THE YEAR IN FOOTBALL

THE PLEASANT SURPRISES AND ABJECT DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE 2022 NFL SEASON AND WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR

- DANNY SHERIDAN

When the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in February, it marked a dramatic end to the 2022 NFL season, with Patrick Mahomes overcoming injury to mount a thrilling second-half comeback against Philadelphia. It was a year of change, as some underdog teams overachieved while several favorites failed in dramatic fashion. We saw the final game (probably) of the most successful quarterback of all time, and emerging superstars who lit up the field in style. We turned to Danny Sheridan, our football expert, for his assessment.

BIGGEST SURPRISES

The Giants won a measly four games in 2021, so it was time to start over with rookie head coach Brian Daboll and rookie general manager Joe Schoen. Daboll turned Daniel Jones into a winning quarterback and the Giants shocked the league by going 9-7-1, making the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and even winning in the first round. In Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence made his second-year leap (with perfect hair) and won the godforsaken AFC South, and then rallied his Jaguars from 27-0 to come back in the Wild Card game against the Chargers, one of the biggest comebacks in league history. New coach Doug Pederson is the anti-Urban Meyer in every way.

Dan Campbell has changed the culture in Detroit and the knee-biting Lions seem poised to challenge for the NFC North, especially with Aaron Rodgers almost certainly leaving rival Green Bay. Seattle was supposed to have a gloomy 2022 season, with Pete Carroll rebuilding after moving on from Russell Wilson, but Geno Smith ("They wrote me off, I ain't write back, though.") staged a remarkable comeback at age 32. The Seahawks not only had a winning season, but also made the playoffs.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS