Remember when we all thought the Browns were the NFL’s next dominant team? Or that Carson Wentz was a no-brainer future MVP? Or that Sean McVay was the league’s next great mastermind? Some of the NFL’s teams, players, and coaches who were in the spotlight the past few seasons enter 2020 with tempered expectations—but that doesn’t mean we should count them out. Welcome to The Ringer’s Post-Hype Week, when we revisit some of the league’s biggest story lines from seasons past that aren’t getting as much love ahead of this campaign.
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August 21, 2020
The Perception of Aaron Rodgers No Longer Matches the Reality
Rodgers is one of the greatest QBs of all time, but he’s regressed over the past five seasons. With Jordan Love now in Green Bay, what should we expect for Rodgers’s future on the Packers?
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August 21, 2020
Baker Mayfield’s Endless Quest to Silence His Doubters
The Browns QB was expected to make the leap in 2019. Instead, he regressed. Now that the skeptics who have always driven him are back, will a return to hyperefficient form follow?
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August 21, 2020
Derek Carr Is Running Out of Time to Earn Respect
The Raiders quarterback has had an up-and-down career. Can he prove he’s a true franchise quarterback in 2020?
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August 20, 2020
What Will It Take for Carson Wentz to Rejoin the NFL’s Elite?
It’s been a long time since the Eagles passer’s 2017 near-MVP campaign, and injuries have kept the QB grounded the past two seasons. Can Wentz break out in 2020?
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August 20, 2020
Why We Hype the Wrong NFL Teams
Every year, roughly half the league’s playoff teams are squads that didn’t make it the year before. Why are good teams so hard to see coming? It’s because we’re always looking in the wrong places.
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August 19, 2020
Sean McVay Is Going to Have to Learn How to Do More With Less
Two seasons ago, McVay was the most-hyped coach in the NFL. But after an up-and-down 2019, the shine has worn off. A roster and coaching staff overhaul suggests it may take more ingenuity for him to help the Rams reach those same heights.
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August 19, 2020
Can Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, and David Johnson Rejoin the NFL’s Elite?
All three players switched teams this offseason. Whether each can bounce back in 2020 will show how premiere backs can breathe new life into their careers.
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August 17, 2020
The Post-Hype Sleepers to Target in Fantasy Football
Some of last year’s hyped-up players failed to perform—but they could bounce back in 2020 and provide good value for fantasy GMs