An OutKick column published Oct. 12, 2026, singled out the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers as teams it believes should shift attention from this season’s playoff hopes to longer-term priorities.
The commentary said Miami and Arizona had performed roughly as expected, while suggesting their young players and potential draft positions offered reasons to look ahead. It also noted uncertainty about the perceived strength of the 2027 quarterback class, citing concerns about prospect Arch Manning’s development.
The column described Tennessee’s start as especially troubling because the team had tried to improve its roster and coaching staff during the offseason. Through Week 5, it reported the Titans were winless and ranked last in scoring and total offense, averaging 11.6 points and 246.4 yards per game.
Los Angeles was also included. The commentary reported the Chargers were 0-5 and pointed to a demanding remaining schedule, including games against the Rams, Ravens, Chiefs, 49ers and Patriots. It argued that a late-season playoff push appeared unlikely.
The piece considered several other teams but stopped short of writing them off. It said the one-win New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remained close enough to the top of the NFC South to stay in contention, and described the Washington Commanders as still having a possible path in the NFC East. The 2-3 New York Jets, it added, were not yet far enough behind in the AFC East to rule out.
The judgments are the columnist’s assessment after Week 5, rather than a formal forecast or league announcement.
