Are we really that far off from the top….
It means that they are all close.
Okay, so everyone at the bottom was still kind of close. Do you think the best players on this roster are going into their best years, or on the other side of their best years?
Because looking at the other worst teams with the idea that everyone is close, I would say they have more reason for optimism with much younger teams. Saints were 29th in average starter age on offense and defense, 2/3 above NO were playoff teams (the 3rd being Miami). All of the teams I named that almost/did win games against the NFCCG teams are younger.
The 3 youngest teams in the NFL (GB, TB, LAR) made the playoffs in the NFC. It’s fine to say, “we’re close” because of a couple games. But if you’re a betting man at all, other teams have much more reason for optimism. It’s not a death sentence, it’s just clear this roster has to have a major youth movement sooner, not later.