Week 2: Thoughts & Reactions

With two weeks gone, the NFL has only begun to turn into full gear. Some of my playoff picks are already looking quite skeptical, while other teams that I bashed as mediocre / lousy have stepped up with some impressive performances. Of course, I’m not really concerned at all about my seemingly lousy predictions because I am smart, and ultimately I will be right about all my predictions. My picks might not seem perfect at the moment, but I assure you that, in reality, everything is going exactly as expected. By the end of this post, I will have you 100% convinced that I am actually 100% right about all of my amazing predictions. Please do not worry. Please trust me. Please remember that I went 10-1 straight up and 9-1-1 ATS for my playoff predictions last season. Please forget that I went 7-4 straight up and 3-8 ATS for my playoff predictions the season before. Please keep reading. You won’t regret it.

AFC West

So far it is apparent that I have a sound understanding of the AFC West, which would make sense because it garners most of my attention, due to the Raiders’ membership. The Broncos look like the best team in the division, as they are the only 2-0 squad. The offense has improved from last year, while the defense has remained one of the top units in the league. Based on the early going, there is no reason to think that Denver will relinquish the division title this season. The Raiders have looked good in spurts, but their concerns in the secondary have proven to be their undoing. Oakland is lucky not to be 0-2 at this point, as the defense has been torched for 69 points over two games already. The Chiefs escaped a scare in Week 1 against the lowly Chargers, making an incredible comeback in Kansas City. Looking back on that matchup, there may have been more to that game than what I initially thought, as the Chiefs did not look good in their Week 2 loss to the Texans, and the Chargers looked unstoppable in their Week 2 demolition of Jacksonville. The AFC West looks like it will be a fun division to watch, as San Diego has thrown their hat into the ring with Oakland, Kansas City, and Denver, as contenders for the AFC playoffs. Go Raiders.

AFC North

The AFC North is also a division where things are going as expected. The Steelers (my Super Bowl pick) look like an early contender for top team in the NFL, as they dismantled Washington in Week 1, and scored an impressive victory against Cincinnati in Week 2. The Bengals have been less convincing, narrowly escaping a determined Jets team in Week 1, and falling short against their aforementioned Pittsburgh rivals in Week 2. Still, I like Cincinnati as my pick to finish as one of the two wild card teams in the AFC. Quietly, the Ravens have started the season 2-0. They put on a wonderful defensive display against Rex Ryan’s middling Bills, and made a nice comeback against the Browns in Week 2. However, you have to ask yourself, was it really a nice comeback, or was it more of an escape from embarrassment? The Browns continues to be the saddest franchise in the NFL. Cleveland was not satisfied with simply blowing a 20-0 lead at home against the rival Ravens, the Browns also had to disappoint their fans by guaranteeing that they would be starting their fifth different quarterback in their last five games, when Josh McCown went down with a shoulder injury.  Good luck Cody Kessler. I expect you to either throw 6 picks or tear your ACL. Your fate lies in the hands of the cruel NFL gods.  

AFC South

The Texans have quickly established themselves as top dogs in the AFC South, with the Titans as their closest contender after 2 weeks. That’s a good position to be in. Osweiller is playing some solid mistake-free football, and the defense is doing their thing, as the Texans sit at 2-0. I wasn’t too impressed by the Week 1 win over Chicago, as I don’t find the Bears to be a good football team; however, Houston backed up that win with a solid thumping of the Chiefs in Week 2. Maybe I should start giving the Texans more credit… Nah. I would rather be stubborn and stick with my prediction that they will miss the playoffs. The Titans have looked good, as Mariota was able to lead the team to victory with an impressive game-winning drive over Detroit on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if Tennessee can keep this level of competency up all season long. The Colts have gotten off to their usual 0-2 start, and there is already plenty of reason to be concerned in Indianapolis. The Colts barely lost to the Lions in Week 1, but it is hard to sympathize with that loss, as Detroit is a team that Indy should beat handily if they are hoping to return to the top of the league, as one of the NFL’s elite teams. Finally, my predicted champion of the South sits alongside the Colts at the bottom of the division. The Jaguars were unlucky not to win their opener against Green Bay, but they followed that up with an absolute stinker in San Diego. We’ll have to wait for the results of the coming weeks to sort out just what these results mean for the up and coming Jaguars. If Jacksonville keeps failing to win football games, I may need to revoke my prediction of their playoff participation. I expect they will turn things around though because I am always right. C’mon Jacksonville! Don’t make me look like a fool!

AFC East

This division still belongs to the Pats, as Belichick has kept the team in top form, even with Brady and Gronk out for the first two weeks of the season. Heading into Week 3, New England will be forced to start a rookie QB against a Texans team that has looked good over the first two weeks. This should present New England with their greatest test yet of the still young NFL season. Either way, having already won at least two of their first four games without Brady will most definitely be enough to set the Patriots up to win this division for the 8th straight year. The Jets have been solid, and if I could redo my regular season predictions, I would put them in the playoffs over the Bills. This may be the one single prediction that I end up getting wrong (there is no way I get anything else wrong, right?). Maybe I should stop putting so much faith in Rex Ryan’s Bills. All that guy knows how to do is fire assistant coaches, eat, have a foot fetish, and execute blatant nepotism by hiring his terrible defensive coordinator of a brother, Rob Ryan. The Bills sit at the bottom of the division with the Dolphins; however, Buffalo’s losses have been far more concerning. The Bills looked atrocious on offense against the Ravens, and had little consistency against the Jets. Buffalo needs to fix a lot of problems if they hope to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Meanwhile, New York nearly beat Cincinnati in Week 1, and they looked very good against Buffalo in Week 2, even if the score was somewhat close. The Jets are for real. I don’t expect them to take the division from New England, but I would definitely be on the lookout for them nabbing a wild card spot. The Dolphins gave the Patriots a good scare this Sunday, but they came up just short. Miami has been impressive, taking two top teams to the wire (Seattle and New England) in the first two weeks of the season, but they are yet to close the deal. Still, if Miami continues to play this well, they could at least be better than expected this season.

NFC West

If I could go back in time, I would definitely switch my pick for the division winner from the Seahawks to the Cardinals. All the teams in the NFC West currently sit at 1-1, but the one with the least concerns is Arizona. The Cardinals would be 2-0 if it weren’t for a missed field goal against New England. They have the most complete team in the division, as their offense and defense are two of the best units in the league. The Seahawks are lucky to not be 0-2 right now, and they haven’t even played any good teams yet. Seattle narrowly escaped against Miami in Week 1, and they managed only three points against the Rams in Week 2. The Seahawks offense is a mess. Wilson will have to start playing much better if this team even hopes to make the playoffs. The Rams are hard to figure out at the moment. They were embarrassed in Week 1 by the anemic 49ers, but they pulled off the unthinkable against Seattle in Week 2. It looks like we will need a few more weeks to figure out the Rams. The Niners, my pick for the worst team in the league, have surpassed expectations so far. They have looked quite competent for two weeks in a row now. The win over Los Angeles in Week 1 was questionably impressive, against a Rams team that is still yet to score a touchdown. On the other hand, the Week 2 loss to Carolina was very impressive, as San Francisco went into Charlotte and threatened the defending NFC Champs well into the fourth quarter. The NFC West is hard to figure out at the moment, but if I had to make a decision right now, I would say that the Cardinals are the only team I expect to make the playoffs out of this division.

NFC North

Just when the NFC North seemed like the most obvious division to call, Sam Bradford came out and threw a curveball (aka accurate strikes all over the field) at us, looking very impressive in Minnesota’s win over Green Bay on Sunday night. The Viking defense clamped down on Rodgers, as he was harassed all game, causing him to fumble the ball three times and throw one interception. I guess the Vikings are still real contenders in the North, as they look keen on repeating as division champions. The Packers are still my pick to win the division, but I am a little less confident in that after watching the offense struggle against Minnesota. Detroit are still hanging around, but I expect them to be a non-factor as the season wears on. The Lions were minutes away from starting the season off 2-0, but Mariota mounted an impressive game-winning drive to keep the hopes of fans in Detroit at bay. Chicago is sitting at the bottom of the heap, as we have gotten about what we expected from the Bears so far. They hung around against Houston in Week 1, but they looked quite pitiful on Monday night against Philadelphia, as Carson Wentz tore them apart. I don’t expect Chicago to be in any part of the playoff conversation this season.

NFC South

The NFC South is another intriguing division. While it is still very early, the division is very tight, as three teams sit at 1-1. The Panthers still appear to be the top team in the division, as they nearly took down the Broncos in Denver on the NFL’s opening night. However, an uneven performance against the Niners has me skeptical about the quality of Carolina’s team. Either way, I will stand by the Panthers as my pick to win the NFC South. The Buccaneers looked good to start the season, but a 40-7 thrashing by the Cardinals in Week 2 was worrying for Tampa Bay fans. I wouldn’t count them out just yet though. One game does not define the season, but a beatdown like that is always at least a little concerning. Fortunately, the Bucs looked very solid against the Falcons in Week 1. That win could prove very important towards the end of the season, when the playoff race heats up. Atlanta was able to rebound nicely after the aforementioned Week 1 disappointment to the Bucs, by defeating the Raiders in Oakland this past Sunday. The offense looked very impressive; however, as I have already pointed out, that may have had more to due with the ineptness of the Raider’s secondary than the quality of the Falcon’s passing attack. Finally, the Saints sit at the bottom of the pile, as the only team in the South still looking for a win. New Orleans had a tough loss to Oakland in Week 1, and another close game against the Giants in Week 2. The Saints could very easily have won both of those games. Instead they sit at the bottom of the division. While it’s definitely too soon to count out the Saints, a slow start can sometimes be difficult to overcome for any NFL team.

NFC East

The NFC East appears to be off to a good start, but it is still a little too early to tell, especially considering the fact that many of their games have been intra-divisional so far. At a glance, it may appear that my predictions are a bit off, but if you look closer you will realize that you are wrong and of course my predictions are good. Philadelphia may seem like they have been playing well, and Wentz may appear to be living up to the hype; however, wins against the lowly Browns and Bears does little to impress me. The Eagles will need to rack up a few more victories before I become a believer. The Giants have been taking care of business in the early stages of this season, as they were able to beat the Cowboys in Week 1 and the Saints in Week 2. Eli will always keep New York competitive, but he will need a lot of support from the rest of the roster if the Giants hopes to make a playoff run. Dallas has not been a complete mess, which is definitely a positive, considering their loss of Romo before the start of the season. Dak has looked comfortable, and Ezekiel looks NFL-ready. Maybe the Cowboys will be able to hold things together, especially against the inconsistent NFC East. At the bottom of the division, the Redskins sit at 0-2. Washington opened the season on Monday night with a rough game against one of the best teams in the league in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, they followed that up with a poor performance against Dallas in Week 2. Just like the other seven divisions, there is still plenty of time left in the season, so I wouldn’t count the Redskins out just yet. I still expect them to battle for the division crown. Whether or not that battle ends up being fruitful, is still yet to be seen.

The NFL season continues to slowly materialize before our very eyes. The future still looks dark and hard to make out, but don’t worry! I will lead you to the light. Just grab my hand. I will make sense out of all this chaos for you. I will sift through the mayhem to bring clarity to your NFL viewing experience. Continue with me deeper into the tunnel of the unknown. Week 3 is on the way. There is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I can almost see the NFL post-season from here...

My 2016 NFL Predictions

Football is finally back. On Thursday night, we will be treated to a Super Bowl rematch to open the 2016 NFL season. Of course, the teams will look slightly different, with the biggest difference being the unrecognizable quarterback behind center for the Denver Broncos. Siemian (I had to look up the spelling of his name) will take the reigns as quarterback for the defending Super Bowl champions. Siemian is yet to throw a regular season pass in the NFL, and now he will be entrusted with the offense of the defending champs. Thursday night should be a rude awakening for Siemian and the rest of the Denver offense, as they get to set to take on the vaunted Carolina defense. As for the Carolina offense, we will get to watch Cam Newton take the field for the first time since his dismal performance in the Super Bowl. The Panthers will attempt to reestablish themselves as a top team in the NFL, while the Broncos will begin their title defense.

However, none of this really matters for most fans. Every fan outside of Denver and Carolina are more excited for the opening Sunday of football than this season opener on Thursday. This Sunday, the 30 teams that did not make it to the final week of the post-season will begin 2016 with high hopes, as every single team is potentially seventeen weeks away from the playoffs. So prepare yourself for seventeen weeks of excitement. Seventeen weeks of drama. Seventeen weeks to determine if your favorite team will be one of the lucky 12 to participate in the 2016-17 NFL playoffs. So, read on if you would like to find out how your favorite team will fair in the 2016 NFL regular season. However, if you’d prefer the results of the season to be a surprise, I’d skip this post.

Playoff teams are denoted with an asterisk. Let’s start with the AFC.

AFC West

Broncos: 10-6*

I know it sounds cliche, but this division (and the Lombardi trophy for that matter) belongs to the Broncos until someone takes it from them. Trevor Siemian is the week 1 starter. That is bad news for the Denver passing game. However, not only did the Broncos survive with an incredibly inept passing game last season, they excelled. Denver’s defense was so good last year that the offense could probably have gotten away with kneeling on every play, and the Broncos still would have had a decent shot at winning many of their games. And while this defense is still insanely good, I imagine that the offense will eventually need to score some points if they hope to make another Super Bowl run. Although I expect a slow start from Denver, they are still my pick to win the division, just barely though.

Raiders: 9-7

Was I tempted to place the Raiders at the top of the AFC West pile? Of course I was! The Raiders are finally on the right path, but I would be lying to you if I said that I wasn’t nervous about the lofty expectations that are being placed on them. Oakland has been disappointing me for 13 years, and they now have a legitimate shot to win the division. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to put them at the top. Even with the young talent on both sides of the ball, the defense and offense can be inconsistent. The running game can go silent for games at a time. The secondary can get torched in any given game (I am reminded of Antonio Brown catching SEVENTEEN (17) passes for 284 yards against the Raiders last season). And Carr still makes plenty of mistakes. The team is young. They had a great offseason. But still, there is plenty to prove. With a few lucky breaks, the Raiders could finish with 11 wins. Of course, if fortune falls the other way, I wouldn’t be surprised to see another 7-9 season.

Chiefs: 9-7

Just like Oakland, you could make a case for the Chiefs finally usurping the Broncos as division champions. Kansas City has compiled 31 regular season wins over the last three years, which is a great mark of consistency. However, they have finished second in the division each of those years. The Chiefs have an incredible running game, a strong and consistent passing game, and a defense that ranks towards the top of the league. Just like the Raiders, the Chiefs have just as good a chance to finish 11-5 as they do 7-9. Still, I peg them for nine wins this year, and I predict that they will finish in a disappointing third place in the West. The Chiefs failed to improve over the offseason, but they are still a strong side. The Chiefs start this season on a 10 game regular season game winning streak. They will hope to use that momentum to fuel the start of another regular season campaign.

Chargers: 5-11

Finally, we get to the Chargers. The AFC West looks to be a very competitive division this year, but I predict that San Diego will be observers to most of the action, as the Chargers seem closer to Los Angeles than they do to the playoffs. Rivers will keep this team afloat, but San Diego continues to do nothing to improve. Sure, Keenan Allen is a solid target, but where is the rest of the help in the passing/running game that this team needs to succeed? The defense remains mediocre, and their prolific rookie Joey Bosa remained unsigned until a mere 10 days before the start of the NFL season. The Chargers continue to embarrass themselves on and off the field. It wasn’t too long ago that San Diego owned the AFC West. Those times seem very far away now.

AFC North

Steelers: 12-4*

The top receiver in the NFL. A top running back. A top tier, experienced quarterback. And a defense that can hang with the best of them. Pittsburgh has all the pieces to make a Super Bowl run. The Bengals will certainly challenge them for the division crown, but I see the Steelers as the best team in the division, and I expect them to take the crown back this season. Roethlisberger lost a great target in Martavis Bryant to suspension, but there is certainly nothing to complain about when you have Bell, Brown, and Wheaton as your primary skill players. Bell will miss the first three games of the season.  However, if last year proved anything, the running scheme and offensive line are really what keep the Pittsburgh ground game going, as an aging Deangelo Williams was able to rack up some impressive stats in 2015. He will look to do the same to start the 2016 season.

Bengals: 10-6*

The Bengals were able to retain much of their talented squad on both sides of the ball over the offseason, which generally bodes well for a defending division champion. Coming off their first place finish in the AFC North, this team is primed for success. However, as I’ve said in the past, any of the regular season success that the Bengals experience will be rendered meaningless without a playoff victory. It has been twenty five years since the Bengals won a playoff game. They’ve participated in 6 of the last 7 post-seasons, but have no playoff victories to show for it. The Bengals have never won a playoff game in my lifetime. They have to win one eventually, right? WIll this finally be the season to break the drought? Only time will tell.

Ravens: 7-9

After a season plagued by injuries, the Ravens look to bounce back. However, with two such talented teams above them in this division, it will be tough for Baltimore to return to the playoffs. The offense features an outdated version of Steve Smith, plenty of question marks at running back, and a quarterback that is just competent enough to succeed at the NFL level. Hopefully the Ravens won’t have to rely on Steve Smith too much this season, assuming Kamar Aiken and Breshard Perriman are able to develop into the types of receivers that they are capable of being. On the defensive side, the Ravens added Eric Weddle, which should sure up what is already a solid defensive unit. This team could definitely surprise some people this season, especially after going 5-11 the season before. However, I expect another season without the playoffs for Baltimore.

Browns: 4-12

Oh the Browns… It was only a couple seasons ago that I thought they were on the upswing. Unfortunately, this team is settling back into its role of making snap, irrational decisions in the front office, further torturing their fan base. Robert Griffin III is in no way the saving grace that Cleveland is looking for. The Redskins have already tried out the RGIII experiment and it did not go well. Washington tried as hard as they could to keep him as their starting QB for three seasons, until they finally gave into the fact that he just wasn’t that good. Maybe if Griffin hadn’t torn his ACL in 2012 things would be different. Unfortunately, he has not been the same QB since that fateful playoff game against the Seahawks. Now, the Browns look for RGIII to be the answer to their franchise woes. This team is primed for failure. The playoffs appear nowhere in sight for this hapless franchise. I truly feel for the fans in Cleveland. At least their basketball team is decent.

AFC South

Jaguars: 9-7*

Finally, the Jaguars are back. Yes, Jacksonville will win the AFC South this year. I know what you’re thinking. You want to say, “But the Colts will surely be better with a healthy Andrew Lu” - NO. SHUT UP! “But Houston finally has all the pieces to compete for a Supe” - WRONG. NOPE. I don’t want to hear it. The Jaguars are America’s Team now. This team is here to make the city of Jacksonville proud. You’ve got Allen and Allen (Robinson and Hurns) at wideout. You’ve got Yeldon and Ivory tearing up the middle of the field. You’ve got some dude playing quarterback that actually knows how to throw the ball. And to wrap it all up, you’ve got a competent defense, capable of making plays. This is a young team on the rise. And while I’ve only predicted 9 wins for this Jacksonville side, I predict that those 9 wins will be just enough to crown them division champs for the first time since 1999, when they went 14-2 in the AFC Central.

Colts: 9-7

Which Andrew Luck will we be treated to this year? Will we watch another season of Luck getting mauled by opposing defensive lines thanks to a totally inept pass block? Or, will we be treated to the more aesthetically pleasing Luck, who is able to make pinpoint accurate passes while in the pocket or even while on the run? Well, I’m thinking it will fall somewhere in the middle, but maybe I’m being optimistic, considering the fact that the Colts did not do much to improve their line over the off-season. Still, I see them competing all season for a division crown and a playoff berth, but ultimately falling just short to the mighty Jaguars of Jacksonville.

Texans: 8-8

Anyone else tired of hearing about J.J. Watt? Frankly, I don’t really care about his offseason workouts. For that matter, I don’t care about anyone’s offseason workouts. Anyways, a lot of analysts like the improvements that Houston has made to the squad. I for one am not that impressed. Osweiller is the most overpaid QB in the league (it’s amazing what a GM will pay for anyone with even brief starting football experience), Lamar Miller is fine (but I am one of the many that believe that a running game is defined by the running scheme / offensive line, and not the running back), and Deandre Hopkins is dope (gotta respect a great talent). The defense has been very good, but not nearly good enough to make up for what the team lacks on the other side of the ball. Maybe I’m being harsh, but I expect another mediocre season out of the Texans.  

Titans: 5-11

If there is one thing I can rely on in the AFC South, it’s that the Titans will finish at the bottom of the division again. While the top three teams battle for the division crown, I expect Tennessee to once again be battling for the top draft pick. Maybe Mariota is getting better, but the rest of the squad is not. The Titans are definitely on the right long term path, as they were able to stock up on draft picks after trading away the number 2 overall pick to the Eagles. Unfortunately, this long term success will not equate to success in 2016. Fans in Nashville will just have to continue waiting. But who knows, maybe a playoff season is closer than we think for the Titans.

AFC East

Patriots: 12-4*

Garoppolo could start the whole season, and this team would still make the playoffs. The Belichick system continues to hum along, and this team continues to succeed. Meanwhile, Gronk continues to crush expectations every season, as he improves as one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Gronk is nearly impossible to cover in the secondary, and he continues to be the leading receiving force on an offense that hasn’t had a decent wideout since Randy Moss in 2007. As long as Belichick is in charge, this team will continue to succeed. They will not be relinquishing the AFC East anytime soon, even if the division is packed with talent this season.

Bills: 10-6*

Three teams appear poised to break long playoff droughts this season (Raiders, Jaguars, and BIlls). I wasn’t brave enough to predict a playoff berth for the Raiders, but I do see the Jaguars and Bills as likely candidates to finally make the playoffs. The Bills have a great team, centered around some dynamic skill position players, and buoyed by a top tier defense. Last year I predicted they would be Super Bowl champs. This year, I’ll reel in those unreasonable expectations a bit, and just predict a playoff berth. Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs since 1999. An appearance this season would snap the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. Is this the year that the Bills finally break out of the AFC East?

Jets: 10-6

I predict that the Jets will be the first team out of the playoffs for the second straight year. New York definitely has a playoff caliber squad, but I just like a few other teams a little more in the AFC. In my mind, New York didn’t really do enough during the offseason to bump themselves into the playoffs. They were at least able to hold onto Fitzpatrick, who has proven to be the most competent starting quarterback that the Jets have had in awhile. Geno Smith is nowhere near as NFL-ready as Fitzpatrick, so holding onto him was very important for the Jets. Fitzpatrick plays solid, mistake-free football. Couple him with a talented roster, and this team is not far from success.

Dolphins: 4-12

I don’t think the Dolphins are that bad of a team, but I do think they are playing in one of the strongest divisions in the NFL. So, I expect that they will get beaten up by the Pats, Jets, and Bills on their way to another struggling season at the bottom of the league. Miami is in a rebuilding phase. Fortunately, this might not be the worst time to go through this transition, as the AFC East is a tough decision to get out of right now. With the Pats dominating the AFC East, the best the other three teams can hope for is a wild card berth. I expect the Jets and Bills to be battling for the two AFC wild card spots. Unfortunately for Miami, the Dolphins are unlikely to have any part of that playoff battle.

That does it for the AFC! Let’s move onto the NFC. Which six teams will be representing the National Football Conference in the playoffs this season?

NFC West

Seahawks: 12-4*

In my mind, the NFC West is the most interesting division in the NFL. Two of the best and two of the worst teams in the league reside in this division. Seattle has proven that they have the talent on their roster to remain on top for multiple years, and I expect them to take the division championship back from Arizona. The Seahawks have the top defensive unit in the NFL, and they will continue to be tough to beat if their defense remains the best in the NFL. A strong defense will make any offense look good, so I expect the Seahawks to have continued success on that side of the ball as well. Even with the departure of Marshawn Lynch, I don’t expect the running game to miss a beat. Rawls and Michael are talented enough to continue the success of Seattle’s running game. Meanwhile, Wilson has showed consistency at quarterback, as he continues to lead one of the best teams in the NFL with a quiet confidence.

Cardinals: 11-5*

The Cardinals have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL that contains a flurry of offensive weapons. My only concern is that Palmer continues to get older and closer to retirement. The window for success is closing for the Cardinals, unless they can find a successor for Palmer soon. However, even as the future of their quarterback is in question, the defense still remains one of the top units in the NFL. The Cardinals are one of the most complete teams in the league, but they play in the same division as another top NFC squad. And this season, I happen to believe that Seattle will return to the top of the NFC West. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cardinals repeat as division champs, but I like the Seahawks’ chances just a little more.

Rams: 5-11

After the Cardinals, we see an enormous drop-off in talent in the NFC West. The Rams have a premier running back in Todd Gurley, but it seems unfortunate that he will be left to suffer on such a weak team. I expect the offense to struggle mightily this season, even with the explosiveness of Gurley and Tavon Austin. The defense is a very solid unit (interesting that so much defensive talent resides in this one division), but they won’t look so good if the offense is constantly going three and out, putting the defense in tough situations. I expect the Rams’ first season back in Los Angeles to be a tough one, especially with Case Keenum under center. With expectations low for 2016, there is also concern with the future, as Jared Goff fell all the way to third on a weak quarterback depth chart.

49ers: 3-13

And then there was the Niners. San Francisco’s fall from grace was sudden and intense. Only a few years removed from having the most talented roster in the NFL, the Niners are at the early stages of a long rebuilding process. It is hard to point to any one spot on the roster and feel confident in what you see. I guess Carlos Hyde is an untapped talent, but he is going to have a difficult time in such an anemic offense. Running backs rely heavily on the talent around them, and there is little of it. Meanwhile, Kaepernick has officially lost the starting job, as Chip Kelly tries to see how much success he can get out of Blaine Gabbert. Kelly is still trying to prove that he can coach at the NFL level, but it is quickly becoming apparent that his success in college football may have been buoyed by the fact that he always had one of the top rosters in the nation. Now, we’ll see how he deals with the opposite, as the Niners have the clear cut worst roster in the league. I would not be surprised to see Kelly coaching college football again within the next 3 years. For now, Kelly can focus on winning the first overall draft pick of 2017.

NFC North

Packers: 12-4*

May as well crown them as division champs now. The Vikings were primed to try to repeat as NFC North champions, but with Bridgewater out for the season, that dream is gone. With the Vikings virtually out of the picture before the first regular season snap, the Packers will have no trouble winning the division. Rodgers gets Jordy Nelson back this year, and I expect that to make a big difference for the gunslinger. The Packers have a solid roster, and I expect the usual dominant season. I predict that the NFC North will be the first division to crown its champion this season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Green Bay go 6-0 in the division this season.

Vikings: 8-8

Even without their starting QB, this is still the second best team in the NFC North. Bridgewater is in no way a top tier quarterback, but when you lose consistency behind center this close to the start of the season, the team is going to need some time to adjust. I think 8 wins is more than reasonable for Minnesota, but they won’t come easily. The defense and run game should hold them together, but I imagine a slow start to the season will all but eliminate any playoff hopes early for the Vikings. It’s always unfortunate to see a team’s hopes dashed before the season even starts, but football is a physical game, riddled with injuries. So it’s even more disappointing when your franchise quarterback goes down before the season starts with a non-contact injury. The only thing that could make this worse for Minnesota is if they traded some high future draft picks for some subpar dope of a quarterback like Sam Bradford… That would only dig a deeper hole for this franchise...

Bears: 6-10

I generally group the Bears, Chargers, and Ravens into the same category of mediocrity. They all have (arguably) competent quarterbacks on rosters that are subpar. These teams are stuck in limbo. Every once in awhile you’ll see one of them pop into the playoffs and try to make a run at the Super Bowl, but I would be pretty surprised if the Bears were to do that this season. Chicago really did nothing in the offseason to convince me that they are any better than the 6-10 they finished at last year, which is why I peg them to win only 6 games again this season. Maybe not the most creative prediction to pick the Bears to finish with the same record as last year, but I feel confident in the prediction, as this team has made an art of mediocrity.

Lions: 5-11

It looks like the Lions are heading back to the bottom of the heap. For the second time in franchise history, an all-time great has retired early after a career long battle with playing for the Lions. Barry Sanders hung up his cleats while in his prime, and now Calvin Johnson will do the same. Of course, Megatron was not the same unstoppable receiver that he once was, but he was still great enough to garner the attention that a top tier number 1 wideout normally does. Stafford’s desperation heaves down the field will have no answer this season, as Golden Tate and Marvin Jones will have to make up for the loss of the all-time great receiver.

NFC South

Panthers: 10-6*

The NFC South “is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” Unfortunately, that phrase is not as applicable to this division as it once was. From 2002 to 2013, no team had ever repeated as division champions. The constant uncertainty of the NFC South always made it an exciting division. Since then, the Panthers have won the division three straight times, and now I predict that they will make it four in a row. Still, even with the NFC South champion gaining some consistency, the division generally provides something unexpected. In 2014, the Panthers had 3 wins after 10 weeks of football. They went on to win the division with a record of 7-9-1. Last season, one year removed from being the worst division champion in the league, the Panthers finished with the best regular season record in the NFL, at 15-1. Now Cam Newton and the Panthers will try to repeat last season’s success. I am a bit skeptical, simply because last season seemed like a bit of an anomaly, so I only predict 10 wins for Carolina. Either way, I expect the Panthers to be one of the top teams in the NFL this season.

Falcons: 9-7*

The Falcons are a team that I can’t seem to figure out. Is Matt Ryan a good quarterback, or is he more Jay Cutler than Aaron Rodgers? Maybe Ryan’s previous NFL success is more a symptom of the talent he has had at receiver (Roddy White and Julio Jones) over his career, rather than his ability as a quarterback. Either way, you know this team has the quarterback and the offensive weapons to succeed, but whether or not they can put it all together and make a Super Bowl run remains to be seen. It seems like a long time ago that the Falcons were one of the most feared teams in the league, when they won 13 regular season games in 2012 (a mark which matched their 13-3 record in 2010). You never know what you’re going to get with Atlanta. This team could win the division or finish last in the division this season. However, I don’t fancy any other NFC teams to make the playoffs, so I predict that Atlanta will sneak into the playoffs, as the NFC’s sixth seed.

Buccaneers: 8-8

The Buccaneers are a team on the rise, and while I don’t see them making the playoffs this season, they aren’t too far away. Winston has proven to be more NFL-ready than I expected him to ever be, and the team is developing nicely around him. With a couple more years of experience, Winston could be leading a Super Bowl contender in the near future. The defense is serviceable, and the run game is strong. Tampa Bay is a few pieces away from being a very strong team. For now, I expect to see the Bucs threatening for the division crown, but nothing more than that. The NFC South has some depth, so winning games in this division will not be easy. Tampa Bay has not been relevant since their Super Bowl championship in 2003. Fortunately for Bucs fans, it seems like this team is finally circling back towards success.

Saints: 6-10

For the past few years now, the Saints have proven that you need some semblance of a competent defense to succeed. Over the past four seasons, the Saints have finished as one of the bottom two teams in total defense three times (the one time they did not, the Saints finished the regular season with a record of 11-5). With future hall of famer Drew Brees, you would expect this team to at least contend for a playoff spot every season. However, the defense in New Orleans has been holding this team back for a few seasons now. The Saints have brought on Dennis Allen to replace Rob Ryan, which they hope solves some of their problems. However, there’s only so much that a coach can do. It would probably be more helpful if the front office added quality defensive players, rather than blame past coaches for their defensive failures. Maybe this season they will turn it around. Or maybe, as Brees’s retirement looms closer, the Saints will miss their shrinking window of opportunity to make another Super Bowl run.

NFC East

Giants: 9-7*

Finally, we arrive at the NFC East. In my view, this is the worst division in the NFL. The Eagles are a mess that will be relying on a rookie quarterback to be their savior. The Cowboys have to deal with the injury to Romo, and it sounds like he could be out up to 10 weeks. And the Redskins still have some work to do if they want to prove that they are more contender than pretender.  So, someone has to rise to the top of this lousy division and win it, right? I think that will be the Giants this season, as they are the only team without any major question marks. The running game is adequate. The defense will get the job done. And Eli is good enough to win some games, as long as no half-decent team gets in his way. With Odell Beckham Jr. running routes, expect Eli to be throwing lots of prayers downfield. As long as Eli has an all-world receiver on his team, he will succeed. Is that so much to ask? Maybe the reason that Beckham makes so many spectacular catches is because he has so many opportunities to catch balls that are way off target…

Redskins: 8-8

I expect to see the Redskins in the thick of the divisional race again, but I just don’t see enough talent for them to make it back to the playoffs this season. Still, this is a team to watch. Kirk Cousins has some work to do before he has proven that he can be a top level talent in the NFL, but he is definitely getting closer. On the defensive side of the ball, the big talking point is the acquisition of Josh Norman. That secondary just got a huge lift. I will definitely be interested to see if Norman can continue his elite level coverage, when playing with a much weaker defensive unit than what he had in Carolina. I’m also looking forward to getting to watch Beckham vs. Norman twice this season. Those two games, and that one matchup, could very well decide the winner of the NFC East this season.

Cowboys: 6-10

If the Cowboys proved anything last year, it is that they are not equipped to succeed without Tony Romo. Romo is expected to miss some serious time, and I expect Dallas to be out of the playoff race before he even returns to the field. With that in mind, the success of the Cowboys’ season rests on the arm of Dak Prescott. Prescott has been wowing everyone during the offseason, but the NFL is not an easy league for rookie quarterbacks. He will have to pick up the offense quickly, otherwise the season may be over for Dallas rather quickly. Two rookies will have to carry the offensive workload in Dallas, in the forms of Elliot and Prescott. Fortunately for the Cowboys, Dez Bryant should make the transition into the big leagues easier for Prescott. Ultimately, this may be a blessing in disguise for Dallas. As Romo continues to age, the Cowboys will eventually need a new quarterback. Maybe that quarterback is Dak. If Prescott succeeds in the early going of this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see the coaching staff keeping him in as their new permanent replacement at quarterback...

Eagles: 5-11

Last but not least, we have the Philadelphia Eagles. Sam Bradford is gone. Carson Wentz is developing slowly. And Chase Daniel was the presumptive Week 1 starter, until he was passed by Wentz on the depth chart over Labor Day Weekend. Chip Kelly really did a number on this franchise. He alienated management, was accused of being a racist, and made personnel moves that boggled the minds of analysts. Still, his success at Oregon garnered him respect. So, we all bought into his greater plan. Now, looking back at Kelly’s tenure as head coach in Philadelphia, you can say that the entire thing was a huge flop, and the Eagles were set back three years because of it. Thankfully for Philadelphia fans, Kelly is off to the bay, where he will most likely run another franchise into the ground (though the Niners have already been run into the ground by Jed York). The Eagles will begin to rebuild this season, but I am not optimistic. The pieces are being set in place for the future, but the present looks bleak. Philadelphia could have a chance though, as the NFC East isn’t that strong this season. Maybe there is a chance that the Eagles sneak into playoff contention in 2016, but that seems like a long shot.

Super Bowl Prediction:

Predicting the Super Bowl champion this far out is generally a ridiculous proposition, but not for me it’s not! I know everything! Your Super Bowl Champion will be…

The Pittsburgh Steelers!

Yes, I predict that the Steelers will add to their NFL record 6 Super Bowl victories, by adding number 7 this season, when they defeat the Green Bay Packers, 34-31 in Super Bowl LI. How thrilling!

League MVP:

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers will take the MVP this season, but he will come up just short of winning another Super Bowl.

Well, there you have it. The regular season is only hours away, and you already know exactly what will happen! That’s great news. There’s no need to watch any of the games now, unless you don’t believe my predictions are accurat And if that’s the case, why the hell are you even reading this? You may as well go back to espn.com or something and read about which MLB team wants to sign Tim Tebow. However, if you are one of my useful readers that has half a brain, you know that my predictions are totally accurate and pristine, and you will be excited to read more of Brosh Knows Football as the 2016 season progresses. I’ll be covering football for the next 22 weeks, so there will be plenty more to read! Enjoy the season. And, Go Raiders!