NFL 2016: 5 biggest disappearing acts of season

Be it a major falloff from the past season or a huge collapse after a good start this year, here are a few examples of falling and not getting up.

With two weeks to play, there’s a lot we still don’t know about this NFL season.

What we have discovered is that a few things we assumed would happen this year have not come to fruition. We have seen our share of reversal of misfortunes, be it players, teams and/or units. Entities that succeeded in 2015 or even at the start of this season have gone into hiding.

Where, oh where, have the following five things gone? Oh where, oh where can they be?

Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) breaks through Los Angeles Rams defenders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

5. Seattle Seahawks’ running game

Pete Carroll’s club has already wrapped up the NFC West and is headed back to the postseason for the fifth consecutive year.

But this is still a flawed club that may not be long for the NFL playoffs despite their recent success in that department.

When you look at Seattle’s sporadic offense, there’s one thing that is very evident. It is all about Russell Wilson these days. And we all know that any team dependent solely on its signal-caller without any semblance of balance is doomed to failure.

Dating back to 2012 and the arrival of their current quarterback, the Seahawks have ranked third, fourth, first and third, respectively, in the NFL in rushing offense the previous four seasons. This year, Seattle is currently 20th in the league, running for 101.9 yards per contest. This is a club that has had some notable games when it comes to their ground attack. But it’s also a team that’s been limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in eight of their 14 appearances.

On Thursday night in a 24-3 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, Carroll’s team racked up only 72 yards on 30 carries. Now keep in mind that 26 of those yards came on a jaunt via punter Jon Ryan late in the game.

Combine the numerous injuries in the backfield, the retirement of running back Marshawn Lynch and a front line that has been nothing short of offensive, the search continues for a reliable ground game in the Pacific Northwest.

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) signals to teammates during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cardinals’ QB Carson Palmer

One season after setting a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins and coming within one victory of Super Bowl 50, the Arizona Cardinals have plummeted to 5-8-1 with two games to play.

There’s plenty of blame to go around. We could spend hours on just the failures of the special teams this season. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro has had a forgettable year and that’s just skimming the service.

But it’s also been quite the fall from grace for one of the MVP candidates of the 2015 NFL season. Quarterback Carson Palmer set franchise records with 35 touchdown passes and 4,671 passing yards in leading the team to 13 victories. He was sacked only 25 times, lost just two of his six fumbles and was picked off only 11 times.

What a difference less than a year makes, although to be fair Palmer’s decline began last December. In 2016, the longtime signal-caller has thrown for 3,694 yards in 13 contests. There have been 22 touchdown passes compared to 13 interceptions. He’s been sacked a whopping 38 times and fumbled on 14 occasions. That’s 17 turnovers in 13 games. All told, Bruce Arians’ club has coughed up the football 25 times this season.

As we mentioned, the slide actually began late last year. It started with the team’s 36-6 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, continued in the playoffs and has lasted throughout 2016. In 16 total outings, Palmer has connected for 27 scores and 26 turnovers (20 interceptions and 6 lost fumbles). There have been 17 fumbles and Palmer has been sacked 44 times. His record as a starter over that stretch is 5-10-1.

Will Palmer rebound in 2017? Or are the Cardinals getting ready to make him disappear this offseason?

Nov 6, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) reacts during the second half against Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

3. New York Jets

It’s been said that an unusual offseason in the NFL can lead to problems once the game start to count.

It hasn’t been hard to add up the New York Jets’ victories this year. At 4-10, Todd Bowles’ club has already locked up last place in the AFC East in 2016.

What could have gone wrong has indeed occurred. And one can’t but help thinking some of it may have been avoided, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. Re-signing veteran free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took far too long and his play this year reflected the lack of preparation this summer. In 2015, he set career-highs with 3,905 passing yards and 31 scores, compared to only 15 interceptions. He fumbled just five times and lost just two of those drops.

But the veteran quarterback went POOF! this year. A dozen appearances (10 starts) have added up to 10 touchdown passes and 15 picks and 16 total turnovers. Fitzpatrick’s completion percentage this year is a disappointing 56.8. And he lost his job to Bryce Petty a few weeks ago.

However, it’s the defense that has gone presto-change-o. The league’s fourth-ranked unit a year ago is now 17th in the NFL overall. The Jets have allowed 358 points and 35 offensive touchdowns, up from 314 points and 29 offensive TDs in 16 games in 2015. New York has totaled a disappointing 23 sacks this season, with seven of those coming in a Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And cornerback Darrelle Revis has looked more like a welcoming resort than a remote island.

Now you know how does a 10-6 team fall to four wins in 14 games one season later?

Nov 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Jared Crick (93) and Denver Broncos inside linebacker Todd Davis (51) and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall (54) and nose tackle Sylvester Williams (92) and outside linebacker Von Miller (58) and defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

2. Denver Broncos’ run defense

It may be all over but the shouting when it comes to the Denver Broncos and a sixth straight trip to the playoffs.

At 8-6 and losers of six of their last 10 games, the defending NFL champions won’t win a sixth consecutive AFC West title. The reasons are numerous, but one stands out more than the rest.

On paper, the formidable Denver defense looks okay when it comes to total defense. Only the Houston Texans are giving up fewer total yards per game. And no club in the NFL has been stingier when it comes to stopping teams through the air. Just ask Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota and New England’s Tom Brady in recent weeks.

But here’s the bottom line. If you’re lining up against this defense these days, why fly when you can drive?

In all but two games this season, Denver opponents have run the ball at least 25 times. A year ago, clubs totaled 25-plus carries in only eight regular-season outings. In 2015, Kubiak’s club watched as teams totaled only 408 running plays in 16 contests. That figure reads 429 attempts in 14 games this year…and counting.

Were the offseason departures of defensive tackle Malik Jackson, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan and reserve safety David Bruton that significant? Those losses haven’t helped the team’s cause as opposing running backs and tight ends have exploited the middle of the field when it comes to Wade Phillips’ unit.

All told, the Broncos have allowed 1,790 rushing yards in 14 games – an average of 127.9 yards per outing. On their way to a win in Super Bowl 50 a year ago, this club surrendered just 83.6 yards per game on the ground.

Talk about a disappearing act. And due to that fact, the team’s playoff chances are fading as well.

Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer looks on during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Colts defeated the Vikings 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

1. Minnesota Vikings

While our first four entries have fallen off badly following strong showings in 2015, our top disappearing act involves a team that got off to the league’s best start this season.

The last club to lose a game this year was the Minnesota Vikings. Mike Zimmer’s club opened 5-0 and looked like they were about to write one of the great stories of this season. But it has all come apart in a big way. And even Sunday’s return by running back Adrian Peterson couldn’t stop the club’s recent bleeding.

The Purple Gang has dropped seven of its last nine contests. That includes a pair of setbacks to the first-place Detroit Lions and a Monday night tilt in the Windy City to the now 3-11 Chicago Bears. On Sunday in their own building, the Vikings were simply overwhelmed by the Indianapolis Colts, 34-6.

How bad was it Sunday? The pass-happy Colts rolled up 161 yards rushing on 40 carries this past weekend. Zimmer’s defenders are giving up 122.1 yards per game on the ground during their current 2-7 run. This is the same team that surrendered 77.8 yards per contest rushing over the first five games of this NFL season.

The Vikings have been limited to 16 or fewer points in six of their last nine games. Perhaps just as significantly is the club’s 12 turnovers over that span. Remember that these Vikings coughed up the football just once during their 5-0 start and that lone miscue was by the defense. It’s an offensive unit that has produced only 22 touchdowns in 14 games. The defense and special teams have made six trips to the end zone.

Give Minnesota credit for hanging in there this season despite the summer-time loss of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the absence of Peterson for most of the year. But disappeared the Vikings have, regardless of the reasons.