Yardbarker's NFL Week 17 team analysis, season grades, MVPs

49ERS (13-3): San Francisco has the NFC’s top seed and perhaps more importantly a week to rest after a hard-fought slugfest with Seattle. Niners fans ought to be encouraged by what they saw from Jimmy Garoppolo, who was razor sharp despite not throwing for a touchdown. Garoppolo and  TE George Kittle get much of the focus on offense, but RB Raheem Mostert looks explosive on every touch. San Francisco doesn’t have the best quarterback in the NFC. In fact, Garoppolo might rank fourth or fifth, and certainly slots behind Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. What it does have is tremendous balance on both sides of the ball, and confidence from having beaten the Packers, Saints and Seahawks. Kyle Shanahan’s team is a deserving top seed, and so long as Garoppolo can make plays when needed, the 49ers have a great chance to reach the Super Bowl. SEASON GRADE: A  | TEAM MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo | NEXT: vs. lowest remaining seed, (Sat., Jan. 11, 4:35 ET)

-- Chris Mueller

SEAHAWKS (11-5): Seattle’s problems are concentrated on defense, where it routinely struggles. That said, the Seahawks have Russell Wilson, and though they fell two inches short of winning the division on Sunday night, the QB proved that he can never be counted out. Few quarterbacks have a better presence in the pocket, and Wilson looked at ease throughout the second half despite having to avoid Nick Bosa on virtually every play. A horrendous delay-of-game penalty cost Seattle the division and home game on wild-card weekend, but the Seahawks were just 4-4 at home this season. The question in the postseason will be the same as it was in the regular season: Can  Wilson drag a flawed team to great heights? Seattle might be the fifth seed, and the NFC might be loaded, but the Seahawks will be a tough out. SEASON GRADE: B + |  MVP: QB Russell Wilson | NEXT: at No. 4 Eagles (Sun., 4:40 p.m. ET)

-- Chris Mueller

DOLPHINS (5-11): These Dolphins have a strong case for being the greatest 5-11 feel-good story. Miami ended its season with one of the NFL’s all-time spoiler efforts, sending the Patriots (16.5-point favorites) to the wild-card round. Brian Flores beating his former team – with the NFL’s least talented roster – illustrates how strong a hire the Dolphins made for head coach. Miami’s rebuild is ahead of schedule, and thanks to trades and cap-casualty cuts, the franchise has three first-round picks and at least $96 million in 2020 cap space (currently second-most in the NFL). Needs exist just about everywhere, but the Dolphins’ combination of bizarre progress and offseason resources have them in better position than many teams. Ryan Fiztpatrick will likely return to mentor the Dolphins’ first-round quarterback pick – odds are that will be Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa – and the combination of Flores’ coaching job, Miami’s location advantage and Florida’s tax code will make this an attractive free agency destination. SEASON GRADE: C | MVP: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 

-- Sam Robinson

PATRIOTS (12-4): New England’s loss to Miami, clinching the No. 3 seed, is one of the worst in the Bill Belichick era. The 2010s Patriots have relied on annually friendly schedules helping them to byes; winning two games rather than three has been a major part of this dynasty. Each of the Belichick-Tom Brady partnership’s nine Super Bowl appearances came after a bye week. The Pats are 4-4 in road playoff games under Belichick and have never won more than one such contest in a postseason. The past 12 Super Bowl entrants have been seeded No. 1 or 2. Sunday’s defeat, which featured Ryan Fitzpatrick outplaying Brady and DeVante Parker winning his matchup with Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Stephon Gilmore, looks like a death blow to New England’s already fleeting Super Bowl chances. SEASON GRADE: B | MVP: CB Stephon Gilmore | NEXT:  Vs. No. 6 Titans (Sat., 8:15 ET)

-- Sam Robinson

EAGLES (9-7): The Eagles persevered in 2019. Offensively, Philadelphia battled injuries to Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Zach Ertz, Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders. Defensively, the cornerbacks played poorly and also were rocked by injuries. Yet here the Eagles stand, champions of the NFC East. Head coach Doug Pederson was marvelous, and QB Carson Wentz showed why GM Howie Roseman chose him No. 2 overall in 2016, carrying the makeshift offense through the final quarter of the season. The Eagles may be too banged up to compete for a Super Bowl. But winning the divisional crown proved a lot. SEASON GRADE: B + | MVP: QB Carson Wentz | NEXT: Vs. No. 5 Seahawks (Sun., 4:40 p.m. ET)

-- Michael Nania

GIANTS (3-13): 2019 was all about developing rookie QB Daniel Jones, and Big Blue saw promising signs from the heir to Eli Manning. Jones had five games of 300-plus passing yards (second-most by a rookie to Andrew Luck), four games with a passer rating of 110.0 or better (fifth-most by a rookie), and three outings with four-plus passing touchdowns (tied for most by a rookie with Fran Tarkenton and Deshaun Watson). On the downside, Jones led the NFL with 18 fumbles and 11 fumbles lost -- no other player lost more than seven fumbles. Jones also threw 12 interceptions for a total of 23 turnovers, tied for second-most behind Jameis Winston. Jones has excellent mobility, great touch and a strong arm. He must improve his pocket presence. Can the Giants give him the coach and supporting cast he needs? SEASON GRADE: D | MVP: RB Saquon Barkley

-- Michael Nania

TITANS (9-7):  Entering this season, only 10 teams this century had managed to make the playoffs after starting 2-4. Tennessee became the 11th, and Ryan Tannehill is almost entirely responsible. He was outstanding against the Texans, throwing for 198 yards and two touchdowns, and his on-field rapport with rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown keeps building. Tennessee's passing attack opens the running game for Derrick Henry. In the six games started by Marcus Mariota, Henry had 416 yards and averaged 3.7 yards per carry. In nine games with Tannehill, he has 1,124 yards and a 5.9 yards-per-carry average. The Patriots might have Foxborough mystique and Tom Brady’s reputation on their side, but the Titans have Tannehill, and they are the better team. SEASON GRADE: A | MVP: QB Ryan Tannehill | NEXT: At No. 3 Patriots (Sat., 8:15 p.m. ET)

-- Chris Mueller

TEXANS (10-6): The Texans enter the playoffs as the AFC’s fourth seed, a blessing in disguise because they'll avoid the Titans, who look like one of the best teams in the NFL. Houston’s wild-card matchup with the Bills is interesting. Buffalo boasts one of the league’s best pass defenses, and one of its best cornerbacks in Tre’Davious White. But Buffalo is pedestrian against the run. Carlos Hyde, who topped 1,000 yards for the first time in his career this season, could be the most important member of Houston’s offense. RB Duke Johnson Jr.’s ability to extend drives in the passing game will also be pivotal. The Texans have the star power, but Buffalo has made its name this season by grinding down opponents. Houston’s biggest weakness is its pass defense, but second-year QB Josh Allen’s inaccuracy makes it tough for him to exploit such deficiencies. SEASON GRADE: A-minus | MVP: QB Deshaun Watson | NEXT: Vs. No. 5 Bills (Sat., 4:35 p.m. ET)

-- Chris Mueller

STEELERS (8-8): Did any team in the NFL get worse play at QB? That's why it's so difficult to evaluate the rest of the offense, which managed only 168 yards against the Ravens.. Neither Mason Rudolph nor Devlin "Duck" Hodges showed he could play at a high level. Neither has the arm strength to make the throws that must be made. Defenses loaded the box, no matter who was Pittsburgh’s running back, and then flooded the middle of the field with pass defenders. The supporting cast on offense -- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, we mean you -- appeared to take a step back. The only reason the Steelers' grade isn't lower is because of the play of the defense, which is elite. SEASON GRADE: C-minus | MVP: LB T.J Watt 

-- Matt Williamson

RAVENS (14-2): What a season for presumptive MVP Lamar Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh, who nearly was fired a year ago. With the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye, Baltimore is the favorite to make it to the Super Bowl. You know about Jackson's fabulous play (36 passing TDs, 1,206 yards rushing), but don't overlook the defense. After corner Jimmy Smith came back healthy and the Ravens acquired CB Marcus Peters (whom they just locked up with a long-term contract), Baltimore's defense improved significantly. Matt Judon aside, the Ravens do not have great pass-rushers. Instead they rely on blanket coverage in the secondary and a blitz-happy scheme. The defense could be the difference-maker in the playoffs. SEASON GRADE: A | MVP: QB Lamar Jackson | NEXT: Vs. lowest remaining seed, Sat., Jan. 11, 8:15 ET)

-- Matt Williamson

CARDINALS (5-10-1): Arizona’s goal for 2020 must be to surround QB Kyler Murray with as much quality talent as possible. Coming to contract terms with RB Kenyan Drake, who has blossomed in the desert, would help. Arizona must also shore up its offensive line and secondary. Murray’s average time to throw of 2.73 on the season was 12^th-fastest in the league. A better O-line would give him more time to scan the field. Defensively, the Cardinals allowed 7.1 net yards per passing attempt, 27^th in the NFL. Murray clearly has talent, but it will go for naught if his supporting cast does not improve dramatically. SEASON GRADE: C | MVP: QB Kyler Murray 

-- Chris Mueller

RAMS (9-7): No NFL team is harder to figure than the Rams. Some weeks, Los Angeles looked like the team that stormed to an NFC championship last season. In others, the Rams were lost offensively, and QB Jared Goff looked like an overmatched rookie, not a man with a $134 million contract. It is clear that the Rams still have faith in Goff and want to build around him and DT Aaron Donald. That means they must figure how to get the most from RB Todd Gurley, whose degenerative knee condition and contract ($25.65 million dead cap hit in 2020) make him a potential albatross. Los Angeles was 4-0 when Gurley topped 100 yards from scrimmage this season. Whether or not the Rams return to prominence in 2020 depends on how well they manage Gurley’s workload – protecting him from overuse but not being so cautious as to prevent him from getting into a rhythm. SEASON GRADE: D | MVP: WR Cooper Kupp

-- Chris Mueller

CHARGERS (5-11): While disappointing seasons are kind of the modern Bolts’ M.O., 2019 might have been their "masterpiece." Their  win total dropped by seven games from 2018, and L.A. is in a bad big-picture position. Following a steep decline, Philip Rivers is no longer a lock to stay in southern California. But the Bolts could face a grim scene in attempting to upgrade from their 14-year starting QB. “Free agents” Tom Brady and Drew Brees are unrealistic. Jameis Winston and Ryan Tannehill are candidates to be franchise-tagged, and Teddy Bridgewater is probably not an upgrade. Carolina should not be eager to deal Cam Newton, and Andy Dalton would be a depressing trade target for a big-market team in need of publicity. Landing Oregon’s Justin Herbert with a top-10 pick might be the Bolts’ big victory, but they may have no choice but to re-sign Rivers and hope a better offensive line can prevent another catastrophic season. SEASON GRADE: D-minus | MVP: RB Austin Ekeler

-- Sam Robinson

CHIEFS (12-4): Although the Chiefs held the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season, this is the most complete team of the Andy Reid era. Thanks to a Patriots loss, Kansas City has the No.2 seed and a bye. The Chiefs’ offensive numbers are not on 2018’s stratospheric level, but their post-bye defensive work has lessened the burden QB Patrick Mahomes must carry. This edition’s No. 7-ranked scoring defense provides a much stronger safety net than 2018’s 24th-ranked group. A Frank Clark-Terrell Suggs tandem is not definitively better than Justin Houston-Dee Ford on the D-line, but Tyrann Mathieu has significantly improved Kansas City’s secondary. The ex-Cardinal is playing near the level of his 2015 All-Pro season; the 5-foot-9 safety’s leaping end zone interception over 6-foot-4 Mike Williams helped the Chiefs obtain the bye. Rookie wideout/returner Mecole Hardman also represents a major upgrade for a Chiefs team on a six-game win streak. The Chiefs are capable of not just ousting the Patriots but winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years. SEASON GRADE: B +  | MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes | NEXT: Vs. highest remaining seed, Sun., Jan. 12, 3:05 ET)

-- Sam Robinson

COLTS (7-9): It would be easy (and accurate) to point to kicker Adam Vinatieri’s struggles as the main reason the Colts finished out of the playoff picture. Vinatieri’s misses contributed directly to multiple losses. But the kicking game isn’t the biggest question Indianapolis faces heading into 2020. Jacoby Brissett signed a two-year, $30 million deal, and for the first several games of the season, he looked the part of a franchise quarterback. He slumped in the second half of the season, throwing only four TD passes in the Colts' final eight games. Indy was in the middle of the pack in both scoring offense and scoring defense, but its formula of a power running game and a stout defense might not be enough in a division in which Houston has the star power and Tennessee might have found its QB of the future in Ryan Tannehill. Brissett is signed only through 2020, and the Colts should think hard about drafting a quarterback. SEASON GRADE: C-minus | MVP: RB Marlon Mack 

-- Chris Mueller

JAGUARS (6-10): The Jaguars’ 2020 fate rests with QB Nick Foles, who was not given a chance to get into a rhythm as the starter when he returned from a Week 1 collarbone injury. Rookie Gardner Minshew played well at times, but he doesn't appear to be a franchise QB. The Jaguars were mediocre across the board offensively, but they have a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver in D.J. Chark. Foles is owed nearly $16 million next season, and while his regular-season resume consists of one brilliant season, he has proven capable of strafing defenses in a way Minshew has not. Run defense, overall talent, organizational culture and head coach are among issues that must be addressed. But Foles staying healthy and playing up to his contract would cure much of what ails Jacksonville. SEASON GRADE: D-minus | MVP: DE Josh Allen 

-- Chris Mueller

PACKERS (13-3): Oddly, the offense is made up of great strengths and major weaknesses. Strengths are RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, a great pair of offensive tackles (Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari) and rookie guard Elgton Jenkins. The weaknesses are pretty much everywhere else on this side of the ball, especially the skill players. Under first-year coach Matt LaFleur, QB Aaron Rodgers did not play up to his usual lofty standard. He didn’t get much help from his receivers outside of Adams, who had seven catches for 93 yards against the Lions. Yet somehow this team earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Should we expect an early exit? SEASON GRADE: A | MVP: OLB Za’Darius Smith | NEXT: Vs. highest remaining seed, Sun., Jan. 12, 6:40 ET)

-- Matt Williamson

LIONS (3-12-1): The Lions went through an insane number of running backs, lost their star quarterback to injury for the season and crumbled in the second half of 2019. But there's hope, at least offensively. The O-line is decent, and longtime starting QB Matthew Stafford was playing the best football of his career before his back injury. Expect Kerryon Johnson to return and lock up the top running back spot. Receiver Danny Amendola proved useful, and WR Kenny Golladay showed star traits. WR Marvin Jones is a high-quality second receiver. T.J. Hockenson was up and down in his rookie season, not unusual for tight ends. He could make a huge leap in his second season and might become Detroit’s best offensive player outside of Stafford. Now about that awful defense ... SEASON GRADE: D | MVP: WR Kenny Golladay

-- Matt Williamson

BEARS (8-8): Everyone will focus on Chicago’s quarterback situation this offseason. Will Mitch Trubisky, who showed flashes toward the end of the season, be the 2020 starter? But whoever is behind center will have a solid pair of receivers in Anthony Miller and Allen Robinson, who narrowly gets the team MVP award. No receiver has done more with less from his quarterback than Robinson over the past several years. He is the total package and among the league’s most underrated players at any position. Meanwhile, Miller is a technician who excels out of the slot with his great short area quickness and route running. Both players are in or entering their primes and could put up giant seasons with better play at quarterback. SEASON GRADE: C + | MVP: WR Allen Robinson

-- Matt Williamson

VIKINGS (10-6): Under head coach Mike Zimmer, Minnesota’s offensive line usually has been a problem area while its cornerbacks were a major strength. Heading into the wild-card round of the playoffs, the O-line, aided by scheme, is playing decently, but the cornerback play is problematic. Clearly, Xavier Rhodes' play has declined. Zimmer likes to dial up "A" gap pressures and blitzes, putting pressure on his corners to hold up in coverage. He prefers corners with size and length, traits difficult to find in middle rounds of the draft. Look for the Vikings to target corners high in the draft and in free agency. SEASON GRADE: B +  | MVP: DE Danielle Hunter | NEXT: at Saints (Sun., 1:05 p.m. ET)

-- Matt Williamson

SAINTS (13-3): New Orleans, playing superbly on offense, defense and special teams, looks supremely ready for the playoffs. Offensively, the Saints scored 34 points or more in six of their final seven games. Defensively, they allowed fewer than 20 points in seven games this season. New Orleans has the NFL's third-best special teams unit, according to Football Outsiders. This team easily could win it all, especially if Michael Thomas is at top form. The wideout's soft hands and impeccable route-running make him nearly impossible to cover. Thomas set an NFL season record with 149 receptions. His consistency kept the Saints stable while QB Drew Brees was out of the lineup with an injury. In five games started by Teddy Bridgewater, Thomas averaged 8.4 catches and 110.2 receiving yards as the Saints went 5-0. SEASON GRADE: A | MVP: WR Michael Thomas | NEXT: Vs. Vikings (Sun., 1:05 p.m. ET)

-- Michael Nania

PANTHERS (5-11): In its worst season since 2010, Carolina dealt with scores of problems, none bigger than its run defense. The Panthers allowed 31 rushing touchdowns, tied for the most in the Super Bowl era (since 1966), and gave up at least one rushing score in 15 games, also tied for the worst in that time frame. Carolina allowed 5.16 yards per rush attempt, the sixth-worst mark in the Super Bowl era. The Panthers also have a major decision to make at quarterback. Kyle Allen and rookie Will Grier clearly showed that they are not the answer. Carolina must decide whether they trust Cam Newton's health enough to continue building around him. If the Panthers would rather move on, they must be aggressive in the draft. Oh, and they need a head coach to replace the fired Ron Rivera. SEASON GRADE: F | MVP: RB Christian McCaffrey  

-- Michael Nania

JETS (7-9): Even though this season felt closer to 4-12 than 7-9, the Jets did finish better than they started. New weapons Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder did not significantly aid QB Sam Darnold, however. Darnold and Crowder will keep working together, but Bell’s brutal season may lead to a one-and-done. Bell, the rare NFLer to be signed long-term and then land in trade rumors months later, finished with 789 rushing yards (a career-worst 3.2 per carry) and is set for a summit with Adam Gase. With Gase’s disapproval of the contract previous GM Mike Maccagnan gave Bell an open secret, Gang Green might be ready to accept mid-round draft capital for the high-priced back. That would help the Jets address position-wide needs on their offensive line, at outside linebacker and at cornerback. Gase and GM Joe Douglas elevated the Jets to their best record since 2015, but the lack of talent on this roster creates a familiar-looking offseason checklist. SEASON GRADE: C-minus | MVP: Safety Jamal Adams

-- Sam Robinson

BILLS (10-6): Buffalo entered training camp with plus-10,000 Super Bowl odds – ahead of only Cincinnati and Miami – and will not even be the lowest AFC playoff seed. Sean McDermott’s third season transformed the franchise, seeded fifth in the AFC. The Bills will be live underdogs to beat the Texans – losers of two of their past three home playoff games. Buffalo’s offseason investments lifted its offense from horrendous to middle class. John Brown, Cole Beasley, Devin Singletary and a remade offensive line helped Josh Allen develop in a way the two quarterbacks taken ahead of him last year – Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold – did not. While the Bills should not be considered a good bet to advance to Super Bowl LIV, the foundation they constructed this season will make them sleepers. Buffalo is projected to hold $88 million in 2020 cap space, the NFL’s fourth most. With the Patriots showing cracks, this marks the best time to be a Bills fan in maybe 25 years. SEASON GRADE: A-minus | MVP: CB Tre’Davious White | NEXT: At No. 4 Texans (Sat., 4:35 p.m. ET)

-- Sam Robinson

RAIDERS (7-9): The Raiders’ final Oakland season revealed both progress in Jon Gruden’s second season back and how far the franchise must go. On one hand, the Raiders possess one of the league’s best rushing attacks. In an era of poor offensive line play, a mix of Reggie McKenzie-era holdovers (Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson) and Gruden-years additions (Kolton Miller, Trent Brown, Richie Incognito) sprung Josh Jacobs to the Offensive Rookie of the Year precipice. The Raiders, who saw Jacobs amass a franchise rookie-record 1,150 rushing yards (in 13 games), can control their promising back through 2023. However, another uncertain Derek Carr offseason looms. If/when the Raiders add a starting-caliber wide receiver, there should be enough weaponry by 2020 to finally judge Carr in Gruden’s system. The past two receiving cadres lacked depth. The Raiders obviously need help defensively; that’s an evergreen status. But the franchise’s reloaded run game has at least created a foundation for its first Las Vegas roster. SEASON GRADE: C + | MVP: RB Josh Jacobs

-- Sam Robinson

BRONCOS (7-9): Fourth-quarter collapses redirected a playoff path, but Denver’s journey back from 0-4 showed promise. The Broncos lacked quarterback stability for four years. In 2020, they can finally attempt to build a roster around one. Trevor Siemian once won his first four games as Denver’s starter, so Broncos fans should keep their guards up. But rookie Drew Lock’s 4-for-5 stretch is as promising as anything the franchise has seen since that fluky Siemian September. Thanks to an ill-advised Joe Flacco restructure, the Broncos will eat $13.6 million in dead money to release their initial 2019 starter. But they will enter the offseason with $65 million-plus in cap space. Some free agency funds will be needed to retain breakout safety Justin Simmons and NFL batted-passes leader Shelby Harris. The Broncos have a long way to go, but 2019 was the first year a true post-Super Bowl core appeared to form. The franchise will possess an advantage in Lock’s contract during an attempted early 2020s ascent. SEASON GRADE: C | MVP: Safety Justin Simmons 

-- Sam Robinson

REDSKINS (3-13): Rebuilding Washington's primary goal was to find young studs to build around. Rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin, a third-round selection from Ohio State, was easily Washington's biggest coup of the season. A speedster (4.35 40-yard dash) with elite ability to make acrobatic catches, McLaurin led the Redskins with 919 receiving yards over just 14 games, nearly three times as many yards as the next-closest Redskins wide receiver (Kelvin Harmon, 332 yards). He also hauled in a team-best seven touchdowns, equal to the total of all other Redskins wide receivers combined. Before missing Washington's season finale, Dwayne Haskins (another Ohio State product) began to show flashes of franchise quarterback potential. From Weeks 16-17, Haskins posted a 131.3 passer rating (league average 90.9), second best behind Drew Brees in that time span. SEASON GRADE: D | MVP: WR Terry McLaurin 

-- Michael Nania

COWBOYS (8-8): How could this team finish .500? Dallas finished with a point differential of +113, its fourth-best mark since the turn of the century. Offensively, the Cowboys were excellent, placing top five in points per drive. WR Amari Cooper extrapolated his excellent second half of 2018, WR Michael Gallup broke out, WR Randall Cobb was a strong pickup and QB Dak Prescott set a career high with 8.2 yards per attempt. The offensive line was elite, highlighted by Zack Martin, who is arguably the best guard in football. Dallas' biggest issues came on defense, especially against quality competition. The Cowboys went 2-7 against teams that finished .500 or better, allowing 23 points per game and forcing just three turnovers over the seven losses. Twenty players are slated for unrestricted free agency, and head coach Jason Garrett's job is in great jeopardy. What's next, Jerry Jones? SEASON GRADE: C-minus | MVP: Guard Zack Martin

-- Michael Nania

FALCONS (7-9): Going into their bye week, the Falcons were 1-7 and owned the second-worst point differential in the NFC (-85). Head coach Dan Quinn was almost guaranteed to be canned in a matter of weeks. Fast forward a couple months: Atlanta closed the season as one of the hotter teams, going 6-2 with a +67 point differential, and Quinn will be back. Atlanta played elite football after the bye, claiming wins over New Orleans and San Francisco and three blowout victories. Matt Ryan is still a high-quality QB, the skill position core is talented and the defense was one of the league's best over the second half.  If Atlanta has better luck with injuries in 2020, it could be back in the playoff mix. SEASON GRADE: C | MVP: WR Julio Jones 

-- Michael Nania

BUCS (7-9): The final play of Tampa Bay's season was fitting -- a pick-six thrown in overtime by Jameis Winston, who became the first player in NFL history with 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Winston's status as the only man in the 30/30 club is the perfect representation of where he is as a player. With his elite arm talent, he is capable of making plays that few others can. He entered Week 17 ranked fourth with 8.2 yards per attempt. He also makes puzzling mistakes at a historically alarming rate. The game-ending interception was his seventh pick-six of the season, also an NFL record. Does 67-year-old head coach Bruce Arians want to start over with another QB? SEASON GRADE: C | MVP: WR Chris Godwin  

-- Michael Nania

BROWNS (6-10):  First-year head coach Freddie Kitchens, clearly in over his head, was fired Sunday night. An embarrassing loss to the Bengals did not help his cause. The step backward for second-year QB Baker Mayfield was alarming. He had no on-field rapport with WR Odell Beckham, and his protection from the O-line was poor. Mayfield had three picks against Cincinnati, giving him 21 for the season. He had 14 as a rookie. Kitchens didn’t put his quarterback in good position to succeed, and the league devised ways to defend the Browns' scheme. 2019 was a disaster for a team with such high expectations. The Browns have the NFL's longest playoff drought (18 seasons). SEASON GRADE: D | MVP: RB Nick Chubb 

-- Matt Williamson

BENGALS (2-14): The Bengals finished the 2019 season with the NFL’s worst record and presumably will take LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick. He'll have some decent skill-position weapons to work with -- even if  WR A.J.Green isn’t retained. Joe Mixon, who ripped apart the Browns in Week 17 for 162 yards rushing, is an elite talent. Cincinnati’s offensive line was awful, but it will get back tackle Jonah Williams, who sat out his rookie season with an injury. The offense improved throughout the 2019. Bottom line: There's hope.  SEASON GRADE: D + | MVP: RB Joe Mixon 

-- Matt Williamson