the playoffs under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. The team has a lot to build upon, but not until it answers the Marcus Mariota question.
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December 30, 2018
Exit Interview: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers upheld their end of the bargain by beating Cincinnati in Week 17, but Baltimore’s win over Cleveland clinched the AFC North for the Ravens and kept Pittsburgh out of the playoffs for the first time since 2013
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December 30, 2018
Exit Interview: Minnesota Vikings
Despite adding Kirk Cousins and maintaining their stellar defensive play, the Vikings find themselves on the outside of the playoffs. What went wrong for the team, which looked like the class of the NFC entering the season?
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December 23, 2018
Exit Interview: Washington Redskins
Washington got out to a fast start, but a series of injuries doomed what was a promising squad
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December 23, 2018
Exit Interview: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were lucky to even get to seven wins. Now they have decisions to make all over the roster.
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December 23, 2018
Exit Interview: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers started the season looking like a Super Bowl contender. Then they lost seven straight.
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December 23, 2018
Exit Interview: Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield and Co. have made this one of the most exciting Browns seasons in years, but the franchise faces tricky questions in the offseason.
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December 18, 2018
Exit Interview: Cincinnati Bengals
The injury bug hit the Bengals hard this year, with both Andy Dalton and A.J. Green ending up on IR. But don’t be fooled—injuries aren’t what kept this team out of the playoffs.
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December 18, 2018
Exit Interview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Fitzmagic ran out early, and the Bucs are staring at another last-place finish in the NFC South. They may be forced to make a decision about their quarterback position this offseason—and what they do will say a lot about the team they want to be, on and off the field.
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December 17, 2018
Exit Interview: New York Giants
Another year will end in disappointment for Big Blue, who may have to answer the Eli Manning question once and for all this offseason
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December 17, 2018
Exit Interview: Atlanta Falcons
Injuries and ineffective defense doomed the Falcons this year. How can they get back to the highs of just a few years ago?
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December 16, 2018
Exit Interview: Denver Broncos
The Broncos will miss the playoffs this year and run the risk of posting back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in 46 years. Will John Elway and Co. address the head coach and quarterback positions this offseason?
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December 16, 2018
Exit Interview: Green Bay Packers
The Packers missed the playoffs with a healthy Aaron Rodgers for the first time since 2008 and will now turn their attention toward finding a head coach who can maximize the talents of the QB and the players around him