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

The NFC turned out to be better than expected after many assumed the AFC would be the superior conference due to the star power at quarterback.

With the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers executing quick rebuilds to become two of the most surprising playoff teams, that meant a few talented NFC squads didn’t make the postseason.

The star-studded Seattle Seahawks were viewed as a potential contender to push the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, Seattle missed the postseason due to tiebreakers, and San Francisco went on to clinch the No. 1 seed.

The Derek Carr–led New Orleans Saints also disappointed, losing the NFC South to the Baker Mayfield–led Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Seahawks and Saints were two of nine teams that missed the postseason in the NFC. Here’s how the nine teams did in 2023 and what to expect from them in 2024.

Seattle Seahawks: B-

• Record: 9–8

• Team MVP: DK Metcalf, WR. Many star players disappointed for the Seahawks this season, and even Metcalf didn’t play up to his lofty expectations. But he bailed out the Seahawks a handful of times, and it was evident that they played better when Geno Smith got him involved. Metcalf, a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, recorded 66 receptions for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per reception.

• Best moment: The Seahawks saved their season after backup Drew Lock delivered a game-winning touchdown to rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 20–17, on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Overall, it was an ugly game, but it snapped the Seahawks’ four-game losing streak, giving them a few more shots to make the postseason. They fell short because of the Week 17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Worst moment: The four-game losing streak against the Rams, 49ers (twice) and Dallas Cowboys. That stretch proved that the Seahawks were more of a fringe playoff team than a Super Bowl contender with a star-studded roster. Many will point the blame at Smith, who regressed after a breakout 2022 season. But the Seahawks’ defense never got on the same page, allowing 117 points during that ugly four-game losing streak.

• Offseason outlook: The Seahawks will need to decide whether to cut Smith or commit to him for another season, which would cost the team a cap hit of $31.2 million for 2024. That’s still lower than most starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Unless they stumble on the Washington Huskies’ Michael Penix Jr. in the draft, the Seahawks should prioritize the defensive side. They need to figure out what went wrong with a team that featured Bobby Wagner, Leonard Williams, Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Dre’Mont Jones. A few veteran defenders probably won’t be back in Seattle next season.

New Orleans Saints: B-

• Record: 9–8

• Team MVP: Derek Carr, QB. He was inconsistent most of the season, but it wasn’t entirely his fault the Saints missed the postseason. Carr gave them one final postseason push by playing at a high level for the final four games of the regular season (998 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception). It took longer than expected, but Carr developed a downfield attack with wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Carr ended his first season in New Orleans with 3,878 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

• Best moment: The Saints had an entertaining shootout against the Indianapolis Colts, a 38–27 road victory in Week 8 to improve to 4–4. Carr & Co. generated 511 total yards and had a handful of playmakers contribute in the thrilling victory. Alvin Kamara had 110 total yards and two touchdowns, and do-it-all playmaker Taysom Hill had 63 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

• Worst moment: Many Saints fans began to sour on Carr after he threw a pick-six to Jessie Bates III during the 24–15 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12. The Saints got into the red zone a handful of times and failed to score a touchdown despite producing 444 total yards. Kicker Blake Grupe scored all the Saints’ points. New Orleans did get revenge, beating Atlanta 48–17 in the regular-season finale.

• Offseason outlook: The Saints will probably attempt to make it work another season with coach Dennis Allen and Carr, who’s owed $30 million guaranteed in 2024. But New Orleans needs to start getting younger, especially on the defensive side. And the Saints should probably look to draft a quarterback. Expect New Orleans to part with a few prominent veterans to get under the salary cap. The Saints are currently a whopping $72.3 million over the cap for ’24.

Minnesota Vikings: C+

• Record: 7–10

• Team MVP: Kirk Cousins, QB. He missed the final nine games of the regular season because of a torn Achilles, but not many quarterbacks played better than he did during the first two months of the season. He played so well that there are now rumors about him and the organization possibly agreeing on another contract extension. Cousins helped the Vikings overcome an 0–3 start, winning four out of five games before the injury. He ended the season with 2,331 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes and five interceptions.

• Best moment: The Vikings managed to dig themselves out of their 0–3 start, but it seemed the season was over for good after Cousins went down. That wasn’t the case because Joshua Dobbs’s arrival from Arizona gave the Vikings new life, starting with his spectacular debut in the Week 9 victory against the Falcons. Dobbs recorded 224 total yards, three total touchdowns and a game-winning drive in Atlanta five days after being traded for the second time in two months.

• Worst moment: Cousins’s season-ending Achilles injury eventually hurt the team because Dobbs failed to cut down on his turnovers, which was also the case with Nick Mullens. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was so frustrated with his turnover-prone quarterbacks that he turned to rookie fifth-round pick Jaren Hall before the team faced the Packers on New Year’s Eve. But the move didn’t matter, as the Packers routed the Vikings, 33–10.

• Offseason outlook: If Cousins is on track for the start of the 2024 season, perhaps he and the Vikings agree to a short-term contract extension. They could also look to draft a quarterback in the middle of the first round, but this team could use another offensive lineman and more help on the defensive side. The defense had a quick turnaround with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who might gain a few interviews for head-coaching vacancies. Also, the Vikings will need to prioritize Justin Jefferson’s looming contract extension, as the star wideout heads into his fifth and final year on his rookie contract.

Chicago Bears: C

• Record: 7–10

• Team MVP: DJ Moore, WR. The sixth-year veteran had a career season during his first year with the Bears. Moore, who was snubbed from the Pro Bowl, had career highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,364) and receiving touchdowns (eight). More importantly, he developed a dynamic downfield connection with Justin Fields. Moore’s production makes the Carolina Panthers’ trade with Chicago so much worse. The Bears have the Panthers’ No. 1 pick for the 2024 draft and their former standout wideout, who will likely make plays in Chicago for years to come.

• Best moment: The Bears turned a corner after defeating the Detroit Lions, 28–13, in Week 14. It was a complete performance that saw the defense hold the Lions’ explosive offense to 267 yards and forced them into three turnovers. Fields made several plays with his arms and legs, throwing for 223 yards and running for 58 yards. The win made up for the fourth-quarter collapse against the Lions during the first meeting, in Week 11.

• Worst moment: Perhaps the Bears could have gained a wild-card spot had Fields remained healthy throughout the 2023 season. Fields missed four games because of a thumb injury, leading to a 2–2 record with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent as the starting quarterback. Who knows whether the Bears would have beaten the Chargers and/or the Saints during that four-game stretch, but Fields returned to play some of the best football of his career.

• Offseason outlook: The Bears’ looming decision on Fields will have a major impact on the draft. Chicago will have the option of drafting the USC Trojans’ Caleb Williams or North Carolina Tar Heels’ Drake Maye with the top pick from Carolina. But Fields’s improvement as a passer and his connection with Moore could push the organization to trade the No. 1 pick for a boatload of picks to continue building the roster. Coach Matt Eberflus has probably earned himself a third season due to the improvements on both sides of the football. He turned the Bears into a top rushing defense, and got career years from cornerback Jaylon Johnson, linebacker T.J. Edwards and edge rusher Montez Sweat. But the Bears will need to re-sign Johnson and add more quality defensive backs to improve the rocky pass defense.

Atlanta Falcons: C-

• Record: 7–10

• Team MVP: Jessie Bates III, S. The former Bengal made a quick impact during his first year with the Falcons. Bates’s career season included six interceptions, 132 total tackles and his first Pro Bowl selection. Bates, who had a memorable 92-yard pick-six against the Saints, was also recognized by Pro Football Focus, which rated Bates the second best safety of 2023, earning a defensive grade of 90.6.

• Best moment: The Falcons overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter of their Week 2 victory against the Packers. It was a promising, all-around performance from a team loaded with playmakers. Bijan Robinson rushed for 124 yards, and Drake London recorded six catches for 67 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately for coach Arthur Smith, his offense didn’t have many productive outings after the home victory against the Packers, partly due to the back-and-forth between struggling quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

• Worst moment: The Falcons were one of the most inconsistent teams throughout the season, but they eventually revealed they have a ways to go before turning into a playoff team. That was clear in Week 15 after they fell to the two-win Panthers, 9–7. Smith’s offense produced a season-low 12 first downs, 204 total yards and five punts. It was one of many reminders that Smith failed to put his talented playmakers in positions to succeed.

• Offseason outlook: Smith was fired not long after the Falcons were crushed 48–17 against the Saints in the regular-season finale. Atlanta will probably take a swing at the big-name coaches available this offseason with the hopes of turning their talented roster into a playoff squad.

New York Giants: C-

• Record: 6–11

• Team MVP: Dexter Lawrence, DT. Lawrence proved his breakout 2022 season was no fluke and earned every penny of the four-year, $90 million contract extension he signed in May. Lawrence again created havoc as a run stopper and pass rusher. He might have been the best interior defensive lineman in the league in ’23—Pro Football Focus gave him a defensive grade of 93.0, the best score at his position.

• Best moment: Tommy DeVito’s rise to prominence gave the Giants a fun story line during a rough season. The New Jersey native guided the Giants on an eight-play, 57-yard game-winning drive against the Packers during a memorable Monday Night Football matchup in Week 14. The come-from-behind victory also gave the Giants a three-game winning streak, all with DeVito as the starting quarterback.

• Worst moment: The Giants’ 40–0 loss to the Cowboys in the season opener was a sign of things to come during a disappointing 2023. Daniel Jones had two interceptions, including the first pick-six of the season for cornerback DaRon Bland. New York also allowed a 58-yard scoop-and-score touchdown after a blocked field-goal attempt. The Giants were blown out a second time by the Cowboys—a 49–17 setback in Week 10.

• Offseason outlook: With the No. 6 pick in the draft, the Giants could opt to draft a quarterback such as the LSU Tigers’ Jayden Daniels or Penix. But if that scenario comes to fruition, the Giants will need to decide whether to keep or move on from Jones, who has a guaranteed $36 million salary in ’24. (The team has an out in Jones’s four-year, $160 million contract extension after the ’24 season.) New York will likely let running back Saquon Barkley test the market after failing to agree on a long-term contract extension. The Giants have a few promising pieces on the defensive side, but they need to add more playmakers and depth for a unit that had many ups and downs. GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll could have a busy offseason as changes loom for the core group of the current roster.

Arizona Cardinals: C-

• Record: 4–13

• Team MVP: James Conner, RB. The Cardinals don’t have many playmakers, but the balance that Conner provided allowed offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to be creative as a play-caller. Conner helped the Cardinals compete the first month of the season and was missed after he was sidelined four games. Conner’s standout performance in Week 13 helped the Cardinals record a road upset victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the season rushing for 1,040 yards, scoring seven touchdowns and averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

• Best moment: Beating the Cowboys, 28–16, in Week 3. This was one of the biggest upsets of the season because many expected the Cardinals to be the worst team in the NFL—that honor went to the Panthers. Arizona was competitive in many games under first-year coach Jonathan Gannon, starting with one-score losses to the Commanders and Giants to open the season. After the Cowboys crushed the Giants and New York Jets, Dallas had no answers for Conner, Dobbs and Petzing’s standout game plan. The Cardinals also recorded upsets against the Steelers and Eagles.

• Worst moment: The Cardinals weren’t as feisty in October and November despite the return of Kyler Murray in Week 10. But no game was worse than the 27–0 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune made his career debut, his lone start of the season. Without Conner, the Cardinals generated only 58 total yards, and Tune was sacked seven times.

• Offseason outlook: The Cardinals will need to decide whether to stick with Murray or draft a quarterback with their No. 4 pick. But all signs point to the Cardinals remaining committed to the 2019 No. 1 pick. Murray had his moments, but his subpar numbers weren’t much better than Dobbs’s, who started the first eight games before being traded to the Vikings. The Cardinals, however, know Murray didn’t have the best circumstances, playing with new coaches, a poor roster and missing the first nine games while recovering from a torn ACL. On defense, GM Monti Ossenfort and Gannon desperately need to add talent in the draft and free agency.

Washington Commanders: D

• Record: 4–13

• Team MVP: Terry McLaurin, WR. The fifth-year wideout was once again the best playmaker for Washington. He was the focal point of opposing defenses and still found ways to get open downfield. McLaurin’s numbers probably would have been better if Sam Howell hadn’t struggled with accuracy and the rushing attack didn’t constantly deliver underwhelming performances. McLaurin finished with 79 catches for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns. Also, a special shout-out to Sam Cosmi, who emerged as one of the best guards in the NFL.

• Best moment: Washington outlasting the Denver Broncos, 35–33, during a Week 2 shootout. Howell had one of his best games, throwing for 299 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. They also had a balanced attack, with Brian Robinson Jr. rushing for 87 yards. At this point, it appeared Washington was going to have a productive offense under first-year play-caller Eric Bieniemy. Obviously, it didn’t work out that way. Even Washington’s defense stepped up after preventing the Broncos from scoring on the two-point attempt after a wild Hail Mary touchdown from Russell Wilson to Brandon Johnson.

• Worst moment: The embarrassing 45–10 loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Ron Rivera’s defense was gashed by Dak Prescott, who had 331 passing yards and four touchdowns. Washington also allowed 45 points the following week in the loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Commanders had the worst defense in the league after trading Sweat and Chase Young.

• Offseason outlook: The Commanders will need to find a new coach after firing Rivera, something many saw coming after Josh Harris officially became the new majority owner of the team. Will the Commanders give Bieniemy an opportunity to interview for the job after how poorly it went for the offense in 2023? But not only do the Commanders need to find a new quarterback after benching Howell late in the season, they need to rebuild a defense that doesn’t have much talent outside of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

Carolina Panthers: F

• Record: 2–15

• Team MVP: Derrick Brown, DT. In his fourth NFL season, Brown surpassed edge rusher Brian Burns as the best defensive player in Carolina. Brown was a disruptor as a pass rusher and against the run, elevating himself as one of the best interior defensive lineman of 2023. The ’20 first-round pick should expect to see a lucrative contract extension from the team and possibly could receive accolades as an All-Pro.

• Best moment: There weren’t many memorable moments for the Panthers, who fired Frank Reich after only 11 games as coach. But their best moment has to be Bryce Young’s game-winning drive against the Houston Texans to give the Panthers their first win of the season after an 0–6 start. Young got the best of C.J. Stroud, but it was a rough rookie season for the No. 1 pick.

• Worst moment: The Week 16 loss to the Packers deserves some consideration for best moment because Young had his best performance of the season, throwing for 312 yards and two touchdowns. But the 33–30 defeat might have stung the hardest due to a controversial review and poor execution by the offense on the final drive. First, the Romeo Doubs catch was upheld after the review—Adam Thielen strongly disagreed—leading to the Packers adding the eventual game-winning field goal. The Panthers had an opportunity to tie the game, but Young failed to spike the ball before time expired. And, yes, there were many embarrassing moments, but this one might have stung the most because this was a game Carolina should have won. And owner David Tepper throwing a drink at a Jacksonville Jaguars fan ranks right up there as an embarrassing moment for the franchise.

• Offseason outlook: The Panthers need to do everything they can to help Young succeed, starting by hiring an offensive-minded coach such as Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who grew up in North Carolina. The team will also need to splurge in free agency for quality offensive linemen and pass catchers. Thielen was outstanding, but the veteran shouldn’t be Young’s No. 1 target. After taking care of the offense, the Panthers need to re-sign Brown and Burns. It would be a bad look for the organization to let Burns walk for nothing after teams offered first-round picks to trade for him the past two years.