The NFL season kicks off tonight with the oldest rivalry in all of Football, Packers vs. Bears. This game alone has potential to be a playoff matchup for this upcoming season.
Entering its 100th season, the league may have more talent and more talented teams then we have ever seen before. This will make this season a much anticipated one, where all the teams have the same goal, win the Super Bowl.
In order to win the Super Bowl though, you have to make the playoffs. Not every team is set up to make the playoffs on the road to the Lombardi trophy. Many teams made offseason transactions hoping to make the playoffs, the most recent big-name being Ezekiel Elliot reporting to the Cowboys after signing a six-year extension for $90 million.
This seems like the perfect time to predict the upcoming season.
AFC East
1. Patriots (12-4)
This is probably the easiest division to choose a winner and this is all thanks to the Tom Brady, Bill Belichick duo. Ever since Brady took over as a starter it seems like the Patriots are all we talk about from the AFC East and this year will be no different. Drawing a first-place schedule makes the upcoming season a little tougher, but there is no real competition in the East to make up for this.
They have challenging games, but the Patriots are used to that and always win when it matters. Even with the first-place schedule they have the second-easiest schedule based off last year’s opponents win percentage. This will help fuel them to the playoffs again and set them up in good condition to secure at least one home game in the playoffs.
2. New York Jets (7-9)
The Jets had some big-name additions over the offseason, the biggest being RB Le’Veon Bell and LB CJ Mosely. This will help bring a veteran presence to a young Jets team that desperately needs some. With Bell not playing last season there may be a bit of getting back into the swing of things for him, and second year quarterback Sam Darnold may have to carry a load on offense. The offensive line is in place for both Darnold and Bell to have good seasons.
Defensively the Jets drafted Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams who should be able to make an immediate impact on the defense this season as a disruptive force in the middle. Their linebacker core is helped by adding former pro-bowler CJ Mosely and the secondary will be led by safety Jamal Adams.
They play the up and coming Browns and Patriots in consecutive weeks early in the season. This could set the tone for their entire season, the talent is there for them to do very well in the near future, but they are not quite there for this season.
3. Bills (6-10)
Josh Allen is set up to be the quarterback of the future and lead the Bills back to the playoffs. This, however, will not be the year they will do that. There does not seem like there will be much improvement record wise for a team that was 6-10 last season. Tough games at home and on the road this season will bite the Bills and they do not have enough fire power to overcome their schedule.
Defensively they should be top notch again. It is hard to tell though whether they have enough on offense to put them over in games. Their defense will keep them in games, but the offense may be a little too weak to actually put them over in the tough games. Just like the Jets, they are setting up for the future and they are not there as of yet for this season.
4. Dolphins (2-14)
The Dolphins’ season outlook didn’t even look good before they traded away LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills. Now that they are both gone the outlook looks even worse. Getting three draft picks, two first rounders, means that they are looking forward to the future and not the season at hand.
Second year quarterback Josh Rosen just cannot catch a break, in the two years he has been in the league he has a chance to be behind the worst offensive line both times. Luckily for him, I guess, is that Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the season under center. Anything more than three wins this season will be considered a win in Miami, but they also have a chance to join the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns as the only winless teams in NFL history.
AFC North
T1. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
This division could be the complete opposite of the AFC East, this could be the toughest division to choose from, as there are three teams who could realistically win the division. The one with the most hype is the Cleveland Browns after big off-season additions, most notably Odell Beckham Jr. On paper they should win the division behind second year quarterback Baker Mayfield. However, games are not on paper, they are on the field and the Browns could run into some trouble.
Offensively, there should be no problem, the problem lies within the defense. In order to get Beckham Jr., the Browns needed to give up their best secondary defender Jabrill Peppers. This could make them look like the 2018 Chiefs, have one of the most entertaining offenses, while having one of the most underwhelming defenses. All of this should still be enough for the Browns to win the division and make the playoffs.
T1. Ravens (11-5)
The Ravens will shock people this season, yes, they won the division last season, but they are playing with a running quarterback in Lamar Jackson. The Ravens have one of the youngest team’s in the league and the potential talent is all there for them this season. This will all depend on how Jackson plays under center though. He cannot just be a threat running the ball like last season, he needs to show that he is a dangerous passer as well.
The defense lost some key pieces, but they were easily filled, as typical Ravens fashion. The biggest loss comes at linebacker where they no longer have CJ Mosely, but Patrick Onwuasor is a young backer who should fill that hole pretty quickly. Tough road games could make it tough for the Ravens, but the biggest game will be at home against the Patriots, which could provide them the needed momentum to tie atop the division.
3. Steelers (10-6)
Realistically, both Wild Card teams could be coming from the AFC North, that just shows how strong the top three teams in the division are. The Steelers lost top running back Le’Veon Bell and top receiver Antonio Brown, but they should have not problem finding replacements. This does not mean that the replacement will be at the same level, but they will be serviceable enough. Offensively, behind Ben Roethlisberger they should be good enough to be a playoff team.
Defensively shows their biggest issues. Yes, they just resigned cornerback Joe Hayden, but that is still a weak position for them, along with inside linebacker. Their schedule doesn’t make it any easier with the first two games against the Patriots and the Seahawks. If the Steelers come out of that at .500, they shouldn’t have too many problems otherwise. Again, this is a loaded division where 10-6 can land a team third place.
4. Bengals (6-10)
Offensively, the Bengals should be a good team with Andy Dalton under center, Joe Mixon in the backfield, and A.J. Green at receiver. This all depends on if A.J. Green one will be healthy, and two will be the same threat he was if he is healthy. The offensive line will continue to be a struggle as it was last season, but it should be serviceable.
Defensively, they have to be better than last season, right. They were such a bad team on the defensive end that it lost them games last season. The defense will be their downfall once again this season, leading them to last place in the North.
AFC South
1. Texans (10-6)
The Texans are all in this season and they are fighting for the here and now. After trading away their next two first-round picks for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills, the Texans have to do something this season without it being considered a failure. They upgraded both the offensive line and the receivers with this trade, so offensively they should be fine.
The problem lies in the defense where they lost Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson. With the loss of these two and Jadaveon Clowney the pressure will be placed on the other side of the line with JJ Watt. Watt needs to be a perennial defensive player of the year in order for the Texans to be serious contenders. The Texans don’t have an easy schedule, but the division should be easier with the loss of Andrew Luck for the Colts.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
The Jaguars got a much-needed upgrade at the quarterback position, adding Nick Foles as their starter for the season. Their schedule should make this much easier, as they have a last-place schedule. All of their tough games come at home this season which should make the road games a little easier, but they could have a bad home record leading to troubles.
If the Jaguars want to make up for last season’s woes, Foles will need to lead them through some tough home games this season. The defense also needs to step up, but they won’t have to be the entire team this season after adding Foles. This is also a big season for Foles as he needs to prove that he is more than just a system quarterback. There is nothing wrong with being a system quarterback because he was one of the best, but now he is out of Philadelphia and needs to bring the Jags back to contention.
3. Tennessee Titans (7-9)
Tennessee should be a playoff team, but they won’t, they should have been a playoff team last year, but they weren’t. This seems like a pattern with Marcus Mariota, as of right now it seems like he peaked in his second season. They still have Derrick Henry in the backfield, but it doesn’t look like they have enough around him to sustain a run to the playoffs.
Without Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan the defense will be a question mark. That makes it tough, especially with a new revamped Texans team who were built to win this season. Their schedule will also be tough to work around, with five home games against teams that made the playoffs last season. The division won’t be quite as packed up top, with the retirement of Andrew Luck, but there will still be no room for the Titans up there.
4. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
It’s amazing how much a team can change when you lose a top quarterback. They were once projected division winners before the announcement, now they are near the bottom of the division. Jacoby Brissett will take over as the starting quarterback. If the 2017 season, where Brissett started, is any indication then the Colts will be in for a rough season.
However, they are not the same team that they once were, they upgraded in almost every position, something that should have set them up well for the upcoming year. Brissett could do well, even though they have a very tough road schedule, but he is not the answer for the Colts moving forward. This will now be considered a transitional year for the Colts as they move forward from Luck and look to find their next franchise quarterback.
AFC West
1. Chiefs (12-4)
The Chiefs were blessed with an incredibly easy road schedule this season. The only out of division games that should be challenges are the Patriots and the Bears. They will still have one of the top offenses in the NFL, but the defense still won’t be much better. One problem they could find on offense is that Tyreek Hill has a shaky future. Hill will not be suspended this season, but he still has some dark clouds hanging over him.
The offense will not be the problem, but the defense may. Yes, they added Tyrann Mathieu, but they also lost their two best edge rushers. One part of the defense got stronger, but another lost one of their only strengths on the defensive side last season. In order for the Chiefs to win they need to get production on that side of the ball.
2. Chargers (11-5)
The Chargers easily could have topped the division this season, this was assuming that Melvin Gordon would be playing for them this season. It does not appear that he will be playing this season, making the offense a little stagnant. Phillip Rivers should still be great for them this year, but he will not have as strong of a running game to rely on this year to help mix things up on offense.
The defense should still be there for them. The problem with the defense last season was that they did not know when to change things up. For instance, they handled Lamar Jackson in the playoffs last season, but they employed the same strategy against the Patriots and got smoked. If they can change things up, they should be fine, especially with the easy schedule that they have. Without Gordon it will be tougher to come out on top of the division, but they still should have enough going for them where they should make the playoffs.
3. Denver Broncos (8-8)
The Broncos will surprise people this season, they added Joe Flacco at quarterback, hoping that he is the answer they have been looking for. This could be exactly the quarterback they need this season. Joe Flacco has one of the most talented receivers he has ever had in Emmanuel Sanders (other than Anquan Boldin), that also shows what Flacco has had to work with in his career. Flacco never had any threat targets, now he has two in Sanders and tight end Noah Fant.
The defense should also improve, with the impact of second year edge rusher Bradley Chubb. Chubb should have an even better season than he did in his rookie campaign. The biggest obstacle they will face will be the schedule. They have the second toughest schedule out of any team in the NFL. This will make it so Flacco has to be in playoff form if they want to make the playoffs.
4. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
The Raiders finally have a big-name receiver to help Derek Carr in Antonio Brown. However, Brown will not be enough to make a bad team good just like that. The Raiders will still have problems on the offensive end, and it starts with the line. They could have a great line with the addition of Trent Brown, but there is the same possibility that they have a bad line. There are many new faces on the line that will be playing with each other making this season a toss-up for them.
The Raiders have the toughest schedule in the NFL which doesn’t make anything easier for them. Their defense does have some promising young players and some big names which can keep them in games this season. In order for the Raiders to beat last year’s win totals they will have to execute on the defensive side and allow an opportunity for the offense to shine.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Everything this season revolves around the health of quarterback Carson Wentz. In three N full seasons Wentz has only finished the season healthy once. If he can do this the Eagles should have no problem making the playoffs, they have a stacked roster and all the pieces are in place for a playoff run.
However, if Wentz cannot stay healthy, they can no longer rely on Nick Foles to lead them to the playoffs. They will then have to rely on either Nate Sudfeld or Josh McCown to carry them back to the playoffs. The offense is set up to be one of the best in the league and the defense should be top-ten, but the entire season is dependent on the health of Wentz. If he can make it through a full season, expect the Eagles to run the East.
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
Ezekiel Elliot is back on the team after signing a four-year extension. This means that the core of their offense is back, plus the offensive line that should be one of the best in the league. The only question is, whether Zeke will be in full game mode come week one. If he is ready to go, they Cowboys should go 3-0 in their first three games. This will set them up great for the rest of the season, because later on they have tough games against Super Bowl contenders.
Defensively, health will be the biggest concern. If they can stay healthy, they can have a dangerous defense all season long. This is where they have had problems in the past, making their offense have to work to keep them in and win games. The same goes for their division rival, if Wentz gets hurt this will give the Cowboys a great opportunity to take the division for themselves.
3. Redskins (6-10)
Losing Alex Smith last season obviously hurts, as he was the quarterback in the plans to play. Instead, they grabbed Case Keenum who will suffice until Dwayne Haskins is ready to go. The offensive line should help Keenum out as he leads the offense.
They still have holes on both sides of the ball though, and a tough out of division schedule. Plus, they are not serious contenders for the division, with two strong teams ahead of them. This should be a year taken to groom rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The Redskins are not built to be contenders this year, but instead, build up for the future.
4. Giants (4-12)
The Giants are running into the same issue as the Redskins. The biggest difference is they have a generational running back in Saquon Barkley and an experienced quarterback in Eli Manning. They no longer have number one receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but with that trade they added to their defense with Jabrill Peppers. This will be the last ride for Manning under center and his play could determine whether rookie Daniel Jones will come in to take the starting job.
The defense should be better than last season, but they will have to rely too much on Barkley on the offensive end to be a serious threat. Just because the defense will be better though does not mean they will be good. The Giants will be fighting for a spot that no one in the NFL wants, the worst team in the league, leading to a last place finish.
NFC North
T1. Chicago Bears (10-6)
The Bears will kick off the NFL season on September 5th against in division rival, Green Bay Packers. This could be a match between the two top teams in the division. The Bears face two big issues going into this season, the loss of their defensive coordinator, and the kicking game. The loss of the defensive coordinator hurts, especially after having a top-tier defense last season. The only real loss they suffered on the defensive side was safety Adrian Amos, but they replaced him with former Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The defense once again should be top notch.
Offensively, they are behind quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with a good offensive line to go behind. Trubisky has receivers to get the ball to, but they won’t be big-play threats. This means they have to be reliant on a kicking game, which they do not have. This was their biggest downfall last season and it looks like this will be the downfall this season. The kicking game needs to be addressed soon for them to be a legitimate contender in the NFC.
T1. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
The biggest issue with the Packers in previous years has been their defense. That shouldn’t be as much of a concern this season with the addition if safety Adrian Amos and linebacker Za’Darius Smith. This defense will be one of the best defenses that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has ever had behind him. That should mean good things are to come for the Packers this season.
This does not mean that the offense can just rely on the defense though. The offense will have to have the production that it has had in previous seasons. The running game seems like the only weak part of the offense this season and could land them in trouble. Throughout all of this they have to deal with a tough schedule, especially early on. For the Packers to remain serious they need to do well early on in their schedule to stay in the hunt for the division.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
When Kirk Cousins was brought in as quarterback it was supposed to mean a Super Bowl run was evident. Well, that didn’t happen as the Vikings went 8-7-1 last season and failed to make the playoffs. This means that there is enormous pressure in Minnesota to go back to the playoffs. It will be no easy task looking to go back as they will have to fend off both the Bears and the Packers in their division.
They don’t have the easiest schedule in the world, but they have an offense that should be able to compete with any team they are playing. The defense has some big names, but they will need to show that they can play well together to be a threat. As of right now it doesn’t look like they will make a vast improvement over last season, so the playoffs may be out of reach.
4. Detroit Lions (6-10)
The Lions first season under Matt Patricia didn’t go as planned when they went 6-10. This year doesn’t look they will have much improvement record wise. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has a few new pieces on the offensive end, but it won’t be enough for a team and a quarterback who have consistently been underwhelming.
Trey Flowers was the biggest offseason addition on the defensive side where they spent a lot of money to bring him in. That money looks like it will go to waste, at least this season. Five of their first six games are against teams who are looking to make the playoffs this season, and the Lions do not have enough fire power to matchup with these teams offensively or defensively. This will be yet another disappointing season in Detroit.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Let’s be honest here, the Saints have one or two more years where they will be this good, they need to win now! Drew Brees only has a couple years left under center in New Orleans and we know he wants to leave with a championship. This is exactly the year for him. After a blown call in the NFC championship last season, the Saints look to get revenge and make the Super Bowl.
The loss of Mark Ingram will be the biggest loss for the Saints this season, but this means Alvin Kamara will carry the load in the backfield this season. Their offense is good enough to battle any team this season and should help them win a large amount of games. To be serious Super Bowl contenders they need to be equally as good on defense. It looks like they can do that, expect the Saints to be serious Super Bowl contenders.
2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
After blowing a lead in the Super Bowl three seasons ago, the Falcons have never been the same. Whether it became a mental game, or the other teams were just that much better than them is unsure. The Falcons seem to have lost their edge ever since that game. Their offense still has the talent to be one of the best in the league, but their defense isn’t quite there.
There Defense has some big-name players, but they are not a big-name defense. With Dan Quinn taking over as the defensive coordinator, he looks to make the Falcons defense one of the best in the NFC. They will have to prove it too because they have a tough schedule ahead of them. If the Falcons can be good on the road, which they should, they have a chance to win the division, but they will have to overcome the Saints at the top.
3. Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Cam Newton had a shoulder injury last season that severely limited him down the stretch last year. This year needs to be different for them. Newton had successful surgery in January, but especially with Andrew Luck, fans have a right to be worried about him. If he is completely healthy the offense could be something to mess with this season.
Defensively they have beefed up and should be scary on that side of the ball. If Newton is healthy the offense should be no laughing matter either. Like so much of the league though health is of vast importance. If there is a healthy quarterback, we could be looking at a playoff team, if there is not a healthy quarterback, we could be looking at a team near the bottom of the division.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
Tampa Bay wasn’t a bad team last season, where they played a ton of close games and never really lost by a lot. They could be a bad team this season. The defense will hurt with the loss of Kwon Alexander and they have a chance to be even worse than they were last season on that end.
But everything goes to the play of their quarterback Jameis Winston, Winston was one of the big-name prospects coming out of college. Winston hasn’t been bad in the league, but he has been wildly inconsistent. Inconsistency will not cut it at the professional level and if the Buccaneers want to be a good team, they need to have consistent play at the quarterback position, whether that be with Winston or not.
NFC West
1. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
The defending NFC champions should repeat this season as division winners. They won’t have 13 wins like they did last year, but they should be able to reach double digits again. This is because of their offense, especially they young core of running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff.
They added some big but old names on the defensive side that include linebacker Clay Matthews and safety Eric Weddle. The defense will revolve around defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald is one of the best, most consistent players on the defensive end in all the NFL. All of this should lead the Rams back to the top of the West and back in the playoffs.
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
The defense will carry the Seahawks to double digit wins this season. Not that their offense is bad, but their defense is loaded, with the addition of Jadeveon Clowney and the tagging of Frank Clark. Now the defense will not be as good as the 2013 legion of boom, but they will be good enough to be one of the best in the league.
Their offense will also be good with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the charge. Now, the Seahawks do not have an easy schedule, but they should be able to do enough to reach double digit wins and make the playoffs.
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Jimmy Garoppolo was supposed to be the answer for the 49ers. Now, he has only played one full season, but that season was a bad one. The 49ers were 4-12 last season when they endured injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Everyone on the team is back to full health, so predicting 6-10 may be a little low, but time will tell.
General Manager John Lynch was aggressively recruiting this offseason to bring some big-names in. That was what he did, specifically on the defensive side adding defensive end Dee Ford, and linebacker Kwon Alexander. Defensively they should be good enough to warrant a winning record. Now the challenge comes offensively where they may not have enough talent to reach that threshold.
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Two straight years of having the number one pick and two straight years taking a quarterback. Last year’s number one pick Josh Rosen is no longer with the team. Now it is this year’s number one pick, Kyler Murray’s team. The rookie Murray will also have a rookie head coach in Kliff Kingsbury. Rosen didn’t fail last season because he was inadequate, instead he failed because his team failed around him.
Expect the same thing to happen for Murray this season. Their offensive line will still be one of the worst in the league, meaning Murray will have to survive this year as quarterback instead of knowing he has security to work around. Coming from one of the best offensive line’s in the nation (Oklahoma), to one of the worst in the Cardinals, this will be a new experience for Murray. The Cardinals added names both offensively and defensively to help be a better team than last season, sadly they will not be that much better.