This is a big game in the AFC West and the rivalry between the Broncos and Raiders is back as a result. Both teams come in at 2-1 and both had a bad loss last week. I would give Denver the slight edge because the game is at home, but my concern for the Broncos is that they might not be as good or as talented as the Raiders. Derek Carr could give the Broncos defense some trouble, and I worry about the Broncos being able to protect Trevor Siemian. I know the crowd will be into it and that could be a difference, but I didn't like what I saw from Denver last week and I think the Raiders make a statement.
Oakland (+3) over DENVER
Final Score: Raiders-29 Broncos-21
Last Week's Record: 9-7
Overall Record: 21-25-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Miami (-3) over New Orleans (London): I think the Dolphins will bounce back after a horrific performance at the Jets last week. What scares me is that the Dolphins have had to travel to Los Angeles, New York, and now London in three straight weeks. They could be gassed by the time this game comes around. I'll take them here and I'll go with my gut.
Carolina (+9) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats have struggled at home and have given up a boatload of points in their first two home games. This week the 2-1 Panthers arrive with a spotty offense and not a lot of confidence in Cam Newton right now. I think the Panthers will hear how awful they are on offense all week and use it as motivation to keep this game close and give the Pats a minor scare.
LA Rams (+7) over DALLAS: This is a sneaky good game as the 2-1 Rams head to Big D to take on the Cowboys. I think the Cowboys will win this game, but I can see it being close heading into the 4th quarter. Look for some offense and the Rams to be competitive, but ultimately the Cowboys will pull ahead and get to 3-1.
Detroit (+2) over MINNESOTA: It looks like Sam Bradford will be out again this week for the Vikings, and last week Case Keenum led them to a win over the Bucs, but I'm not sure he can do it two weeks in a row. The Lions narrowly lost to the Falcons late, and I have a feeling every game will involve the Lions and wild finishes. I think they pull this one out in Minnesota with another late comeback.
HOUSTON (+2) over Tennessee: This is a big, early game in the AFC South. I like what I have seen out of Deshaun Watson so far and he almost pulled out the upset in New England last week. At 1-2, the Texans are the more desperate team than the 2-1 Titans. I would expect a close game that comes down to the end, but I'll take the Texans at home as an underdog.
Jacksonville (-3) over NY JETS: The Jets had their moment last week in their dominating win over the Dolphins. At 1-2, they might not get more chances at victories this year. The Jags are 2-1 after a blowout win over the Ravens in London. I see the Jags taking control of this game with their defense and dominating the Jets in the Meadowlands.
Cincy (-3) over CLEVELAND: The Bengals are 0-3 and they lost a heartbreaker in Green Bay last week in overtime. I think they are due for a win and they get the perfect matchup to give them a win. The Browns are more competitive than last year, but they are still far off. I like the Bengals to get to 1-3.
BALTIMORE (+3) over Pittsburgh: I think if any team will bounce back from a bad game last week, then I think the Ravens will be that team that fits that bill. This is always a great game between these two bitter rivals, but the Ravens have always been good at home. I think the Ravens will find a way to win this game. I think the Steelers are probably the better team right now, but in this game, the Ravens will pull it out.
ATLANTA (-7) over Buffalo: Buffalo benefitted from some good luck, bounces going their way, dumb Bronco mistakes, and some help from the referees to pull out a 26-16 win over Denver last week to get to 2-1. Now, they head to Atlanta to take on the 3-0 Falcons. I think the Bills are walking into a very tough spot this week. I don't see how the Falcons lose this one.
TAMPA BAY (-3) over NY Giants: The Giants are 0-3 and they lost a brutal game last week at Philly. They look like a team that is a mess and Ben McAdoo looks lost as head coach. Now, they head to Tampa to take on the 1-1 Bucs, who got buried in Minnesota. I see the Bucs taking it to the Giants to send them to 0-4.
LA CHARGERS (-1) over Philly: The Chargers are 0-3 and Phillip Rivers has not looked good in these three games. The 2-1 Eagles come to town this week. I would think the Chargers somehow and someway pull this game out.
San Francisco (+7) over ARIZONA: The 49ers almost got their win in a shootout loss to the Rams last Thursday night. Now, they get 10 days off and the Cardinals have a short week after playing Monday night. I would expect the Cardinals to win but I have a feeling the 49ers will keep it close.
SEATTLE (-12) over Indy: No Andrew Luck again for the Clots, and now they have to head Seattle for an awful Sunday Night Football Game on NBC. This won't get a lot of ratings for the NFL or NBC. I would expect the Seahawks to roll through this one and even up their record at 2-2.
KANSAS CITY (-7) over Washington: Good Monday Night Football game on ESPN in Arrowhead. I think this is a back and forth game, but I'll take the Chiefs to pull away at home to get to 4-0.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Broncos Stumble in Ugly Loss to Bills, Fall to 2-1
You knew the Broncos weren't as good as their Week 2 blowout win over the Cowboys, but I think a lot of Broncos fans thought that they could go into Buffalo and get out with a win. For a little over a half, it looked like the Broncos were going to pull out a close, road win over a inferior Bills team, but then everything fell apart, and the Broncos got beat 26-16 in a loss that was a very tough one to swallow. Here are my "Five Points" on this game and the impact.......
1) I knew the Broncos were in trouble after Andre Holmes scored on a fluke two yard pass deflection in the end zone to take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. The Broncos responded with a TD on the next drive with Jamaal Charles to take a 10-7 lead, but that Holmes play just gave me a bad feeling.
2) The turning point for me was late in second quarter. On a 3rd and 4 from their own 11, Trevor Siemian hits Emmanuel Sanders for a 44 yard pass down to the Buffalo 45. Sanders catches the ball, takes three steps, and gets the ball knocked into his gut on the way down, and somehow the refs reviewed it and determined that the catch was actually incomplete. I don't understand how this was not a catch, but the refs ruled no catch and Denver was forced to punt. After the Bills returned the punt to the Broncos 32, they settled for a field goal and tied the game at 10. That was really key sequence of events for the Broncos. They also gave up a field goal right before the half and Buffalo tied it at 13, when it looked like Denver was going to take a 13-10 lead going into the half. The Bills took over at their own 25 and only 42 seconds left and they got a field goal out of it. That can't happen with the Broncos defense.
3) The Broncos and Vance Joseph decided to go for a fake punt at their own 31 on a 4th and 2 with 33 seconds left in the third. The direct snap to DeAngelo Henderson went nowhere and the Broncos turned the ball over on downs. I'm a fan of taking chances in games-especially fake punts and going for it, but I feel like this was the wrong spot because you are too close to your own end, and I just think the risk outweighs the reward at that point. The Bills turned the ensuing drive into a field goal and a 23-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.
4) Trevor Siemian melted down the stretch. He played well for most of the first half, but his two interceptions in the second half really hurt the Broncos and likely decided the outcome. Down 20-16 late in the third quarter, Siemian was flushed out the pocket to his right on a 2nd and 23 and tried to throw over the middle to Bennie Fowler and he got picked off. It was a bad decision and a bad throw, and it cost him. The Broncos got a big sack by Shelby Harris and that knocked the Bills out of field goal range. The next Siemian pick was the killer. With a 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 24 with 10:55 to go in the game, Siemian looked like he was trying to throw the ball away on the sideline, but he got picked off by the Bills. It was an absolute killer and it led to a field goal that iced the game and gave the Bills a 26-16 lead. I'm not killing Siemian and he has played well this season and was playing well in this game up until his interceptions late. I was hoping that Siemian will take the next step by pulling this game out on the road, but I guess we will have to wait at least another week.
5) The taunting call on Von Miller at the end of the game was absolutely awful and it helped decide the game. On a 3rd and 6 from the Denver 46 with just over 7 minutes to go, and the Broncos deflected a Tyrod Taylor pass and it looked like Denver was going to force the punt and get the ball back down 23-16. Miller put his hand out to help pick Taylor up and then he reneged his hand and pulled it away as a joke. Both Miller and Taylor had smiles on their faces and the ref threw the flag and it gave the Bills a key first down and it led to their field goal to put the game away. You can't make that call at that point in the game. It was an absolute horrible call and the ref should be ashamed of himself for basically deciding the game on that call. Awful, awful call and the Broncos got screwed. Terrible call. After licking their wounds, the Broncos head home to take on the Raiders in Denver on Sunday afternoon. Both teams come in at 2-1, so this will be a very big game for both teams. Hopefully, the Broncos can rebound and take down their hated rivals.
1) I knew the Broncos were in trouble after Andre Holmes scored on a fluke two yard pass deflection in the end zone to take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. The Broncos responded with a TD on the next drive with Jamaal Charles to take a 10-7 lead, but that Holmes play just gave me a bad feeling.
2) The turning point for me was late in second quarter. On a 3rd and 4 from their own 11, Trevor Siemian hits Emmanuel Sanders for a 44 yard pass down to the Buffalo 45. Sanders catches the ball, takes three steps, and gets the ball knocked into his gut on the way down, and somehow the refs reviewed it and determined that the catch was actually incomplete. I don't understand how this was not a catch, but the refs ruled no catch and Denver was forced to punt. After the Bills returned the punt to the Broncos 32, they settled for a field goal and tied the game at 10. That was really key sequence of events for the Broncos. They also gave up a field goal right before the half and Buffalo tied it at 13, when it looked like Denver was going to take a 13-10 lead going into the half. The Bills took over at their own 25 and only 42 seconds left and they got a field goal out of it. That can't happen with the Broncos defense.
3) The Broncos and Vance Joseph decided to go for a fake punt at their own 31 on a 4th and 2 with 33 seconds left in the third. The direct snap to DeAngelo Henderson went nowhere and the Broncos turned the ball over on downs. I'm a fan of taking chances in games-especially fake punts and going for it, but I feel like this was the wrong spot because you are too close to your own end, and I just think the risk outweighs the reward at that point. The Bills turned the ensuing drive into a field goal and a 23-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.
4) Trevor Siemian melted down the stretch. He played well for most of the first half, but his two interceptions in the second half really hurt the Broncos and likely decided the outcome. Down 20-16 late in the third quarter, Siemian was flushed out the pocket to his right on a 2nd and 23 and tried to throw over the middle to Bennie Fowler and he got picked off. It was a bad decision and a bad throw, and it cost him. The Broncos got a big sack by Shelby Harris and that knocked the Bills out of field goal range. The next Siemian pick was the killer. With a 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 24 with 10:55 to go in the game, Siemian looked like he was trying to throw the ball away on the sideline, but he got picked off by the Bills. It was an absolute killer and it led to a field goal that iced the game and gave the Bills a 26-16 lead. I'm not killing Siemian and he has played well this season and was playing well in this game up until his interceptions late. I was hoping that Siemian will take the next step by pulling this game out on the road, but I guess we will have to wait at least another week.
5) The taunting call on Von Miller at the end of the game was absolutely awful and it helped decide the game. On a 3rd and 6 from the Denver 46 with just over 7 minutes to go, and the Broncos deflected a Tyrod Taylor pass and it looked like Denver was going to force the punt and get the ball back down 23-16. Miller put his hand out to help pick Taylor up and then he reneged his hand and pulled it away as a joke. Both Miller and Taylor had smiles on their faces and the ref threw the flag and it gave the Bills a key first down and it led to their field goal to put the game away. You can't make that call at that point in the game. It was an absolute horrible call and the ref should be ashamed of himself for basically deciding the game on that call. Awful, awful call and the Broncos got screwed. Terrible call. After licking their wounds, the Broncos head home to take on the Raiders in Denver on Sunday afternoon. Both teams come in at 2-1, so this will be a very big game for both teams. Hopefully, the Broncos can rebound and take down their hated rivals.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Broncos-Bills Preview and Week 3 Picks!!!!
The Broncos were nobodies coming into the 2017 season and after two games, a lot of the buzz around the NFL is how the league slept on them-especially after their 42-17 beatdown of the Cowboys last week at Mile High. Look, I'm very happy about the start the Broncos have had. They were dominating the Chargers in Week 1, had a 24-7 midway through the 4th quarter, and a couple of costly mistakes brought LAC back into the game. That game was as close as the 24-21 final score. The Broncos thoroughly dominated the Cowboys and now the expectations are changing on the Broncos season. I'm tempering that excitement because it is a long, long season and we have been here before-just look at last season. A lot can change between now and Halloween. I think this week's game will be a tough one in Buffalo. It is the Broncos first road game of the year, and the 1-1 Bills and their crowd will be fired up. Throw in the early start in the East, and this game will be really challenging. I think the Broncos defense has the advantage over the Bills offense and I think the Bills defense has the advantage over the Broncos offense. This game is a toss up in my opinion. I'm still being cautious with the Broncos at this point. I want to see them do it on the road and take care of business.
BUFFALO (+3) over Denver
Final Score: Bills-24 Broncos-19
BUFFALO (+3) over Denver
Final Score: Bills-24 Broncos-19
Now, onto the picks for a Week 3 in the National.......Football.........League......
Last Week's Record: 6-10
Overall Record: 12-18-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Baltimore (-3) over Jacksonville (London): Here we go with the London games and the return of the 9:30 am EST start. I think is a 13-9, 16-10, 17-13 type of game. I don't see the Ravens pulling away from the Jags, and I see the Ravens defense having fun at the expense of Blake Bortles. I'll take the Ravens in a ugly, slobberknocker type of game.
INDY (+2) over Cleveland: How bad are things for the Colts that they are underdogs at home to the Browns? Indy should have won their game last week at home to Arizona, but they blew a lead at home late and lost in overtime. I have a feeling the Colts will breakthrough and get the win at home and use the thought of being underdogs to the Browns as their motivation.
CHICAGO (+8) over Pittsburgh: I think the Bears will be a team that could be feisty when they are a home underdog this season. They almost pulled out Week 1 at home against Atlanta, and I really don't think that Pittsburgh has looked that good so far this year. I'll take the Bears to keep it close in Soldier Field on Sunday.
Miami (-5) over NY JETS: The Dolphins are 1-0 coming off a road win at LAC last week, and now they head to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets. How are they only getting five points to the 0-2 Jets this week? I'll take those points gladly.
Houston (+14) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win the game, but like I said last week, I don't like to lay a huge number of points this early in the season, so I'll take the Texans here. The matchup between Bill Belichick and Texans rookie QB Deshaun Watson is about as big of a mismatch as I have ever seen.
New Orleans (+6) over CAROLINA: The Saints have to get a win at 0-2. Their season is basically on the line here. The Panthers are 2-0 but are unimpressive in those two games-especially on offense. I can see them somehow and someway pulling this game out in Carolina this week. This might be my "Gut" pick of the week.
Tampa Bay (+2) over MINNESOTA: Sam Bradford is out again with a knee injury, and that will continue to plague the Vikings as the Bucs come to town. I know the Bucs were impressive last week over the Bears, but I like their team a lot. I see them going into Minnesota and knocking off the Vikings, who are forced to start Case Keenum.
Atlanta (-3) over DETROIT: I'm not sold on Detroit being a viable contender this year, and now they host the Falcons in a matchup of 2-0 teams. I like the Falcons on the road, and I think they will put up some points on the Lions as well. I just have a feeling the Lions aren't ready for this type of game at this point.
NY Giants (+7) over PHILLY: The Giants look awful through the first two weeks, and at 0-2, there season is on the line this week at Philly. The Eagles are decided favorites and all signs point to them getting the win, but I'll ride the G-Men one last time here because they are the desperate team and they can't go 0-3. Sometimes desperate teams play with a sense of urgency, and that's why I'm taking the Giants this week.
Seattle (+3) over TENNESSEE: Seattle is getting ripped for being overrated after their first two games (1-1), but we have been here before with them in September. I think they will sort everything out, and I love them this week on the road. Tough trip to go all the way across the country and face the Titans, but I think Seattle plays better when their backs are against the wall, so I'll take them here to get to 2-1.
Kansas City (-3) over LA CHARGERS: The Chiefs look really good at 2-0 and now head to LA to take on the 0-2 Chargers. The Chargers have lost two heartbreakers in a row-which is not unusual because that is what they have done the last few years. I think KC continues their strong start and takes down the Chargers in key AFC West matchup.
GREEN BAY (-8) over Cincy: The Packers at home after a blowout loss on the road in Atlanta last Sunday night against a crappy Bengals team that fired their OC two games into the season. I'll take the Pack without hesitating.
Oakland (-3) over WASHINGTON: It could be a tricky game for the Raiders as they head across the country to take on the Redskins on SNF. The Redskins are coming off a road win over the Rams last week and at 1-1, I could see them giving the Raiders trouble, but as much as I hate to admit it, the Raiders have too much talent. I would be surprised if they lost this game and the line is only three.
Dallas (-3) over ARIZONA: The Cardinals have looked unimpressive at 1-1 and barely pulled it out in OT last week at Indy. The Cowboys come in at 1-1 after getting buried by the Broncos in Denver last week. I'll take the Cowboy, but I'm nervous because I could see the Cards playing well in their home opener.
Overall Record: 12-18-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Baltimore (-3) over Jacksonville (London): Here we go with the London games and the return of the 9:30 am EST start. I think is a 13-9, 16-10, 17-13 type of game. I don't see the Ravens pulling away from the Jags, and I see the Ravens defense having fun at the expense of Blake Bortles. I'll take the Ravens in a ugly, slobberknocker type of game.
INDY (+2) over Cleveland: How bad are things for the Colts that they are underdogs at home to the Browns? Indy should have won their game last week at home to Arizona, but they blew a lead at home late and lost in overtime. I have a feeling the Colts will breakthrough and get the win at home and use the thought of being underdogs to the Browns as their motivation.
CHICAGO (+8) over Pittsburgh: I think the Bears will be a team that could be feisty when they are a home underdog this season. They almost pulled out Week 1 at home against Atlanta, and I really don't think that Pittsburgh has looked that good so far this year. I'll take the Bears to keep it close in Soldier Field on Sunday.
Miami (-5) over NY JETS: The Dolphins are 1-0 coming off a road win at LAC last week, and now they head to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets. How are they only getting five points to the 0-2 Jets this week? I'll take those points gladly.
Houston (+14) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win the game, but like I said last week, I don't like to lay a huge number of points this early in the season, so I'll take the Texans here. The matchup between Bill Belichick and Texans rookie QB Deshaun Watson is about as big of a mismatch as I have ever seen.
New Orleans (+6) over CAROLINA: The Saints have to get a win at 0-2. Their season is basically on the line here. The Panthers are 2-0 but are unimpressive in those two games-especially on offense. I can see them somehow and someway pulling this game out in Carolina this week. This might be my "Gut" pick of the week.
Tampa Bay (+2) over MINNESOTA: Sam Bradford is out again with a knee injury, and that will continue to plague the Vikings as the Bucs come to town. I know the Bucs were impressive last week over the Bears, but I like their team a lot. I see them going into Minnesota and knocking off the Vikings, who are forced to start Case Keenum.
Atlanta (-3) over DETROIT: I'm not sold on Detroit being a viable contender this year, and now they host the Falcons in a matchup of 2-0 teams. I like the Falcons on the road, and I think they will put up some points on the Lions as well. I just have a feeling the Lions aren't ready for this type of game at this point.
NY Giants (+7) over PHILLY: The Giants look awful through the first two weeks, and at 0-2, there season is on the line this week at Philly. The Eagles are decided favorites and all signs point to them getting the win, but I'll ride the G-Men one last time here because they are the desperate team and they can't go 0-3. Sometimes desperate teams play with a sense of urgency, and that's why I'm taking the Giants this week.
Seattle (+3) over TENNESSEE: Seattle is getting ripped for being overrated after their first two games (1-1), but we have been here before with them in September. I think they will sort everything out, and I love them this week on the road. Tough trip to go all the way across the country and face the Titans, but I think Seattle plays better when their backs are against the wall, so I'll take them here to get to 2-1.
Kansas City (-3) over LA CHARGERS: The Chiefs look really good at 2-0 and now head to LA to take on the 0-2 Chargers. The Chargers have lost two heartbreakers in a row-which is not unusual because that is what they have done the last few years. I think KC continues their strong start and takes down the Chargers in key AFC West matchup.
GREEN BAY (-8) over Cincy: The Packers at home after a blowout loss on the road in Atlanta last Sunday night against a crappy Bengals team that fired their OC two games into the season. I'll take the Pack without hesitating.
Oakland (-3) over WASHINGTON: It could be a tricky game for the Raiders as they head across the country to take on the Redskins on SNF. The Redskins are coming off a road win over the Rams last week and at 1-1, I could see them giving the Raiders trouble, but as much as I hate to admit it, the Raiders have too much talent. I would be surprised if they lost this game and the line is only three.
Dallas (-3) over ARIZONA: The Cardinals have looked unimpressive at 1-1 and barely pulled it out in OT last week at Indy. The Cowboys come in at 1-1 after getting buried by the Broncos in Denver last week. I'll take the Cowboy, but I'm nervous because I could see the Cards playing well in their home opener.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
Broncos Bust Up Cowboys 42-17 in Week 2 Win!
The Broncos defeated the Cowboys in convincing fashion 42-17 on Sunday in Dener to improve to 2-0 on the season. Trevor Siemian was really, really good and threw for four touchdowns and C.J. Anderson ran for over 100 yards as the Broncos dominated on both sides of the ball. This was about as convincing of a win that the Broncos have had in the past two seasons. They shut down Zeke Elliot, pressured and harassed Dak Prescott, and carved up the Cowboys secondary. Here are my "Five Points" on the Broncos victory over the Cowboys.....
1) Trevor Siemian was on fire for most of the game. I know the Cowboys secondary was injury riddled, but Siemian took advantage and played well. He finished 22-32 for 231 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. He ran the offense smooth and was very accurate and threw some great balls in traffic. He got Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas involved early and often (Sanders had 6 receptions for 62 yards and 2 TDs and Thomas had 6 receptions for 71 yards). This was just a superb job by Siemian.
2) C.J. Anderson ran like a man possessed. He finished 118 yards on 25 carries and 1 rushing TD and 1 receiving TD. He looked really good in the game and if we can run the ball like this, then this offense is going to be in good shape. Even, Jamaal Charles added 46 yards on 9 carries and he showed some flash too.
3) This game had a 2012-2014 Peyton Manning-type Broncos win to it. The Broncos jumped out early 7-0 on their first drive, and 21-7 in the second quarter and then finished it off with a pick-six by Aqib Talib to finish it off 42-17. The crowd has been amazing so far the first two weeks, and once again yesterday they were loud, into the game, and they definitely had an impact on the game. You could tell that the Cowboys felt rattled.
4) I thought the key point in the game was when after Denver had a 7-0 lead, and Siemian missed a wide open Demaryius Thomas in the endzone for a sure TD and he didn't see him. The Broncos settled for a field goal attempt by Brandon McManus and he missed the 49 yard attempt. The Cowboys forced a fumble on Siemian on the next drive and took over at the Denver 3 yard line. They capitalized on a Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant 3 yard TD hookup to tie it at 7. After that, there was a 60 minute lightning delay and I was worried that the Broncos would lose momentum and that the game would turn in the Cowboys favor. What did the Broncos do? They go right down the field and on an 81 yard drive and it was capped off by a Siemian to C.J. Anderson 16 yard TD play to make it 14-7. From that point, the Broncos rolled from there and the game was never in doubt.
5) The Broncos defense limited Zeke Elliot to 8 yards on 9 carries. He was a complete non-factor. They forced Prescott to throw 50 times, picked him off twice (Chris Harris and Aqib Talib), sacked him twice (Von Miller) and he was pressured throughout the game. He didn't get help from some of his receivers dropping some key third down throws, but he had a rough game anyway. The Broncos defense made a statement and they are going to be really tough to deal with when they are at home. With the win over Dallas, Denver improves to 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season. Now, they head to Buffalo for a Week 3 matchup next week.
1) Trevor Siemian was on fire for most of the game. I know the Cowboys secondary was injury riddled, but Siemian took advantage and played well. He finished 22-32 for 231 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. He ran the offense smooth and was very accurate and threw some great balls in traffic. He got Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas involved early and often (Sanders had 6 receptions for 62 yards and 2 TDs and Thomas had 6 receptions for 71 yards). This was just a superb job by Siemian.
2) C.J. Anderson ran like a man possessed. He finished 118 yards on 25 carries and 1 rushing TD and 1 receiving TD. He looked really good in the game and if we can run the ball like this, then this offense is going to be in good shape. Even, Jamaal Charles added 46 yards on 9 carries and he showed some flash too.
3) This game had a 2012-2014 Peyton Manning-type Broncos win to it. The Broncos jumped out early 7-0 on their first drive, and 21-7 in the second quarter and then finished it off with a pick-six by Aqib Talib to finish it off 42-17. The crowd has been amazing so far the first two weeks, and once again yesterday they were loud, into the game, and they definitely had an impact on the game. You could tell that the Cowboys felt rattled.
4) I thought the key point in the game was when after Denver had a 7-0 lead, and Siemian missed a wide open Demaryius Thomas in the endzone for a sure TD and he didn't see him. The Broncos settled for a field goal attempt by Brandon McManus and he missed the 49 yard attempt. The Cowboys forced a fumble on Siemian on the next drive and took over at the Denver 3 yard line. They capitalized on a Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant 3 yard TD hookup to tie it at 7. After that, there was a 60 minute lightning delay and I was worried that the Broncos would lose momentum and that the game would turn in the Cowboys favor. What did the Broncos do? They go right down the field and on an 81 yard drive and it was capped off by a Siemian to C.J. Anderson 16 yard TD play to make it 14-7. From that point, the Broncos rolled from there and the game was never in doubt.
5) The Broncos defense limited Zeke Elliot to 8 yards on 9 carries. He was a complete non-factor. They forced Prescott to throw 50 times, picked him off twice (Chris Harris and Aqib Talib), sacked him twice (Von Miller) and he was pressured throughout the game. He didn't get help from some of his receivers dropping some key third down throws, but he had a rough game anyway. The Broncos defense made a statement and they are going to be really tough to deal with when they are at home. With the win over Dallas, Denver improves to 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season. Now, they head to Buffalo for a Week 3 matchup next week.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Broncos-Cowboys Prediction and Week 2 Picks!
Very good matchup in Denver on Sunday afternoon as the Cowboys come to the Mile High to take on the 1-0 Broncos in the featured FOX doubleheader game. This game should be a close game, but the problems the Broncos are going to have is their run defense shutting down the Cowboys run game. I have a hard time thinking the Broncos are going to be able to stop Zeke Elliot, so they are just going to have to try and slow him down. That's not going to be easy. Offensively, the Broncos have to do a better job in pass protection than they did against the Chargers. Trevor Siemian took some big hits. I like the fact that the Broncos are home underdogs in this one as well. The crowd was terrific on Monday night, and I expect the same on Sunday. I think Denver will play well, but I was impressed with the Cowboys last week, and I think in the end, Dallas and Dak Prescott will make a few plays to win the game late.
Dallas (-2) over DENVER
Final Score: Cowboys-23 Broncos-20
Now, onto the picks for Week 2.....
Last Week's Record: 6-8-1
Overall Record: 6-8-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Dallas (-2) over DENVER
Final Score: Cowboys-23 Broncos-20
Now, onto the picks for Week 2.....
Last Week's Record: 6-8-1
Overall Record: 6-8-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Tennessee (-2) over JACKSONVILLE: I'm not sold on the Jaguars after their thumping of the Texans in Houston last week, but I can see their philosophy: Unleash their young defense, limit Blake Bortles, and run Leonard Fournette as much as they can. I picked the Titans to win the South, and they are coming off a tough loss to the Raiders, so I have to stick with them here as a road favorite, but this might not be easy for them.
Cleveland (+9) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens are winning this game outright. That is not a question, but I could see the Browns pulling off the backdoor cover with DeShone Kizer like they did last week against the Steelers. That might the Browns this year: Lose 11 or 12 games but be feisty enough to get a lot of backdoor covers at the end. In any event, the Ravens are getting to 2-0 this week.
Buffalo (+7) over CAROLINA: This is actually an interesting game to me. Both teams come in at 1-0 after wins in Week 1, but neither were that impressive. I like the Panthers to win the game at home, but I think the Bills will keep this game close. This has 13-10 or 16-13 written all over it.
NEW ORLEANS (+7) over New England: I think the Pats are winning this game. There is no doubt in my mind and they have an advantage because they played last Thursday night and the Saints are coming off a short week having played on Monday night. There is no way the Pats are going 0-2, but you can't be excited about their defense. I could see Drew Brees and the Saints scoring some points, keeping it close, but ultimately falling in the end.
INDY (+8) over Arizona: The Colts are really awful without Andrew Luck, and they are probably going with Jacoby Brissett this week. The Cardinals come in at 0-1 after a bad loss at Detroit last week. The Cardinals will win this game, but I'm not laying eight points with Carson Palmer on the road at this stage of his career. I just hope the Colts are so bad all year that Andrew Luck demands a trade out of Indy.
KANSAS CITY (-5) over Philadelphia: This is a good early game as KC host the Eagles in Arrowhead. Andy Reid faces his old team, and I was impressed by both the Chiefs and the Eagles in Week 1. I think the Chiefs will be too much for the Eagles at home, but I expect a back and forth game throughout.
Minnesota (+7) over PITTSURGH: This is another intriguing early game on Sunday. I liked how the Vikings looked on Monday night in their convincing win over the Saints. I was not impressed by the Steelers in their road win over the Browns. I think the Steelers win this game, but I think the Vikings will play well and take this game deep into the fourth quarter.
TAMPA BAY (-7) over Chicago: The Bucs had a bye in Week 1 due to Hurricane Irma. They are back at home and ready to go. The Bears lost a very close game to Atlanta. I think the Bucs will come out fired up and blitzkrieg the Bears early, take control of the game and never look back.
LA CHARGERS (-3) over Miami: The Dolphins are also coming off a bye in Week 1 due to Hurricane Irma. They have been in Los Angeles for over a week in preparation for this game. The Chargers come off a tough loss to the Broncos in Denver, and now host the Dolphins in their official home debut. I think the Chargers will fend off the Dolphins in a sneaky good game late on Sunday afternoon.
NY Jets (+14) over OAKLAND: On paper, this looks like a blowout, and the Raiders should roll, but I'm just not ready to lay 14 points to anyone this early in the season. The Raiders will win handily to get to 2-0, but I'll hope for a backdoor cover late by the Jets.
LA RAMS (-2) over Washington: The Rams and Jared Goff trounced the Colts in Week 1, and they looked good in the process. Now, they host the Redskins. Washington looked sloppy in their Week 1 loss to the Eagles. I think the Rams will take care of business at home and get to a surprising 2-0 start.
San Francisco (+14) over SEATTLE: Another big spread and another game I don't want to lay the points. Seattle will win the game we know that. They will get to 1-1 after a disappointing Week 1 loss to the Packers. I just don't want to give 14 points to anyone yet. The 49ers looked bad on Sunday in their home loss to the Panthers, but maybe they can keep this game a little close.
Green Bay (+3) over ATLANTA: Great game for Sunday Night Football in Week 2. The Packers come in at 1-0 after a big win over the Seahawks at home last week. The Falcons survived the Bears in Week 1 on the road. Now, the Falcons open up their brand new stadium in primetime. I like the Packers because I think their defense is improved and I'm not sold on the Falcons and their offense under new coordinator Steve Sarkisian. I also don't want to bet against Aaron Rodgers on the road. I'll take the Packers a road underdog here.
NY GIANTS (-3) over Detroit: The Giants offense was really bad last week in the loss to Dallas. They need to get that offense going. In comes the Lions for a Monday Night Football matchup. The Giants are more desperate-they can't go down 0-2 to start the year, while the Lions are 1-0 after their comeback win over the Cardinals. I think the G-Men get it going this week and that offense puts some points on the board and they get to 1-1.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Texans-Bengals TNF Week 2 Pick!
CINCY (-4) over Houston: Both the Texans and the Bengals got embarrassed at home in Week 1 on Sunday. The Texans benched Tom Savage at halftime and made the move to Deshaun Watson, but that didn't provide a spark in the shellacking at the hands of the Jaguars. The Bengals got shut out by the Ravens in an equally bad performance. Now, they face off just a few days later on Thursday Night Football. The Texans come in really banged up, and although I didn't like what I saw out of the Bengals, I will take them here on Thursday night because they are at home, on a short week, and they get the advantage of going up against a rookie QB making his first career start. I'll ride the Bengals here.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Broncos Outlast Chargers 24-21 in Season Opening Win!
The Broncos pulled out a 24-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football to start the 2017 season. The Broncos took advantage of calling a timeout right before the Chargers kicked the game tying field goal with no time left. The second time around Shelby Harris blocked the kick and the Broncos clinched the 24-21 win. The Broncos nearly blew a 24-7 lead in the fourth quarter, but they were able to pull it out and get the win. This year, I'm going to do my game recaps with a "Five Points" from the game. So, without further ado, here are my five points about the Broncos 24-21 win over the Chargers.
1) I really liked the way that Trevor Siemian played. He was solid and efficient. He finished 17-28 for 219 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT. He also added a touchdown run as well. I'm still not sold on Trevor Siemian as the long-term answer at QB, but you have to like what you saw from Week 1. If he plays this way, the Broncos will be a threat to make the playoffs.
2) I thought after letting Melvin Gordon get some big runs early on, the Broncos defense settled down well and held him to only 54 yards. Shaq Barrett played really well, and even Adam Gotsis got in on the action. I also liked the game that Todd Davis played, including his big stop on 4th down on Gordon on a 4th and 1 in the fourth quarter.
3) I liked the redzone offense by the Broncos early on. Bennie Fowler caught two TDs and Siemian ran one in to give the Broncos a 24-7 lead. They held that lead in the 4th quarter, and although they couldn't extend that lead thanks to a 50 yard field goal miss by Brandon McManus, the early redzone touchdowns were the difference.
4) The Broncos were fortunate to hold off the Chargers, and when you have a 24-7 lead midway through the 4th quarter, it can't become a close game. An interception on a pass interference non-call lead to a Keenan Allen TD to make it 24-14, and a Jamaal Charles fumble led to another touchdown to make it 24-21. Mistakes brought the Chargers back into the game, and if it wasn't for those turnovers, the Broncos would have cruised in this one. In any event, you'll take the win because 1-0 is still 1-0.
5) Great job by Vance Joseph in calling the timeout right before the game tying kick late in the game. Shelby Harris blocked the next attempt and the Broncos were victorious. Gary Kubiak did the same exact thing to Carolina last year in the season opener and Graham Gano missed the next kick to give Denver the win last year. Same exact thing happened this year. I also thought that Vance Joseph did a nice job in his first ever regular season game as a head coach. I was impressed by Joseph as opposed to Chargers new head coach Anthony Lynn, who made his debut in his first NFL game as a head coach. Let's hope Joseph can get the Broncos ready for a big Week 2 game at home on Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys. Let's Go Broncos!
1) I really liked the way that Trevor Siemian played. He was solid and efficient. He finished 17-28 for 219 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT. He also added a touchdown run as well. I'm still not sold on Trevor Siemian as the long-term answer at QB, but you have to like what you saw from Week 1. If he plays this way, the Broncos will be a threat to make the playoffs.
2) I thought after letting Melvin Gordon get some big runs early on, the Broncos defense settled down well and held him to only 54 yards. Shaq Barrett played really well, and even Adam Gotsis got in on the action. I also liked the game that Todd Davis played, including his big stop on 4th down on Gordon on a 4th and 1 in the fourth quarter.
3) I liked the redzone offense by the Broncos early on. Bennie Fowler caught two TDs and Siemian ran one in to give the Broncos a 24-7 lead. They held that lead in the 4th quarter, and although they couldn't extend that lead thanks to a 50 yard field goal miss by Brandon McManus, the early redzone touchdowns were the difference.
4) The Broncos were fortunate to hold off the Chargers, and when you have a 24-7 lead midway through the 4th quarter, it can't become a close game. An interception on a pass interference non-call lead to a Keenan Allen TD to make it 24-14, and a Jamaal Charles fumble led to another touchdown to make it 24-21. Mistakes brought the Chargers back into the game, and if it wasn't for those turnovers, the Broncos would have cruised in this one. In any event, you'll take the win because 1-0 is still 1-0.
5) Great job by Vance Joseph in calling the timeout right before the game tying kick late in the game. Shelby Harris blocked the next attempt and the Broncos were victorious. Gary Kubiak did the same exact thing to Carolina last year in the season opener and Graham Gano missed the next kick to give Denver the win last year. Same exact thing happened this year. I also thought that Vance Joseph did a nice job in his first ever regular season game as a head coach. I was impressed by Joseph as opposed to Chargers new head coach Anthony Lynn, who made his debut in his first NFL game as a head coach. Let's hope Joseph can get the Broncos ready for a big Week 2 game at home on Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys. Let's Go Broncos!
Monday, September 11, 2017
Broncos-Chargers Week 1 Pick!
The Broncos open up the 2017 season at home on backend of the Monday Night Football doubleheader (Thanks, NFL) against their division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos come into the game already dealing with some key injuries. Shane Ray is out for the first six weeks, Jared Crick is out for this game, and so is reserve defensive lineman Zach Kerr. The Broncos thin defensive line will be tested by the Chargers and their run game, and you know how much Phillip Rivers loves playing in Denver. The Chargers pass rush is also deadly, and the Broncos are starting a rookie at LT in Garret Bolles. This game will be a very difficult test for the Broncos. I feel like everything is leaning towards the Chargers in this game, and I have a bad feeling about this outcome.
LA Chargers (+3) over DENVER:
Final Score: Chargers-27 Broncos-14
Final Score: Chargers-27 Broncos-14
Sunday, September 10, 2017
NFL Week 1 Picks
Allright, allright, allright....Here we go with Week 1 picks for the brand new 2017 NFL season. Week 1 is always tricky because there are always some surprises and upsets, and it is hard to predict what will happen. Also, with the lack of offseason practices, limitations on the training camp schedule, and every coach afraid to get players hurt in preseason, the first month of the season is like a trial run. You really don't know who the good teams are until October. My theory as far as picking games in Week 1, is to just stay afloat, survive, and advance. Without further ado, here are my picks for Week 1.....
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
BUFFALO (-7) over NY Jets: Tyrod Taylor is on track to play this week after going through the concussion protocol. The Bills, who I don't expect too much from this season, look like they will jump all over the Jets in this matchup. The Jets don't have a lot of talent on the roster and this game feels like a party all day for Buffalo up in Orchard Park.
CHICAGO (+7) over Atlanta: I have felt all offseason that the Falcons will have a tough time shaking off the ghosts of their Super Bowl collapse. I could see the Bears playing well at home in this game, and I think the Falcons will win, but it will be closer than expected.
HOUSTON (-4) over Jacksonville: The Jags are a mess and they are starting Blake Bortles, but they probably don't have a lot of confidence in him as the guy for this team. I think the Texans will ride the emotions of opening up at home after the effects of Hurricane Harvey and play with a lot of passion and take care of the Jags.
Philadelphia (+1) over WASHINGTON: This is a very intriguing game in the NFC East for Week 1. I think the Redskins are probably the better team, but I see the Eagles coming into Landover and knocking off the Skins in a mild upset.
Arizona (+2) over DETROIT: This line just doesn't seem right. I can see Arizona going into Detroit and dominating the game. I have liked the Cardinals in this matchup since the schedule came out in April.
CINCY (-3) over Baltimore: Really good game in the AFC North to start the season. I think both of these teams are playoff contenders, so I expect a classic slugfest. I'm leaning towards the Bengals because they are at home, but this game could go either way.
Pittsburgh (-7) over CLEVELAND: The Steelers get the Browns in Week 1, and I see them rolling to another lopsided victory over their division rivals. I think the Steelers come out and make a statement to start the season.
TENNESSEE (-2) over Oakland: I have the Titans winning their division this year, and I think they will have a statement win over the Raiders at home on Sunday. The Raiders narrowly escaped with a win here last year, this time they won't.
TENNESSEE (-2) over Oakland: I have the Titans winning their division this year, and I think they will have a statement win over the Raiders at home on Sunday. The Raiders narrowly escaped with a win here last year, this time they won't.
LA RAMS (+3) over Indianapolis: Andrew Luck is out for the Colts, which means they are in trouble. I don't think the Rams will be very good this year, and they are still dealing with the Aaron Donald holdout, but look for the Rams to find a way to get the win at home over the depleted Colts.
GREEN BAY (-3) over Seattle: One of the best games of the year in the NFC comes at you in Week 1 from Lambeau Field in the late window on FOX. This game should be fun, and I expect a lot from these two teams this season. I'll side with the Packers because they are at home, but this will be a back and forth affair that should come down to the 4th quarter.
SAN FRANCISCO (+6) over Carolina: Interesting late game on Sunday. I think the Panthers will win the game, but with the lack of playing time that Cam Newton played in the preseason, I wonder if he will be rusty. Meanwhile, the 49ers will come out pumped up because it is a new era under Kyle Shanahan. I think this game is close, and I think the Panthers will win it late, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Niners pulled the upset.
NY Giants (+4) over DALLAS: The Sunday night opener features a familiar matchup for Week 1: Giants at Cowboys. This is a tough game for me to call. On one hand, I could see the Cowboys rolling at home in front of the national audience, but my gut tells me to go with the Giants. I want to see more of Dak Prescott-especially against this Giants defense. I think the Giants keep it close enough, and I wouldn't be surprised if the G-Men pulled out the victory.
MINNESOTA (-3) over New Orleans: This is the early game on the Monday Night Football double header. I've been high on the Vikings all offseason, and I will stick with them at home against the Saints. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings defense matches up against Drew Brees and the Saints offense. I'll take the Vikings, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Saints play well and even pull this game out.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Thursday Night Kickoff Opener Pick!
In the history of the Thursday night season opening game, the home team, defending Super Bowl Champions are a staggering 11-1 (Excluding 2013 when Denver hosted the defending champion Ravens). That is a lot to ask of the Chiefs to go into Gilette Stadium and knock off the Patriots on their banner night. I give the Chiefs a chance, but this looks like it will be a very matter of fact victory for the Patriots and their fans on Thursday night.
NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Kansas City:
NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Kansas City:
Sunday, September 3, 2017
20117 NFL Predictions:Part 2-The AFC
AFC EAST
1) New England Patriots:
What I Like: What else can you say about the defending Super Bowl champs? Tom Brady is back and looks better than ever. Bill Belichick is the greatest head coach in the history of the NFL and he is back for another year on the sidelines. And, the Pats loaded up their roster in the offseason and might be just as good as last year's 14-2 team. Although they lost Julian Edelman to an ACL injury in the third preseason game, they still have TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Chris Hogan. The Pats also made shrewd moves in trading for TE Dwayne Allen and WR Brandin Cooks. They added Patriot-type RBs in Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead to go with James White and Dion Lewis. Their offensive line, which was excellent last year, returns intact. On defense, they signed LB David Harris, and added CB Stephon Gilmore in free agency. Those veterans go with a group that include Alan Branch, Trey Flowers, Donta Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Devin McCourty. The point is that although the Pats lost some key pieces to last year's team, they replaced them with quality upgrades. They still own this weak division, so that's at least five wins right there. I like the opening part of their schedule. They host KC on the Thursday night kickoff September 7th, then have 10 days off to get ready for a trip to New Orleans in Week 2. They host Houston and Carolina in Weeks 3 and 4 and travel to Tampa Bay (On TNF) and the Jets in Weeks 5 and 6, and they return home for back-to-back games against the Falcons and Chargers before their bye in Week 9. That looks like 7-1 to me and at worst 6-2. They finish with the Bills and Jets at home in Weeks 16 and 17, and they will probably have homefield, which means they might not have another road game after Week 15. The Pats are loaded and primed to make a run at another Super Bowl title. Can anyone in the AFC get in their way?
What I Don't Like: How can I nitpick this team? The loss of TE Martellus Bennnett could be costly if Dwayne Allen doesn't step in to replace him and Rob Gronkowski gets hurt again. Will the loss of Edelman kill their underneath passing game? Can Trey Flowers provide enough of a pass rush in a big spot? The loss of Logan Ryan could be another detriment if they can't get someone to step up and play nickel corner. The depth of the secondary could be an issue if injuries take a toll. As great as Tom Brady looked last year, what if his health just starts to deteriorate and his play starts to slip just a little? Look what happened to Peyton Manning in a span of a year. Their schedule has one tricky section in the second half of the year. From Weeks 10-15, five out of their six games are on the road. They head to Denver on SNF in Week 10, travel to Mexico City to take on the Raiders in Week 11, host Miami, and then have a three game roadtrip that features Buffalo, Miami and Pittsburgh in Weeks 13-15. That is a pretty tough stretch right there. They will have one home game from Halloween to Christmas Eve. Maybe that trips them up a bit in the second half of the year.
Prediction: 13-3 and winners of the AFC East
2) Miami Dolphins:
What I Like: You have to give credit to head coach Adam Gase for guiding the Dolphins into the playoffs for the first time since 2008 last year. It is still early, but maybe Gase is one of the next, young coaches to be a star coach in the NFL. The season ending injury to QB Ryan Tannehill in August was a tough blow, but this team was able to get into the playoffs after Tannehill went down with a knee injury late last season, and I don't think it will affect them that much this season. Signing Jay Cutler was definitely an upgrade over Matt Moore, and might even be an upgrade over Tannehill. The offense features a burgeoning star in RB Jay Ajayi. Ajayi had three 200 yard rushing games in 2016. In addition, they have a star receiver in WR Jarvis Landry, so the weapons are there to be an explosive offense. Defensively, you still have Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh up front and they added Lawrence Timmons at ILB, and Reshad Jones at Free Safety. The really didn't lose anything in free agency, and they added some help to the defense with OLB Charles Harris in Round 1, LB Raekwon McMillian in Round 2, and CB Cordrea Tankersley in Round 3 in the draft, so they've added some pieces to a 10-6 playoff team. Maybe they can finally slay the dragon of the Patriots in the AFC East in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Let's be honest: The Dolphins were very lucky to make it to the playoffs in 2016. They beat Cleveland, the Jets twice, the Rams, the Bills twice, the Chargers, the Niners, and barely beat the Cardinals. Their one quality win was over the Steelers in Week 6, and Pittsburgh promptly destroyed them in the Wild Card round. Their offensive line is still suspect, and their defense isn't exactly a dominant group in the back end. Jay Cutler is who he is and even being reunited with Adam Gase won't change that this year. I could see the Cutler signing turning into a disaster. He basically admitted he wasn't in shape when he signed in August and he was throwing to his little kids in the backyard before he showed up for camp. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for his chances to succeed in this situation. They are still in a division with the Patriots and their schedule is very difficult this year. They host Tampa Bay in Week 1, then go cross-country to take on the Chargers in Week 2, head to the Jets in Week 3, and go to London to take on the Saints in Week 4. They don't get a bye after the London trip, and host Tennessee in Week 5, then go to Atlanta in Week 6. That is a very rough stretch to start the season. They travel to Baltimore in Week 8 on a Thursday night, host Oakland in Week 9, travel to Carolina in Week 10. Then, they have the Pats in New England, host Denver, and host New England again in the span of three weeks. Trips to Buffalo and Kansas City are also on the docket in Weeks 15 and 16. That is about as tough of a schedule as any team in the NFL this year. The schedule is going to sink the Dolphins chances in 2017.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the AFC East
3) Buffalo Bills:
What I Like: The Bills got rid of the Rex Ryan clown show, and they hired Sean McDermott as their new head coach. I like what I have seen out of McDermott so far, and I think his hiring will be a positive for this team. Their offensive line is actually a strength for this team, and RB LeSean McCoy was very productive last year with 1,267 yards and 13 TDs. He adds a dynamic element to this team and QB Tyrod Taylor doesn't get enough credit for his play. In a league, where it is hard to find consistent QB play, Taylor is a pretty solid option for the Bills. He can definitely do enough to lead a team to 10 wins and a playoff berth. They also rid themselves of the Sammy Watkins enigma by trading him to the Rams in the preseason, and they added WR Jordan Matthews in another trade with the Eagles. Defensively, they still have DTs Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus, but the breakout star last year was LB Lorenzo Alexander. They drafted first round CB Tre'Davious White from LSU to come in start at the other corner spot. They also added S Micah Hyde to their secondary. Their schedule is tough with the AFC West and NFC South as non-division foes, but they have a three game homestand in December in Weeks 13-15 with home games against the Pats, Colts and Dolphins. Plus, their one Thursday night game is at the Jets in Week 9. The Bills have been close to the playoffs the last few years, there might be the year they breakthrough and get in for the first time since 1999.
What I Don't Like: They are still stuck in the division behind the Patriots, so getting to the playoffs requires getting a wild card spot. Also, you do have a first-time head coach in McDermott, and as much as I like him, you still don't know about how he will transition to being a first year coach. Also, the addition of Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator isn't exactly an upgrade. He didn't do a very good job in Denver, so it will be interesting to see how his offense works in Buffalo. It seems like the organization isn't sold on Tyrod Taylor and that could be an issue going forward. I would worry about their receivers on offense. Outside of Jordan Matthews, they are relying on second round pick Zay Jones to come in and be a big part of the passing game. You also worry about their secondary. If Tre'Davious White struggles as a rookie in replacing Stephon Gilmore, their defense could be in big trouble. Their schedule has tough spots all throughout the year. At Carolina in Week 2 and back-to-back road games at Atlanta and Cincy in Weeks 4 and 5. Back-to-back road games in Weeks 11 and 12 at the Chargers and at KC are not going to be easy, and they finish the season with two straight games on the road: New England and Miami. Plus, they have home games against Denver, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Indy. The Bills could easily go 8-8, 6-10, or 10-6. They are a team that is very hard to predict in 2017.
Prediction: 7-9 and third place in the AFC East
4) New York Jets:
What I Like: Make no mistake about it: The Jets are in a rebuilding mode in 2017. What do they have to look forward to this year? Their defensive line, if motivated, can be a force with Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams. They got a steal when S Jamal Adams fell to them at #6 overall in the 1st Round of the draft. He might be the best player in the draft, and someone that they can build the backend of their defense with. Their QB situation is going to start with Josh McCown. Perhaps McCown can keep them afloat for awhile. If all else fails, and the Jets have a really bad season this year, at least they have the luxury of picking at the top of the draft with a great QB class coming in.
What I Don't Like: When you look at the roster, there just isn't a lot of talent there. Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis (Although he looks like he is done), Eric Decker, David Harris, and Brandon Marshall are all gone. They are not tanking the season, but they gutted a lot of the big contracts, and they are obviously looking to build for the future. One of their best receivers, Quincy Enunwa, was lost during the preseason. They just won't have enough to compete this year. They have trips to Oakland (Week 2), Tampa Bay (Week 10), and Denver (Week 14) in addition to their divisional games. Also, they have to host Atlanta, Carolina and Kansas City in non-division games. It is a very difficult schedule for a team that is not talented enough. This could be a very long year for Gang Green.
Prediction: 3-13 and last place in the AFC East
AFC NORTH:
1) Baltimore Ravens:
What I Like: The Ravens have missed the playoffs three out of the last four seasons after winning Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. Last year, they missed out because they had two road games at New England and at Pittsburgh late in the year, and they probably were more deserving to get in than the Dolphins. The point is that this organization is too good and too solid with GM Ozzie Newsome and Head Coach John Harbaugh to miss out on the playoffs once again. Joe Flacco is solid and you know he can get you into the playoffs. I like the addition of RB Danny Woodhead and WR Jeremy Maclin in free agency. Mike Wallace had a solid first year with them last year, and I like the young combo at TE with Crockett Gilmore and Maxx Williams. They have some studs on the offensive line with Marshall Yanda and Ronnie Stanley. Defensively, I like their secondary a lot. They added S Tony Jefferson to go with Eric Weddle at SS, and Jimmy Smith and newly acquired Brandon Carr mans the other corner. I love the selection of CB Marlon Humphrey in the first round of the draft. Brandon Williams is back on NT and they still have OLB Terrell Suggs and ILB C.J. Mosley. The schedule is favorable to start the year. At Cincy in Week 1, home to Cleveland in Week 2, and Jacksonville in London in Week 3. They don't get a bye after the London game, but they come back home to host Pittsburgh. That feels like at least a 3-1 start to the year. They finish with four out of six games at home (Houston and Detroit in Weeks 12-13 and Indy and Cincy in Weeks 16 and 17). Those game sandwich trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. That feels like a 5-1 stretch at the end of the year. There is enough talent on this roster to get back into contention and I have a hard time thinking they will be on the outside looking in again.
What I Don't Like: They did lose some key contributors to free agency in the offseason. Elvis Dumervil, Tim Jernigan, Zach Orr, Ricky Wagner, Jeremy Zuttah, Kyle Juszczyk, and Steve Smith are all gone. Outside of Yanda and Stanley, there are some question marks on the offensive line. Also, can Terrence West carry the load at RB? You also wonder about them generating enough of a pass rush outside of Suggs. What role will the Joe Flacco back issue have to start the season? Can Flacco be effective while missing virtually the entire preseason and training camp? That will be the most pressing issue for this team going into the season. Their schedule does present some challenges in terms of road games. They have to go to London to play Jacksonville, but they also have trips to Oakland, Minnesota, Tennessee, Green Bay, and of course Pittsburgh. Do they have enough to overtake the Steelers in the division?
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the AFC North
2) Pittsburgh Steelers:
What I Like: I say this every year, but when you have Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell on offense, you have the chance to simply outscore and overwhelm the opponent. Throw in the return of WR Martavis Bryant and emerging Eli Rogers to go along with TE Ladarius Green, and the Steelers passing offense should be explosive. I also love the pick of WR JuJu Smith-Schuster in the 2nd round of the draft. The Steelers do a great job of getting a lot out of their young receivers. The offensive line is now a strength for this team. Defensively, Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward anchor the defensive line, and Ryan Shazier is a stud at LB and Bud Dupree is emerging. Also, James Harrison is back for another year. If first round pick T.J. Watt can contribute, then the defense will be in good shape. The late preseason addition of Joe Haden can only help the Steelers usually suspect secondary. I still think that Mike Tomlin is on the top tier of head coaches in the NFL. Their schedule is very favorable. Obviously they have road games at Cincy and Baltimore, but their other six road games are not bad at all (Cleveland, Chicago, KC, Detroit, Indy, and Houston). Also, they get Minnesota, Tennessee on a short week on Thursday Night Football, Green Bay, and New England all at home. Their last seven games feature five at home and they finish with the layup at home against Cleveland in Week 17. It seems hard to see how the Steelers won't be back in the playoffs once again in 2017.
What I Don't Like: The blowout loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game showed that they are not as close to getting through to the Super Bowl as they thought they were. Their defense got shredded and their secondary is still a concern even with the addition of Haden. Can that group hold up to prolific passing offenses in big games? The loss of LB Lawrence Timmons could affect that unit as well. Will the contract situation with Le'Veon Bell affect his play this year? There is always going to be some doubt about how healthy Big Ben can stay over the course of a season. The Steelers also could fall into the trap of one of those teams that just has a down year for whatever reason. Maybe it is injuries or just the hangover of falling flat in the playoffs last year that could sink their chances in 2017.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth
3) Cincinnati Bengals:
What I Like: Even after missing the playoffs last year, the Bengals avoided the temptation to fire head coach Marvin Lewis, thus providing stability after one down year. You could have a lot worse of a QB-Coach combo than the Bengals tag team of Lewis and Andy Dalton. They still have A.J. Green, who is still top-flight at his position after almost gaining 1,000 receiving yards in only 10 games last year. I like the Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard tandem at RB, and although the guy has a very checkered past, rookie second round pick Joe Mixon could provide another weapon in the backfield. You still have Tyler Eifert at TE, and if 1st Round pick John Ross can get acclimated quickly, there are some explosive skill players on this team. Defensively, the defensive line is solid with Geno Atkins in the middle, and pass rushers Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson on the edge. Vontaze Burfict and Vincent Rey are back at LB, and the secondary is still solid with Adam Jones, George Iloka, and Dre Kirkpatrick. Their schedule gives them some breaks. Their Thursday night game is at home in Week 2 against visiting Houston. They also get a crucial three game homestand in Weeks 12-14 when they host Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. Maybe last year was just an aberration and the Bengals are ready to get back into the playoff mix in 2017.
What I Don't Like: They lost a ton of talented players in the offseason. Rex Burkhead, Karlos Dansby, Rey Maualuga, Domata Peko, Andrew Whitworth, and Kevin Zeitler are all gone. The biggest question mark on this team will be replacing Whitworth and Zeitler on the offensive line. You won't survive the season if your offensive line is a mess, and the Bengals only signed retread OT Andre Smith as a solution. That won't be enough. Also, Lewis on the hot seat, and if the team stumbles early on, he could be fired during the year. You also have to wonder about the mental makeup of this team. After getting to the playoffs all those years and never winning a playoff game, is this team headed in the wrong direction? Their division is always tough, and their non-division games are very tough-especially on the road. Road trips include Green Bay (Week 3), Pitt (Week 7), Tennessee (Week 10), Denver (Week 11), Minnesota (Week 15), and Baltimore (Week 17). They have a three-game road swing with Jacksonville, Tenn, and Denver. The Bengals might not be ready to get back to the playoffs for the second year in a row, and that could lead to some major organizational decisions.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth.
4) Cleveland Browns:
What I Like: The Browns are in the middle of rebuilding, so the roster is still thin but their offseason provided some hope. They signed OG Kevin Zeitler to go with OT Joe Thomas on the offensive line, and they added possible offensive cornerstones like TE David Njoku in Round 1 of the draft and QB DeShone Kizer in Round 2. On defense, they made the right move by selecting DE Myles Garrett #1 overall, and added versatility with S Jabril Peppers late in the same round. Those young players join Jamie Collins. The only way to go is up for a team that went 1-15 last year, and at least Head Coach Hue Jackson has kept a very positive frame of mind for this group. They would be the ultimate sleeper if they found themselves in the wild card mix come December.
What I Don't Like: The Browns enter the season underdogs in every game. They are going with Deshone Kizer at QB, and you know that he is going to go through his struggles as the year goes on. There aren't enough weapons at the receiver position and Isaiah Crowell isn't there yet at RB. They just don't have enough talent on this roster to compete this year. They open with Pitt, at Baltimore, at Indy and Cincy in the first four weeks. They lose a home game by having to go to London to play Minnesota in Week 8, and their last five games are very tough: At Chargers, GB, Baltimore, at Chicago, and at Pittsburgh. They are at least a year away from contending, and it looks like they will be preparing for 2018 rather than competing in 2017.
Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the AFC North
AFC SOUTH
1) Tennessee Titans:
What I Like: They should have made the playoffs last year, but lost out on a tiebreaker at 9-7 to Houston and just missed the postseason. Marcus Mariota looks like he can be a very good QB at this level, and his passing developed enough to compliment his running ability to give them hope. DeMarco Murray was very good as well at RB, and I like Derrick Henry as a compliment to him. Delanie Walker and Rishard Matthews give them some solid weapons for Mariota, and if they get any kind of solid production from the newly acquired Eric Decker, then this offense could be very dynamic. The key for this team is the fact that their offensive line is one of best units in the AFC led by OTs Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin. I like their defense with Dick LeBeau running that unit. It is led by DEs Jurrell Casey and Daquan Jones and added Sylvester Williams at NT is free agency. Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are a solid pass rush duo, and I like the addition of CB Logan Ryan from the Patriots and selection of CB Adoree Jackson in the first round of the draft. They are in a weak division and they get Oakland, Seattle, Indy, and Baltimore all at home in their non-division games. They also finish with at San Francisco, home to the Rams, and home against Jacksonville the last three games of the year. I think this is the year the Titans break through and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
What I Don't Like: The health of Mariota is a concern because he fractured his fibula in Week 16 last year. You also worry about the other receiver spot if rookie first round pick Corey Davis doesn't produce right away, and if Decker doesn't respond well to offseason surgery. Their secondary is a question mark as well because they were forced to replace three of the four spots on that unit. I'm also not sold on head coach Mike Mularkey. He did a nice job last year with this team, but he still has to prove he can be a winning coach. The one thing about their schedule is they have back-to-back road games three different times and their TNF game is at Pittsburgh. It might be one of those situations where they are a year away from breaking through and they fall short of the positive season they had a year ago.
Prediction: 10-6 and winners of the AFC South
2) Houston Texans:
What I Like: They rid themselves of the Brock Osweiler albatross and will have a QB battle between Tom Savage and rookie first round pick Deshaun Watson. Watson could be the best QB in this draft class and he certainly has the resume from college, and if he comes in and plays right away, he might be an upgrade over Osweiler. Getting rid of Osweiler was key because it was the main issue that was hanging over this franchise all last season. This offense has too many weapons to be poor again. DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller provide a solid combination at the receiver spot and Lamar Miller is back at RB. The strength of this team is the defense. They will get J.J. Watt back from injury and Jadeveon Clowney had a breakout season last year, so they are very solid up front. Bernard McKinney, Whitney Mercilus, and Brian Cushing lead the LB corps, and that gives the Texans a very talented front seven. They could ride this defense all season long. They are in a weak division and four out of their first six games are at home: Jax (Week 1) Tenn (Week 4), KC (Week 5) and Cleve (Week 6), so there is the possibility of them getting off to a good start.There is a lot of optimism that Watson can come in and start right away for Bill O'Brien, play well, and lead this team to another AFC South crown.
What I Don't Like: The problem with the Texans is that although they had to get rid of Osweiler, they are relying on an unknown in Tom Savage or a rookie in Deshaun Watson, who comes from a spread system in college and might not be ready for Week 1 or any part of this season. This is a team that has made the playoffs the last two years, and they have high expectations heading into this season, and their QB situation is not ideal at all. I also believe that Bill O'Brien's status as this team's head coach is going to be an issue this year. I don't think he gets along with management and that will be a storyline for this team in 2017. Their offensive line is a concern and their secondary lost two starters: A.J. Bouye, who was fantastic last year, and Quintin Demps. I think they might be in for a down year. Their schedule has given them some very tough road games. Of course, they have to travel to Tenn (Week 13) and Indy (Week 17), but they have trips to Cincy (Week 2), New England (Week 3 on TNF), Seattle (Week 8), and Baltimore (Week 12). Those games are not going to be easy-especially if Watson is starting as a rookie. I just see the Texans on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the AFC South
3) Indianapolis Colts:
What I Like: New GM Chris Ballard comes from Kansas City with a very solid reputation in the league. He is a considerable upgrade over previous GM Ryan Grigson. Andrew Luck had offseason shoulder surgery, and no one is sure if he will be ready for Week 1. If Luck is healthy, then he will put this team on his back and carry them to a winning season all by himself. They still have Frank Gore at RB and the selection of RB Marlon Mack in the 4th Round could be a steal. T.Y. Hilton has established himself as a perennial Pro Bowl playmaker at WR, and Jack Doyle is a quality threat at TE. Their offensive line is improved and that can only help Luck. I love the pick of S Malik Hooker in the first round and they got NT Jonathan Hankins in free agency to bolster the defensive line. The additions of Jabaal Sheard and John Simon in free agency should help the LB unit and Vontae Davis is still there at Corner. I really like the way their schedule broke for them. At the Rams, Arizona and Cleveland at home, at Seattle, and San Francisco are their first five games and that looks like 4-1 to me. Their December is also favorable as they head to Jacksonville and Buffalo in Weeks 13 and 14, host Denver on a short week on TNF, and travel to Baltimore and host Houston in Weeks 16 and 17. That looks like a 4-1 stretch as well. Throw in the fact that the division isn't as great and this team has a chance to rebound and get back to the playoffs in 2017, but it all comes down to the status of Andrew Luck.
What I Don't Like: This team needed a major overhaul and it might take time for everything to come together. If Luck's shoulder isn't ready to go early in the season and he can't stay healthy, then they have no chance of making the playoffs. The entire fate of the franchise rides on Luck's shoulder-LITERALLY! I also have no faith in head coach Chuck Pagano. If this team falls apart early, then he is a prime candidate to get canned during the season. Do they have enough weapons around Luck and Hilton to put fear in opposing defenses? Is there enough talent on defense to absorb the losses of SS Mike Adams, LB D'Qwell Jackson, DT Arthur Jones, and LB Robert Mathis? Their secondary still scares me outside of Vontae Davis. It will be interesting to see how all these new pieces fit on this team, and on paper they look like they aren't as good as Tennessee and Houston in their division.
Prediction: 7-9 and third place in the AFC South.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars:
What I Like: There are definitely some young pieces on this defense. Malik Jackson returns upfront, and he gets paired with free agent signee Calais Campbell. I like the tandem of Paul Posluszny and Myles Jack at LB, and Jalen Ramsey looks like a stud at CB. Throw in the free agent signing of CB A.J. Bouye, and the Jags have some players on defense. The big move on offense was drafting RB Leonard Fournette #4 overall in the draft with the thoughts that he might be the next big star running back in the NFL. Fournette joins WRs Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee to give the Jags some weapons for QB Blake Bortles. The Jags have had at least 11 losses the last six years, and anything positive can give them hope to turn this franchise around. After many years of free agent signings and high draft picks, maybe this is the year it all clicks and they make a wild card run.
What I Don't Like: It starts with the QB. Blake Bortles hasn't shown that he can live up to the stature of a franchise quarterback. He hasn't played well in his time in Jacksonville, and he is a turnover machine. He puts up big numbers when the Jags are behind by a lot and late in games. If Bortles doesn't play well, and many people don't think he will, then the Jags talent on defense will not help. Also, I have to see more from head coach Doug Marrone. He came on late last year as an interim coach when Gus Bradley was fired. I'm not sold on Marrone being a quality HC in the NFL. Also, the Jags have to travel to London again and they lost another home game in the process. The schedule is tough once again because of the London trip. The Jags have five out of their first seven games away from Jacksonville and that includes the game in London against the Ravens in Week 3. They don't get a bye the next week and instead they have to travel to the Jets and then to Pittsburgh the week after. After a home game against the Rams in Week 6, they get back on the road at Indy in Week 7. They also finish with a back-to-back road trip at SF and at Tenn in Weeks 16 and 17. I think the Jags have more talent than in years past, but I still think the Jaguars are at least another year away.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the AFC South
AFC WEST
1) Oakland Raiders:
What I Like: The Raiders have a potential franchise QB and possible star in Derek Carr. If you watched Carr last year, you saw the impact he had on this team. Plus, he looks like he is a real leader for this franchise. Carr looks like the real deal, and that will help this team be a contender in the next few years. They also have another franchise player and another star on defense with Khalil Mack. The combo of Carr and Mack is something that could propel this team to new heights this year. Plus, a lot of teams would be envious of the offensive line that the Raiders have. That is a strength of their team and that offensive line should be able to help this offense once again. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree return and Marshawn Lynch comes out of retirement to come back and play for his hometown team. Maybe the year off will help Lynch be a very effective back this year for them. The Raiders schedule gives them a chance to get off to a hot start. They travel to Tenn in Week 1, then host the Jets in Week 2 before back-to-back trips to Washington and Denver in Weeks 3 and 4. Then, they get a three game homestand in Weeks 5-7 (Balt, Chargers, KC). They could get off to a 5-2/6-1 start right away and be off to the races in the AFC West.
What I Don't Like: The whole moving to Las Vegas in three years is something that could be a distraction. They are playing in Oakland the next two years, and I really wonder how that is going to affect their homefield situation. If they are playing well, then it could be okay this year, but what happens if they play poorly and start to stumble. The Las Vegas/Oakland thing is definitely worth watching. Do you really trust Jack Del Rio as a head coach even after last season? As much as they have some young talents in spots (Carr, Cooper, Mack, Gabe Jackson etc..) they have some question marks on their defense. Does anyone scare you besides Bruce Irvin on that defense? 1st round pick Gareon Conley is still dealing with legal issues, so that could affect his status this year. Also, their schedule is very tricky down the stretch. Their last seven games feature a trip to Mexico to take on the Patriots in Week 11, then Denver and the Giants at home. Then, their last four feature a trip to KC, hosting Dallas, at Philly on Christmas night, and at the Chargers in Week 17. Maybe the Raiders aren't going to be ready for all the hype going into this season.
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the AFC West
2) Kansas City Chiefs:
What I Like: They have been a very consistent team since Andy Reid took over. Last year, they went 12-4, and they basically kept most of the roster intact. Alex Smith returns and we know how dynamic WR Tyreek Hill was last year as an all-purpose threat. TE Travis Kelce is about as good as you get at that position, and their offensive line is solid. Defensively, they lost Dontari Poe, but added DT Bennie Logan, and they still have Chris Jones up front. Lamar Houston is a stud as a pass rusher, Dee Ford is a rising player, and Tamba Hali is still a guy that can generate a pass rush from the edge. Eric Berry is an All-Pro safety and CB Marcus Peters is a one of the best young CBs in the league. The talent is certainly there for this team to breakthrough and make a deep playoff run and possibly a Super Bowl trip. Their schedule helps them down the stretch with a very favorable run the last six games. They host Buffalo in Week 12, at the Jets in Week 13, host Oakland, the Charger and Miami for three straight home games in Weeks 14-16, then finish at Denver in Week 17. They could use that slate of games to propel them to another division title.
What I Don't Like: For a team that was very close to being a Super Bowl contender in the AFC, they did little to put themselves over the top. Their biggest free agent signing was Bennie Logan, and they traded up in the draft to select QB Pat Mahomes at #10 overall. Mahomes is probably not ready to start this year, but we know what will happen once Alex Smith starts to struggle. The Mahomes/Smith situation could end up burying this team. How did this help this team rise above the Patriots and Steelers in the AFC this year? It didn't and it might cost them dearly. You have to worry about offensive weapons surrounding Hill and Kelce with the departure of Jeremy Maclin. Their running back situation does scare anyone, and what happens if Houston, Hali, and Derrick Johnson don't play at the level they are used due to injuries and age? I like what Andy Reid has done with the direction of this team, but we all know his struggles in game management in big games. Their division is very tough and they have to deal with road games New England in Week 1 for the season opener on Thursday night, and trips to Dallas, the Giants and Houston in non-divisional games. I don't know how much grown they covered over the other contenders in the AFC.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place of the AFC West
3) Los Angeles Chargers:
What I Like: Phillip Rivers is still at QB for the Chargers, and he is a better option than most teams have in the AFC. You know you are going to get everything from him every week. Melvin Gordon had a breakout season last year, and Keenan Allen returns to go along with TEs Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry. Defensively, they feature one of the best pass rushing duos in the AFC with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram coming off the edges. Denzel Perryman is one of best MLBs that no one has heard about, and CBs Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward are one of the best tandems in the AFC. Their defense could be their strength this year. Now in the intimate Stub Hub Center in Los Angeles, their schedule features three straight home games in Weeks 2-4 (Miami, KC, and Philly). They also have home games against Buffalo, Cleveland, Washington, and Oakland in the last seven games. They lost so many close games last year, that their 5-11 record is very deceiving. If you are looking for a possible sleeper in the AFC, the Chargers might be a prime candidate.
What I Don't Like: Teams that move have a hard time being successful their first year. It is an adjustment for everyone involved in the organization. I find it hard to believe that playing in a stadium that holds 30,000 and is primarily a soccer stadium in a city that doesn't care about the Chargers is going to be beneficial this season. They might need a year to adjust to the move to Los Angeles before they can contend for a playoff spot. The Chargers have this "Battle for LA" marketing thing going, but the fanbase just hasn't been there in the preseason. They have holes on that offensive line, and they signed OT Russell Okung and drafted Dan Feeney and Forrest Lamp to come in and fix that, but Lamp will miss the entire regular season after tearing his ACL in training camp. That is a lot to ask, and if you saw how Okung played last year in Denver, then that could be a problem once again. 1st Round pick WR Mike Williams is dealing with back issues already, and there might not be enough firepower in the receiving corps to help out Rivers. Rivers was solid last year, but he has shown a little bit of decline in play the last few seasons. New coach Anthony Lynn takes over for Mike McCoy, and this is Lynn's first time being a head coach in the NFL. I would worry about the combo of a first-time head coach and a team moving to a new city. The Chargers road games are going to be very tough. They open on MNF at Denver in Week 1, then they have trips to the Giants (Week 5), Oakland (Week 6), New England (Week 8), Dallas (Week 12), and KC (Week 15). I know a lot of people are making the Chargers the sexy, sleeper pick this year, but I think they are a year away from making a run to the playoffs.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place of the AFC West
4) Denver Broncos:
What I Like: The Broncos still feature a roster that has the following All-Pro players on offense and defense: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, C.J. Anderson, Matt Paradis, Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, and Darian Stewart. Throw in young and up and coming players like Shane Ray, who starts the year on IR, and Bradley Roby, and the roster is not depleted as some national experts have alluded to. John Elway signed a contract extension right before training camp, so that potential distraction is out of the way. Their defense is still very, very good. Von Miller is good enough to carry this team on his back at times. The defense could be good enough to win at least eight games on their own. QB Trevor Siemian will have the benefit of playing behind a remodeled offensive line, and a new scheme under new OC Mike McCoy. The offense just has to be average, avoid turnovers and mistakes, and let the defense take over, and they could win plenty of games. I like the energy that new head coach Vance Joseph brings to the table, and it might be a infectious for the rest of the team. Their draft was solid with OT Garrett Bolles in the first round and DeMarcus Walker in Round 2. Both guys are expected to come in and play major roles on this team. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start with a lot of home games early on. They only have one road game in the first six weeks (Home against Chargers, Dallas, at Buffalo, Oakland, Bye, Giants). In fact, they are home for six out of their first 10 games of the year. That could help them early on, and the Broncos are getting no respect from the national media, and that plays into their favor.
What I Don't Like: For a team that has had a lot of success the past six seasons, there has been a lot of turnover. Gary Kubiak retired due to health concerns, and in steps Vance Joseph as head coach. The problem with Joseph's hiring is that he is a first-time head coach on a team that has playoff aspirations. That is a lot of pressure for him in year one. Also, the QB situation is going to be interesting. We know the ceiling for Trevor Siemian, and he might not be good enough to help this team win 10 or more games. Put it this way: They have the weakest starting QB in their division. Outside of the signing of guard Ronald Leary, the offensive line has a lot of question marks-especially at OT. A combination of a young QB and a shaky offensive line is a very dangerous combo to go into a season with. Have they improved their run defense enough with the additions of Zach Kerr and Domata Peko? I'm not sure about that. I also worry about the release of T.J. Ward right before the season started. The players in the locker room were not happy about that move, and you can't replace Ward's leadership and locker room presence. I just don't know if they are good enough to overtake the Raiders and the Chiefs in their division. After getting so many home games early in the schedule, they have some tough road trips the rest of the way. They have a three-game road trip in Weeks 7-9 (at Chargers, at KC, at Philly). They also have back-to-back road games in Weeks 12 and 13 (Oakland and Miami) and Weeks 15 and 16 (at Indy on TNF and Washington on Christmas Eve). There will be some real tough tests down the stretch of the season-especially with a young QB at the helm.
Prediction: 7-9 and last place in the AFC West
AFC EAST
1-NE 13-3
2-Miami 8-8
3-Buffalo 7-9
4-NY Jets 3-13
AFC NORTH
1-Baltimore 11-5
2-Pittsburgh 10-6*Wild Card
3-Cincy 10-6 *Wild Card
4-Cleveland 5-11
AFC SOUTH
1-Tennessee 10-6
2-Houston 8-8
3-Indy 7-9
4-Jacksonville 6-10
AFC WEST
1-Oakland 11-5
2-KC 9-7
3-LA Chargers 8-8
4-Denver 7-9
AFC Playoff Seeds
1) New England (13-3) East
2) Oakland (11-5) West
3) Baltimore (11-5) North
4) Tennessee (10-6) South
5) Pittsburgh (10-6) Wild Card
6) Cincinnati (10-6) Wild Card
Wild Card Weekend:
3) Baltimore over 6) Cincy: The Ravens get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and they take on their division rival, Bengals, who are back in the playoffs after a one year hiatus. Unfortunately, it is one and done for the Bengals once again as the Ravens advance to the Divisional Round.
5) Pittsburgh over 4) Tennessee: The young Titans make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but fall at home to the Steelers, who advance to the Divisional Round for the third straight year.
Divisional Round:
1) New England over 5) Pittsburgh: In a rematch of the 2016 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots take down the Steelers once again, and advance to the AFC Title Game for the seventh consecutive year.
3) Baltimore over 2) Oakland: The Raiders make the playoffs for a second straight year, and host their first playoff game since the 2002 AFC Championship, but the Ravens continue their dominance in the playoffs on the road with the upset win to send them back to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2012 season. This
AFC Championship Game:
1) New England over 3) Baltimore: In a rematch of classic playoff battles from 2011, 2012, and 2014, the Pats upend the Ravens in Foxboro to punch another ticket to the Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick Era.
SUPER BOWL LII
Seattle over New England: In a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks vanquish the Patriots and get revenge for the classic ending three years ago. The Seahawks get their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
1) New England Patriots:
What I Like: What else can you say about the defending Super Bowl champs? Tom Brady is back and looks better than ever. Bill Belichick is the greatest head coach in the history of the NFL and he is back for another year on the sidelines. And, the Pats loaded up their roster in the offseason and might be just as good as last year's 14-2 team. Although they lost Julian Edelman to an ACL injury in the third preseason game, they still have TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Chris Hogan. The Pats also made shrewd moves in trading for TE Dwayne Allen and WR Brandin Cooks. They added Patriot-type RBs in Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead to go with James White and Dion Lewis. Their offensive line, which was excellent last year, returns intact. On defense, they signed LB David Harris, and added CB Stephon Gilmore in free agency. Those veterans go with a group that include Alan Branch, Trey Flowers, Donta Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Devin McCourty. The point is that although the Pats lost some key pieces to last year's team, they replaced them with quality upgrades. They still own this weak division, so that's at least five wins right there. I like the opening part of their schedule. They host KC on the Thursday night kickoff September 7th, then have 10 days off to get ready for a trip to New Orleans in Week 2. They host Houston and Carolina in Weeks 3 and 4 and travel to Tampa Bay (On TNF) and the Jets in Weeks 5 and 6, and they return home for back-to-back games against the Falcons and Chargers before their bye in Week 9. That looks like 7-1 to me and at worst 6-2. They finish with the Bills and Jets at home in Weeks 16 and 17, and they will probably have homefield, which means they might not have another road game after Week 15. The Pats are loaded and primed to make a run at another Super Bowl title. Can anyone in the AFC get in their way?
What I Don't Like: How can I nitpick this team? The loss of TE Martellus Bennnett could be costly if Dwayne Allen doesn't step in to replace him and Rob Gronkowski gets hurt again. Will the loss of Edelman kill their underneath passing game? Can Trey Flowers provide enough of a pass rush in a big spot? The loss of Logan Ryan could be another detriment if they can't get someone to step up and play nickel corner. The depth of the secondary could be an issue if injuries take a toll. As great as Tom Brady looked last year, what if his health just starts to deteriorate and his play starts to slip just a little? Look what happened to Peyton Manning in a span of a year. Their schedule has one tricky section in the second half of the year. From Weeks 10-15, five out of their six games are on the road. They head to Denver on SNF in Week 10, travel to Mexico City to take on the Raiders in Week 11, host Miami, and then have a three game roadtrip that features Buffalo, Miami and Pittsburgh in Weeks 13-15. That is a pretty tough stretch right there. They will have one home game from Halloween to Christmas Eve. Maybe that trips them up a bit in the second half of the year.
Prediction: 13-3 and winners of the AFC East
2) Miami Dolphins:
What I Like: You have to give credit to head coach Adam Gase for guiding the Dolphins into the playoffs for the first time since 2008 last year. It is still early, but maybe Gase is one of the next, young coaches to be a star coach in the NFL. The season ending injury to QB Ryan Tannehill in August was a tough blow, but this team was able to get into the playoffs after Tannehill went down with a knee injury late last season, and I don't think it will affect them that much this season. Signing Jay Cutler was definitely an upgrade over Matt Moore, and might even be an upgrade over Tannehill. The offense features a burgeoning star in RB Jay Ajayi. Ajayi had three 200 yard rushing games in 2016. In addition, they have a star receiver in WR Jarvis Landry, so the weapons are there to be an explosive offense. Defensively, you still have Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh up front and they added Lawrence Timmons at ILB, and Reshad Jones at Free Safety. The really didn't lose anything in free agency, and they added some help to the defense with OLB Charles Harris in Round 1, LB Raekwon McMillian in Round 2, and CB Cordrea Tankersley in Round 3 in the draft, so they've added some pieces to a 10-6 playoff team. Maybe they can finally slay the dragon of the Patriots in the AFC East in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Let's be honest: The Dolphins were very lucky to make it to the playoffs in 2016. They beat Cleveland, the Jets twice, the Rams, the Bills twice, the Chargers, the Niners, and barely beat the Cardinals. Their one quality win was over the Steelers in Week 6, and Pittsburgh promptly destroyed them in the Wild Card round. Their offensive line is still suspect, and their defense isn't exactly a dominant group in the back end. Jay Cutler is who he is and even being reunited with Adam Gase won't change that this year. I could see the Cutler signing turning into a disaster. He basically admitted he wasn't in shape when he signed in August and he was throwing to his little kids in the backyard before he showed up for camp. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for his chances to succeed in this situation. They are still in a division with the Patriots and their schedule is very difficult this year. They host Tampa Bay in Week 1, then go cross-country to take on the Chargers in Week 2, head to the Jets in Week 3, and go to London to take on the Saints in Week 4. They don't get a bye after the London trip, and host Tennessee in Week 5, then go to Atlanta in Week 6. That is a very rough stretch to start the season. They travel to Baltimore in Week 8 on a Thursday night, host Oakland in Week 9, travel to Carolina in Week 10. Then, they have the Pats in New England, host Denver, and host New England again in the span of three weeks. Trips to Buffalo and Kansas City are also on the docket in Weeks 15 and 16. That is about as tough of a schedule as any team in the NFL this year. The schedule is going to sink the Dolphins chances in 2017.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the AFC East
3) Buffalo Bills:
What I Like: The Bills got rid of the Rex Ryan clown show, and they hired Sean McDermott as their new head coach. I like what I have seen out of McDermott so far, and I think his hiring will be a positive for this team. Their offensive line is actually a strength for this team, and RB LeSean McCoy was very productive last year with 1,267 yards and 13 TDs. He adds a dynamic element to this team and QB Tyrod Taylor doesn't get enough credit for his play. In a league, where it is hard to find consistent QB play, Taylor is a pretty solid option for the Bills. He can definitely do enough to lead a team to 10 wins and a playoff berth. They also rid themselves of the Sammy Watkins enigma by trading him to the Rams in the preseason, and they added WR Jordan Matthews in another trade with the Eagles. Defensively, they still have DTs Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus, but the breakout star last year was LB Lorenzo Alexander. They drafted first round CB Tre'Davious White from LSU to come in start at the other corner spot. They also added S Micah Hyde to their secondary. Their schedule is tough with the AFC West and NFC South as non-division foes, but they have a three game homestand in December in Weeks 13-15 with home games against the Pats, Colts and Dolphins. Plus, their one Thursday night game is at the Jets in Week 9. The Bills have been close to the playoffs the last few years, there might be the year they breakthrough and get in for the first time since 1999.
What I Don't Like: They are still stuck in the division behind the Patriots, so getting to the playoffs requires getting a wild card spot. Also, you do have a first-time head coach in McDermott, and as much as I like him, you still don't know about how he will transition to being a first year coach. Also, the addition of Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator isn't exactly an upgrade. He didn't do a very good job in Denver, so it will be interesting to see how his offense works in Buffalo. It seems like the organization isn't sold on Tyrod Taylor and that could be an issue going forward. I would worry about their receivers on offense. Outside of Jordan Matthews, they are relying on second round pick Zay Jones to come in and be a big part of the passing game. You also worry about their secondary. If Tre'Davious White struggles as a rookie in replacing Stephon Gilmore, their defense could be in big trouble. Their schedule has tough spots all throughout the year. At Carolina in Week 2 and back-to-back road games at Atlanta and Cincy in Weeks 4 and 5. Back-to-back road games in Weeks 11 and 12 at the Chargers and at KC are not going to be easy, and they finish the season with two straight games on the road: New England and Miami. Plus, they have home games against Denver, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Indy. The Bills could easily go 8-8, 6-10, or 10-6. They are a team that is very hard to predict in 2017.
Prediction: 7-9 and third place in the AFC East
4) New York Jets:
What I Like: Make no mistake about it: The Jets are in a rebuilding mode in 2017. What do they have to look forward to this year? Their defensive line, if motivated, can be a force with Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams. They got a steal when S Jamal Adams fell to them at #6 overall in the 1st Round of the draft. He might be the best player in the draft, and someone that they can build the backend of their defense with. Their QB situation is going to start with Josh McCown. Perhaps McCown can keep them afloat for awhile. If all else fails, and the Jets have a really bad season this year, at least they have the luxury of picking at the top of the draft with a great QB class coming in.
What I Don't Like: When you look at the roster, there just isn't a lot of talent there. Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis (Although he looks like he is done), Eric Decker, David Harris, and Brandon Marshall are all gone. They are not tanking the season, but they gutted a lot of the big contracts, and they are obviously looking to build for the future. One of their best receivers, Quincy Enunwa, was lost during the preseason. They just won't have enough to compete this year. They have trips to Oakland (Week 2), Tampa Bay (Week 10), and Denver (Week 14) in addition to their divisional games. Also, they have to host Atlanta, Carolina and Kansas City in non-division games. It is a very difficult schedule for a team that is not talented enough. This could be a very long year for Gang Green.
Prediction: 3-13 and last place in the AFC East
AFC NORTH:
1) Baltimore Ravens:
What I Like: The Ravens have missed the playoffs three out of the last four seasons after winning Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. Last year, they missed out because they had two road games at New England and at Pittsburgh late in the year, and they probably were more deserving to get in than the Dolphins. The point is that this organization is too good and too solid with GM Ozzie Newsome and Head Coach John Harbaugh to miss out on the playoffs once again. Joe Flacco is solid and you know he can get you into the playoffs. I like the addition of RB Danny Woodhead and WR Jeremy Maclin in free agency. Mike Wallace had a solid first year with them last year, and I like the young combo at TE with Crockett Gilmore and Maxx Williams. They have some studs on the offensive line with Marshall Yanda and Ronnie Stanley. Defensively, I like their secondary a lot. They added S Tony Jefferson to go with Eric Weddle at SS, and Jimmy Smith and newly acquired Brandon Carr mans the other corner. I love the selection of CB Marlon Humphrey in the first round of the draft. Brandon Williams is back on NT and they still have OLB Terrell Suggs and ILB C.J. Mosley. The schedule is favorable to start the year. At Cincy in Week 1, home to Cleveland in Week 2, and Jacksonville in London in Week 3. They don't get a bye after the London game, but they come back home to host Pittsburgh. That feels like at least a 3-1 start to the year. They finish with four out of six games at home (Houston and Detroit in Weeks 12-13 and Indy and Cincy in Weeks 16 and 17). Those game sandwich trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. That feels like a 5-1 stretch at the end of the year. There is enough talent on this roster to get back into contention and I have a hard time thinking they will be on the outside looking in again.
What I Don't Like: They did lose some key contributors to free agency in the offseason. Elvis Dumervil, Tim Jernigan, Zach Orr, Ricky Wagner, Jeremy Zuttah, Kyle Juszczyk, and Steve Smith are all gone. Outside of Yanda and Stanley, there are some question marks on the offensive line. Also, can Terrence West carry the load at RB? You also wonder about them generating enough of a pass rush outside of Suggs. What role will the Joe Flacco back issue have to start the season? Can Flacco be effective while missing virtually the entire preseason and training camp? That will be the most pressing issue for this team going into the season. Their schedule does present some challenges in terms of road games. They have to go to London to play Jacksonville, but they also have trips to Oakland, Minnesota, Tennessee, Green Bay, and of course Pittsburgh. Do they have enough to overtake the Steelers in the division?
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the AFC North
2) Pittsburgh Steelers:
What I Like: I say this every year, but when you have Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell on offense, you have the chance to simply outscore and overwhelm the opponent. Throw in the return of WR Martavis Bryant and emerging Eli Rogers to go along with TE Ladarius Green, and the Steelers passing offense should be explosive. I also love the pick of WR JuJu Smith-Schuster in the 2nd round of the draft. The Steelers do a great job of getting a lot out of their young receivers. The offensive line is now a strength for this team. Defensively, Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward anchor the defensive line, and Ryan Shazier is a stud at LB and Bud Dupree is emerging. Also, James Harrison is back for another year. If first round pick T.J. Watt can contribute, then the defense will be in good shape. The late preseason addition of Joe Haden can only help the Steelers usually suspect secondary. I still think that Mike Tomlin is on the top tier of head coaches in the NFL. Their schedule is very favorable. Obviously they have road games at Cincy and Baltimore, but their other six road games are not bad at all (Cleveland, Chicago, KC, Detroit, Indy, and Houston). Also, they get Minnesota, Tennessee on a short week on Thursday Night Football, Green Bay, and New England all at home. Their last seven games feature five at home and they finish with the layup at home against Cleveland in Week 17. It seems hard to see how the Steelers won't be back in the playoffs once again in 2017.
What I Don't Like: The blowout loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game showed that they are not as close to getting through to the Super Bowl as they thought they were. Their defense got shredded and their secondary is still a concern even with the addition of Haden. Can that group hold up to prolific passing offenses in big games? The loss of LB Lawrence Timmons could affect that unit as well. Will the contract situation with Le'Veon Bell affect his play this year? There is always going to be some doubt about how healthy Big Ben can stay over the course of a season. The Steelers also could fall into the trap of one of those teams that just has a down year for whatever reason. Maybe it is injuries or just the hangover of falling flat in the playoffs last year that could sink their chances in 2017.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth
3) Cincinnati Bengals:
What I Like: Even after missing the playoffs last year, the Bengals avoided the temptation to fire head coach Marvin Lewis, thus providing stability after one down year. You could have a lot worse of a QB-Coach combo than the Bengals tag team of Lewis and Andy Dalton. They still have A.J. Green, who is still top-flight at his position after almost gaining 1,000 receiving yards in only 10 games last year. I like the Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard tandem at RB, and although the guy has a very checkered past, rookie second round pick Joe Mixon could provide another weapon in the backfield. You still have Tyler Eifert at TE, and if 1st Round pick John Ross can get acclimated quickly, there are some explosive skill players on this team. Defensively, the defensive line is solid with Geno Atkins in the middle, and pass rushers Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson on the edge. Vontaze Burfict and Vincent Rey are back at LB, and the secondary is still solid with Adam Jones, George Iloka, and Dre Kirkpatrick. Their schedule gives them some breaks. Their Thursday night game is at home in Week 2 against visiting Houston. They also get a crucial three game homestand in Weeks 12-14 when they host Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. Maybe last year was just an aberration and the Bengals are ready to get back into the playoff mix in 2017.
What I Don't Like: They lost a ton of talented players in the offseason. Rex Burkhead, Karlos Dansby, Rey Maualuga, Domata Peko, Andrew Whitworth, and Kevin Zeitler are all gone. The biggest question mark on this team will be replacing Whitworth and Zeitler on the offensive line. You won't survive the season if your offensive line is a mess, and the Bengals only signed retread OT Andre Smith as a solution. That won't be enough. Also, Lewis on the hot seat, and if the team stumbles early on, he could be fired during the year. You also have to wonder about the mental makeup of this team. After getting to the playoffs all those years and never winning a playoff game, is this team headed in the wrong direction? Their division is always tough, and their non-division games are very tough-especially on the road. Road trips include Green Bay (Week 3), Pitt (Week 7), Tennessee (Week 10), Denver (Week 11), Minnesota (Week 15), and Baltimore (Week 17). They have a three-game road swing with Jacksonville, Tenn, and Denver. The Bengals might not be ready to get back to the playoffs for the second year in a row, and that could lead to some major organizational decisions.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth.
4) Cleveland Browns:
What I Like: The Browns are in the middle of rebuilding, so the roster is still thin but their offseason provided some hope. They signed OG Kevin Zeitler to go with OT Joe Thomas on the offensive line, and they added possible offensive cornerstones like TE David Njoku in Round 1 of the draft and QB DeShone Kizer in Round 2. On defense, they made the right move by selecting DE Myles Garrett #1 overall, and added versatility with S Jabril Peppers late in the same round. Those young players join Jamie Collins. The only way to go is up for a team that went 1-15 last year, and at least Head Coach Hue Jackson has kept a very positive frame of mind for this group. They would be the ultimate sleeper if they found themselves in the wild card mix come December.
What I Don't Like: The Browns enter the season underdogs in every game. They are going with Deshone Kizer at QB, and you know that he is going to go through his struggles as the year goes on. There aren't enough weapons at the receiver position and Isaiah Crowell isn't there yet at RB. They just don't have enough talent on this roster to compete this year. They open with Pitt, at Baltimore, at Indy and Cincy in the first four weeks. They lose a home game by having to go to London to play Minnesota in Week 8, and their last five games are very tough: At Chargers, GB, Baltimore, at Chicago, and at Pittsburgh. They are at least a year away from contending, and it looks like they will be preparing for 2018 rather than competing in 2017.
Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the AFC North
AFC SOUTH
1) Tennessee Titans:
What I Like: They should have made the playoffs last year, but lost out on a tiebreaker at 9-7 to Houston and just missed the postseason. Marcus Mariota looks like he can be a very good QB at this level, and his passing developed enough to compliment his running ability to give them hope. DeMarco Murray was very good as well at RB, and I like Derrick Henry as a compliment to him. Delanie Walker and Rishard Matthews give them some solid weapons for Mariota, and if they get any kind of solid production from the newly acquired Eric Decker, then this offense could be very dynamic. The key for this team is the fact that their offensive line is one of best units in the AFC led by OTs Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin. I like their defense with Dick LeBeau running that unit. It is led by DEs Jurrell Casey and Daquan Jones and added Sylvester Williams at NT is free agency. Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are a solid pass rush duo, and I like the addition of CB Logan Ryan from the Patriots and selection of CB Adoree Jackson in the first round of the draft. They are in a weak division and they get Oakland, Seattle, Indy, and Baltimore all at home in their non-division games. They also finish with at San Francisco, home to the Rams, and home against Jacksonville the last three games of the year. I think this is the year the Titans break through and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
What I Don't Like: The health of Mariota is a concern because he fractured his fibula in Week 16 last year. You also worry about the other receiver spot if rookie first round pick Corey Davis doesn't produce right away, and if Decker doesn't respond well to offseason surgery. Their secondary is a question mark as well because they were forced to replace three of the four spots on that unit. I'm also not sold on head coach Mike Mularkey. He did a nice job last year with this team, but he still has to prove he can be a winning coach. The one thing about their schedule is they have back-to-back road games three different times and their TNF game is at Pittsburgh. It might be one of those situations where they are a year away from breaking through and they fall short of the positive season they had a year ago.
Prediction: 10-6 and winners of the AFC South
2) Houston Texans:
What I Like: They rid themselves of the Brock Osweiler albatross and will have a QB battle between Tom Savage and rookie first round pick Deshaun Watson. Watson could be the best QB in this draft class and he certainly has the resume from college, and if he comes in and plays right away, he might be an upgrade over Osweiler. Getting rid of Osweiler was key because it was the main issue that was hanging over this franchise all last season. This offense has too many weapons to be poor again. DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller provide a solid combination at the receiver spot and Lamar Miller is back at RB. The strength of this team is the defense. They will get J.J. Watt back from injury and Jadeveon Clowney had a breakout season last year, so they are very solid up front. Bernard McKinney, Whitney Mercilus, and Brian Cushing lead the LB corps, and that gives the Texans a very talented front seven. They could ride this defense all season long. They are in a weak division and four out of their first six games are at home: Jax (Week 1) Tenn (Week 4), KC (Week 5) and Cleve (Week 6), so there is the possibility of them getting off to a good start.There is a lot of optimism that Watson can come in and start right away for Bill O'Brien, play well, and lead this team to another AFC South crown.
What I Don't Like: The problem with the Texans is that although they had to get rid of Osweiler, they are relying on an unknown in Tom Savage or a rookie in Deshaun Watson, who comes from a spread system in college and might not be ready for Week 1 or any part of this season. This is a team that has made the playoffs the last two years, and they have high expectations heading into this season, and their QB situation is not ideal at all. I also believe that Bill O'Brien's status as this team's head coach is going to be an issue this year. I don't think he gets along with management and that will be a storyline for this team in 2017. Their offensive line is a concern and their secondary lost two starters: A.J. Bouye, who was fantastic last year, and Quintin Demps. I think they might be in for a down year. Their schedule has given them some very tough road games. Of course, they have to travel to Tenn (Week 13) and Indy (Week 17), but they have trips to Cincy (Week 2), New England (Week 3 on TNF), Seattle (Week 8), and Baltimore (Week 12). Those games are not going to be easy-especially if Watson is starting as a rookie. I just see the Texans on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the AFC South
3) Indianapolis Colts:
What I Like: New GM Chris Ballard comes from Kansas City with a very solid reputation in the league. He is a considerable upgrade over previous GM Ryan Grigson. Andrew Luck had offseason shoulder surgery, and no one is sure if he will be ready for Week 1. If Luck is healthy, then he will put this team on his back and carry them to a winning season all by himself. They still have Frank Gore at RB and the selection of RB Marlon Mack in the 4th Round could be a steal. T.Y. Hilton has established himself as a perennial Pro Bowl playmaker at WR, and Jack Doyle is a quality threat at TE. Their offensive line is improved and that can only help Luck. I love the pick of S Malik Hooker in the first round and they got NT Jonathan Hankins in free agency to bolster the defensive line. The additions of Jabaal Sheard and John Simon in free agency should help the LB unit and Vontae Davis is still there at Corner. I really like the way their schedule broke for them. At the Rams, Arizona and Cleveland at home, at Seattle, and San Francisco are their first five games and that looks like 4-1 to me. Their December is also favorable as they head to Jacksonville and Buffalo in Weeks 13 and 14, host Denver on a short week on TNF, and travel to Baltimore and host Houston in Weeks 16 and 17. That looks like a 4-1 stretch as well. Throw in the fact that the division isn't as great and this team has a chance to rebound and get back to the playoffs in 2017, but it all comes down to the status of Andrew Luck.
What I Don't Like: This team needed a major overhaul and it might take time for everything to come together. If Luck's shoulder isn't ready to go early in the season and he can't stay healthy, then they have no chance of making the playoffs. The entire fate of the franchise rides on Luck's shoulder-LITERALLY! I also have no faith in head coach Chuck Pagano. If this team falls apart early, then he is a prime candidate to get canned during the season. Do they have enough weapons around Luck and Hilton to put fear in opposing defenses? Is there enough talent on defense to absorb the losses of SS Mike Adams, LB D'Qwell Jackson, DT Arthur Jones, and LB Robert Mathis? Their secondary still scares me outside of Vontae Davis. It will be interesting to see how all these new pieces fit on this team, and on paper they look like they aren't as good as Tennessee and Houston in their division.
Prediction: 7-9 and third place in the AFC South.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars:
What I Like: There are definitely some young pieces on this defense. Malik Jackson returns upfront, and he gets paired with free agent signee Calais Campbell. I like the tandem of Paul Posluszny and Myles Jack at LB, and Jalen Ramsey looks like a stud at CB. Throw in the free agent signing of CB A.J. Bouye, and the Jags have some players on defense. The big move on offense was drafting RB Leonard Fournette #4 overall in the draft with the thoughts that he might be the next big star running back in the NFL. Fournette joins WRs Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee to give the Jags some weapons for QB Blake Bortles. The Jags have had at least 11 losses the last six years, and anything positive can give them hope to turn this franchise around. After many years of free agent signings and high draft picks, maybe this is the year it all clicks and they make a wild card run.
What I Don't Like: It starts with the QB. Blake Bortles hasn't shown that he can live up to the stature of a franchise quarterback. He hasn't played well in his time in Jacksonville, and he is a turnover machine. He puts up big numbers when the Jags are behind by a lot and late in games. If Bortles doesn't play well, and many people don't think he will, then the Jags talent on defense will not help. Also, I have to see more from head coach Doug Marrone. He came on late last year as an interim coach when Gus Bradley was fired. I'm not sold on Marrone being a quality HC in the NFL. Also, the Jags have to travel to London again and they lost another home game in the process. The schedule is tough once again because of the London trip. The Jags have five out of their first seven games away from Jacksonville and that includes the game in London against the Ravens in Week 3. They don't get a bye the next week and instead they have to travel to the Jets and then to Pittsburgh the week after. After a home game against the Rams in Week 6, they get back on the road at Indy in Week 7. They also finish with a back-to-back road trip at SF and at Tenn in Weeks 16 and 17. I think the Jags have more talent than in years past, but I still think the Jaguars are at least another year away.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the AFC South
AFC WEST
1) Oakland Raiders:
What I Like: The Raiders have a potential franchise QB and possible star in Derek Carr. If you watched Carr last year, you saw the impact he had on this team. Plus, he looks like he is a real leader for this franchise. Carr looks like the real deal, and that will help this team be a contender in the next few years. They also have another franchise player and another star on defense with Khalil Mack. The combo of Carr and Mack is something that could propel this team to new heights this year. Plus, a lot of teams would be envious of the offensive line that the Raiders have. That is a strength of their team and that offensive line should be able to help this offense once again. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree return and Marshawn Lynch comes out of retirement to come back and play for his hometown team. Maybe the year off will help Lynch be a very effective back this year for them. The Raiders schedule gives them a chance to get off to a hot start. They travel to Tenn in Week 1, then host the Jets in Week 2 before back-to-back trips to Washington and Denver in Weeks 3 and 4. Then, they get a three game homestand in Weeks 5-7 (Balt, Chargers, KC). They could get off to a 5-2/6-1 start right away and be off to the races in the AFC West.
What I Don't Like: The whole moving to Las Vegas in three years is something that could be a distraction. They are playing in Oakland the next two years, and I really wonder how that is going to affect their homefield situation. If they are playing well, then it could be okay this year, but what happens if they play poorly and start to stumble. The Las Vegas/Oakland thing is definitely worth watching. Do you really trust Jack Del Rio as a head coach even after last season? As much as they have some young talents in spots (Carr, Cooper, Mack, Gabe Jackson etc..) they have some question marks on their defense. Does anyone scare you besides Bruce Irvin on that defense? 1st round pick Gareon Conley is still dealing with legal issues, so that could affect his status this year. Also, their schedule is very tricky down the stretch. Their last seven games feature a trip to Mexico to take on the Patriots in Week 11, then Denver and the Giants at home. Then, their last four feature a trip to KC, hosting Dallas, at Philly on Christmas night, and at the Chargers in Week 17. Maybe the Raiders aren't going to be ready for all the hype going into this season.
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the AFC West
2) Kansas City Chiefs:
What I Like: They have been a very consistent team since Andy Reid took over. Last year, they went 12-4, and they basically kept most of the roster intact. Alex Smith returns and we know how dynamic WR Tyreek Hill was last year as an all-purpose threat. TE Travis Kelce is about as good as you get at that position, and their offensive line is solid. Defensively, they lost Dontari Poe, but added DT Bennie Logan, and they still have Chris Jones up front. Lamar Houston is a stud as a pass rusher, Dee Ford is a rising player, and Tamba Hali is still a guy that can generate a pass rush from the edge. Eric Berry is an All-Pro safety and CB Marcus Peters is a one of the best young CBs in the league. The talent is certainly there for this team to breakthrough and make a deep playoff run and possibly a Super Bowl trip. Their schedule helps them down the stretch with a very favorable run the last six games. They host Buffalo in Week 12, at the Jets in Week 13, host Oakland, the Charger and Miami for three straight home games in Weeks 14-16, then finish at Denver in Week 17. They could use that slate of games to propel them to another division title.
What I Don't Like: For a team that was very close to being a Super Bowl contender in the AFC, they did little to put themselves over the top. Their biggest free agent signing was Bennie Logan, and they traded up in the draft to select QB Pat Mahomes at #10 overall. Mahomes is probably not ready to start this year, but we know what will happen once Alex Smith starts to struggle. The Mahomes/Smith situation could end up burying this team. How did this help this team rise above the Patriots and Steelers in the AFC this year? It didn't and it might cost them dearly. You have to worry about offensive weapons surrounding Hill and Kelce with the departure of Jeremy Maclin. Their running back situation does scare anyone, and what happens if Houston, Hali, and Derrick Johnson don't play at the level they are used due to injuries and age? I like what Andy Reid has done with the direction of this team, but we all know his struggles in game management in big games. Their division is very tough and they have to deal with road games New England in Week 1 for the season opener on Thursday night, and trips to Dallas, the Giants and Houston in non-divisional games. I don't know how much grown they covered over the other contenders in the AFC.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place of the AFC West
3) Los Angeles Chargers:
What I Like: Phillip Rivers is still at QB for the Chargers, and he is a better option than most teams have in the AFC. You know you are going to get everything from him every week. Melvin Gordon had a breakout season last year, and Keenan Allen returns to go along with TEs Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry. Defensively, they feature one of the best pass rushing duos in the AFC with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram coming off the edges. Denzel Perryman is one of best MLBs that no one has heard about, and CBs Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward are one of the best tandems in the AFC. Their defense could be their strength this year. Now in the intimate Stub Hub Center in Los Angeles, their schedule features three straight home games in Weeks 2-4 (Miami, KC, and Philly). They also have home games against Buffalo, Cleveland, Washington, and Oakland in the last seven games. They lost so many close games last year, that their 5-11 record is very deceiving. If you are looking for a possible sleeper in the AFC, the Chargers might be a prime candidate.
What I Don't Like: Teams that move have a hard time being successful their first year. It is an adjustment for everyone involved in the organization. I find it hard to believe that playing in a stadium that holds 30,000 and is primarily a soccer stadium in a city that doesn't care about the Chargers is going to be beneficial this season. They might need a year to adjust to the move to Los Angeles before they can contend for a playoff spot. The Chargers have this "Battle for LA" marketing thing going, but the fanbase just hasn't been there in the preseason. They have holes on that offensive line, and they signed OT Russell Okung and drafted Dan Feeney and Forrest Lamp to come in and fix that, but Lamp will miss the entire regular season after tearing his ACL in training camp. That is a lot to ask, and if you saw how Okung played last year in Denver, then that could be a problem once again. 1st Round pick WR Mike Williams is dealing with back issues already, and there might not be enough firepower in the receiving corps to help out Rivers. Rivers was solid last year, but he has shown a little bit of decline in play the last few seasons. New coach Anthony Lynn takes over for Mike McCoy, and this is Lynn's first time being a head coach in the NFL. I would worry about the combo of a first-time head coach and a team moving to a new city. The Chargers road games are going to be very tough. They open on MNF at Denver in Week 1, then they have trips to the Giants (Week 5), Oakland (Week 6), New England (Week 8), Dallas (Week 12), and KC (Week 15). I know a lot of people are making the Chargers the sexy, sleeper pick this year, but I think they are a year away from making a run to the playoffs.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place of the AFC West
4) Denver Broncos:
What I Like: The Broncos still feature a roster that has the following All-Pro players on offense and defense: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, C.J. Anderson, Matt Paradis, Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, and Darian Stewart. Throw in young and up and coming players like Shane Ray, who starts the year on IR, and Bradley Roby, and the roster is not depleted as some national experts have alluded to. John Elway signed a contract extension right before training camp, so that potential distraction is out of the way. Their defense is still very, very good. Von Miller is good enough to carry this team on his back at times. The defense could be good enough to win at least eight games on their own. QB Trevor Siemian will have the benefit of playing behind a remodeled offensive line, and a new scheme under new OC Mike McCoy. The offense just has to be average, avoid turnovers and mistakes, and let the defense take over, and they could win plenty of games. I like the energy that new head coach Vance Joseph brings to the table, and it might be a infectious for the rest of the team. Their draft was solid with OT Garrett Bolles in the first round and DeMarcus Walker in Round 2. Both guys are expected to come in and play major roles on this team. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start with a lot of home games early on. They only have one road game in the first six weeks (Home against Chargers, Dallas, at Buffalo, Oakland, Bye, Giants). In fact, they are home for six out of their first 10 games of the year. That could help them early on, and the Broncos are getting no respect from the national media, and that plays into their favor.
What I Don't Like: For a team that has had a lot of success the past six seasons, there has been a lot of turnover. Gary Kubiak retired due to health concerns, and in steps Vance Joseph as head coach. The problem with Joseph's hiring is that he is a first-time head coach on a team that has playoff aspirations. That is a lot of pressure for him in year one. Also, the QB situation is going to be interesting. We know the ceiling for Trevor Siemian, and he might not be good enough to help this team win 10 or more games. Put it this way: They have the weakest starting QB in their division. Outside of the signing of guard Ronald Leary, the offensive line has a lot of question marks-especially at OT. A combination of a young QB and a shaky offensive line is a very dangerous combo to go into a season with. Have they improved their run defense enough with the additions of Zach Kerr and Domata Peko? I'm not sure about that. I also worry about the release of T.J. Ward right before the season started. The players in the locker room were not happy about that move, and you can't replace Ward's leadership and locker room presence. I just don't know if they are good enough to overtake the Raiders and the Chiefs in their division. After getting so many home games early in the schedule, they have some tough road trips the rest of the way. They have a three-game road trip in Weeks 7-9 (at Chargers, at KC, at Philly). They also have back-to-back road games in Weeks 12 and 13 (Oakland and Miami) and Weeks 15 and 16 (at Indy on TNF and Washington on Christmas Eve). There will be some real tough tests down the stretch of the season-especially with a young QB at the helm.
Prediction: 7-9 and last place in the AFC West
AFC EAST
1-NE 13-3
2-Miami 8-8
3-Buffalo 7-9
4-NY Jets 3-13
AFC NORTH
1-Baltimore 11-5
2-Pittsburgh 10-6*Wild Card
3-Cincy 10-6 *Wild Card
4-Cleveland 5-11
AFC SOUTH
1-Tennessee 10-6
2-Houston 8-8
3-Indy 7-9
4-Jacksonville 6-10
AFC WEST
1-Oakland 11-5
2-KC 9-7
3-LA Chargers 8-8
4-Denver 7-9
AFC Playoff Seeds
1) New England (13-3) East
2) Oakland (11-5) West
3) Baltimore (11-5) North
4) Tennessee (10-6) South
5) Pittsburgh (10-6) Wild Card
6) Cincinnati (10-6) Wild Card
Wild Card Weekend:
3) Baltimore over 6) Cincy: The Ravens get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and they take on their division rival, Bengals, who are back in the playoffs after a one year hiatus. Unfortunately, it is one and done for the Bengals once again as the Ravens advance to the Divisional Round.
5) Pittsburgh over 4) Tennessee: The young Titans make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but fall at home to the Steelers, who advance to the Divisional Round for the third straight year.
Divisional Round:
1) New England over 5) Pittsburgh: In a rematch of the 2016 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots take down the Steelers once again, and advance to the AFC Title Game for the seventh consecutive year.
3) Baltimore over 2) Oakland: The Raiders make the playoffs for a second straight year, and host their first playoff game since the 2002 AFC Championship, but the Ravens continue their dominance in the playoffs on the road with the upset win to send them back to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2012 season. This
AFC Championship Game:
1) New England over 3) Baltimore: In a rematch of classic playoff battles from 2011, 2012, and 2014, the Pats upend the Ravens in Foxboro to punch another ticket to the Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick Era.
SUPER BOWL LII
Seattle over New England: In a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks vanquish the Patriots and get revenge for the classic ending three years ago. The Seahawks get their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
2017 NFL Predictions-Part 1: The NFC
The NFL is back, and once again it is time to make some predictions. As usual, I'm following the simple formula: Six playoff teams from last year are going back to the playoffs, and six playoff teams from last year are staying home. Also, I wanted to go out on a limb and try to change it up and make some bold picks. In recent years, we know that parity is thrown around when describing the nature of the league. In reality, the league is very top heavy. The Patriots, Steelers, Seahawks, and Packers are the staples of the league's hierarchy. Teams like the Ravens, Bengals, Broncos, Chiefs, Texans, Cardinals, and the entire NFC East always some to be in the mix. Teams like the Raiders and Falcons are on their way up the ranks. The league hasn't had the influx of the bottom feeders rising up on a year-to-year basis like the public usually feels the NFL provides. Keeping that in mind, I tried to mix some of the new and unexpected teams with the league's top dogs in trying to fulfill my destiny of correctly predicting all 12 NFL playoff teams. Part 1 starts with the NFC followed by Part 2, which deals with the AFC. Enjoy.....
NFC East
1) Philadelphia Eagles:
What I Like: The Eagles were 3-0 last year, and Carson Wentz was the talk of the NFL early in the season, but ultimately the team stumbled to a 7-9 finish. There is a lot to build off with this roster, and it starts with Wentz. There is optimism that Wentz could be a big-time QB in this league, and he should continue to work towards that this year. They added WRs Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith to go along with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. They also added LaGarrette Blount to go with Darren Sproles, so there is some firepower there on offense. On defense, they still have a nice corps of young players like Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, and Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles added to that young unit by drafting pass rusher Derek Barnett in the first round of the draft in April. They have a three-game homestand Weeks 7-9 (Wash, SF, and Denver). They also traded Jordan Matthews for CB Ronald Darby, who could add something to their secondary. They also finish with back-to-back home games in Weeks 16 and 17 with Oakland and Dallas respectively visiting Philly. You can make the case that they are not that far away from making the playoffs, and they could be one of the surprise teams in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Some head coaches look like they are the right guy for the job, and some head coaches just don't seem like they are a fit for that position in the NFL. Doug Pederson looks like a guy who isn't head coaching material. He might be someone that holds the Eagles back next year. I'm just not sold on Pederson at this point. Also, if Wentz doesn't develop the way they want him to, then this team is toast this year. I still think that their secondary is very suspect as well-even with the addition of Darby. They still play in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL and there is no reason to think that the NFC East won't be a minefield this year once again. Plus, their schedule is very challenging at points. Four of their first six games are on the road (Washington, KC, LAC, Carolina), and the Panthers game is on a short week on a Thursday night. They also have a brutal stretch in December to finish the season. At Seattle, at Rams, at Giants, and home against Oakland and Dallas. That is a brutal way to end the season.
Prediction: 9-7 and winners of the NFC East
2) Dallas Cowboys:
What I Like: How can you not be excited as a Cowboys fan after what you saw from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot last year? It was a great year not only for them but for the Cowboys and although it ended in a brutal loss to the Packers, there is a lot of excitement for this franchise going forward. If you can get the same success out of Prescott and Elliot again, combined with the offensive weapons like Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and the dependable Jason Witten. What separates the Cowboys from everyone else is that they have the best offensive line in the NFL. That will carry them as well next season. The Cowboys offense can score points. The schedule helps them in this regard: A lot of their tough out of division home games are against their toughest opponents: Green Bay, Kansas City, and Seattle. They also get a three game homestand in November when they host Philly, the Chargers on Thanksgiving, and Washington on a Thursday night in Weeks 11-13. Plus, they will have 10 days to rest after the Redskins game before they head to the Giants in Week 14. You have to put the Cowboys as one of the top contenders in the NFC, and they should be in the discussion of the top teams heading into 2017.
What I Don't Like: Anytime a young team exceeds expectations one year in the NFL, they almost always have trouble continuing that the next season. With all the success the Cowboys had with Prescott and Elliot last year, I kind of expect them to take a step back this year. The upcoming six-game suspension of Elliot will be a factor to the team and it will affect this offense. Also, the defense still just scares the hell out of me. I know it worked out last year for them, but the defense killed them in the playoff loss to the Packers, and I worry about that being their downfall this year. They even spent their first three draft picks on defensive players (Taco Charlton, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jourdan Lewis). You know that the NFC East is going to be tough because everyone is always gunning for the Cowboys and this year will be tough because the Cowboys are the defending division champs. The schedule is very tough to start: vs. the Giants, at Denver and at Arizona. Their December schedule is also difficult with road games at the Giants and at Oakland, home vs. Seattle in Week 16 and at Philly in Week 17. The Cowboys have the look of the team that inexplicably takes a step back after a great season the year before.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC East
3) New York Giants:
What I Like: When you add a WR like Brandon Marshall to an offense that includes Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard, then you have a nice set of weapons for Eli Manning to work with. They added TE Evan Engram in the 1st round of the draft to give them a real threat at the TE position. Also, I like the addition of RB Wayne Gallman in the fourth round of the draft. You have to love how their defense played last year. They re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason, and the defense still includes the likes of Damon Harrison, Olivier Vernon, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, and Eli Apple. There defense carried them at times down the stretch, and you have to like the talent on both sides of the ball to give this team a chance to make the playoffs again. The one thing that helps them as far as their schedule is the fact they play the NFC West as a non-division foe. They also get to host each of their division rivals in three of their last four games. The Giants expectations are higher than just getting into the playoffs once again.
What I Don't Like: Here is the problem with the Giants: They are another team with a major question mark at head coach. Ben McAdoo did a nice job last year and he gambled a lot in games and was successful, but the way he handled his team and specifically Odell Beckham was pretty poor. Plus, the Giants won a lot of close games last year, and you have to figure that they are due to lose some of those types of games this year. I am a little worried about Eli Manning and the way he played at times last year down the stretch. Also, we know they play in the NFC East, so that is going to be a war every time, but their schedule doesn't help them in other spots. They open with three out of the first four on the road (Dallas, Philly, Tampa Bay). They have road trips to Denver in Week 6 and Oakland in Week 13. They also have tough home games against Seattle in Week 7 and KC in Week 11. They could be better than last year and not win more than 8 games this season.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC East
4) Washington Redskins:
What I Like: In a league where the QB is so important to success, the Redskins are in a pretty good position as opposed to the other teams that don't have that prototypical franchise QB. Kirk Cousins has been very solid for the Redskins the last two seasons, and if he continues to play well, then the Skins will be a very tough out in 2017. I like the addition of WR Terrelle Pryor to go along with WR Jamison Crowder and TE Jordan Reed continues to be a big-time player. Overall, the Redskins have a talented unit on defense as well. The roster is in better shape than a lot of people think. I really liked their draft with the additions of Jonathan Allen in Round 1, Ryan Anderson in Round 2, and Samaje Perine in Round 4. They are also the sleeper in their division. I like the start of their schedule. They host the Philly in Week 1, head to the Rams in Week 2, host Oakland, go to KC, and host SF. You can make a case for a 4-1 start. If they get off to a good start, they can make some noise. A lot of people are looking at the Cowboys and the Giants, and no one is expecting much from the Redskins this year. The Redskins could be the team that surprises a lot of people and grabs a playoff spot.
What I Don't Like: As good as Kirk Cousins has been for them the past two seasons, the two things that hang over his head are the fact that Cousins did not play well at all the last few games in 2016 and his contract situation. Is that contract situation going to be an issue hanging over the team this year? How will it affect Cousins' play this year? Is Cousins good, but not good enough to really be the man for this franchise in big spots? I don't think there is a tremendous amount of talent on offense in certain spots, and I don't like their running back situation at all. We know about the NFC East, but the Redskins schedule is going to be tough for them to overcome. They only have one back-to-back set of home games during the season. They have three out of their four primetime games on the road (KC and Philly on MNF, and Dallas on TNF). How about this stretch from Weeks 8-13: Dallas, at Seattle, Minnesota, at New Orleans, NYG, at Dallas. That is a very tricky slate of games. I think if they get off to a rough start, then they are really in trouble the rest of the way. It looks like they will be competitive, but ultimately, I don't see the Redskins doing enough to make it to the playoffs in 2017.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the NFC East.
NFC NORTH
1) Green Bay Packers:
What I Like: There is nothing that suggests that Aaron Rodgers is slowing down, and he is still one of the 2-3 best QBs on the plant. Just look at last year's 4,428 yard and 40 TD performance to will the Packers into the playoffs. At 4-6, the Packers looked like they were dead in the water, but Rodgers will them back into contention the last six weeks and got them all the way to the NFC Championship Game. As long as the Packers have Rodgers, they are a threat in the NFC. I love the addition of TE Martellus Bennett. I think he will fit right in with this offense, and give Rodgers another threat to go along Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams. I like what the Packers did in the draft, and they added CB Kevin King early in the second Round, and he might be able to start right away. The Packers have five out of their first eight games in Lambeau including a Week 1 showdown with the Seahawks. Their December is also very friendly with Tampa Bay, at Cleveland, at Carolina, Minnesota, and at Detroit. I think they will start fast and could end very strong.
What I Don't Like: After watching the Packers get annihilated by the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, it wasn't hard to see that the Packers defense needed an upgrade to get this team over the hump. Did they do enough in the offseason to accomplish that? They added DT Ricky Jean Francois for depth and their first four draft picks were on the defensive side of the ball, but they have enough pass rush and playmakers on that side of the ball. I just worry about that for the Pack. Their defense could be their downfall in 2017. As much as I like their schedule, they do have three very tough non-division road games: Atlanta in Week 2, Dallas in Week 5, Pittsburgh in Week 12, and the entire AFC North to deal with.
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the NFC North
2) Minnesota Vikings
What I Like: This was a team 5-0 and looked like the class of the NFC last year, until the floor collapsed and they finished 8-8. There is still a lot to like about this team, and look like the classic bounce back team in 2017. Sam Bradford is now in his second year in Minnesota after coming over right before the start of last year. I LOVE the pick of RB Dalvin Cook to add to this offense. Cook should bring instant impact to this group. The defense is still the strength of this group and there is a nice corps of players on this unit. Xavier Rhodes, Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffin, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith are all guys that could lead this group to another level this year. I like the start to their schedule: New Orleans on MNF, at Pitt, TB, Detroit, at Chicago. That could very easily be 4-1. They also have five out of their first seven games at home, and that building was rocking last year when the Vikes were good. Throw in the whole "SKOL" chant, and I like what I see in Minnesota for 2017.
What I Don't Like: Can this offensive line improve enough to protect Sam Bradford and help this offense? They added Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers at OT and drafted Pat Elflein in the 3rd Round. I don't know if that is enough to salvage that group. I am worried about their weapons outside of Stephon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph. The defense might get worn down by all the pressure to perform each week. I am a little worried about head coach Mike Zimmer's eye situation, and if he has to miss anymore time this year, that could certainly hurt them. The tricky part of their schedule is a three-game roadtrip at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, at Atlanta, and at Carolina in Weeks 12-14. They also have to not only play the AFC North, but they draw the NFC South this year as well. I still think they are behind the Packers in the division as well.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth.
3) Detroit Lions:
What I Like: You have to like the Lions chances at being a wild card contender with Matt Stafford behind center. He is not Brady, Rodgers, or Brees, but he is in that next tier of QBs that can lead his team to the playoffs without a lot of help. Stafford did that to an extent last year, and he certainly can do it again. You have to like how they reshuffled their offensive line with the additions of RG T.J. Lang and RT Ricky Wagner. They have to build around Stafford and perhaps they have done that. Their offensive weapons revolve around Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, and Marvin Jones. There is enough there to give Stafford some support. I do like their secondary and they added Teez Tabor in the second round to give them another young piece in the secondary. You would think that Ziggy Ansah will have a bounce back season at DE and help out that pass rush. If there is a team in the NFC that is due for a division title and a playoff win, the Lions are certainly that team. Maybe 2017 is the year they finally break through.
What I Don't Like: Head coach Jim Caldwell has actually done a decent job in Detroit. He made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, and they narrowly missed the one season they didn't make it. He IS STILL Jim Caldwell, and you have to worry about him leading the troops going forward. Outside of Matt Stafford, do the Lions really scare you? I didn't think so. They are always in so many close games and it seems like their luck might run out this season. They were 9-4 last year, and then the bottom fell out. They lost their last three games and got bounced in the Wild Card round at Seattle. I don't see too much talent on defense either. I don't see the defense being able to hold up week to week. For a middle of the road team, their schedule has enough tough matchups to lead to their demise. They host Arizona in Week 1, go to the Giants in Week 2, host Atlanta, head to Minnesota, host Carolina and head to New Orleans during the first six weeks. They get Pittsburgh and at Green Bay back-to-back in Weeks 8 and 9. They have trips to Baltimore and Tampa Bay in Weeks 13 and 14 and finish with at Cincy and Green Bay at home. There are just too many tough patches in that schedule to see them finishing anywhere near 8-8. I think the Lions take a big step back in 2017.
Prediction: 5-11 and third place in the NFC North.
4) Chicago Bears:
What I Like: The Bears are team that could be the ultimate sleeper in 2017 because NO ONE thinks they will do anything this year. John Fox could use that to his advantage to motivate his team each week. They might have something brewing on defense with the combo of Leonard Floyd and Pernell McPhee. On offense, RB Jordan Howard looks like a breakout star and people might forget he had over 1,300 yards and 6 TDs as a rookie last year. QB Mitch Trubisky looked really good in the preseason, and there is still a chance that he could start by Week 1, which would be a positive for the Bears at this point for their franchise. The biggest thing the Bears have going for them is the idea that the Bears are the ultimate underdog in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Let's be honest: John Fox has been a failure in Chicago. There were rumblings that he wasn't getting along with the front office, and he is certainly on the hot seat going into the season. If they get off to a bad start, Fox will be gone by Halloween. Also, there is just not enough talent on this team. Their big offseason move on defense: CB Prince Amukamara. They lost Alshon Jeffrey to free agency, Jay Cutler retired, and there are just not enough weapons on offense to get them by. They made the move to sign Mike Glennon in free agency, and then they traded up to get Mitchell Trubisky. That puts Glennon and the coaching staff in a rough spot, and as soon as he falters, then they will have to go to Trubisky, so that will be hanging over their head all year long. It looks like it will be a mess for them all season. Their schedule is tough because they have the NFC South and the AFC North. Here are their first eight weeks of the season: Atlanta, at TB, Pitt, at GB, Minnesota, at Balt, Carolina, and at New Orleans. That could be 2-6 or 1-7 right off the bat. They host GB in Week 10, and head to Philly, Cincy, and Minnesota in the last six weeks. It looks like another long season for the Bears in 2017 and the focus should be on 2018.
Prediction: 4-12 and last place in the NFC North.
NFC SOUTH
1) Carolina Panthers:
What I Like: The Panthers suffered from a Super Bowl loss hangover in 2016, and they just never got it going. Injuries, lackluster play, and some bad luck sunk the Panthers chances to get back to the playoffs. This year, it seems like the Panthers will be back and get back into the mix with a bounce back season. It starts with Cam Newton, and if he is healthy from shoulder surgery, then Cam should be back to being Cam. Their biggest offseason move was the selection of Christian McCaffrey in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. McCaffrey and Newton could be a very fun tandem in this offense. I like the other weapons on offense: Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Devin Funchess, and RB Jonathan Stewart. Luke Keuchly still mans the middle of the defense, and Kawann Short and Thomas Davis are still there in the front seven, and maybe the return of Julius Peppers can help the pass rush. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start (At SF, Buff, and New Orleans). They also have a three-game home stand in Weeks 14-16 (Minne, GB, TB). They have a chance to start fast and finish strong. I think the Panthers are poised for a rebound in 2017.
What I Don't Like: If Cam Newton doesn't come back fully from shoulder surgery, then the Panthers have no chance to finish over .500. Cam is the centerpiece of that franchise, and the uncertainty about him staying healthy is what could prevent them from making the playoffs again. They did lose key players like Ted Ginn Jr., and Kony Ealy in the offseason. Those guys were components to their Super Bowl run two years ago. Can their pass rush step up in key spots? Can their secondary be good enough to compete in a division with Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, and Drew Brees. I'm not sure they are good enough on defense and the loss of defensive coordinator Sean McDermott could be very detrimental. There are enough questions surrounding this team and they have to answer a lot of questions before they are guaranteed a return to the playoffs this season.
Prediction: 10-6 and winners of the NFC South
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
What I Like: If you are looking for young and promising talent in the NFC, the Bucs might fit that bill. Jameis Winston is on his way to being a big-time player and he has some weapons in this offense: Mike Evans, free agent signee Desean Jackson, Cameron Brate, and TE O.J. Howard, who was drafted in the 1st round of the draft. If Doug Martin can get back on track, then the Bucs might have a very explosive offense. On defense, they have Gerald McCoy on the defensive line with the newly acquired Chris Baker. Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David are a top tandem in the LB corps, and combination of Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves at cornerback. I love the addition of T.J. Ward at safety after Denver cut him late in the preseason. He could bring a lot of leadership to this locker room. There is a lot of young talent on the roster, and it feels like they are ready to breakout. Their schedule is very fair both ways, but they have the advantage of hosting three of the first five games at home, including hosting the Pats on a Thursday night game in Week 5. They also finish with three out of their last four games at home as well. The get the AFC East as their conference crossover, so that will help them. This team finished 9-7 and just missed the playoffs last year, and they are not very far from breaking through and getting into the playoffs in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Can head coach Dirk Koetter guide this team into the playoffs and back into contention in the NFC South? I'm still not sold on Koetter as a head coach. The Bucs offensive line is their biggest weakness on offense and if they struggle to protect Winston, then they are in trouble. Anything that negatively affects Winston will hurt the Bucs chances. Also, you wonder if the Bucs are just not mature enough or ready to take the next step. They still have work to do to catch the Falcons, and they are basically equal with the Panthers. I just don't know if they have enough to make the leap this year. The difficult parts of the schedule could lead to their demise. They have a tough four game stretch from Weeks 3-6 with games at Minnesota, the Giants, the Pats (on TNF), and at Arizona. They have a very tough back-to-back with at Atlanta and at Green Bay in Weeks 12 and 13, and a trip to Carolina on Christmas Eve in Week 16. A lot of people are ready to put the Bucs in the playoffs this year, but I'm not sure they are there yet.
Prediction: 9-7 and a Wild Card berth
3) Atlanta Falcons:
What I Like: The Falcons are virtually returning their entire offense from 2016 and that means a lot of yards and a lot of points. At the controls is Matt Ryan, and he elevated himself to another level last year. With Ryan at QB, you have to like the Falcons chances in the NFC. Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, and Austin Hooper all return as weapons for Ryan. On defense, the Falcons have a pass rush with Vic Beasley, the emerging Grady Jarrett, young Deion Jones, Desmond Trufant, and newly acquired free agent Dontari Poe. They also drafted DE Takkarist McKinely in the 1st round of the draft. They have one of the best and most talented, young rosters in the entire NFL. Four of their last six games are at home, and it features a three-game homestand in Weeks 12-14 (TB, Minne, and New Orleans). The Falcons certainly have enough talent to go on another deep run in the NFC this season.
What I Don't Like: If there ever was a team that could suffer from a Super Bowl loser hangover, then the 2017 Falcons are the ultimate candidate. How will they get over and rebound from their 34-28 Super Bowl LI loss to the Pats after blowing a 28-3 lead in the second half. A lot of teams struggle after losing a Super Bowl the year before, but no one has ever lost a Super Bowl in that fashion like the Falcons did last year. You have to worry about their mentality to bounce back from that defeat. I like what Dan Quinn built last year in the locker room, but after watching him botch the Super Bowl, there are major questions about his in-game coaching ability-especially in big games. They also lost offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and you have to worry about how that will affect the offense, and most importantly, Matt Ryan. If the Falcons flounder in 2017, it will have nothing to do with their on field ability. It will come down to their mental capacity and how they handle one of the worst losses in NFL history.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC South
4) New Orleans Saints:
What I Like: When you have Drew Brees, you know you are going to get 5,000 yards, a bunch of TDs and big passing numbers. Brees had another big year in 2016, and there is no reason to think he won't do it again in 2017. He keeps this franchise afloat. The addition of RB Adrian Peterson could really help their ground game, and he doesn't have to be the AP of a few years ago to help this team. Peterson and Mark Ingram should be a good 1-2 punch for them. People forget WR Michael Thomas had 92 catches, 1,137 yards and 9 TDs last year. He is a legitimate receiving threat to go with Willie Snead, and the addition of Ted Ginn should help them in the passing game and in the return game. I like the pick of OT Ryan Ramczyk in the 1st Round of the draft to go along with C Max Unger. The Saints had to address their defense and they got CB Marshon Lattimore with the 11th overall pick in the draft, and he could come in and start right away. They added Mante Te'o at LB, and Cameron Jordan will anchor the defensive line once again. They haven't made the playoffs since 2013, so it feels like they could be due for a postseason berth.
What I Don't Like: Sean Payton made his mark by leading the Saints to the Super Bowl XLIV, but what has he done ever since? He might be one of the most overrated coaches in the league. If they get off to a bad start, I would think that Payton would be fired before the halfway mark. The Saints have had trouble stopping people the last few seasons, and I don't know if they have enough talent on defense to be a good unit this year. They are relying on a lot of young players, and that might not be enough. Their schedule is pretty tough and challenging in different spots. They head to Minnesota on Monday Night Football in the season opener. They host NE in Week 2, and head to Carolina in Week 3 and have to go to London to face the Dolphins. That is a very rough way to star the year. A trip to Green Bay, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay are all on the docket the rest of the year. I just don't see the Saints having enough to get back to the playoffs this season.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the NFC South
NFC WEST
1) Seattle Seahawks:
What I Like: They have a very talented roster, quality coaching, top flight organizational structure and a crummy division. That all adds up to another big year for the Seahawks. Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and Thomas Rawls are all back for this offense this year. Even with the trade of Jermaine Kearse, the Seahawks should have enough weapons to be a better offense than last year. They added RB Eddie Lacy in free agency and if he is in shape, then he can be a very effective piece in this offense. On defense, they still have DEs Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, LBs Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, and the three-headed monster in the secondary Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor. The late trade with the Jets to acquire Sheldon Richardson could really put this defense over the top. Put it this way: The Seahawks are loaded. With a division featuring the likes of the 49ers and the Rams, that should equate to four wins right there. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start. After heading to Green Bay in Week 1, they host SF, go to Tenn, host Indy and visit the Rams. They also finish with a very favorable stretch to end the season with their last six games featuring: at SF, Philly, at Jax, Rams, at Dallas, Arizona. That looks like 5-1 to finish the season. I think when it is all said and done, the Seahawks will be a team that will be in line for a big-time run in 2017.
What I Don't Like: You can't be happy with the internal strife that has reportedly surfaced in Seattle in the offseason with the defense and the offense. The defense features a lot of strong personalities, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett first and foremost, and if there is a divide in the locker room between the two units, then that could be a problem. As much as I like Sheldon Richardson as a player, is he is too much of a head case? Have they addressed all of their offensive line issues? I'm not sure they have done enough in that department. I think the other thing to watch out for in Seattle is that there is always a top team that just falls apart and everything goes wrong and the season ends in disaster. I'm not saying that is going to happen to the Seahawks, but there is always a chance that they could be a team that deals with the nightmare season that sinks their chances.
Prediction: 12-4 and winners of the NFC West
2) Arizona Cardinals
What I Like: The Cards finished 7-8-1 last year, and they were a few plays away from winning 10 games again. The bottom line is that this team is not very far off from getting back into the playoffs. I still think that Bruce Arians is a good head coach, and I have confidence in him leading this team. David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are both legitimate All-Pro weapons for Carson Palmer on this offensive unit. Did you realize that Johnson produced over 2,000 yards in receiving and rushing yardage last year with a 20 total TDs? That is about the quietest offensive season that I can ever recall in recent NFL history. Defensively, Chandler Jones anchors the pass rush, and they have young playmakers and stars in the secondary with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. Also, the Cardinals have no fear of the Seahawks. While the other teams in the division are lightyears away from competing with Seattle, the Cards are not afraid of them and will fight them tooth and nail. Last year, they won again in Seattle and tied them in the other game. That is an encouraging sign for this team going into this year. Their schedule is favorable at the back end. They have four of the last six games at home (Jax, Rams, Tenn, at Wash, NYG, at Seattle) and a three-game homestand in Weeks 12-14 as the backbone. There is a very good chance the Cardinals will get back into the playoff mix in 2017.
What I Don't Like: They did lose quite a number of players from last year's team. The biggest offseason loss was DE Calais Campbell. That will hurt their pass rush. There are questions on their offensive line, and there are questions about other receiving options to help out Larry Fitzgerald. You have to wonder about Carson Palmer. What are you going to get every week? Some weeks he is great, and other weeks he kills them. I am worried about the defense having enough in the front seven to hold up each week, and they are banking on rookie 1st Round pick Haason Reddick to help in that area. Their schedule is tricky to start the year. They start with two games on the road in Weeks 1 and 2 (at Det and at Indy), then they host Dallas in Week 3, and host SF, but then go to Philly, host TB, and have to go to London to take on the Rams, and then travel to SF after a bye. That seems like a lot of travel in the beginning of the season. The Cards are very tough team to predict this year. I could see them winning 11 games or finishing .500 and missing the playoffs.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC West
3) Los Angeles Rams:
What I Like: I like the idea that they moved on from Jeff Fisher last year when they realized he just wasn't getting the job done. That was a move that had to be made and they pulled the trigger on it. Also, they spent big money in free agency and signed OT Andrew Whitworth to help with that offensive line. Can WR Sammy Watkins resurrect his career and add some explosion to the Rams offense?They should get a bounce back year from RB Todd Gurley, and their defense still features DLs Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, LB Robert Quinn, and ILB Alec Ogletree. The best move the team made the entire offseason was the addition of Wade Phillips as Defensive Coordinator. Phillips should be able to help take this talented, young defense to another level. Lastly, I love the Rams going to a retro, white horned helmet and white facemask to bring back the glory days of the old Los Angeles Rams.
What I Don't Like: I have a hard time thinking that 31-year-old head coach Sean McVay will be successful in his first year as the youngest head coach in NFL history. I just think that McVay will have a tough time, and it could be a long year for him, and I don't see him turning this offense around overnight. Jared Goff's debut last year was a disaster, and there is a lot of talk about how he might be a bust as a former #1 overall pick. If Goff tanks, then the Rams are going to have a difficult time overcoming that. They have no real home field advantage playing in the LA Coliseum, and their schedule is brutal at times. From Week 3 (Sept 21st) to Week 10 (November 12th), the Rams will play at home only once (Seattle Week 5). That include a trip to London to play Arizona in Week 7, a bye week, then a trip to NY to take on the Giants. Trips to Dallas, Minnesota and Tennessee along with dealing with Arizona and Seattle four times a year, puts this team behind the eight ball. I see another long year in LA for the Rams in 2017
Prediction: 5-11 and third place in the NFC West
4) San Francisco 49ers:
What I Like: Like the Rams, they cut the cord with Chip Kelly as head coach, and went in a completely different direction. They hired John Lynch away from the broadcast booth, got Kyle Shanahan to come in as their new head coach, and started to upgrade their roster. They added WR Pierre Garcon, FB Kyle Juszczyk, and will have veterans Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley compete for the QB job, with Hoyer most likely winning the job. They still have Carlos Hyde at RB. Their draft was widely applauded for getting DE Soloman Thomas at #3 and then getting LB Reuben Foster at pick #31. The 49ers might be a few years from competing for a playoff spot, but they definitely made some strides to improve this team this season.
What I Don't Like: Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkely are probably an upgrade from Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick, but it's not like we are talking about Montana and Young here. It will be interesting to see how Shanahan handles his first year as a head coach-especially with a young team and a rebuilding situation. Also, you wonder just how much can a new GM like John Lynch do in one year. There is holes still on this roster, especially on defense, and their schedule is very tough for them. Five out of their first eight games are on the road (Carolina, at Seattle, Rams, at Ariz, at Indy, at Wash, Dallas, at Philly). That is a brutal way to start the year. That feels like 1-7 with Arizona, the Giants, and Seattle on deck the next three weeks. I think the Niners will be out of early in the year, and they will be playing a lot of young guys the last month just to see what they have for the future.
Prediction: 4-12 and last place in the NFC West
NFC EAST
NFC WEST
1-Seattle 12-4
2-Arizona 8-8
3-LA Rams 5-11
4-SF 4-12
NFC Playoff Seeds:
1) Seattle (12-4) West
2) Green Bay (11-5) North
3) Carolina (10-6) South
4) Philly (9-7) East
5) Minnesota (10-6) Wild Card
6) Tampa Bay (9-7) Wild Card
Wild Card Weekend
6) Tampa Bay over 3) Carolina: The Panthers get back into the playoffs after missing out last year. The Bucs make the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and Jameis Winston outduels Cam Newton to give the Bucs their first playoff win since their Super Bowl win in 2002.
5) Minnesota over 4) Philly: The Vikings defense is too much for the Eagles, and Minnesota wins their first playoff game since 2009.
Divisional Playoffs
1) Seattle over 6)Tampa Bay: The Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in the last five years by dispatching the Bucs in Seattle.
5) Minnesota over 2) Green Bay: The Vikings go into Lambeau Field, and they shock the Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2009.
NFC Championship Game
1) Seattle over 5) Minnesota: The Seahawks end the Vikings dream run to advance to the Super Bowl for the third time in five years.
NFC East
1) Philadelphia Eagles:
What I Like: The Eagles were 3-0 last year, and Carson Wentz was the talk of the NFL early in the season, but ultimately the team stumbled to a 7-9 finish. There is a lot to build off with this roster, and it starts with Wentz. There is optimism that Wentz could be a big-time QB in this league, and he should continue to work towards that this year. They added WRs Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith to go along with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. They also added LaGarrette Blount to go with Darren Sproles, so there is some firepower there on offense. On defense, they still have a nice corps of young players like Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, and Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles added to that young unit by drafting pass rusher Derek Barnett in the first round of the draft in April. They have a three-game homestand Weeks 7-9 (Wash, SF, and Denver). They also traded Jordan Matthews for CB Ronald Darby, who could add something to their secondary. They also finish with back-to-back home games in Weeks 16 and 17 with Oakland and Dallas respectively visiting Philly. You can make the case that they are not that far away from making the playoffs, and they could be one of the surprise teams in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Some head coaches look like they are the right guy for the job, and some head coaches just don't seem like they are a fit for that position in the NFL. Doug Pederson looks like a guy who isn't head coaching material. He might be someone that holds the Eagles back next year. I'm just not sold on Pederson at this point. Also, if Wentz doesn't develop the way they want him to, then this team is toast this year. I still think that their secondary is very suspect as well-even with the addition of Darby. They still play in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL and there is no reason to think that the NFC East won't be a minefield this year once again. Plus, their schedule is very challenging at points. Four of their first six games are on the road (Washington, KC, LAC, Carolina), and the Panthers game is on a short week on a Thursday night. They also have a brutal stretch in December to finish the season. At Seattle, at Rams, at Giants, and home against Oakland and Dallas. That is a brutal way to end the season.
Prediction: 9-7 and winners of the NFC East
2) Dallas Cowboys:
What I Like: How can you not be excited as a Cowboys fan after what you saw from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot last year? It was a great year not only for them but for the Cowboys and although it ended in a brutal loss to the Packers, there is a lot of excitement for this franchise going forward. If you can get the same success out of Prescott and Elliot again, combined with the offensive weapons like Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and the dependable Jason Witten. What separates the Cowboys from everyone else is that they have the best offensive line in the NFL. That will carry them as well next season. The Cowboys offense can score points. The schedule helps them in this regard: A lot of their tough out of division home games are against their toughest opponents: Green Bay, Kansas City, and Seattle. They also get a three game homestand in November when they host Philly, the Chargers on Thanksgiving, and Washington on a Thursday night in Weeks 11-13. Plus, they will have 10 days to rest after the Redskins game before they head to the Giants in Week 14. You have to put the Cowboys as one of the top contenders in the NFC, and they should be in the discussion of the top teams heading into 2017.
What I Don't Like: Anytime a young team exceeds expectations one year in the NFL, they almost always have trouble continuing that the next season. With all the success the Cowboys had with Prescott and Elliot last year, I kind of expect them to take a step back this year. The upcoming six-game suspension of Elliot will be a factor to the team and it will affect this offense. Also, the defense still just scares the hell out of me. I know it worked out last year for them, but the defense killed them in the playoff loss to the Packers, and I worry about that being their downfall this year. They even spent their first three draft picks on defensive players (Taco Charlton, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jourdan Lewis). You know that the NFC East is going to be tough because everyone is always gunning for the Cowboys and this year will be tough because the Cowboys are the defending division champs. The schedule is very tough to start: vs. the Giants, at Denver and at Arizona. Their December schedule is also difficult with road games at the Giants and at Oakland, home vs. Seattle in Week 16 and at Philly in Week 17. The Cowboys have the look of the team that inexplicably takes a step back after a great season the year before.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC East
3) New York Giants:
What I Like: When you add a WR like Brandon Marshall to an offense that includes Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard, then you have a nice set of weapons for Eli Manning to work with. They added TE Evan Engram in the 1st round of the draft to give them a real threat at the TE position. Also, I like the addition of RB Wayne Gallman in the fourth round of the draft. You have to love how their defense played last year. They re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason, and the defense still includes the likes of Damon Harrison, Olivier Vernon, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, and Eli Apple. There defense carried them at times down the stretch, and you have to like the talent on both sides of the ball to give this team a chance to make the playoffs again. The one thing that helps them as far as their schedule is the fact they play the NFC West as a non-division foe. They also get to host each of their division rivals in three of their last four games. The Giants expectations are higher than just getting into the playoffs once again.
What I Don't Like: Here is the problem with the Giants: They are another team with a major question mark at head coach. Ben McAdoo did a nice job last year and he gambled a lot in games and was successful, but the way he handled his team and specifically Odell Beckham was pretty poor. Plus, the Giants won a lot of close games last year, and you have to figure that they are due to lose some of those types of games this year. I am a little worried about Eli Manning and the way he played at times last year down the stretch. Also, we know they play in the NFC East, so that is going to be a war every time, but their schedule doesn't help them in other spots. They open with three out of the first four on the road (Dallas, Philly, Tampa Bay). They have road trips to Denver in Week 6 and Oakland in Week 13. They also have tough home games against Seattle in Week 7 and KC in Week 11. They could be better than last year and not win more than 8 games this season.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC East
4) Washington Redskins:
What I Like: In a league where the QB is so important to success, the Redskins are in a pretty good position as opposed to the other teams that don't have that prototypical franchise QB. Kirk Cousins has been very solid for the Redskins the last two seasons, and if he continues to play well, then the Skins will be a very tough out in 2017. I like the addition of WR Terrelle Pryor to go along with WR Jamison Crowder and TE Jordan Reed continues to be a big-time player. Overall, the Redskins have a talented unit on defense as well. The roster is in better shape than a lot of people think. I really liked their draft with the additions of Jonathan Allen in Round 1, Ryan Anderson in Round 2, and Samaje Perine in Round 4. They are also the sleeper in their division. I like the start of their schedule. They host the Philly in Week 1, head to the Rams in Week 2, host Oakland, go to KC, and host SF. You can make a case for a 4-1 start. If they get off to a good start, they can make some noise. A lot of people are looking at the Cowboys and the Giants, and no one is expecting much from the Redskins this year. The Redskins could be the team that surprises a lot of people and grabs a playoff spot.
What I Don't Like: As good as Kirk Cousins has been for them the past two seasons, the two things that hang over his head are the fact that Cousins did not play well at all the last few games in 2016 and his contract situation. Is that contract situation going to be an issue hanging over the team this year? How will it affect Cousins' play this year? Is Cousins good, but not good enough to really be the man for this franchise in big spots? I don't think there is a tremendous amount of talent on offense in certain spots, and I don't like their running back situation at all. We know about the NFC East, but the Redskins schedule is going to be tough for them to overcome. They only have one back-to-back set of home games during the season. They have three out of their four primetime games on the road (KC and Philly on MNF, and Dallas on TNF). How about this stretch from Weeks 8-13: Dallas, at Seattle, Minnesota, at New Orleans, NYG, at Dallas. That is a very tricky slate of games. I think if they get off to a rough start, then they are really in trouble the rest of the way. It looks like they will be competitive, but ultimately, I don't see the Redskins doing enough to make it to the playoffs in 2017.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the NFC East.
NFC NORTH
1) Green Bay Packers:
What I Like: There is nothing that suggests that Aaron Rodgers is slowing down, and he is still one of the 2-3 best QBs on the plant. Just look at last year's 4,428 yard and 40 TD performance to will the Packers into the playoffs. At 4-6, the Packers looked like they were dead in the water, but Rodgers will them back into contention the last six weeks and got them all the way to the NFC Championship Game. As long as the Packers have Rodgers, they are a threat in the NFC. I love the addition of TE Martellus Bennett. I think he will fit right in with this offense, and give Rodgers another threat to go along Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams. I like what the Packers did in the draft, and they added CB Kevin King early in the second Round, and he might be able to start right away. The Packers have five out of their first eight games in Lambeau including a Week 1 showdown with the Seahawks. Their December is also very friendly with Tampa Bay, at Cleveland, at Carolina, Minnesota, and at Detroit. I think they will start fast and could end very strong.
What I Don't Like: After watching the Packers get annihilated by the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, it wasn't hard to see that the Packers defense needed an upgrade to get this team over the hump. Did they do enough in the offseason to accomplish that? They added DT Ricky Jean Francois for depth and their first four draft picks were on the defensive side of the ball, but they have enough pass rush and playmakers on that side of the ball. I just worry about that for the Pack. Their defense could be their downfall in 2017. As much as I like their schedule, they do have three very tough non-division road games: Atlanta in Week 2, Dallas in Week 5, Pittsburgh in Week 12, and the entire AFC North to deal with.
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the NFC North
2) Minnesota Vikings
What I Like: This was a team 5-0 and looked like the class of the NFC last year, until the floor collapsed and they finished 8-8. There is still a lot to like about this team, and look like the classic bounce back team in 2017. Sam Bradford is now in his second year in Minnesota after coming over right before the start of last year. I LOVE the pick of RB Dalvin Cook to add to this offense. Cook should bring instant impact to this group. The defense is still the strength of this group and there is a nice corps of players on this unit. Xavier Rhodes, Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffin, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith are all guys that could lead this group to another level this year. I like the start to their schedule: New Orleans on MNF, at Pitt, TB, Detroit, at Chicago. That could very easily be 4-1. They also have five out of their first seven games at home, and that building was rocking last year when the Vikes were good. Throw in the whole "SKOL" chant, and I like what I see in Minnesota for 2017.
What I Don't Like: Can this offensive line improve enough to protect Sam Bradford and help this offense? They added Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers at OT and drafted Pat Elflein in the 3rd Round. I don't know if that is enough to salvage that group. I am worried about their weapons outside of Stephon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph. The defense might get worn down by all the pressure to perform each week. I am a little worried about head coach Mike Zimmer's eye situation, and if he has to miss anymore time this year, that could certainly hurt them. The tricky part of their schedule is a three-game roadtrip at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, at Atlanta, and at Carolina in Weeks 12-14. They also have to not only play the AFC North, but they draw the NFC South this year as well. I still think they are behind the Packers in the division as well.
Prediction: 10-6 and a Wild Card berth.
3) Detroit Lions:
What I Like: You have to like the Lions chances at being a wild card contender with Matt Stafford behind center. He is not Brady, Rodgers, or Brees, but he is in that next tier of QBs that can lead his team to the playoffs without a lot of help. Stafford did that to an extent last year, and he certainly can do it again. You have to like how they reshuffled their offensive line with the additions of RG T.J. Lang and RT Ricky Wagner. They have to build around Stafford and perhaps they have done that. Their offensive weapons revolve around Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, and Marvin Jones. There is enough there to give Stafford some support. I do like their secondary and they added Teez Tabor in the second round to give them another young piece in the secondary. You would think that Ziggy Ansah will have a bounce back season at DE and help out that pass rush. If there is a team in the NFC that is due for a division title and a playoff win, the Lions are certainly that team. Maybe 2017 is the year they finally break through.
What I Don't Like: Head coach Jim Caldwell has actually done a decent job in Detroit. He made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, and they narrowly missed the one season they didn't make it. He IS STILL Jim Caldwell, and you have to worry about him leading the troops going forward. Outside of Matt Stafford, do the Lions really scare you? I didn't think so. They are always in so many close games and it seems like their luck might run out this season. They were 9-4 last year, and then the bottom fell out. They lost their last three games and got bounced in the Wild Card round at Seattle. I don't see too much talent on defense either. I don't see the defense being able to hold up week to week. For a middle of the road team, their schedule has enough tough matchups to lead to their demise. They host Arizona in Week 1, go to the Giants in Week 2, host Atlanta, head to Minnesota, host Carolina and head to New Orleans during the first six weeks. They get Pittsburgh and at Green Bay back-to-back in Weeks 8 and 9. They have trips to Baltimore and Tampa Bay in Weeks 13 and 14 and finish with at Cincy and Green Bay at home. There are just too many tough patches in that schedule to see them finishing anywhere near 8-8. I think the Lions take a big step back in 2017.
Prediction: 5-11 and third place in the NFC North.
4) Chicago Bears:
What I Like: The Bears are team that could be the ultimate sleeper in 2017 because NO ONE thinks they will do anything this year. John Fox could use that to his advantage to motivate his team each week. They might have something brewing on defense with the combo of Leonard Floyd and Pernell McPhee. On offense, RB Jordan Howard looks like a breakout star and people might forget he had over 1,300 yards and 6 TDs as a rookie last year. QB Mitch Trubisky looked really good in the preseason, and there is still a chance that he could start by Week 1, which would be a positive for the Bears at this point for their franchise. The biggest thing the Bears have going for them is the idea that the Bears are the ultimate underdog in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Let's be honest: John Fox has been a failure in Chicago. There were rumblings that he wasn't getting along with the front office, and he is certainly on the hot seat going into the season. If they get off to a bad start, Fox will be gone by Halloween. Also, there is just not enough talent on this team. Their big offseason move on defense: CB Prince Amukamara. They lost Alshon Jeffrey to free agency, Jay Cutler retired, and there are just not enough weapons on offense to get them by. They made the move to sign Mike Glennon in free agency, and then they traded up to get Mitchell Trubisky. That puts Glennon and the coaching staff in a rough spot, and as soon as he falters, then they will have to go to Trubisky, so that will be hanging over their head all year long. It looks like it will be a mess for them all season. Their schedule is tough because they have the NFC South and the AFC North. Here are their first eight weeks of the season: Atlanta, at TB, Pitt, at GB, Minnesota, at Balt, Carolina, and at New Orleans. That could be 2-6 or 1-7 right off the bat. They host GB in Week 10, and head to Philly, Cincy, and Minnesota in the last six weeks. It looks like another long season for the Bears in 2017 and the focus should be on 2018.
Prediction: 4-12 and last place in the NFC North.
NFC SOUTH
1) Carolina Panthers:
What I Like: The Panthers suffered from a Super Bowl loss hangover in 2016, and they just never got it going. Injuries, lackluster play, and some bad luck sunk the Panthers chances to get back to the playoffs. This year, it seems like the Panthers will be back and get back into the mix with a bounce back season. It starts with Cam Newton, and if he is healthy from shoulder surgery, then Cam should be back to being Cam. Their biggest offseason move was the selection of Christian McCaffrey in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. McCaffrey and Newton could be a very fun tandem in this offense. I like the other weapons on offense: Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Devin Funchess, and RB Jonathan Stewart. Luke Keuchly still mans the middle of the defense, and Kawann Short and Thomas Davis are still there in the front seven, and maybe the return of Julius Peppers can help the pass rush. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start (At SF, Buff, and New Orleans). They also have a three-game home stand in Weeks 14-16 (Minne, GB, TB). They have a chance to start fast and finish strong. I think the Panthers are poised for a rebound in 2017.
What I Don't Like: If Cam Newton doesn't come back fully from shoulder surgery, then the Panthers have no chance to finish over .500. Cam is the centerpiece of that franchise, and the uncertainty about him staying healthy is what could prevent them from making the playoffs again. They did lose key players like Ted Ginn Jr., and Kony Ealy in the offseason. Those guys were components to their Super Bowl run two years ago. Can their pass rush step up in key spots? Can their secondary be good enough to compete in a division with Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, and Drew Brees. I'm not sure they are good enough on defense and the loss of defensive coordinator Sean McDermott could be very detrimental. There are enough questions surrounding this team and they have to answer a lot of questions before they are guaranteed a return to the playoffs this season.
Prediction: 10-6 and winners of the NFC South
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
What I Like: If you are looking for young and promising talent in the NFC, the Bucs might fit that bill. Jameis Winston is on his way to being a big-time player and he has some weapons in this offense: Mike Evans, free agent signee Desean Jackson, Cameron Brate, and TE O.J. Howard, who was drafted in the 1st round of the draft. If Doug Martin can get back on track, then the Bucs might have a very explosive offense. On defense, they have Gerald McCoy on the defensive line with the newly acquired Chris Baker. Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David are a top tandem in the LB corps, and combination of Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves at cornerback. I love the addition of T.J. Ward at safety after Denver cut him late in the preseason. He could bring a lot of leadership to this locker room. There is a lot of young talent on the roster, and it feels like they are ready to breakout. Their schedule is very fair both ways, but they have the advantage of hosting three of the first five games at home, including hosting the Pats on a Thursday night game in Week 5. They also finish with three out of their last four games at home as well. The get the AFC East as their conference crossover, so that will help them. This team finished 9-7 and just missed the playoffs last year, and they are not very far from breaking through and getting into the playoffs in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Can head coach Dirk Koetter guide this team into the playoffs and back into contention in the NFC South? I'm still not sold on Koetter as a head coach. The Bucs offensive line is their biggest weakness on offense and if they struggle to protect Winston, then they are in trouble. Anything that negatively affects Winston will hurt the Bucs chances. Also, you wonder if the Bucs are just not mature enough or ready to take the next step. They still have work to do to catch the Falcons, and they are basically equal with the Panthers. I just don't know if they have enough to make the leap this year. The difficult parts of the schedule could lead to their demise. They have a tough four game stretch from Weeks 3-6 with games at Minnesota, the Giants, the Pats (on TNF), and at Arizona. They have a very tough back-to-back with at Atlanta and at Green Bay in Weeks 12 and 13, and a trip to Carolina on Christmas Eve in Week 16. A lot of people are ready to put the Bucs in the playoffs this year, but I'm not sure they are there yet.
Prediction: 9-7 and a Wild Card berth
3) Atlanta Falcons:
What I Like: The Falcons are virtually returning their entire offense from 2016 and that means a lot of yards and a lot of points. At the controls is Matt Ryan, and he elevated himself to another level last year. With Ryan at QB, you have to like the Falcons chances in the NFC. Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, and Austin Hooper all return as weapons for Ryan. On defense, the Falcons have a pass rush with Vic Beasley, the emerging Grady Jarrett, young Deion Jones, Desmond Trufant, and newly acquired free agent Dontari Poe. They also drafted DE Takkarist McKinely in the 1st round of the draft. They have one of the best and most talented, young rosters in the entire NFL. Four of their last six games are at home, and it features a three-game homestand in Weeks 12-14 (TB, Minne, and New Orleans). The Falcons certainly have enough talent to go on another deep run in the NFC this season.
What I Don't Like: If there ever was a team that could suffer from a Super Bowl loser hangover, then the 2017 Falcons are the ultimate candidate. How will they get over and rebound from their 34-28 Super Bowl LI loss to the Pats after blowing a 28-3 lead in the second half. A lot of teams struggle after losing a Super Bowl the year before, but no one has ever lost a Super Bowl in that fashion like the Falcons did last year. You have to worry about their mentality to bounce back from that defeat. I like what Dan Quinn built last year in the locker room, but after watching him botch the Super Bowl, there are major questions about his in-game coaching ability-especially in big games. They also lost offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and you have to worry about how that will affect the offense, and most importantly, Matt Ryan. If the Falcons flounder in 2017, it will have nothing to do with their on field ability. It will come down to their mental capacity and how they handle one of the worst losses in NFL history.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC South
4) New Orleans Saints:
What I Like: When you have Drew Brees, you know you are going to get 5,000 yards, a bunch of TDs and big passing numbers. Brees had another big year in 2016, and there is no reason to think he won't do it again in 2017. He keeps this franchise afloat. The addition of RB Adrian Peterson could really help their ground game, and he doesn't have to be the AP of a few years ago to help this team. Peterson and Mark Ingram should be a good 1-2 punch for them. People forget WR Michael Thomas had 92 catches, 1,137 yards and 9 TDs last year. He is a legitimate receiving threat to go with Willie Snead, and the addition of Ted Ginn should help them in the passing game and in the return game. I like the pick of OT Ryan Ramczyk in the 1st Round of the draft to go along with C Max Unger. The Saints had to address their defense and they got CB Marshon Lattimore with the 11th overall pick in the draft, and he could come in and start right away. They added Mante Te'o at LB, and Cameron Jordan will anchor the defensive line once again. They haven't made the playoffs since 2013, so it feels like they could be due for a postseason berth.
What I Don't Like: Sean Payton made his mark by leading the Saints to the Super Bowl XLIV, but what has he done ever since? He might be one of the most overrated coaches in the league. If they get off to a bad start, I would think that Payton would be fired before the halfway mark. The Saints have had trouble stopping people the last few seasons, and I don't know if they have enough talent on defense to be a good unit this year. They are relying on a lot of young players, and that might not be enough. Their schedule is pretty tough and challenging in different spots. They head to Minnesota on Monday Night Football in the season opener. They host NE in Week 2, and head to Carolina in Week 3 and have to go to London to face the Dolphins. That is a very rough way to star the year. A trip to Green Bay, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay are all on the docket the rest of the year. I just don't see the Saints having enough to get back to the playoffs this season.
Prediction: 6-10 and last place in the NFC South
NFC WEST
1) Seattle Seahawks:
What I Like: They have a very talented roster, quality coaching, top flight organizational structure and a crummy division. That all adds up to another big year for the Seahawks. Russell Wilson, Jimmy Graham, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and Thomas Rawls are all back for this offense this year. Even with the trade of Jermaine Kearse, the Seahawks should have enough weapons to be a better offense than last year. They added RB Eddie Lacy in free agency and if he is in shape, then he can be a very effective piece in this offense. On defense, they still have DEs Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, LBs Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, and the three-headed monster in the secondary Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor. The late trade with the Jets to acquire Sheldon Richardson could really put this defense over the top. Put it this way: The Seahawks are loaded. With a division featuring the likes of the 49ers and the Rams, that should equate to four wins right there. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start. After heading to Green Bay in Week 1, they host SF, go to Tenn, host Indy and visit the Rams. They also finish with a very favorable stretch to end the season with their last six games featuring: at SF, Philly, at Jax, Rams, at Dallas, Arizona. That looks like 5-1 to finish the season. I think when it is all said and done, the Seahawks will be a team that will be in line for a big-time run in 2017.
What I Don't Like: You can't be happy with the internal strife that has reportedly surfaced in Seattle in the offseason with the defense and the offense. The defense features a lot of strong personalities, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett first and foremost, and if there is a divide in the locker room between the two units, then that could be a problem. As much as I like Sheldon Richardson as a player, is he is too much of a head case? Have they addressed all of their offensive line issues? I'm not sure they have done enough in that department. I think the other thing to watch out for in Seattle is that there is always a top team that just falls apart and everything goes wrong and the season ends in disaster. I'm not saying that is going to happen to the Seahawks, but there is always a chance that they could be a team that deals with the nightmare season that sinks their chances.
Prediction: 12-4 and winners of the NFC West
2) Arizona Cardinals
What I Like: The Cards finished 7-8-1 last year, and they were a few plays away from winning 10 games again. The bottom line is that this team is not very far off from getting back into the playoffs. I still think that Bruce Arians is a good head coach, and I have confidence in him leading this team. David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are both legitimate All-Pro weapons for Carson Palmer on this offensive unit. Did you realize that Johnson produced over 2,000 yards in receiving and rushing yardage last year with a 20 total TDs? That is about the quietest offensive season that I can ever recall in recent NFL history. Defensively, Chandler Jones anchors the pass rush, and they have young playmakers and stars in the secondary with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. Also, the Cardinals have no fear of the Seahawks. While the other teams in the division are lightyears away from competing with Seattle, the Cards are not afraid of them and will fight them tooth and nail. Last year, they won again in Seattle and tied them in the other game. That is an encouraging sign for this team going into this year. Their schedule is favorable at the back end. They have four of the last six games at home (Jax, Rams, Tenn, at Wash, NYG, at Seattle) and a three-game homestand in Weeks 12-14 as the backbone. There is a very good chance the Cardinals will get back into the playoff mix in 2017.
What I Don't Like: They did lose quite a number of players from last year's team. The biggest offseason loss was DE Calais Campbell. That will hurt their pass rush. There are questions on their offensive line, and there are questions about other receiving options to help out Larry Fitzgerald. You have to wonder about Carson Palmer. What are you going to get every week? Some weeks he is great, and other weeks he kills them. I am worried about the defense having enough in the front seven to hold up each week, and they are banking on rookie 1st Round pick Haason Reddick to help in that area. Their schedule is tricky to start the year. They start with two games on the road in Weeks 1 and 2 (at Det and at Indy), then they host Dallas in Week 3, and host SF, but then go to Philly, host TB, and have to go to London to take on the Rams, and then travel to SF after a bye. That seems like a lot of travel in the beginning of the season. The Cards are very tough team to predict this year. I could see them winning 11 games or finishing .500 and missing the playoffs.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC West
3) Los Angeles Rams:
What I Like: I like the idea that they moved on from Jeff Fisher last year when they realized he just wasn't getting the job done. That was a move that had to be made and they pulled the trigger on it. Also, they spent big money in free agency and signed OT Andrew Whitworth to help with that offensive line. Can WR Sammy Watkins resurrect his career and add some explosion to the Rams offense?They should get a bounce back year from RB Todd Gurley, and their defense still features DLs Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, LB Robert Quinn, and ILB Alec Ogletree. The best move the team made the entire offseason was the addition of Wade Phillips as Defensive Coordinator. Phillips should be able to help take this talented, young defense to another level. Lastly, I love the Rams going to a retro, white horned helmet and white facemask to bring back the glory days of the old Los Angeles Rams.
What I Don't Like: I have a hard time thinking that 31-year-old head coach Sean McVay will be successful in his first year as the youngest head coach in NFL history. I just think that McVay will have a tough time, and it could be a long year for him, and I don't see him turning this offense around overnight. Jared Goff's debut last year was a disaster, and there is a lot of talk about how he might be a bust as a former #1 overall pick. If Goff tanks, then the Rams are going to have a difficult time overcoming that. They have no real home field advantage playing in the LA Coliseum, and their schedule is brutal at times. From Week 3 (Sept 21st) to Week 10 (November 12th), the Rams will play at home only once (Seattle Week 5). That include a trip to London to play Arizona in Week 7, a bye week, then a trip to NY to take on the Giants. Trips to Dallas, Minnesota and Tennessee along with dealing with Arizona and Seattle four times a year, puts this team behind the eight ball. I see another long year in LA for the Rams in 2017
Prediction: 5-11 and third place in the NFC West
4) San Francisco 49ers:
What I Like: Like the Rams, they cut the cord with Chip Kelly as head coach, and went in a completely different direction. They hired John Lynch away from the broadcast booth, got Kyle Shanahan to come in as their new head coach, and started to upgrade their roster. They added WR Pierre Garcon, FB Kyle Juszczyk, and will have veterans Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley compete for the QB job, with Hoyer most likely winning the job. They still have Carlos Hyde at RB. Their draft was widely applauded for getting DE Soloman Thomas at #3 and then getting LB Reuben Foster at pick #31. The 49ers might be a few years from competing for a playoff spot, but they definitely made some strides to improve this team this season.
What I Don't Like: Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkely are probably an upgrade from Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick, but it's not like we are talking about Montana and Young here. It will be interesting to see how Shanahan handles his first year as a head coach-especially with a young team and a rebuilding situation. Also, you wonder just how much can a new GM like John Lynch do in one year. There is holes still on this roster, especially on defense, and their schedule is very tough for them. Five out of their first eight games are on the road (Carolina, at Seattle, Rams, at Ariz, at Indy, at Wash, Dallas, at Philly). That is a brutal way to start the year. That feels like 1-7 with Arizona, the Giants, and Seattle on deck the next three weeks. I think the Niners will be out of early in the year, and they will be playing a lot of young guys the last month just to see what they have for the future.
Prediction: 4-12 and last place in the NFC West
NFC EAST
1-Philly 9-7
2-Dallas 8-8
3-NY Giants 8-8
4-Washington 6-10
NFC NORTH
1-GB 11-5
2-Minnesota 10-6*Wild Card
2-Dallas 8-8
3-NY Giants 8-8
4-Washington 6-10
NFC NORTH
1-GB 11-5
2-Minnesota 10-6*Wild Card
3-Detroit 5-11
4-Chicago 4-12
NFC SOUTH
1-Carolina 10-6
2-Tampa Bay 9-7*Wild Card
3-Atlanta 8-8
4-New Orleans 6-10
4-Chicago 4-12
NFC SOUTH
1-Carolina 10-6
2-Tampa Bay 9-7*Wild Card
3-Atlanta 8-8
4-New Orleans 6-10
NFC WEST
1-Seattle 12-4
2-Arizona 8-8
3-LA Rams 5-11
4-SF 4-12
NFC Playoff Seeds:
1) Seattle (12-4) West
2) Green Bay (11-5) North
3) Carolina (10-6) South
4) Philly (9-7) East
5) Minnesota (10-6) Wild Card
6) Tampa Bay (9-7) Wild Card
Wild Card Weekend
6) Tampa Bay over 3) Carolina: The Panthers get back into the playoffs after missing out last year. The Bucs make the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and Jameis Winston outduels Cam Newton to give the Bucs their first playoff win since their Super Bowl win in 2002.
5) Minnesota over 4) Philly: The Vikings defense is too much for the Eagles, and Minnesota wins their first playoff game since 2009.
Divisional Playoffs
1) Seattle over 6)Tampa Bay: The Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in the last five years by dispatching the Bucs in Seattle.
5) Minnesota over 2) Green Bay: The Vikings go into Lambeau Field, and they shock the Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2009.
NFC Championship Game
1) Seattle over 5) Minnesota: The Seahawks end the Vikings dream run to advance to the Super Bowl for the third time in five years.
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