2018 NFL Predictions

The NFL is back, and the 2018 season is about to kickoff, but as usual the NFL finds itself in a bit of quagmire once again as another season approaches. This time of the year football fans are usually getting ready for the onslaught of nonstop football for the next five months. The last few years the NFL has found itself worrying about other topics outside of the games and it has caused quite a distraction for the league and its fanbase. This year, the national anthem issue is still lingering. It just won't go away. The new helmet rule will certainly cause controversy as the league tries everything it can to make the game safer. It will definitely be something to watch because you really can't take the violence out of football. Plus, a new slew of officials will be apart of this new season, and we know how frustrating the past few years have been with all these referees having different ways and interpretations of all the new rules that have been implemented. What it adds up to is a variety of topics to discuss about the NFL without actually talking about and enjoying the games. True, die-hard NFL fans just want to savor the return of the football, watch the games, play fantasy football, and indulge in some week-to-week gambling. Let's just try to emphasize the fun of what the NFL used to be about, and focus on the return of the NFL and all the ups and downs and storylines that will arise during this campaign. Without further ado, here are my 2018 NFL Predictions............

NFC

NFC East
1) Washington Redskins (10-6)
2) Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
3) NY Giants (8-8)
4) Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
Analysis: The Redskins are the sleeper team and pull the upset and win the division. The Eagles suffer from the Carson Wentz injury and a Super Bowl hangover and miss the playoffs. The Giants are exciting and will be better this year, but fall short of the playoffs, and the Cowboys finish at 8-8.

NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2) Minnesota Vikings (9-7) *Wild Card
3) Chicago Bears (8-8)
4) Detroit Lions (4-12)
Analysis: Aaron Rodgers is back and so are the Packers as winners of the NFC North. The Vikings and Kirk Cousins get a wild card berth. The Bears are improved and Lions fall apart under first year head coach, Matt Patricia.


NFC South
1) Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
2) New Orleans Saints (8-8)
3) Carolina Panthers (7-9)
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
Analysis: The Falcons get back to the top of the division. The Saints take a step back after that epic playoff loss last year in Minnesota. The Panthers take a step back too, and the Bucs suffer through a rough season.
NFC West
1) San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
2) LA Rams (10-6)*Wild Card
3) Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
4) Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Analysis: I'll bet on the 49ers and Rams both making the playoffs. Seattle misses out on the playoffs with all the new faces and the Cardinals suffer through a very long, losing season.

NFC Playoff Seeds and Predictions:
1) Green Bay
2) Atlanta
3) San Francisco
4) Washington
5) LA Rams
6) Minnesota

Wild Card Weekend:
6) Minnesota over 3) SF: The Vikings and Kirk Cousins go into SF and knock of the young 49ers on the road.
5) LA Rams over 4) Washington: The Rams win their first playoff game since 2004 and advance to the Divisional Round.

Divisional Round:
1) Green Bay over 6) Minnesota: Two rivals meet in Lambeau Field and Aaron Rodgers outduels Kirk Cousins to advance to their second NFC Championship Game in three years.

2) Atlanta over 5) LA Rams: The Falcons advance to the NFC Championship Game again for the second time in three years.

NFC Championship:
2) Atlanta over 1) Green Bay: The Falcons advance to their third Super Bowl by beating the Packers once again-this time in Lambeau Field.

AFC

AFC East
1) New England Patriots (11-5)
2) NY Jets (8-8)
3) Miami Dolphins (5-11)
4) Buffalo Bills (4-12)
Analysis: The Pats are still the kings of the division and will win another AFC East title. The Jets are a year away. The Dolphins and Bills are way behind and will have a long season respectively.

AFC North
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
2) Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)*Wild Card
3) Baltimore Ravens(8-8)
4) Cleveland Browns (5-11)
Analysis: The Steelers still have a very talented team and will win the division. The Bengals are my sneaky, surprise team in the AFC, and I think they make the playoffs. The Ravens will fall short of the playoffs once again because of the lingering Joe Flacco vs. Lamar Jackson QB situation. The Browns will win five games-which might be a positive for them.

AFC South
1) Houston Texans (9-7)
2) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
3) Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
4) Tennessee Titans (6-10)
Analysis: Houston wins the division with Deshaun Watson and JJ Watt returning from injuries. The Jags take a step back. The Colts improve with the return of Andrew Luck, and the Titans have a tough year under new head coach, Mike Vrabel.

AFC West
1) LA Chargers (10-6)
2) Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)*Wild Card
3) Denver Broncos (8-8)
4) Oakland Raiders (7-9)
Analysis: The Chargers win the division as Philip Rivers has one more run in him. Andy Reid gets Pat Mahomes to play well enough to get the Chiefs back into the playoffs. Denver is better than last year, but not good enough to make the playoffs in a tough division. I'm not sold on Jon Gruden returning to Oakland, and I think the Raiders are all sizzle and no steak.

AFC Playoff Seeds and Predictions
1) New England
2) Pittsburgh
3) LA Chargers
4) Houston
5) Kansas City
6) Cincinnati

Wild Card Weekend:
3) LA Chargers over 6) Cincy: The Chargers best the Bengals, who still can't win a playoff game under Marvin Lewis, and win their first playoff game since 2013.

4) Houston over 5) Kansas City: The Texans beat the Chiefs and advance to the Divisional Round for the second time in three seasons.

Divisional Round:
4) Houston over 1) New England: Houston goes into Foxboro and stuns the Patriots as NE fails to make the AFC Championship for the first time in eight years.

2) Pittsburgh over 3) LA Chargers: The Steelers survive the Chargers and head to their second AFC Championship in three years.

AFC Championship:
2) Pittsburgh over 4) Houston: The Steelers advance to their ninth Super Bowl as they outlast the Texans.

Super Bowl LIII
Atlanta over Pittsburgh: The Falcons become the first team to play in their home stadium in Super Bowl history, and they breakthrough and defeat the Steelers to win their first Super Bowl title in franchise history.