Finally, a new season is upon us, and one that could see some significant changes, with Peyton Manning's retirement and Tom Brady's 4 week suspension. Like always, I'll try my best and throw out my own predictions. I actually got last season's superbowl matchup, so lets see how these all pan out.
AFC East:
Patriots: 11-5
Jets: 9-6
Bills: 8-8
Dolphins: 6-10
Brady may be sitting out the first 4 games, but I don't think the Patriots will see too many bumps in the season's opening with Jimmy Garoppolo. They may drop a game or two, but then get back on track one Brady returns. As for the rest of the division, the Jets could be contenders, but its just tough to rely on them to rise to the occasion when they're expected too. The Bills will be the Bills. Maybe they have their QB of the future in Tyrod Taylor, but there have been a number of distractions for them, along with Rob Ryan now joining his brother in the coaching ranks. And I may be totally off for the Dolphins, but its the same with the Jets, its just tough to count on them.
AFC North:
Steelers: 12-4
Bengals: 10-6
Ravens: 6-10
Browns: 6-10
The Steelers have run into some defensive injuries (specifically Bud Dupree), along with questions on TE, but Big Ben and AB (coming off a recently signed restructured contract) are coming off healthy, along with a solid O-Line for the time being. They'll be without Le'Veon Bell, but they still have Deangelo Williams who played like a top starter last year when asked. The sky's the limit for Pittsburgh as long as they stay healthy on offense and get the defensive line to step up. The Bengals should be right with them the whole way, but come up short in the end. As for the Ravens, they've declined in recent years, and I don't see much difference. Finally, with RG3 at the helm with a second chance, I think he may see some rough patches, but the Browns won't be a complete embarrassment as they've been.
AFC South:
Jaguars: 11-5
Colts: 10-6
Texans: 7-9
Titans: 4-12
Yes, you read that right, and no, I'm not high. I could see this being a breakout year for a young Jaguars team. They've had some stellar drafts over the past couple years and I see it paying off here. Yes, the Colts and Texans could be contenders (though I have some questions about Brock Osweiler and the Texans offense), but I'm going out on a limb here. Blake Bortles has shown the capabilities of a top young QB. Meanwhile, the Colts are coming off a rough season that saw them go through a plethora of QB injuries. Their O-Line will make or break them. And the Titans are still growing, hoping for a full year with Marcus Mariota, along with a new running attack.
AFC West:
Raiders: 12-4
Chiefs: 10-6
Broncos: 9-7
Chargers: 5-11
Again, yes, you aren't seeing things. A 12 win season for the Raiders. They've been rising and actually drafting intelligently recently, leading to weapons for Derek Carr and a young defense with play-makers. They proved to be tough last year, and that'll continue this year. The Chiefs have a good home atmosphere to deal with, and hopefully a healthy Jamaal Charles at RB. The Broncos could deal with some turmoil on offense, without Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler. Instead, it'll be Trevor Siemian getting the week 1 start.....so yeah. They'll really have to rely on their defense to be the best and go above and beyond last year. As for the Chargers, it feels like they're wasting Philip Rivers.
AFC Playoff Picture:
1) Steelers
2) Raiders
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3) Patriots
4) Jaguars
5) Bengals
6) Colts
AFC Wildcard:
Colts vs. Patriots
Oh the story-lines this would make. I think the Colts and their whining would still be on the Pats' minds.
Bengals vs. Jaguars
Good for the Jags getting a winning season, but the Bengals would want a re-do on their collapse during last year's collapse against the Steelers.
AFC Division:
Bengals vs Steelers
Hopefully with a healthy defense by this point, I see this going down to the wire, but with a win...fair and square this time.
Patriots vs. Raiders
The Tuck game...likely still sends chills through Raiders' fans. That may be ancient history in NFL terms, but I see Carr prevailing here.
AFC Championship:
Raiders vs. Steelers
An old rivalry potentially being renewed with a young Carr and the vet Big Ben. This could be a fun and high flying match, but the home edge pushing the Steelers over the top.
NFC East:
Giants: 10-6
Cowboys: 9-7
Washington: 7-9
Eagles: 5-11
This is a division in flux, with Philly moving on from Chip Kelly, and the Cowboys being without Tony Romo for an unknown period of time with another back injury. With that being said, I see the Giants emerging from the East. The Giants are certainly a roller coaster type of team, but I think they persevere. Factoring in rookie Dak Prescott starting for Dallas, and counting on Romo coming back sometime around week 6 possibly, the Cowboys could definitely be a contender. I think improvements from New York and Dallas will bring Washington back down, and I don't quite know what Philly is right now. They traded Sam Bradford and appear to be riding with rookie Carson Wentz, who didn't have much time in preseason with the starters
NFC North:
Packers: 12-4
Lions: 8-8
Vikings: 7-9
Bears: 4-12
A few weeks ago, this looked like it could be a tight division between the Vikings and Packers, but then Teddy Bridgewater went down for the year with a knee injury. They regrouped and dealt a top draft pick for Sam Bradford, but I think they could see some twists and turns in their opening weeks before getting it together, and with Green Bay, it could be too late by then. The Lions will be looking for a new go-to receiver with Calvin Johnson's sudden retirement, and the Bears are the Bears...lost.
NFC South:
Panthers: 12-4
Buccaneers: 8-8
Falcons: 6-10
Saints: 5-11
This has the makings of another runaway division. The Panthers just seem above and beyond everyone else here. The Bucs are on the rise, but its not their time quite yet, and Matt Ryan and the Falcons have been trying to find themselves for a while now. The Saints may have Drew Brees, but with serious deficiencies on defense.
NFC West:
Seahawks: 13-3
Cardinals: 11-5
49ers: 7-9
Rams: 6-10
A potential battle to the end with Seattle and Arizona. That relies on the Seahawks running attack, and whether Carson Palmer will have a healthy complete season for the Cardinals. The 49ers had seemed to be disorganized, but the Colin Kaepernick anthem protest has seemed to bring the team together. He'll start as the back-up, but I mean, how long are they really going to go with Blaine Gabbert. I could see Kaepernick regaining some of his form in the back-half of the season. And the Rams, now in Los Angeles, look like they'll have more problems at QB, with 1st round pick Jared Goff really struggling in the pre-season. He'll be inactive for week 1. They have some nice weapons on offense, including Todd Gurley, but that'll only take them so far.
NFC Playoff Picture:
1) Seahawks
2) Panthers
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3) Packers
4) Giants
5) Cardinals
6) Cowboys
NFC Wildcard:
Cowboys vs. Packers
Counting on Prescott or Romo here, it may be even a slight miracle for Dallas to make the playoffs. But here facing Green Bay, that's where their road ends.
Cardinals vs. Giants
Relying on a healthy Carson Palmer, the Cardinals have the potential to go on a deep run.
NFC Division:
Cardinals vs. Seahawks
This could be a fun one with this divisional rivalry. But I give the edge to Seattle.
Packers vs. Panthers
This one could be one on defense, and with that, the edge goes to Luke Kuechly and the Panthers.
NFC Championship:
Panthers vs. Seahawks
A rematch of last year's divisional game, where Carolina ran it up early, but Seattle clawed back to make it a game. I think, being at home, Seattle will be more prepared.
In a playoff of rematches and rivalries, we see a Super Bowl 40 rematch. Seahawks fans very much still hold a grudge on Big Ben's TD in that game. I think this game is close early, but Seattle pulls ahead late, and Russell Wilson gets his 2nd ring.
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