2019 NFL Predictions

With the NFL season right around the corner, here are my predictions heading into the season. Once again, I tried to think outside the box a little bit. In the NFC, I looked at Chicago and Seattle as teams that will take a step back this year with Green Bay, Atlanta, and the Vikings getting back into the playoff mix. Over in the AFC, I think Baltimore and the Chargers miss out on the playoffs this year, and Indy won't be able to recover from Andrew Luck's shocking retirement. Look for the Browns to live up to the hype, and the Jets to be the surprise team to get into the playoffs. Overall, I have 6 playoff teams returning this year to the playoffs in 2019 and six teams not making it back. Here are my predictions for the 2019 NFL season...

NFC East
1) Philly (12-4)
2) Dallas (9-7) Wild Card
3) NY Giants (7-9)
4) Washington (5-11)

NFC North
1) Minnesota (11-5)
2) Green Bay (10-6) Wild Card
3) Chicago (8-8)
4) Detroit (4-12)

NFC South
1) New Orleans (10-6)
2) Atlanta (9-7)
3) Carolina (8-8)
4) Tampa Bay (6-10)

NFC West
1) LA Rams (9-7)
2) Seattle (8-8)
3) SF (7-9)
4) Arizona (4-12)

Playoff Predictions
Wild Card Weekend 
3-New Orleans over 6-Dallas  (The Saints topple the Cowboys at home to move on in their quest to get to the Super Bowl after two stunning defeats in the playoffs the last two years)
5-Green Bay over 4-LA Rams (Aaron Rodgers and the Packers return to the playoffs and notch their first playoff win since 2016 with a big win in LA over the Rams)

Divisional Round
1-Philadelphia over 5-Green Bay (The Eagles thwart Aaron Rodgers in Philly and move on to their second NFC Championship Game in three years)
3-New Orleans over 2-Minnesota (The Saints go into Minnesota and upset the Vikings, get revenge from the 2017 Divisional Playoff loss, and head to their second straight NFC Championship Game)

NFC Championship Game
1-Philadelphia over 3-New Orleans (The Eagles with Carson Wentz head to their second Super Bowl in three years by knocking off the Saints at home in a very tight NFC Title matchup)

AFC Predictions

AFC East
1) New England (11-5)
2) New York Jets (9-7) Wild Card
3) Buffalo (6-10)
4) Miami (5-11)

AFC North
1) Pittsburgh (12-4)
2) Cleveland (10-6) Wild Card
3) Baltimore (7-9)
4) Cincinnati (5-11)

AFC South
1) Houston (10-6)
2) Jacksonville (8-8)
3) Tennessee (7-9)
4) Indianapolis (6-10)

AFC West
1) Kansas City (12-4)
2) Denver (8-8)
3) LA Chargers (7-9)
4) Oakland (6-10)

Playoff Predictions
Wild Card Weekend
(3) New England over (6) NY Jets (The Jets make their first playoff appearance since 2010, but the Pats roll at home and advance to the Divisional Round once again)
(4) Houston over (5) Cleveland (The Browns make their first playoff appearance since 2002, but they fall short to Deshaun Watson and the Texans, as Houston moves on)

Divisional Round
(1) Kansas City over (4) Houston (Pat Mahomes leads the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row after disposing of the Texans in Arrowhead)
(2) Pittsburgh over (3) New England (In a classic matchup, the Steelers outlast the Patriots and head to the AFC Championship for the first time since 2016. The Pats fail to advance to the AFC Title game for the first time since 2010)

AFC Championship Game
(1) Kansas City over (2) Pittsburgh (The Chiefs, a year after losing the AFC Title game at home, finally return back to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl IV with a victory over the Steelers)

SUPER BOWL LIV
Philadelphia Eagles over Kansas City Chiefs (The Eagles win their second Super Bowl in three years as they defeat their former coach, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs. Carson Wentz outlasts Pat Mahomes in a classic shootout and wins the Super Bowl MVP award.