2023 AFC Grades for Eliminated Playoff Teams: Who Passed and Who Failed

With the end of the 2023 NFL regular season comes the start of the ’24 offseason.

For 18 teams across the league, including nine in the AFC, the planning begins now. In some cases, it’s finding a new head coach. In others, it’s looking at the salary cap sheet and figuring out who can be retained as a pending free agent. From there, it’s about adding veterans available in March or in the NFL draft in April.

But before any of that, every team that missed the playoffs must do a self-evaluation to figure out what went wrong in 2023. Let’s look at those squads and hand out some grades.

Indianapolis Colts: A-

• Record: 9–8
• Team MVP: Michael Pittman Jr.
• Best moment: Four-game winning streak to fight for the playoffs.
• Worst moment: Losing Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury.
• Offseason outlook: The ending was brutal. The Colts were so close to beating the Texans and, unbeknownst to them at the time, winning the AFC South in a year many believed Indianapolis was one of the five worst teams in football. Instead, the Colts finished third in the division. Still, the arrow is pointing straight up. Indianapolis has loads of cap space, a roster with young talent and a coach in Shane Steichen who projects to be a keeper. The biggest task for general manager Chris Ballard is keeping Pittman, adding to the skill-position talent around him and finding a few playmakers in the secondary.

Denver Broncos: C

• Record: 8–9
• Team MVP: Courtland Sutton
• Best moment: Snapping a 16-game losing streak against the Chiefs.
• Worst moment: Blowing a 21–3 lead at home to the Commanders.
• Offseason outlook: Once again in Denver, it’s all about finding a quarterback. With Russell Wilson assuredly going elsewhere, coach Sean Payton has to figure out his next move. The Broncos will have options in the draft, even with Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels likely off the board. Perhaps Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix or J.J. McCarthy make sense. Beyond that, Denver has receiver Jerry Jeudy going to free agency, where he should fetch a decent price. Does Denver feel good about Tim Patrick returning after consecutive season-ending injuries in training camp, or does it need to find a replacement from outside?

Las Vegas Raiders: C

• Record: 8–9
• Team MVP: Maxx Crosby
• Best moment: Beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead on Christmas.
• Worst moment: Firing another head coach in Josh McDaniels.
• Offseason outlook: Once more, it’s time for the Raiders to figure out the direction they want to go. Two seasons ago, Las Vegas saw Jon Gruden resign in disgrace before having an improbable run to the playoffs under interim coach Rich Bisaccia. However, the Raiders didn’t retain Bisaccia, instead opting for Josh McDaniels. Will owner Mark Davis again clean house or will he bring back Antonio Pierce, who has done a nice job in a limited opportunity? Beyond the coach, Las Vegas has to decide who the quarterback for 2024 is after benching Jimmy Garoppolo and watching Aidan O’Connell struggle.

Cincinnati Bengals: C-

• Record: 9–8
• Team MVP: Ja’Marr Chase
• Best moment: Handling the 49ers in San Francisco.
• Worst moment: Losing Joe Burrow for the year in Baltimore.
• Offseason outlook: The Bengals have a ton of decisions to make, while a few other veterans are almost assuredly gone. Is Cincinnati going to place the franchise tag on Tee Higgins, sign him long term or allow him to hit free agency? How will the Bengals replace Tyler Boyd? What’s to be done with a defense that struggled all year stopping the pass? General manager Duke Tobin has well over $60 million in projected cap space, but the franchise has historically avoided huge guaranteed money save for Joe Burrow. Will that change this winter with some tough calls looming?

Tennessee Titans: C-

• Record: 6–11
• Team MVP: Derrick Henry
• Best moment: Epic comeback against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
• Worst moment: Losing to Case Keenum at home after leading 13–0.
• Offseason outlook: This is a key offseason for Ran Carthon. The Titans’ general manager enters his second offseason and does so with a wealth of cap space, second only to the Commanders. Tennessee cut multiple veterans last year in an effort to get financially lean and younger on the field, and that sets up an opportunity this winter. For Carthon, it’ll be important to make decisions on key, older cogs such as Derrick Henry and Denico Autry, and then add offensive weapons and secondary pieces through free agency and the draft. Tennessee is well positioned to make a huge splash.

New England Patriots: D-

• Record: 4–13
• Team MVP: Rhamondre Stevenson
• Best moment: Beating the Bills at home in the final seconds.
• Worst moment: Having to admit defeat on the Mac Jones experience.
• Offseason outlook: The Patriots have had the constant of Bill Belichick on their sideline since 2000. That run is likely over. With New England probably looking internally at Jerod Mayo as a replacement, the next step is figuring out how to build an anemic offense into a respectable one come ’24. The first step is finding a quarterback in the draft, potentially even Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Then it’s adding receivers and an offensive line between free agency and rookies. New England has a long build ahead, something that hasn’t been true there in almost 30 years.

New York Jets: F

• Record: 7–10
• Team MVP: Sauce Gardner
• Best moment: Xavier Gipson’s game-winning punt return in Week 1.
• Worst moment: Every moment involving one of the quarterbacks.
• Offseason outlook: For the Jets, everything is about, and has been about, Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers slated to return after sustaining a torn Achilles only four plays into the 2023 season, New York has its quarterback problem solved for at least one year. However, the offensive line was a disaster and needs to be improved in multiple spots, something which should be a primary focus of general manager Joe Douglas in both free agency and the draft. Furthermore, the Jets should also be targeting another pass catcher after watching Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb disappoint.

Jacksonville Jaguars: F

• Record: 9–8
• Team MVP: Trevor Lawrence
• Best moment: Beating the Bills on national TV in London.
• Worst moment: Four-game losing streak in December.
• Offseason outlook: The Jaguars are one of the most disappointing teams in the league. After starting 8–3, Jacksonville fell apart with four consecutive losses, including multiple defeats to backup quarterbacks. For GM Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson, it’s a time for reflection. The Jaguars were supposed to coast to another AFC South title and make noise in the playoffs. Now, they must figure out how to improve the defense while also attempting to keep key free agents, including Josh Allen and Calvin Ridley.

Los Angeles Chargers: F

• Record: 5–11
• Team MVP: Justin Herbert
• Best moment: Firing Brandon Staley.
• Worst moment: Allowing 63 points to the Raiders.
• Offseason outlook: No team had a more disastrous campaign than the Chargers compared to expectations. Now, the first order of business is finding a coach to replace Brandon Staley and a general manager to follow Tom Telesco. Once that happens, the attention turns to a woeful cap situation that sees Los Angeles in dire need of a reset. The Chargers have an obscene $142.2 million committed to Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen next season. It’s likely at least a few of those big names will be gone, along with Austin Ekeler, who hits free agency.