I don't know what to say in this introduction that I haven't said before. It's early in the season, the Heisman isn't won in September, etc. Let's just get started.
But... we must first say goodbye to Utah's Zack Moss, who only for 20 yards in Utah's loss to USC.
10. D'Andre Swift, Georgia (Last Week: NR)- Replacing Moss in this week's countdown is the Bulldog Swift, who was a big part in Georgia's win over Notre Dame.
9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- Dobbins had a good performance in Ohio State's crushing win over Miami (OH), but he was outgained on the ground by teammate Steele Chambers (63-52).
8. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 8)- After a great start to the season, it feels like Etienne has cooled down significantly. Yes, Clemson is still undefeated and Etienne ran for a score in Week 4, but it feels like he needs to do more if he wants to become a Heisman finalist.
7. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- Lawrence only threw nine passes against Charlotte, but that was all that was required of him. Two of those nine passes went for touchdowns and Clemson beat Charlotte 52-10.
6. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 7)- Ehlinger moves up a spot after Texas knocked off undefeated conference rival Oklahoma State. For his part, Ehlinger threw for four touchdowns as the Longhorns won 36-30.
5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- All you need to know about Ohio State's Week 4 game against Miami (OH) is that they scored 42 points in the second quarter.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 4)- Good news everyone (unless you're a Michigan fan): Wisconsin is most definitely for real. They thoroughly dominated the Wolverines and Taylor was a big reason why. The dominating back ran for two scores and more than 200 yards on 23 carries as the Badgers won by 21. Wisconsin's continued success keeps Taylor in the national conversation, which is obviously great for his Heisman campaign.
3. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 3)- If you still aren't a believer in Burrow, get on board. The man is putting on beautiful performances on a weekly basis. In Week 4, the Tiger threw for 398 yards and six touchdowns.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- 'Bama cruised over Southern Miss and Tua padded his season stats by going 17 of 21 for 293 yards and five passing scores.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Despite not playing in Week 4 (and a strong performance by our #2 candidate), Hurts is still our Heisman front-runner.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Heisman Watch Week 3
Another week of college football means another edition of the Heisman watch. Let's not waste too much time and get started.
Before we get to the top 10, let's give a quick shoutout to our honorable mentions: D'Andre Swift, Ian Book, Chase Young, Anthony Gordon, and Justin Herbert. We also need to address the one departure from last week: Alabama wideout Jerry Jeudy. While he did have a good game against South Carolina (six catches for 68 yards), he was overshadowed by teammates such as Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith.
10. Zack Moss, Utah (Last Week: NR)- Moss is the only debuting player on this week's list. His Utah Utes have quietly emerged as the best team in the Pac-12 and Moss is a big reason why. In Week 3, Moss ran for 106 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries.
9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- I've been beating the drum for Dobbins since last season, and it feels like the nation is finally paying him some attention. In OSU's rout against Indiana, Dobbins ran for 193 yards and one score on 22 carries.
8. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Etienne's Heisman campaign benefited in the first two weeks by a slow start from teammate Trevor Lawrence. That all changed in Week 3 when Lawrence finally had the big game we were looking for. Etienne meanwhile, racked up 76 yards for 14 carries. It was by no means a bad performance, but it was a step down from his previous performances this year.
7. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 7)- After the loss to LSU last week, Ehlinger needed a big performance to keep him in the Heisman conversation. Fortunately for him, he did just that by going 23-27 for 279 yards and three scores. On top of that, Texas got back to their winning ways by beating Rice 48-13.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- As I mentioned earlier, Lawrence had his first big performance of the year in Week 3. Against Syracuse, Lawrence threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more.
5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Fields continues to put up big numbers while dazzling on the field. Against Indiana, Fields threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- I know it's early in the season, but it's hard to argue with the claim that Taylor is the best running back in college football. Through three weeks, only four players have more rushing scores than Taylor's five.
3. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 4)- The biggest surprise of the 2019 Heisman campaign thus far has been the emergence of Joe Burrow. He's fourth in total QBR (the three players ahead of him are all on this Heisman watch), is third in passing yards, and tied for third in passing touchdowns with 11.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Tagovailoa set a new personal record by throwing for 444 yards as the Crimson Tide steamrolled South Carolina. Personally, I want to wait to see him against some elite competition before I move him to #1. Dominating teams like Duke and New Mexico State is fine, but I want to see something more.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Maybe it's because we didn't see these kinds of performances during his time at Alabama, but there's still a lot of excitement around Hurts's big performances. Against Chip Kelly and UCLA, Hurts threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns. In my mind, he's still the man to beat.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Before we get to the top 10, let's give a quick shoutout to our honorable mentions: D'Andre Swift, Ian Book, Chase Young, Anthony Gordon, and Justin Herbert. We also need to address the one departure from last week: Alabama wideout Jerry Jeudy. While he did have a good game against South Carolina (six catches for 68 yards), he was overshadowed by teammates such as Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith.
10. Zack Moss, Utah (Last Week: NR)- Moss is the only debuting player on this week's list. His Utah Utes have quietly emerged as the best team in the Pac-12 and Moss is a big reason why. In Week 3, Moss ran for 106 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries.
9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- I've been beating the drum for Dobbins since last season, and it feels like the nation is finally paying him some attention. In OSU's rout against Indiana, Dobbins ran for 193 yards and one score on 22 carries.
8. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Etienne's Heisman campaign benefited in the first two weeks by a slow start from teammate Trevor Lawrence. That all changed in Week 3 when Lawrence finally had the big game we were looking for. Etienne meanwhile, racked up 76 yards for 14 carries. It was by no means a bad performance, but it was a step down from his previous performances this year.
7. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 7)- After the loss to LSU last week, Ehlinger needed a big performance to keep him in the Heisman conversation. Fortunately for him, he did just that by going 23-27 for 279 yards and three scores. On top of that, Texas got back to their winning ways by beating Rice 48-13.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- As I mentioned earlier, Lawrence had his first big performance of the year in Week 3. Against Syracuse, Lawrence threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more.
5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Fields continues to put up big numbers while dazzling on the field. Against Indiana, Fields threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- I know it's early in the season, but it's hard to argue with the claim that Taylor is the best running back in college football. Through three weeks, only four players have more rushing scores than Taylor's five.
3. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 4)- The biggest surprise of the 2019 Heisman campaign thus far has been the emergence of Joe Burrow. He's fourth in total QBR (the three players ahead of him are all on this Heisman watch), is third in passing yards, and tied for third in passing touchdowns with 11.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Tagovailoa set a new personal record by throwing for 444 yards as the Crimson Tide steamrolled South Carolina. Personally, I want to wait to see him against some elite competition before I move him to #1. Dominating teams like Duke and New Mexico State is fine, but I want to see something more.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Maybe it's because we didn't see these kinds of performances during his time at Alabama, but there's still a lot of excitement around Hurts's big performances. Against Chip Kelly and UCLA, Hurts threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns. In my mind, he's still the man to beat.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Heisman Watch Week 2
While the second week of this year's college football season is in the books, the Heisman race is still wide-open (as it should be this early in the season). That being said, there are a number of favorites that are early betting favorites. Let's look at ten of them.
Thanks for reading everyone.
BUT FIRST: we bid adieu to Georgia's Jake Fromm and Washington's Jacob Eason. Eason and the Huskies were stunned by Cal, putting their Pac-12 title dreams in danger. While Fromm and the Bulldogs are still undefeated, Fromm's stats weren't great enough to keep him in the top 10.
We also need to give some love to the likes of D'Andre Swift, Rondale Moore, and Zack Moss.
10. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- Before the season began, I said that Purdue's Moore would probably be the most likely wide receiver to win the Heisman. Now, it seems that man is Jerry Jeudy. Through two games, he has 18 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns.
9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- As impressive as Justin Fields has been, J.K. Dobbins has also been noteworthy. Through two games, and two Buckeye wins, Dobbins has 232 rushing yards and three scores.
8. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 5)- Ehlinger drops three spots as a result of Texas's loss of LSU, but Ehlinger played well enough to keep him in the top 10. Again, this is just Week 2 and there is still plenty of time for Ehlinger to bounce back.
7. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- It seems like in this day and age, a running back needs to produce every week in order to win the Heisman. If that's the case, then Etienne might be in a little bit of trouble. In a big marquee game against Texas A&M, Etienne only ran for 53 yards and was outshone by a couple of his teammates, including...
6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- Unlike his teammate, Lawrence is trending in the right direction. Not only did he look impressive against the Aggies, but the Tigers won their possibly toughest non-conference game of the regular season.
5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 6)- In terms of national recognition, very few players have benefited more in the last couple of weeks than Ohio State's newest gunslinger. If OSU wins the Big 10 and makes the playoffs, it's hard to imagine a Heisman ceremony without Fields.
4. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 8)- When was the last time LSU had this good of a QB? Zach Mettenberger? Rohan Davey? Regardless, Burrow has proven himself to be the real deal. The Tigers held on to knock off Texas and Burrow looked like a real star in the process. In two games, Burrow has thrown for 749 yards and scored nine times.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- In my Week 0 Heisman watch, I wrote that Taylor would likely have a superb season even if Wisconsin didn't. At this point in the season, that's looking like a pretty foolish take. The Badgers hammered Central Michigan 61-0 in Week 2 while Taylor rushed for three touchdowns and caught another one.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Tua has been seemingly overshadowed by his former teammate, but don't sleep on him just yet. Despite not playing at all in the fourth quarter, last year's Heisman runner-up went 16-of-24 and had four total touchdowns.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Another week, another exceptional performance by Oklahoma's latest transfer star. Hurts threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma stayed undefeated.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Heisman Watch Week 1
The first week of the 2019 college football season is in the books. There may not have been any classic games, but we saw some great performances across the board. Let's check and see how those performances affected our Heisman big board.
Before we get to the actual list, let's give some love to our honorable mentions. Those players are RB Zach Moss, Georgia's D'Andre Swift, the Aggie Kelln Mond, UCF's Brandon Wimbush, WR Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, J.K. Dobbins of OSU, and Shea Patterson of Michigan. All of these players had great Weeks 1's, but cracking the top ten is no easy feat.
Two players from last week's rankings have dropped out: Notre Dame's Ian Book and Purdue's Rondale Moore. Book and the Fighting Irish picked up a win against Louisville but didn't look great doing it. Moore meanwhile, picked up a lot of all-purpose yards but had his game tarnished by poor ball security. Do not fret if you are a fan of either of these men, their seasons are just beginning.
10. Jake Fromm, Georgia (Last Week: 6)- Fromm drops four spots after a decent performance in Georgia's win over Vandy. I thought about ranking his teammate D'Andre Swift here instead, but I think Fromm will rebound in the weeks to come.
9. Jacob Eason, Washington (Last Week: NR)- Eason's performance went a little under-the-radar this weekend, but he's someone you should definitely keep an eye on. If Washington wins the Pac-12, there's a very good chance Eason is a Heisman finalist.
8. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: NR)- Burrow exploded on to the Heisman scene by throwing five touchdowns in the first half of LSU's game against Georgia Southern. Get on the bandwagon now, as seats are going fast.
7. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Clemson fans, don't worry. It's way too early to panic. Yes, Lawrence looked kind of pedestrian against Georgia Tech, but this was one game. There's every reason to believe that Lawrence will bounce back in a big way.
6. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- Fields made his Buckeyes debut in a big way on Saturday. In the first drive against Florida Atlantic, Fields ran for a 51-yard score and threw four TD passes.
5. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 4)- Out of all the preseason Heisman favorites, Ehlinger probably started the season with the most doubters. He silenced most of them this week by throwing for four scores and 276 yards.
4. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 8)- If you have Etienne at #1 on your Heisman watch, I wouldn't argue with you. The star back was simply sensational in Clemson's dominating win over Georgia Tech. Continuing to outshine teammate Trevor Lawrence is definitely his easiest path to New York.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- Wisconsin has its fair share of doubters this year, but no one should doubt Taylor's shot at winning the Heisman. In Week 1, Taylor scored a total of four touchdowns as the Badgers rolled.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 1)- You may be surprised to see Tua this high but remember that this is just one week of football. Tua didn't have the most dazzling performance, especially when compared to guys like Taylor and Etienne, but he still dazzled in 'Bama's win over Duke. Besides, I'm not quite ready to give up on my preseason pick.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 7)- Hurts was unquestionably the star of Week 1. Not only did Oklahoma steamroll Houston, Hurts scored six times while throwing for 332 yards. Is a third straight Heisman in Lincoln Riley's future?
Thanks for reading everyone.
Before we get to the actual list, let's give some love to our honorable mentions. Those players are RB Zach Moss, Georgia's D'Andre Swift, the Aggie Kelln Mond, UCF's Brandon Wimbush, WR Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, J.K. Dobbins of OSU, and Shea Patterson of Michigan. All of these players had great Weeks 1's, but cracking the top ten is no easy feat.
Two players from last week's rankings have dropped out: Notre Dame's Ian Book and Purdue's Rondale Moore. Book and the Fighting Irish picked up a win against Louisville but didn't look great doing it. Moore meanwhile, picked up a lot of all-purpose yards but had his game tarnished by poor ball security. Do not fret if you are a fan of either of these men, their seasons are just beginning.
10. Jake Fromm, Georgia (Last Week: 6)- Fromm drops four spots after a decent performance in Georgia's win over Vandy. I thought about ranking his teammate D'Andre Swift here instead, but I think Fromm will rebound in the weeks to come.
9. Jacob Eason, Washington (Last Week: NR)- Eason's performance went a little under-the-radar this weekend, but he's someone you should definitely keep an eye on. If Washington wins the Pac-12, there's a very good chance Eason is a Heisman finalist.
8. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: NR)- Burrow exploded on to the Heisman scene by throwing five touchdowns in the first half of LSU's game against Georgia Southern. Get on the bandwagon now, as seats are going fast.
7. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Clemson fans, don't worry. It's way too early to panic. Yes, Lawrence looked kind of pedestrian against Georgia Tech, but this was one game. There's every reason to believe that Lawrence will bounce back in a big way.
6. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- Fields made his Buckeyes debut in a big way on Saturday. In the first drive against Florida Atlantic, Fields ran for a 51-yard score and threw four TD passes.
5. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 4)- Out of all the preseason Heisman favorites, Ehlinger probably started the season with the most doubters. He silenced most of them this week by throwing for four scores and 276 yards.
4. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 8)- If you have Etienne at #1 on your Heisman watch, I wouldn't argue with you. The star back was simply sensational in Clemson's dominating win over Georgia Tech. Continuing to outshine teammate Trevor Lawrence is definitely his easiest path to New York.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- Wisconsin has its fair share of doubters this year, but no one should doubt Taylor's shot at winning the Heisman. In Week 1, Taylor scored a total of four touchdowns as the Badgers rolled.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 1)- You may be surprised to see Tua this high but remember that this is just one week of football. Tua didn't have the most dazzling performance, especially when compared to guys like Taylor and Etienne, but he still dazzled in 'Bama's win over Duke. Besides, I'm not quite ready to give up on my preseason pick.
1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 7)- Hurts was unquestionably the star of Week 1. Not only did Oklahoma steamroll Houston, Hurts scored six times while throwing for 332 yards. Is a third straight Heisman in Lincoln Riley's future?
Thanks for reading everyone.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Rapid-Fire Predictions: 2019-2020 NFL Season
Welcome back to another edition of Rapid-Fire Predictions, where we rattle off some big (and quick) predictions. For this edition, we'll be taking a crack at predicting the upcoming NFL season. In case you were wondering, we did a decent job with last year's predictions. We got seven of the 12 playoff teams, two of the four teams in the conference title games, and two of the year-end awards. Not bad, but there's definitely room for improvement this year. Let's get started.
NFC North:
4. Detroit Lions- There are few things in life I love more than the Lions, but this is just not their year. They're by no means a bad team (and probably the best team in the league that will finish last in their division) but they don't have the depth to compete with the other three teams in this division.
3. Chicago Bears- I'm going to be honest here, I have no idea how to rank the Bears, Vikings, or Packers. If you feel like I'm slighting your team, please don't yell at me too much. I like the Bears a lot, and I probably like Mitchell Trubisky more than most, but I worry about the loss of Vic Fangio and their first-place schedule.
2. Green Bay Packers- I'm not bullish on Matt LaFleur, but a healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers an immediate division contender. Their defense is suspect, but hopefully, their offense more than makes up for it.
1. Minnesota Vikings- This ranking is completely dependent on Kirk Cousins. If he adjusts to the scheme in his second year in the purple uniform, then the Vikings should be among the NFC's best. If he doesn't, expect another middling season.
NFC East:
4. New York Giants- Is anyone really expecting much from the Giants this year? Eli Manning is a shell of the player who won two Super Bowl MVP awards, Golden Tate will start the season on the sideline, and OBJ is gone. Four wins four the G-Men is realistic.
3. Washington Redskins- The Redskins have constantly been snakebitten by injuries, so it's really hard to have high expectations for them. The best we can hope for is for Dwayne Haskins to become an established starter.
2. Dallas Cowboys- With Ezekiel Elliot back in the fold, the 'Boys are realistic NFC title contenders. They made it to the conference semis last year and now have Amari Cooper for a full season. The ceiling is very high for this team.
1. Philadelphia Eagles- If Carson Wentz can stay healthy, the Iggles are one of the best teams in the NFC. They're one of the deepest teams in the league and have that all-important postseason experience.
NFC South:
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I like Bruce Arians, but I don't know if he's going to be enough to rescue Jameis Winston's floundering career.
3. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons are a maddening team. They have the best receiver trio in football, have a top-10 QB, and yet can't seem to pull it together. Still, if everything goes right, they'll be fighting for the NFC crown.
2. Carolina Panthers- There's a lot to like about the Panthers. Norv Turner sparked some new life into their offense last season, Cam Newton is reportedly healthy, and Christian McCaffrey has established himself as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL.
1. New Orleans Saints- I don't buy into the Drew Bress regression hype. The man did have a disappointing second half of the season last year, but he still had a tremendous season and finished second in MVP voting.
NFC West:
4. Arizona Cardinals- This one is pretty self-explanatory.
3. San Francisco 49ers- I just can't buy into the 49ers hype. Jimmy G will probably once again struggle to stay healthy and the 49ers don't exactly have a great defense. It won't surprise me if they make the playoffs, but don't bet on it.
2. Seattle Seahawks- The 'Hawks made the playoffs last year and are definitely better than they were last year. The tandem of Jadaveon Clowney and a healthy Ziggy Ansah should wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks and a healthy Seattle backfield should be great,
1. Los Angeles Rams- I was tempted to put the Seahawks at 1, but it's so hard to bet against the Rams. Sean McVay is arguably the best offensive mind in the game, Aaron Donald is unarguably the best defensive player in the game, and a healthy Todd Gurley is arguably the best back in the league.
NFC Seeding:
1. Philadelphia 2. Los Angeles 3. New Orleans 4. Minnesota 5. Dallas 6. Seattle
AFC North:
4. Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals have finally moved on from Marvin Lewis, but don't expect big things from Zac Taylor in his first year. He's never been a head coach at any level and he only spent one year as QB coach with the Rams.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben quietly threw for 5,000 yards last season, but that was with Antonio Brown and Jesse James. I don't think the Steelers will be bad, but I have higher expectations for Baltimore and Cleveland.
2. Baltimore Ravens- Lamar Jackson should take a step forward this year, but the Ravens face a tough slate of opponents that will make winning the division a tall task. Still, expect a lot of growth from this young offense.
1. Cleveland Browns- Why not? Freddie Kitchens showed promise as offensive coordinator last year, Baker Mayfield has proven himself to be the real deal, and the additions of guys like OBJ and Kareem Hunt should make this team more dangerous.
AFC East:
4. Miami Dolphins- Brian Flores is unproven as a head coach, the QB situation is messy, Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills were shipped out recently, etc. Is anyone actually reading this entry?
3. New York Jets- I think Sam Darnold will have an impressive sophomore season, but will it be good enough to make the Jets wild card contenders? There are also questions about Adam Gase's coaching ability.
2. Buffalo Bills- Josh Allen is poised for a big season and will be helped by a quietly strong defense. It's hard to imagine this group making the playoffs, but a second-place finish in this division is realistic.
1. New England Patriots- Yeah, like I need an explanation for this one.
AFC South:
4. Tennessee Titans- How the Titans made the playoffs two years ago (and won a playoff game) and then almost nabbed a spot again last year is beyond me. Sure, they're a talented team but Marcus Mariota has given no reason to make people think he can be a quality starter.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Maybe Nick Foles is tremendous and this pick looks ridiculous in a few months. I just don't think the receiving corps is very good and that the defense is what it was two years ago.
2. Houston Texans- The Texans are a very talented team but they play a very tough schedule and still have questions about their offensive line. It's going to surprise no one if they win the AFC South, but I have them falling just short.
1. Indianapolis Colts- With Andrew Luck, the Colts were legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With Jacoby Brissett, the Colts can still win the division. Let's not forget they still have guys like Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Marlon Mack.
AFC West:
4. Oakland Raiders- This seems like one of the easiest divisions to predict, and the Raiders are almost certain to finish in the cellar. According to Bleacher Report, they have the toughest schedule in the league.
3. Denver Broncos- Is anyone really expecting much out of Joe Flacco? This season feels like a holding period until Drew Lock is ready to become the starter. Still, Von Miller is always fun to watch.
2. Los Angeles Chargers- I'm higher on Melvin Gordon than a lot of people, and I think losing him will really hurt the Chargers. Nonetheless, they have an incredibly talented team, featuring guys like Derwin James and Joey Bosa, and should dazzle the seven fans they get at home games.
1. Kansas City Chiefs- Some people say that since other teams now have footage of Patrick Mahomes, they'll be able to stop him. I call BS on that, how on earth do you stop a man that can throw 65 yards while kneeling?
AFC Seeding:
1. New England 2. Kansas City 3. Cleveland 4. Indianapolis 5. Los Angeles 6. Houston
Wild Card Round:
#6 Seattle at #3 New Orleans- Give me the Saints here. On paper, they have a better roster than the Seahawks and will be hungry to make the Super Bowl after missing out last year.
# 5 Dallas at #4 Minnesota- This is tough, but I'm going with a narrow upset. Kirk Cousins has never won a playoff game and the Cowboys could prove a tough matchup.
#6 Houston at # 3 Cleveland- I think the magical run of the Browns could end here, but I'm going to pick them anyways. Myles Garrett should decimate the ragtag Texans' O-line and Houston's secondary isn't strong enough to stop Baker.
#5 Indianapolis at #4 Los Angeles- If Andrew Luck hadn't retired, this would have been a great game. Jacoby Brissett just isn't on his level. Give me the Chargers.
Divisional Round:
#5 Dallas at #1 Philadelphia- These two teams are pretty close, and I think home-field advantage will be the deciding point here. Give me Philly here.
#3 New Orleans at #2 Los Angeles- This matchup will be SPICY. The Saints will be seeing red and thirsting for blood. I think they get revenge here.
#4 Los Angeles at #1 New England- Let's shake things up here. Picking New England to win everything is always the smart choice, but that's boring. And picking the Chargers here is not a massive upset, they have a tremendous defense and an offense that could seriously gash the Pats.
#3 Cleveland at #2 Kansas City- The seeds indicate this will be close, but I think the Chiefs run away with it.
Conference Championships:
#3 New Orleans at #1 Philadelphia- This is really close, and I think I'm going to go with New Orleans. They are a hungry, hungry team and I would not want to be standing in between them and the Super Bowl.
#4 Los Angeles at #2 Kansas City- Like the Saints, the Chiefs were a whisper away last year from making the Super Bowl. I think they fix things here.
Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs- Patrick Mahomes has a chance to go down as one of the great QBs in league history. He'll win a lot of awards and even a couple of rings. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait a little longer.
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees
Awards:
MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack
Coach of the Year: Frank Reich
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Allen
Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Thanks for reading everyone.
NFC North:
4. Detroit Lions- There are few things in life I love more than the Lions, but this is just not their year. They're by no means a bad team (and probably the best team in the league that will finish last in their division) but they don't have the depth to compete with the other three teams in this division.
3. Chicago Bears- I'm going to be honest here, I have no idea how to rank the Bears, Vikings, or Packers. If you feel like I'm slighting your team, please don't yell at me too much. I like the Bears a lot, and I probably like Mitchell Trubisky more than most, but I worry about the loss of Vic Fangio and their first-place schedule.
2. Green Bay Packers- I'm not bullish on Matt LaFleur, but a healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers an immediate division contender. Their defense is suspect, but hopefully, their offense more than makes up for it.
1. Minnesota Vikings- This ranking is completely dependent on Kirk Cousins. If he adjusts to the scheme in his second year in the purple uniform, then the Vikings should be among the NFC's best. If he doesn't, expect another middling season.
NFC East:
4. New York Giants- Is anyone really expecting much from the Giants this year? Eli Manning is a shell of the player who won two Super Bowl MVP awards, Golden Tate will start the season on the sideline, and OBJ is gone. Four wins four the G-Men is realistic.
3. Washington Redskins- The Redskins have constantly been snakebitten by injuries, so it's really hard to have high expectations for them. The best we can hope for is for Dwayne Haskins to become an established starter.
2. Dallas Cowboys- With Ezekiel Elliot back in the fold, the 'Boys are realistic NFC title contenders. They made it to the conference semis last year and now have Amari Cooper for a full season. The ceiling is very high for this team.
1. Philadelphia Eagles- If Carson Wentz can stay healthy, the Iggles are one of the best teams in the NFC. They're one of the deepest teams in the league and have that all-important postseason experience.
NFC South:
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I like Bruce Arians, but I don't know if he's going to be enough to rescue Jameis Winston's floundering career.
3. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons are a maddening team. They have the best receiver trio in football, have a top-10 QB, and yet can't seem to pull it together. Still, if everything goes right, they'll be fighting for the NFC crown.
2. Carolina Panthers- There's a lot to like about the Panthers. Norv Turner sparked some new life into their offense last season, Cam Newton is reportedly healthy, and Christian McCaffrey has established himself as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL.
1. New Orleans Saints- I don't buy into the Drew Bress regression hype. The man did have a disappointing second half of the season last year, but he still had a tremendous season and finished second in MVP voting.
NFC West:
4. Arizona Cardinals- This one is pretty self-explanatory.
3. San Francisco 49ers- I just can't buy into the 49ers hype. Jimmy G will probably once again struggle to stay healthy and the 49ers don't exactly have a great defense. It won't surprise me if they make the playoffs, but don't bet on it.
2. Seattle Seahawks- The 'Hawks made the playoffs last year and are definitely better than they were last year. The tandem of Jadaveon Clowney and a healthy Ziggy Ansah should wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks and a healthy Seattle backfield should be great,
1. Los Angeles Rams- I was tempted to put the Seahawks at 1, but it's so hard to bet against the Rams. Sean McVay is arguably the best offensive mind in the game, Aaron Donald is unarguably the best defensive player in the game, and a healthy Todd Gurley is arguably the best back in the league.
NFC Seeding:
1. Philadelphia 2. Los Angeles 3. New Orleans 4. Minnesota 5. Dallas 6. Seattle
AFC North:
4. Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals have finally moved on from Marvin Lewis, but don't expect big things from Zac Taylor in his first year. He's never been a head coach at any level and he only spent one year as QB coach with the Rams.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben quietly threw for 5,000 yards last season, but that was with Antonio Brown and Jesse James. I don't think the Steelers will be bad, but I have higher expectations for Baltimore and Cleveland.
2. Baltimore Ravens- Lamar Jackson should take a step forward this year, but the Ravens face a tough slate of opponents that will make winning the division a tall task. Still, expect a lot of growth from this young offense.
1. Cleveland Browns- Why not? Freddie Kitchens showed promise as offensive coordinator last year, Baker Mayfield has proven himself to be the real deal, and the additions of guys like OBJ and Kareem Hunt should make this team more dangerous.
AFC East:
4. Miami Dolphins- Brian Flores is unproven as a head coach, the QB situation is messy, Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills were shipped out recently, etc. Is anyone actually reading this entry?
3. New York Jets- I think Sam Darnold will have an impressive sophomore season, but will it be good enough to make the Jets wild card contenders? There are also questions about Adam Gase's coaching ability.
2. Buffalo Bills- Josh Allen is poised for a big season and will be helped by a quietly strong defense. It's hard to imagine this group making the playoffs, but a second-place finish in this division is realistic.
1. New England Patriots- Yeah, like I need an explanation for this one.
AFC South:
4. Tennessee Titans- How the Titans made the playoffs two years ago (and won a playoff game) and then almost nabbed a spot again last year is beyond me. Sure, they're a talented team but Marcus Mariota has given no reason to make people think he can be a quality starter.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Maybe Nick Foles is tremendous and this pick looks ridiculous in a few months. I just don't think the receiving corps is very good and that the defense is what it was two years ago.
2. Houston Texans- The Texans are a very talented team but they play a very tough schedule and still have questions about their offensive line. It's going to surprise no one if they win the AFC South, but I have them falling just short.
1. Indianapolis Colts- With Andrew Luck, the Colts were legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With Jacoby Brissett, the Colts can still win the division. Let's not forget they still have guys like Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Marlon Mack.
AFC West:
4. Oakland Raiders- This seems like one of the easiest divisions to predict, and the Raiders are almost certain to finish in the cellar. According to Bleacher Report, they have the toughest schedule in the league.
3. Denver Broncos- Is anyone really expecting much out of Joe Flacco? This season feels like a holding period until Drew Lock is ready to become the starter. Still, Von Miller is always fun to watch.
2. Los Angeles Chargers- I'm higher on Melvin Gordon than a lot of people, and I think losing him will really hurt the Chargers. Nonetheless, they have an incredibly talented team, featuring guys like Derwin James and Joey Bosa, and should dazzle the seven fans they get at home games.
1. Kansas City Chiefs- Some people say that since other teams now have footage of Patrick Mahomes, they'll be able to stop him. I call BS on that, how on earth do you stop a man that can throw 65 yards while kneeling?
AFC Seeding:
1. New England 2. Kansas City 3. Cleveland 4. Indianapolis 5. Los Angeles 6. Houston
Wild Card Round:
#6 Seattle at #3 New Orleans- Give me the Saints here. On paper, they have a better roster than the Seahawks and will be hungry to make the Super Bowl after missing out last year.
# 5 Dallas at #4 Minnesota- This is tough, but I'm going with a narrow upset. Kirk Cousins has never won a playoff game and the Cowboys could prove a tough matchup.
#6 Houston at # 3 Cleveland- I think the magical run of the Browns could end here, but I'm going to pick them anyways. Myles Garrett should decimate the ragtag Texans' O-line and Houston's secondary isn't strong enough to stop Baker.
#5 Indianapolis at #4 Los Angeles- If Andrew Luck hadn't retired, this would have been a great game. Jacoby Brissett just isn't on his level. Give me the Chargers.
Divisional Round:
#5 Dallas at #1 Philadelphia- These two teams are pretty close, and I think home-field advantage will be the deciding point here. Give me Philly here.
#3 New Orleans at #2 Los Angeles- This matchup will be SPICY. The Saints will be seeing red and thirsting for blood. I think they get revenge here.
#4 Los Angeles at #1 New England- Let's shake things up here. Picking New England to win everything is always the smart choice, but that's boring. And picking the Chargers here is not a massive upset, they have a tremendous defense and an offense that could seriously gash the Pats.
#3 Cleveland at #2 Kansas City- The seeds indicate this will be close, but I think the Chiefs run away with it.
Conference Championships:
#3 New Orleans at #1 Philadelphia- This is really close, and I think I'm going to go with New Orleans. They are a hungry, hungry team and I would not want to be standing in between them and the Super Bowl.
#4 Los Angeles at #2 Kansas City- Like the Saints, the Chiefs were a whisper away last year from making the Super Bowl. I think they fix things here.
Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs- Patrick Mahomes has a chance to go down as one of the great QBs in league history. He'll win a lot of awards and even a couple of rings. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait a little longer.
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees
Awards:
MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack
Coach of the Year: Frank Reich
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Allen
Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Thanks for reading everyone.
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