We are about two weeks away from real football and I am so far behind on football writing it is insane. I want to ask some big questions, make bold predictions, and unveil some teams to jump on the bandwagon or get off the cliff. So I am rolling it all into one this year, five of each, a marathon of football knowledge if you will that will get you through to the opening week of the NFL Season. Then back up kick the preview, and what we learned columns plus a new weekly column Goal Line Stand, more on that Wednesday. Let’s fly!
Bold Predictions
1. The Philadelphia Eagles miss the playoffs. Call it preseason bias, but I really do believe this team is in real danger of missing the playoffs. They look unfocused and confused in the preseason, there will be a Super Bowl hangover for Philly and that could truly derail there season as they have a grueling schedule. In a much tougher NFC East this year and with question marks at QB, Foles has not played well in the preseason and no one knows when Wentz will be ready, the Eagles are prime candidates to hit the biggest Super Bowl slump you can, missing the playoffs the following year.
2. The Oakland Raiders win the AFC West. Is this really that crazy a take? The Raiders have a QB who before an injury-ridden campaign last year was an MVP candidate in Derek Carr. That doesn’t just disappear overnight. Pair that with a very good offensive line, the best in the division, which is key when your division hosts two of the best pass rushes in the game in Los Angeles and Denver. You could ask questions of the wide receiving core but Amari Cooper is due to bounce back, as historically most receivers do after down years, same with Jordy Nelson. Believe it or not, if you have watched the preseason Marshawn Lynch looks great and the Raiders could have potentially one of the best backfields in terms of depth in the league. Jalen Richard, Deandre Washington, and Chris Warren the third have all had terrific preseasons. Not to mention vet Doug Martin who has looked more like himself this preseason but might not even make the team because of the tremendous young talent at RB on this team. The defense is a mess, but honestly outside of the Chiefs and maybe the Chargers if they actually put it all together the defense could bend but not break in the AFC West. In this division you only need 9 wins, I think that’s attainable for the Raiders. Also, stop doubting Derek Carr if you actually look at a break down of his stats his second half was phenomenal and only included two multi-interception games. The guy was dealing with a back injury and coming back from a broken leg, he will be better this year.
3. Matthew Stafford can win the MVP award. He has tremendous wide receiving talent around him and maybe, finally a running game. The offensive line has looked improved on paper but hasn’t shown it yet in the preseason, however, if they can get it together Stafford is a prime candidate. He has had a 40 touchdown season before, why shouldn’t I believe he won’t be able to do it again? Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., and Kenny Golladay. That group of wideouts has touchdown and warning explosive offense written all over them. Don’t sleep on the Lions and don’t sleep on Stafford.
4. I won’t make any bold predictions about the Browns, wink wink. Listen I have had my heart broken too many times with Brown’s bold predictions. So I will say if I were to make a bold prediction about the Browns, I AM NOT, but if I were to give it a shot, it would be that they win the division. The talent is there, the QB’s PLURAL are there, the running game is there, the defense is there. Everything about this team if you took away the name Browns would scream playoff roster. If the passing game goes nowhere they can lean on a strong running game if the secondary fails they can rely on a great pass rush. This team is disaster proof. Is what I would say if I were making a Brown’s bold prediction, BUT I AM NOT.
5. Through some miracle, the Chargers win the Super Bowl. I have said this probably twenty times this offseason so I won’t bore you anymore. Best offense in the AFC, check, Top 5 defense, check, MVP level QB, check. The Chargers have everything needed to be Super Bowl champions. Yet this is a bold prediction, because I have become infected over the past week with believing in a Chargers curse. A very real thing that keeps a team that should be really fun, really mediocre and disappointing. So my bold prediction is the Chargers win the Super Bowl because if everything breaks right they should. They are the Chargers though so inevitably it will all fall apart by week five.
Big questions
1. Is Case Keenum actually good? Anyone who knows me or listens to the Endzone Podcast or reads this blog knows I am a huge respect Case Keenum guy. What I have seen in the preseason from him has frightened me though. He has struggled with accuracy. That is one thing you can judge QB’s on in the pre-season, accuracy, you should be getting the ball to your receivers general vicinity. Keenum is not. Behind Keenum is Chad Kelly and though he has looked good in the preseason he isn’t ready to be a starter yet. If Keenum regresses things could go very bad very fast in Denver.
2. Should the Jaguars trade for Teddy Bridgewater? My immediate reaction is to say no to this. Blake Bortles can be a game manager and that’s all the Jags need to win games. However, if he’s consistent enough to be a game manager is yet to be seen. You never want to look outright terrible in the pre-season if you’ve started in the league for more than two seasons. Bortles has done that, looked like an absolute dumpster fire. Why not? Gamble, go get Teddy, make yourself a favor for a Super Bowl.
3. How many games will these rookie QB’s starts combined? 58. Darnold and Allen are getting full years. It doesn’t make sense to bench either at this point, they are clearly the future of those franchises. Baker Mayfield starts by week three, week six at most in my opinion. Rosen sees about 12 starts and Mason Rudolph will start a game because of a Big Ben injury, just one though. So 58.
4. Who is the NFL’s leading rusher this year? This is a big question. There are about five candidates that come to the top of mind right off the bat. Todd Gurley, David Johnson, Lev Bell, Zeke Elliott, and Kareem Hunt in no particular order. Then there are the possible break out studs of this year, Joe Mixon, Dalvin Cook, and Leonard Fournette all have a shot in my opinion. I’m going with Zeke though purely off the amount of touches he is going to have in Dallas this year. There are no wideouts in Dallas, that’s a huge question, who are the Cowboys going to throw too? Pair that with a dominant O line and fresh legs and Zeke could easily put up 2,000 yards. Honestly keep an eye on him as a deep sleeper for the MVP trophy if the Cowboys succeed this year.
5. Are the Patriots being somewhat overlooked? I would say yes, a team who always has a ton of offseason buzz has had very little solid news going on around it. However for as much as the media wants to say, Belichick, Brady, and Gronks beef is the downfall of this dynasty they are overlooking a real on the field weakness. The receiving position. Outside of Julian Edelman and Gronk who do the Patriots have? Who does this team have to take the top off of a defense? It should be a real concern for Patriots fans. Corners are going to figure this team out, and though I will never doubt Tom Brady he can only do so much and if corners are shutting Pats wideouts down it means pressure is coming for Brady. The QB’s kryptonite, there is a blueprint to beat this team this year.
Jump on the bandwagon and get off the cliff. This is one of my favorite last second columns to write. It’s time to decided what teams to jump on and which ones to run away from as fast as you can let’s go!
Jump on the bandwagon
The New York Giants: I know it’s the preseason but what I saw from Eli Manning Friday night was just phenomenal. If he can return to his 2015 form that offense is loaded and the defense is one of the best in the league. If Eli plays even average this team is a division winner and if Manning recaptures his 30 TD year form this team is a Super Bowl contender. Get on the Giants bandwagon now, this team might go 8-8 but it will be one of the most exciting 8-8 years you have ever seen.
The Atlanta Falcons: This team has the best roster in the NFL. Depth at every position on defense, all-star wideouts including a rising star in Calvin Ridley and a dominant running back room. There is no reason this team shouldn’t go 13-3 this year.
The Cleveland Browns: The Browns are America’s team, hear me out. Somehow, someway, America has fallen in love with the Cleveland Browns. They are revered as loveable losers that everyone wants to see win. So maybe climb on that bandwagon. Even if they only win four games you know it will be a wild ride. Say somehow they win the division, or god forbid a playoff game, how crazy would that be. Root for the Browns. Just do it, just for fun, jump onboard the loveable losers and never let go. This is your time Cleveland America loves you, show us miracles still do exist!
Get off the cliff
The San Francisco 49ers: Don’t get swept in by Jimmy G. The Niners aren’t ready yet. They need a year, the defense is a massive question mark. There is a real possibility this team only wins four games. Don’t get your heart broken, step away from the Niners.
Jacksonville Jaguars: This is the part of the article where I do a total three sixty on the Jags and say they have the potential to go 4-12 this year. Yes, this team could be awful. They just lost there best wideout Marquise Lee and an offense seems nonexistent. The Defense cannot carry them without an offense this team is meant to win from ahead and they might be behind a lot this year. Stay away from them, I don’t have them making the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Chargers: Just don’t do it unless you want your heart broken. I won’t take my own advice, but deep down I know this team is just going to hurt me. Please for the sake of your health, get off the cliff!