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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