This was a weird week for the Heisman watch. I had to keep off hot players such as Kelly Bryant and Rashaad Penny while keeping on colder players such as Josh Rosen and Derrius Guice. I had a hard time deciding these rankings and honestly, I'm not 100% sure about the ones you're about to read. You could make an argument for just about every entry here, except for #1 (who is the consensus favorite pretty much everywhere). Nonetheless, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- You could argue that Hurts does not deserve to be anywhere near the Heisman watch, but I could actually argue that 10 is too low of a spot for him. He's the quarterback of the #1 team in the country and he has yet to have a bad game this season (granted, it's only three weeks long). Against Colorado State, Hurts threw for two touchdowns and 248 yards while adding 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
9. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 10)- Stanford may have fallen off the rankings but their star RB is still very much involved in the Heisman race. After all, the loss to San Diego State can in no way be blamed on him. The Cardinals' passing game was atrocious as starting quarterback Kelly Chryst went 9 for 20 with 72 yards, zero touchdowns, and two picks. The defense meanwhile, gave up more than 300 yards of total offense. Love on the other hand, ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
8. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 6)- After all the credit Rosen got for engineering a comeback against Texas A&M in Week 1, he deserves a lot of the blame for the Bruins losing to unranked Memphis in a close game. Rosen did account for five touchdowns but he also threw two crucial interceptions that crippled the team.
7. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has fallen off most other Heisman watch lists but I'm going to give him a little credit here. He finds himself in a similar position as Love. His team lost in Week 3 (to Mississippi State) but the blame really falls on the passing game and defense. Guice ran for 76 yards and 15 carries. It wasn't a great performance, but it's enough to keep him around.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 7)- I honestly did not expect Freeman to be around for this long. By this time last year any chance he had of going to New York had vaporized. Now, he finds himself knocking on the door of the Top 5. Against top-tier NFL draft prospect Josh Allen and Wyoming, Freeman ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns as his Ducks won 49-13. It must also be noted that Freeman caught a pass for 50 yards.
5. Lamar Jackson, LSU (Last Week: 2)- Yes, Louisville got pounded by Clemson, but Jackson was definitely not the reason why. He got almost no help from his teammates. The Louisville D was utterly dumbfounded by Dabo Swinney's offense and Jackson's receivers found themselves dropping catches far more than they probably would have liked. Despite all of the incompetence that could be found along the Louisville sideline, Jackson threw for three touchdowns and 317 yards while also adding 64 yards on 17 carries. Needless to say, those 64 yards were more than the rest of the team combined.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- I always struggle with ranking Darnold. The only really great game he has had this year was in Week 2 against Stanford. In Week 3, he struggled against unranked Texas much more than he should have. Not only did it take USC two overtime periods to put away the persistent Longhorns, but Darnold's completion percentage was weak (57.14%), he accumulated -12 rushing yards, and he threw two interceptions. Still, USC pulled off the win and that's the most important thing.
3. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 8)- It's easy to see a scenario where two quarterbacks from the Sooner State are invited to New York City. Rudolph is certainly doing his part to make sure that happens. The gunslinger threw five touchdowns in the first half as his Cowboys rolled past Pittsburgh.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- In terms of rushing, Barkley was pretty limited against Georgia State. After all, he only ran for 47 yards on 10 carries. That being said, he also caught four passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- As I said in the intro, Mayfield is everyone's pick for the Heisman right now. The man who is drawing comparisons to Seattle's Russell Wilson had s sensational Week 3 as he threw for four touchdowns and 331 yards against Tulsa.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Friday, September 15, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 2
Week 2 was an interesting one in college football. #15 Georgia survived some ugly quarterback play from Jake Fromm to outlast #24 Notre Dame, #5 Oklahoma gained revenge on #2 Ohio State for last year's loss, and of course, the Heisman race continued.
We saw a number of memorable performances this week and unfortunately, we cannot rank all of them here. After all, doing so would completely defeat the purpose of this. Nonetheless, let's send a little love to some honorable mentions, including Ronald Jones II of USC and Kelly Bryant of Clemson. Let's get started.
10. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: NR)- Christian who? Love's early-season success has folks in Palo Alto already forgetting former Heisman runner-up and NFL rookie Christian McCaffrey. Against Stanford's loss to USC, Love ran for 160 yards and one score.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Was Hurts outstanding against Fresno State? No, but he didn't have to be. The Crimson Tide coasted to an easy 41-10 win as Hurts went for 14-18 with 128 yards and one touchdown. Hurts also added 154 yards and two scores on the ground.
8. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- If you like a quarterback with big stats, then Rudolph's the guy for you. The Cowboy went 28 for 38 while racking up 335 passing yards and three scores.
7. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 8)- Freeman and the entire Oregon Ducks team continues to fly under the radar, but Freeman is still making some Heisman buzz. Against Nebraska, Freeman carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for nine yards as the Ducks won.
6. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 9)- Again, I might not be as high on Rosen as other writers are, but I still think he's very much in this Heisman race. Against Hawaii, Rosen had a dazzling game. He went 22 for 25 while throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 6)- By his own top standards, Barkley had a quiet Week 2. Against Pittsburgh, Barkley had 14 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, he is losing some of Penn State's Heisman buzz, as QB Trace McSorley is playing very well.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- Darnold bounced back from his disappointing game against Western Michigan in Week 1 to impress against #14 Stanford. Yes, he did throw two interceptions, but he also went 21 of 26 for four touchdowns and 316 passing yards.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has had two great games this season but it still feels as if he's being overlooked in the Heisman race. In Week 2, he ran circles against Chattanooga as he ran for 102 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
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2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Through no fault of his own, Jackson falls a spot. The man seems unstoppable, but another story has cropped up. Against UNC in Week 2, the reigning Heisman winner threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 132 yards and three touchdowns. There's no doubt about him being an absolutely incredible player, there's just a little fatigue surrounding him. The Lamar Jackson story has been told, fans and the media have moved on to other things. It's a testament to how well Jackson is playing that he's still one of the front-runners. If he wants to regain the #1 spot, he'll need to beat Clemson, the reigning national champions, next week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 2)- The man who has overtaken Jackson in our Heisman watch is the man who finished third to Jackson (and Deshaun Watson) in last year's Heisman race: Baker Mayfield of the Oklahoma Sooners. Beating #2 Ohio State was a monumental win for Mayfield. Every Heisman winner needs a defining game. For Johnny Manziel, it was his win over #1 Alabama. For Reggie Bush (who was later stripped of the award), it was against #9 Notre Dame in what is now regarded as one of the best college football games in history. This win over the Buckeyes could very well be that game for Mayfield. After all, he did throw for 386 yards and three scores as the Sooners won by 15.
Thanks for reading everyone.
We saw a number of memorable performances this week and unfortunately, we cannot rank all of them here. After all, doing so would completely defeat the purpose of this. Nonetheless, let's send a little love to some honorable mentions, including Ronald Jones II of USC and Kelly Bryant of Clemson. Let's get started.
10. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: NR)- Christian who? Love's early-season success has folks in Palo Alto already forgetting former Heisman runner-up and NFL rookie Christian McCaffrey. Against Stanford's loss to USC, Love ran for 160 yards and one score.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Was Hurts outstanding against Fresno State? No, but he didn't have to be. The Crimson Tide coasted to an easy 41-10 win as Hurts went for 14-18 with 128 yards and one touchdown. Hurts also added 154 yards and two scores on the ground.
8. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- If you like a quarterback with big stats, then Rudolph's the guy for you. The Cowboy went 28 for 38 while racking up 335 passing yards and three scores.
7. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 8)- Freeman and the entire Oregon Ducks team continues to fly under the radar, but Freeman is still making some Heisman buzz. Against Nebraska, Freeman carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for nine yards as the Ducks won.
6. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 9)- Again, I might not be as high on Rosen as other writers are, but I still think he's very much in this Heisman race. Against Hawaii, Rosen had a dazzling game. He went 22 for 25 while throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 6)- By his own top standards, Barkley had a quiet Week 2. Against Pittsburgh, Barkley had 14 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, he is losing some of Penn State's Heisman buzz, as QB Trace McSorley is playing very well.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- Darnold bounced back from his disappointing game against Western Michigan in Week 1 to impress against #14 Stanford. Yes, he did throw two interceptions, but he also went 21 of 26 for four touchdowns and 316 passing yards.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has had two great games this season but it still feels as if he's being overlooked in the Heisman race. In Week 2, he ran circles against Chattanooga as he ran for 102 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
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2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Through no fault of his own, Jackson falls a spot. The man seems unstoppable, but another story has cropped up. Against UNC in Week 2, the reigning Heisman winner threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 132 yards and three touchdowns. There's no doubt about him being an absolutely incredible player, there's just a little fatigue surrounding him. The Lamar Jackson story has been told, fans and the media have moved on to other things. It's a testament to how well Jackson is playing that he's still one of the front-runners. If he wants to regain the #1 spot, he'll need to beat Clemson, the reigning national champions, next week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 2)- The man who has overtaken Jackson in our Heisman watch is the man who finished third to Jackson (and Deshaun Watson) in last year's Heisman race: Baker Mayfield of the Oklahoma Sooners. Beating #2 Ohio State was a monumental win for Mayfield. Every Heisman winner needs a defining game. For Johnny Manziel, it was his win over #1 Alabama. For Reggie Bush (who was later stripped of the award), it was against #9 Notre Dame in what is now regarded as one of the best college football games in history. This win over the Buckeyes could very well be that game for Mayfield. After all, he did throw for 386 yards and three scores as the Sooners won by 15.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 1
The first week of college football has come and gone, bringing a lot of action and news with it. Alabama proved it was the best team in the country, Louisville and USC overcame scares, Jake Olson made history, and UCLA had a comeback for the ages.
Of course, all of that impacts our Heisman race. We only have one drop out from last week: Deondre Francois of Florida State, who suffered an injury against Alabama and will miss the entire season. That being said, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Like last year, Hurts was not the main reason Alabama beat FSU (the real reason was 'Bama's defense and special teams unit). Nonetheless, Hurts played decently well, as he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown while also adding 55 yards on the ground. Games like these will keep him in the Heisman conversation, but only on the outskirts. If he wants to win, he'll have to start doing a lot more.
9. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: NR)- I'm sure a number of you are surprised to find Rosen ranked so low. After all, other pundits have him as high as #1. I don't dispute that he had a great game against Texas A&M, there's just the problem that he had a pretty weak first half. He eventually rebounded to finish with four touchdowns and 491 passing yards, but the slow start prevents him from being ranked higher.
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 9)- In limited playing time, Freeman racked up 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, his performance did play a little under the radar as he was playing against Southern Utah.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 7)- Like Freeman, Chubb saw his time on the field limited. He did however, still run for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He'll need to have a big game against #24 Notre Dame next week if he wants to move up.
6. Saquon Barley, Penn State (Last Week: 8)- Barkley dazzled for the Nittany Lions as they rolled over the Akron Zips. He ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 54 yards.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Barrett quietly had a great game as OSU picked up its first conference win of the season. He went 20 for 35 for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This isn't the first year Barrett has been inexplicably left out of the Heisman conversation, but it might also be the year he gets invited to New York.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 1)- If you just look at the stat line, then Darnold had a decent game. He threw for 289 yards and ran for a touchdown. But if you watched the game, then you know that the stats don't tell the full story. Darnold threw two picks, racked up -6 rushing yards, and struggled mightily against Western Michigan. This game didn't kill his chances of winning the Heisman, but it certainly hurt.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice put up good numbers against BYU as he ran for 122 yards and two scores. It was a pretty quiet game but you can be sure that Guice will explode sometime soon.
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Some quarterbacks threw a touchdown this week. Others ran for a touchdown. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, threw one incompletion. Honestly, I had no idea that was even possible.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Yes, the Cardinals had a bit of a scare against Purdue, but Jackson once again played beautifully. In total, he accounted for two touchdowns and 485 yards. It seems like he has a really good chance of becoming a repeat Heisman winner.
Thanks for reading.
Of course, all of that impacts our Heisman race. We only have one drop out from last week: Deondre Francois of Florida State, who suffered an injury against Alabama and will miss the entire season. That being said, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Like last year, Hurts was not the main reason Alabama beat FSU (the real reason was 'Bama's defense and special teams unit). Nonetheless, Hurts played decently well, as he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown while also adding 55 yards on the ground. Games like these will keep him in the Heisman conversation, but only on the outskirts. If he wants to win, he'll have to start doing a lot more.
9. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: NR)- I'm sure a number of you are surprised to find Rosen ranked so low. After all, other pundits have him as high as #1. I don't dispute that he had a great game against Texas A&M, there's just the problem that he had a pretty weak first half. He eventually rebounded to finish with four touchdowns and 491 passing yards, but the slow start prevents him from being ranked higher.
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 9)- In limited playing time, Freeman racked up 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, his performance did play a little under the radar as he was playing against Southern Utah.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 7)- Like Freeman, Chubb saw his time on the field limited. He did however, still run for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He'll need to have a big game against #24 Notre Dame next week if he wants to move up.
6. Saquon Barley, Penn State (Last Week: 8)- Barkley dazzled for the Nittany Lions as they rolled over the Akron Zips. He ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 54 yards.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Barrett quietly had a great game as OSU picked up its first conference win of the season. He went 20 for 35 for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This isn't the first year Barrett has been inexplicably left out of the Heisman conversation, but it might also be the year he gets invited to New York.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 1)- If you just look at the stat line, then Darnold had a decent game. He threw for 289 yards and ran for a touchdown. But if you watched the game, then you know that the stats don't tell the full story. Darnold threw two picks, racked up -6 rushing yards, and struggled mightily against Western Michigan. This game didn't kill his chances of winning the Heisman, but it certainly hurt.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice put up good numbers against BYU as he ran for 122 yards and two scores. It was a pretty quiet game but you can be sure that Guice will explode sometime soon.
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Some quarterbacks threw a touchdown this week. Others ran for a touchdown. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, threw one incompletion. Honestly, I had no idea that was even possible.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Yes, the Cardinals had a bit of a scare against Purdue, but Jackson once again played beautifully. In total, he accounted for two touchdowns and 485 yards. It seems like he has a really good chance of becoming a repeat Heisman winner.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
2017-2018 NFL Season Predictions
My, it's a wonderful time to be a sports fan. The race for the MLB playoffs is heating up, the NBA is mere weeks away, hockey is right around the corner, and of course, the return of football is on our doorsteps. If you're a college football fan then you have a little less time to wait, but pro football fans are getting ready.
The last NFL season was full of exciting and interesting stories. We had Tom Brady's suspension, the emergence of Matt Ryan as a truly elite quarterback, the injuries to star players such as Luke Kuechly and JJ Watt, and the declining ratings.
Now that the season is almost upon us, it's time to start making some predictions. Who will win Offensive Rookie of the Year? What new coach will have the most success? Which rising star will take the next step to becoming an elite player? And most importantly, who will win the Super Bowl? In this article, we'll cover each division and make our picks for the playoffs, Super Bowl, and individual awards. Let's get started.
AFC North:
The AFC North might be the toughest division in the AFC. There are three teams ready to make the playoffs (sorry Cleveland) and feasibly could all make it. Despite all that, the Steelers remain atop the division. With Martavis Bryant cleared to play the entire season, the Steelers' high-powered offense should be running at full speed. It's hard not to when you have the best running back and wide receiver in the game. There are still some questions about their defense, but the addition of rookie stud T.J. Watt should help mitigate some of those concerns.
In a toss-up between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Ravens get the edge. Both teams had disappointing, injury-filled seasons last year, but at least the Bengals had their starting QB. The Ravens get Joe Flacco back while giving him a new weapon in Jeremy Maclin. Granted, Flacco is a better postseason QB than he is in the regular season, but he's still good enough to lead them to the playoffs. The Bengals will contend for a wild card spot, but losing two starters on the offensive line will hurt them.
In the basement of the division is the Cleveland Browns. The good news for Browns fans is that they will win more than one game last year. Losing Myles Garrett for two weeks does hurt, but the Browns defense is definitely better than last year. How well the Browns actually do depends on rookie QB DeShone Kizer. The former Notre Dame QB has been named the starter, but Cody Kessler is breathing down his neck.
AFC East:
The consensus Super Bowl pick this year is the Patriots. In fact, some experts have them going undefeated, which would make them the first team to do so since 1972's Larry Csonka and the Miami Dolphins. Going undefeated is a bit of a stretch (they might not even beat the Chiefs tonight), but the Patriots should handily win the AFC East. They added some weapons for Tom Brady, including Mike Gillislee and Brandin Cooks while also shoring up their defense. Even if Brady doesn't stay healthy, backup Jimmy Garoppolo has what it takes to lead them to the playoffs.
The Dolphins surprisingly made the playoffs last year thanks in good part to RB Jay Ajayi. Unfortunately, there are concerns about Ajayi's health for this season and if he can stay on the field. There are also concerns about new QB Jay Cutler. After all, the former Chicago Bear was retired in the summer before being brought in to replace the injured Ryan Tannehill. While Cutler did play well in the preseason, the regular season is a whole different beast.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly looking towards the future, as they are apparently willing to trade their starting QB and RB (Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy, respectively). That being said, they should still put together a decent season. Rookie WR Zay Jones is potentially poised to have a great year while the additions of fullbacks Mike Tolbert and Patrick DiMarco should help bolster the run game.
There is no doubt in my mind that the New York Jets will finish last in the AFC East and possibly the entire league. Their starting QB is perennial backup Josh McCown while losing a number of talented players, including WR Brandon Marshall, safety Calvin Pryor, and C Nick Mangold. It's going to be a long season for Jets fans.
AFC South:
Two years ago, the Tennessee Titans finished with the second-worst record in the league. Now, they're expected to win the division. That turnaround can mainly be attributed to QB Marcus Mariota. Though he has dealt with injuries, Mariota has played very well and shown that he can be a franchise QB. Armed with an offense that includes playmakers such as Corey Davis, Eric Decker, and DeMarco Murray, Mariota is poised to have a true breakout year. It also helps that the AFC South is arguably the weakest division in football (and has been for some time).
The Texans and the Colts will jockey for second place, but I'm giving the edge to Houston, who won the division last year, even with mediocre QB play. There are still injury concerns surrounding J.J. Watt and Will Fuller V, Tom Savage is very unproven, and their shutdown corner A.J. Bouye has departed. They could feasibly still contend for the division title, but it seems unlikely. The Colts on the other hand, will be without franchise QB Andrew Luck for some time, and backup Scott Tolzien has proven to be very ineffective. Their defense, which has been very good in years past, is feeling a bit depleted thanks to the losses of players like Robert Mathis and Mike Adams.
Remember last season, when the Jaguars were supposed to break up. Now, they're comfortably headed for a top 5 draft pick. New starting QB Chad Henne is extremely unproven while former elite WR Allen Robinson is coming off a very disappointing season. Their defense is also unproven, though CB Jalen Ramsey impressed in his rookie season.
AFC West:
Oakland could feasibly have won the Super Bowl last year, but a freak injury to QB Derek Carr derailed those plans. The weakest part of their game was undoubtedly the run game, but bringing back the retired Marshawn Lynch should help with that. Amari Cooper is poised to become an elite WR, safety Karl Joseph is on the up, and the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson certainly helps. Look for the Raiders to win this division handily.
The Chiefs drafted their QB of the future this year when they selected Patrick Mahomes, but Alex Smith is still their starter. Smith, a franchise QB in his own right, should be extra motivated this season to succeed. The losses of Jeremy Maclin (cut) and Spencer Ware (injury) hurt, but the Chiefs are still a solid bet to make the playoffs. Also, look for rookie RB Kareem Hunt to have a big year.
The only thing holding the Broncos back here is their QB play. Neither Trevor Siemian nor Paxton Lynch has proven themselves to be worthy starters, but the rest of the team is ready to go. The team is loaded with talent thanks to players such as Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Jamaal Charles, Devontae Booker, Demaryius Thomas, and Chris Harris Jr.
Some pundits have the Chargers making the playoffs, but I don't see them escaping this crowded division. The move to Los Angeles certainly has their fortunes up in the air, as they might not really have much fan support at home games. There is also concern over the defense's ability to make plays, Keenan Allen's ability to stay healthy, and whether Melvin Gordon can improve on his impressive season from last year.
NFC North:
Green Bay fans have been starved for another Super Bowl victory since they last won one in 2010. There's no reason why that year can't be this year. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the league, they added Martellus Bennett from the Patriots, their offensive line is great, their secondary has improved from last year, and Jordy Nelson is an elite WR. They should beat out Minnesota for the division title. QB Teddy Bridgewater is still out, so Sam Bradford will still be starting. Meanwhile, big things are expected of rookie back Dalvin Cook.
Although the Detroit Lions made the playoffs last year, that will be tougher to do this season, especially since their division has improved. Their offensive line was an issue last year, but they added two superstars in T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner. Their secondary is still a major issue, however. While they will contend for a wild card spot, it will be tough.
The Chicago Bears should improve on their mediocre year that saw them end up with the third spot in the draft (although they traded up one spot to nab Mitchell Trubisky). Both Trubisky and Mike Glennon should start this year, although Bears fans are clamoring for the former Tar Heel to start. The Bears are a better team than their record for last year suggests, although their defense is severely lacking. Being in a tough decision will also hurt their record.
NFC East:
This just might the best division in football. We start off with the Dallas Cowboys, last year's #1 NFC seed. Losing Ezekiel Elliot for six games will definitely hurt their record, but they're still good enough to win the division. Their defense is formidable, Dak Prescott is developing nicely, and their offensive line is the best in the world. Expect stiff competition from New York though, as they have gotten better this offseason by adding Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram. RB Paul Perkins looks to have a good sophomore year and Landon Collins could win Defensive Player of the Year. It'll be close, but the Cowboys narrowly win out.
Philadelphia started the season 4-0 last year but then cooled off significantly. This year they'll battle for a wild card spot but the division they play in will make things tough. Carson Wentz is coming along nicely, and the addition of Alshon Jeffery is a welcome one, but he doesn't yet seem capable of leading a team to the playoffs. Granted, that could change as soon as next year,
The Redskins shockingly won the division two years ago but now no one is picking them to win. It seems like this will probably be Kirk Cousins's last year with the franchise thanks to his problems with management. That could affect his performance and motivation this year, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
NFC South:
Historically speaking, teams who lose the Super Bowl usually don't make the playoffs next year. That being said, the Falcons are talented enough to buck that trend. Losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to the 49ers will hurt, but seeing as the offense still includes Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Devonta Freeman, and Taylor Gabriel, things should be just fine.
Speaking of teams who lose the Super Bowl one year and miss the playoffs the next year, meet the Carolina Panthers. Granted, they lost star corner Josh Norman to Washington and defensive POY Luke Kuechly to an injury, things just seemed funky. But Kuechly is healthy now, they drafted Christian McCaffrey, and signed players like Matt Kalil and Julius Peppers. With a roster like that, the Panthers should contend for a wild card spot.
Coming in third is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have an explosive offense featuring talents like Jameis Winston, Cameron Brate, Mike Evans, Doug Martin, and O.J. Howard. Their defense is more of a question mark, but their offense should be enough for them to win games. That being said, the distinction between them and the New Orleans Saints is not that great. Like the Bucs, the Saints have a top-notch offense with guys like Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Willie Snead. However, I think TB is on the rise and I rank them just ahead of the Saints.
NFC West:
This could be the year we see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll make their third Super Bowl visit, and it's not hard to see why. Russell Wilson has evolved into an elite QB and has weapons such as C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Doug Baldwin. The defense is arguably the best in the NFC with players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Malik McDowell. They are a lock to win this division.
Besides Seattle, the only other team with a shot at making the playoffs is the Cards. They had a disappointing season last year, but look ready to bounce back. David Johnson is one of the best running backs in the league, Patrick Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in football, and Larry Fitzgerald defies the laws of time. If Carson Palmer can keep it together, the Cardinals should fight for a wild card spot.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers will be in playoff contention this year, but I think the Rams are just a tad better. Jared Goff is better than Brian Hoyer, Todd Gurley is better than Carlos Hyde, and Aaron Donald could be the defensive POY. The 'Niners could take a big step with the addition of players such as Solomon Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, and Pierre Garcon, but it still won't be enough to escape last place in the NFC West.
NFC Seeds: 1. Seattle 2. Green Bay 3. Atlanta 4. Dallas 5. New York 6. Carolina
AFC Seeds: 1. New England 2. Oakland 3. Pittsburgh 4. Tennessee 5. Kansas City 6. Baltimore
NFC Playoffs:
Carolina and Atlanta will face off for the third time this season. I really believe that Carolina could have the upset here, but Atlanta's the safer pick. No one on Carolina can cover Julio Jones and the Atlanta defense is sneaky good. In the other wild-card matchup, I like Dallas over New York. The Giants may have an explosive offense but they won't be able to stop Zeke. In the next round, Seattle topples Dallas with their run-stopping defense while Atlanta picks holes through Green Bay's secondary. In the conference finals, Russell Wilson steps up and has a big game as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl.
AFC Playoffs:
We start with a bit of an upset as the Chiefs pick up the win on the road. The battle-tested Chiefs have too much experience for the upstart Titans to handle. Then, Pittsburgh handles their division rivals and heads to northern California to do battle with the Raiders. They put up a good fight but ultimately fall to Oakland. The Patriots are pushed to the limit by the Chiefs but pick up the win anyway. In the AFC title game, Touchdown Tommy lights up the Steelers' secondary to book a trip to Minnesota.
Super Bowl:
In a rematch from three years ago, we see two elite teams do battle. This should be an excellent game and it's really hard to pick a winner. I'm going to pick the Patriots though since they are the best team in football. Tom Brady will a record 5th MVP Award as Boston celebrates (and the rest of the nation weeps).
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Offensive Player: David Johnson, Arizona
Defensive Player: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Offensive Rookie: Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville
Defensive Rookie: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Coach: Mike Mularkey, Tennessee
Comeback Player: J.J. Watt, Houston
Thanks for reading everyone.
The last NFL season was full of exciting and interesting stories. We had Tom Brady's suspension, the emergence of Matt Ryan as a truly elite quarterback, the injuries to star players such as Luke Kuechly and JJ Watt, and the declining ratings.
Now that the season is almost upon us, it's time to start making some predictions. Who will win Offensive Rookie of the Year? What new coach will have the most success? Which rising star will take the next step to becoming an elite player? And most importantly, who will win the Super Bowl? In this article, we'll cover each division and make our picks for the playoffs, Super Bowl, and individual awards. Let's get started.
AFC North:
The AFC North might be the toughest division in the AFC. There are three teams ready to make the playoffs (sorry Cleveland) and feasibly could all make it. Despite all that, the Steelers remain atop the division. With Martavis Bryant cleared to play the entire season, the Steelers' high-powered offense should be running at full speed. It's hard not to when you have the best running back and wide receiver in the game. There are still some questions about their defense, but the addition of rookie stud T.J. Watt should help mitigate some of those concerns.
In a toss-up between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Ravens get the edge. Both teams had disappointing, injury-filled seasons last year, but at least the Bengals had their starting QB. The Ravens get Joe Flacco back while giving him a new weapon in Jeremy Maclin. Granted, Flacco is a better postseason QB than he is in the regular season, but he's still good enough to lead them to the playoffs. The Bengals will contend for a wild card spot, but losing two starters on the offensive line will hurt them.
In the basement of the division is the Cleveland Browns. The good news for Browns fans is that they will win more than one game last year. Losing Myles Garrett for two weeks does hurt, but the Browns defense is definitely better than last year. How well the Browns actually do depends on rookie QB DeShone Kizer. The former Notre Dame QB has been named the starter, but Cody Kessler is breathing down his neck.
AFC East:
The consensus Super Bowl pick this year is the Patriots. In fact, some experts have them going undefeated, which would make them the first team to do so since 1972's Larry Csonka and the Miami Dolphins. Going undefeated is a bit of a stretch (they might not even beat the Chiefs tonight), but the Patriots should handily win the AFC East. They added some weapons for Tom Brady, including Mike Gillislee and Brandin Cooks while also shoring up their defense. Even if Brady doesn't stay healthy, backup Jimmy Garoppolo has what it takes to lead them to the playoffs.
The Dolphins surprisingly made the playoffs last year thanks in good part to RB Jay Ajayi. Unfortunately, there are concerns about Ajayi's health for this season and if he can stay on the field. There are also concerns about new QB Jay Cutler. After all, the former Chicago Bear was retired in the summer before being brought in to replace the injured Ryan Tannehill. While Cutler did play well in the preseason, the regular season is a whole different beast.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly looking towards the future, as they are apparently willing to trade their starting QB and RB (Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy, respectively). That being said, they should still put together a decent season. Rookie WR Zay Jones is potentially poised to have a great year while the additions of fullbacks Mike Tolbert and Patrick DiMarco should help bolster the run game.
There is no doubt in my mind that the New York Jets will finish last in the AFC East and possibly the entire league. Their starting QB is perennial backup Josh McCown while losing a number of talented players, including WR Brandon Marshall, safety Calvin Pryor, and C Nick Mangold. It's going to be a long season for Jets fans.
AFC South:
Two years ago, the Tennessee Titans finished with the second-worst record in the league. Now, they're expected to win the division. That turnaround can mainly be attributed to QB Marcus Mariota. Though he has dealt with injuries, Mariota has played very well and shown that he can be a franchise QB. Armed with an offense that includes playmakers such as Corey Davis, Eric Decker, and DeMarco Murray, Mariota is poised to have a true breakout year. It also helps that the AFC South is arguably the weakest division in football (and has been for some time).
The Texans and the Colts will jockey for second place, but I'm giving the edge to Houston, who won the division last year, even with mediocre QB play. There are still injury concerns surrounding J.J. Watt and Will Fuller V, Tom Savage is very unproven, and their shutdown corner A.J. Bouye has departed. They could feasibly still contend for the division title, but it seems unlikely. The Colts on the other hand, will be without franchise QB Andrew Luck for some time, and backup Scott Tolzien has proven to be very ineffective. Their defense, which has been very good in years past, is feeling a bit depleted thanks to the losses of players like Robert Mathis and Mike Adams.
Remember last season, when the Jaguars were supposed to break up. Now, they're comfortably headed for a top 5 draft pick. New starting QB Chad Henne is extremely unproven while former elite WR Allen Robinson is coming off a very disappointing season. Their defense is also unproven, though CB Jalen Ramsey impressed in his rookie season.
AFC West:
Oakland could feasibly have won the Super Bowl last year, but a freak injury to QB Derek Carr derailed those plans. The weakest part of their game was undoubtedly the run game, but bringing back the retired Marshawn Lynch should help with that. Amari Cooper is poised to become an elite WR, safety Karl Joseph is on the up, and the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson certainly helps. Look for the Raiders to win this division handily.
The Chiefs drafted their QB of the future this year when they selected Patrick Mahomes, but Alex Smith is still their starter. Smith, a franchise QB in his own right, should be extra motivated this season to succeed. The losses of Jeremy Maclin (cut) and Spencer Ware (injury) hurt, but the Chiefs are still a solid bet to make the playoffs. Also, look for rookie RB Kareem Hunt to have a big year.
The only thing holding the Broncos back here is their QB play. Neither Trevor Siemian nor Paxton Lynch has proven themselves to be worthy starters, but the rest of the team is ready to go. The team is loaded with talent thanks to players such as Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Jamaal Charles, Devontae Booker, Demaryius Thomas, and Chris Harris Jr.
Some pundits have the Chargers making the playoffs, but I don't see them escaping this crowded division. The move to Los Angeles certainly has their fortunes up in the air, as they might not really have much fan support at home games. There is also concern over the defense's ability to make plays, Keenan Allen's ability to stay healthy, and whether Melvin Gordon can improve on his impressive season from last year.
NFC North:
Green Bay fans have been starved for another Super Bowl victory since they last won one in 2010. There's no reason why that year can't be this year. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the league, they added Martellus Bennett from the Patriots, their offensive line is great, their secondary has improved from last year, and Jordy Nelson is an elite WR. They should beat out Minnesota for the division title. QB Teddy Bridgewater is still out, so Sam Bradford will still be starting. Meanwhile, big things are expected of rookie back Dalvin Cook.
Although the Detroit Lions made the playoffs last year, that will be tougher to do this season, especially since their division has improved. Their offensive line was an issue last year, but they added two superstars in T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner. Their secondary is still a major issue, however. While they will contend for a wild card spot, it will be tough.
The Chicago Bears should improve on their mediocre year that saw them end up with the third spot in the draft (although they traded up one spot to nab Mitchell Trubisky). Both Trubisky and Mike Glennon should start this year, although Bears fans are clamoring for the former Tar Heel to start. The Bears are a better team than their record for last year suggests, although their defense is severely lacking. Being in a tough decision will also hurt their record.
NFC East:
This just might the best division in football. We start off with the Dallas Cowboys, last year's #1 NFC seed. Losing Ezekiel Elliot for six games will definitely hurt their record, but they're still good enough to win the division. Their defense is formidable, Dak Prescott is developing nicely, and their offensive line is the best in the world. Expect stiff competition from New York though, as they have gotten better this offseason by adding Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram. RB Paul Perkins looks to have a good sophomore year and Landon Collins could win Defensive Player of the Year. It'll be close, but the Cowboys narrowly win out.
Philadelphia started the season 4-0 last year but then cooled off significantly. This year they'll battle for a wild card spot but the division they play in will make things tough. Carson Wentz is coming along nicely, and the addition of Alshon Jeffery is a welcome one, but he doesn't yet seem capable of leading a team to the playoffs. Granted, that could change as soon as next year,
The Redskins shockingly won the division two years ago but now no one is picking them to win. It seems like this will probably be Kirk Cousins's last year with the franchise thanks to his problems with management. That could affect his performance and motivation this year, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
NFC South:
Historically speaking, teams who lose the Super Bowl usually don't make the playoffs next year. That being said, the Falcons are talented enough to buck that trend. Losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to the 49ers will hurt, but seeing as the offense still includes Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Devonta Freeman, and Taylor Gabriel, things should be just fine.
Speaking of teams who lose the Super Bowl one year and miss the playoffs the next year, meet the Carolina Panthers. Granted, they lost star corner Josh Norman to Washington and defensive POY Luke Kuechly to an injury, things just seemed funky. But Kuechly is healthy now, they drafted Christian McCaffrey, and signed players like Matt Kalil and Julius Peppers. With a roster like that, the Panthers should contend for a wild card spot.
Coming in third is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have an explosive offense featuring talents like Jameis Winston, Cameron Brate, Mike Evans, Doug Martin, and O.J. Howard. Their defense is more of a question mark, but their offense should be enough for them to win games. That being said, the distinction between them and the New Orleans Saints is not that great. Like the Bucs, the Saints have a top-notch offense with guys like Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Willie Snead. However, I think TB is on the rise and I rank them just ahead of the Saints.
NFC West:
This could be the year we see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll make their third Super Bowl visit, and it's not hard to see why. Russell Wilson has evolved into an elite QB and has weapons such as C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Doug Baldwin. The defense is arguably the best in the NFC with players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Malik McDowell. They are a lock to win this division.
Besides Seattle, the only other team with a shot at making the playoffs is the Cards. They had a disappointing season last year, but look ready to bounce back. David Johnson is one of the best running backs in the league, Patrick Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in football, and Larry Fitzgerald defies the laws of time. If Carson Palmer can keep it together, the Cardinals should fight for a wild card spot.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers will be in playoff contention this year, but I think the Rams are just a tad better. Jared Goff is better than Brian Hoyer, Todd Gurley is better than Carlos Hyde, and Aaron Donald could be the defensive POY. The 'Niners could take a big step with the addition of players such as Solomon Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, and Pierre Garcon, but it still won't be enough to escape last place in the NFC West.
NFC Seeds: 1. Seattle 2. Green Bay 3. Atlanta 4. Dallas 5. New York 6. Carolina
AFC Seeds: 1. New England 2. Oakland 3. Pittsburgh 4. Tennessee 5. Kansas City 6. Baltimore
NFC Playoffs:
Carolina and Atlanta will face off for the third time this season. I really believe that Carolina could have the upset here, but Atlanta's the safer pick. No one on Carolina can cover Julio Jones and the Atlanta defense is sneaky good. In the other wild-card matchup, I like Dallas over New York. The Giants may have an explosive offense but they won't be able to stop Zeke. In the next round, Seattle topples Dallas with their run-stopping defense while Atlanta picks holes through Green Bay's secondary. In the conference finals, Russell Wilson steps up and has a big game as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl.
AFC Playoffs:
We start with a bit of an upset as the Chiefs pick up the win on the road. The battle-tested Chiefs have too much experience for the upstart Titans to handle. Then, Pittsburgh handles their division rivals and heads to northern California to do battle with the Raiders. They put up a good fight but ultimately fall to Oakland. The Patriots are pushed to the limit by the Chiefs but pick up the win anyway. In the AFC title game, Touchdown Tommy lights up the Steelers' secondary to book a trip to Minnesota.
Super Bowl:
In a rematch from three years ago, we see two elite teams do battle. This should be an excellent game and it's really hard to pick a winner. I'm going to pick the Patriots though since they are the best team in football. Tom Brady will a record 5th MVP Award as Boston celebrates (and the rest of the nation weeps).
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Offensive Player: David Johnson, Arizona
Defensive Player: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Offensive Rookie: Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville
Defensive Rookie: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Coach: Mike Mularkey, Tennessee
Comeback Player: J.J. Watt, Houston
Thanks for reading everyone.
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