NFL Preview let’s roll.
AFC North
This division has belonged to the Steelers for so long it is time for a change. Change is coming, any team, yes even the Browns can win this division this year. I am taking the Ravens though. Joe Flacco is healthy, the defense is still stacked and the Ravens put together one of the most fascinating wide receiving cores this offseason lead by Michael Crabtree. This team has stars in the backfield in Alex Collins and Kenneth Dixon, the Ravens make there triumphant return to the playoffs. The Steelers meanwhile lacking a defensive leader will take a step back this year and miss the playoffs for the first time in a long time.
Ravens 9-7
Bengals 8-8
Steelers 8-8
Browns 8-8
AFC South
The Titans are the most balanced team in this division. This is their year. Marcus Mariota steps up the young wideout core is what Titans fans dream of and the defense makes itself known as one of the most interesting outfits in the AFC. The only thing to potentially stand in the way is coaching, can Mike Vrable take this team to the next level or is this Mularkey all over again? Meanwhile, the Texans provide a fascinating team lead by Deshaun Watson, can they stay healthy? If they can they are Super Bowl contenders if not this could be a four-win team. The Colts have no defense but have Andrew Luck and I believe he will be the man to bounce back big this year. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have a defense but potentially no QB. The Jaguars fall out of the playoffs. If you are shocked by my predictions thus far know that rarely do more than 6 teams repeat going to the playoffs a year. Usually, there are 6 new faces and the Titans are one of them.
Titans 9-7
Texans 9-7 (wild card 2)
Colts 9-7
Jaguars 7-9
AFC East
The Patriots are due for a down year, that’s fine though as this is a down year for the rest of the division. I obviously have the Patriots winning but the reason their record is so mediocre is as follows. Their offensive line is still a mess, they still have no defense, they have close to no wide receiving core for the first quarter of the season and that could be a major problem. If you lock down Brady’s wideouts and pressure the QB that’s the recipe to beating the Patriots. Jacksonville, Houston, Minnesota, and Chicago all have excellent corners and defenses and a recipe to beat the Patriots. Meanwhile, for the rest of the division, the Dolphins can be excited about watching Ryan Tannehill and seeing if he is the answer or not, definitively. The Bills and Jets can have fun with there new toys at QB. This will be the worst division in football hands down but also a division with a ton of great storylines.
Patriots 9-7
Dolphins 6-10
Bills 5-11
Jets 3-13
AFC West
The Chargers have the most talented roster in the division. This shouldn’t be a debate. For once the Chargers should have no excuses, especially because basically everyone else in the division is in the midst of a rebuilding year. Outside of the Raiders who I have as a wild-card team. Why not this MVP 2016 offense is still intact and Derek Carr is better protected. Pass rusher Maurice Hurst has emerged in the preseason and even without Kahlil Mack, this Raiders team has some semblance of a defense. A Gruden system is meant to hide bad defenses and I believe it will. The Broncos will end up going 7-9 but I think that might be just enough for Vance Joseph to keep his job. The Chiefs have no defense and are due for a down year as well which is why I have them last in the division.
Chargers 12-4
Raiders 11-5 (wild card 1)
Broncos 7-9
Chiefs 6-10
NFC North
The NFC North is jam-packed with all kinds of talent in the NFC. The Packers get the best QB in the game back. The Vikings add an explosive QB to there already dominant team and Chicago and Detroit are due for big years. This division is Detroit’s though and here is why. This is Matthew Staffords big break out year. He has tons of talent around him. An improved offensive line, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., and Kenny Golloday. Plus a run game with the additions of LeGarrette Blount and Kerryon Johnson. The pass rush isn’t there on defense but with Darius Slay and Glover Quinn, this is a good secondary. If Matt Patricia can get the defense to be average the Lions can win the division.
(Note this was pre-Mack trade. Post Mack trade my predictions are as follows
Packers 11-5
Vikings 11-5 (wild card 1)
Bears 11-5 (wild card 2)
Lions 11-5
NFC South
The Falcons are the no doubt winner of this division and to think otherwise is foolish. Show me one weak spot on their roster. The Saints are due for a step back and I am worried about the Panthers and Buccs this year. I like what I see happening in Atlanta. They are the deepest roster in the league perhaps and there is no reason to believe they won’t win this division.
Falcons 12-4
Saints 10-6
Panthers 5-11
Buccaneers 3-13
NFC East
This is an extremely interesting division where all four teams could win but one will run away and the others will finish in mediocrity. The Eagles could do it because they have an MVP caliber QB and a great defense. Even if that MVP caliber QB, Carson Wentz, is coming off an ACL tear. The Redskins could do it because the offensive line is healthy and they have Paul Richardson, Jameson Crowder, and Josh Doctson to pair with Alex Smith coming off the best year of his career. Oh, and did I mention Adrian Peterson, who looks like with the right workload could have a massive impact. The Cowboys could do it because Zeke is going to go off and it looks like they may finally have a pass rush this year with the emergence of Dez Lawrence and Randy Gregory. Here is why the Giants will do it though. Pat Shurmur will fix Eli Manning, Saqoun Barkley will be rookie of the year. Evan Engram will emerge as a top-tier tight end, and Sterling Shepard will take the next step. Oh, did I mention they have the best young wideout in the game with Odell and a defense that is still loaded?
Giants 9-7
Eagles 8-8
Cowboys 8-8
Redskins 7-9
NFC West
This is the Rams division to lose. With a stacked defense, though granted no defensive depth whatsoever, and a potent offense they should roll through. However, this is why this division is interesting. Lot’s of young players, and big storylines. Will the Seahawks suck? The answer, I don’t think so, they won’t make the playoffs, but they aren’t going to bottom out completely. Jimmy G and the sudden re-fascination with San Francisco as a national team. Plus, Arizona is packed with young talent and they are an offensive line away from competing in the NFC, how big a hindrance will protection be for the Cardinal?
Rams 11-5
Seahawks 7-9
Niners 6-10
Cardinals 2-14
Wild Card weekend
(6) Texans 24 @ (3) Ravens 27, (5) Raiders 31 @ (4) Titans 21, (6) Bears 24 @(3) Rams 31, (5) Vikings 38@(4) Giants 20
Division Weekend
(5) Raiders 17 @ (1) Chargers 31, (3) Ravens 24 @ (2) Patriots 21, (5) Vikings 31 @ (1) Falcons 42, (3) Rams 42 @ (2) Packers 38
Conference Championship Weekend
AFC
(3) Ravens 17 @ (1) Chargers 31
NFC
(3) Rams 31 @ (1) Falcons 38
Super Bowl, Atlanta GA.
(1)Chargers 23 @(2) Falcons 31
Super Bowl Champs
Atlanta Falcons
MVP
Matthew Stafford
OPOY
Ezekiel Elliott
DPOY
Myles Garett
OROY
Saqoun Barkley
DROY
Derwin James
COY
John Harbaugh
Coaches fired
Adam Gase, Dolphins.
Vance Joeseph, Broncos
Todd Bowles, Jets
Dirk Koetter, Buccaneer’s
Jay Gruden, Redskins
Jason Garett, Cowboys
Mike McCarthy, Packers