This season is just about to kickoff and while lot has cleared up recently you never know until they play the games, and especially how much injuries will come into play. After having watched every pre-season game I am ready to take a crack at it,
AFC WEST
1.CHARGERS - 10-6 DIVISION CHAMP and AFC CHAMP
POSITIVE :They finished strong last year, have the best QB, and the most talented overall roster in the division. Tons of talent at WR and a 3 down RB . Upgraded O-line if healthy . Best bookend edge rushers in the NFL. Play makers in the secondary .
NEGATIVE:This team just always seems to find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory .
SUMMARY : I just think it's their year .
2.BRONCOS - 8-8
POSITIVE : They upgraded their QB & O-Line over the last 2 off seasons , and have some interesting young talent . Move back to a predominant zone blocking scheme fits Royce Freeman to a tee . A lot of talent at WR . Pass rush and run defense .
NEGATIVE: While they do have a better QB now it's not enough for me to rank them higher, and their secondary looks weakened . Plus they are counting on some injury prone players in key places .
SUMMARY : It's possible they are a surprise contender, but a lot would have to go right .
3.RAIDERS - 7-9
POSITIVE : A good O-line .
NEGATIVE: Completely random personnel decisions so far, unless the goal is all long term , and a lot of older players are being counted on to play a lot of snaps.
SUMMARY : The hardest to predict team based on Gruden alone, but trading Mack made it easier .A transition year .
4.CHIEFS - 6-10
POSITIVE : A great amount of talent at the skill positions .
NEGATIVE: A young gambling QB .Plus I don't like their defense , especially the secondary SUMMARY : Long term I think Mahomes will be a stud, but he is my pick to lead the league in both turnovers and wow plays. A transition year .
AFC EAST
1.PATRIOTS - 12-4 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE : A weak division but the best QB , TE, and coach in the game right now, and maybe the best ever on all 3. A lot of smart versatile players . Their emphasis on prioritizing special teams personnel .
NEGATIVE: Bad pass rush,
SUMMARY : As long as Brady & Belichick are there they are always a threat to take home the Lombardi . Not picking them to win it all though .
2.JETS - 7-9
POSITIVE :Bad division, really young but promising QB, good coach ,and a promising defense .
NEGATIVE: Shaky O-Lines , young QB's , and a lack of proven play makers are rarely a good mix. The pass rush is also a question mark, but Bowles at least schemes one with well timed stunts and blitzes .
SUMMARY : Bowles took a team that I thought would be in contention for the worst record in the league to 6-10. In this division it wouldn't shock me if they won 9 games but I doubt it .
3.DOLPHINS - 5-11
POSITIVE :The edge rushers, head coach, Frank Gores & Cameron Wakes leadership and steady play despite their ages . Potentially the left side of the O-line and the right tackle .The secondary is a positive and clearly the best overall unit on this team.
NEGATIVE: A ton of questions marks. No Suh and no adequate replacement for him .
SUMMARY : This is a make or brake year for Tannehill, and despite his physical talents i just don't trust his mental ones . Plus a ton of questions at LB and the interior O-Line .
4.BILLS - 3-13
POSITIVE :Their coach and a mix of talented young players & vets on defense .
NEGATIVE: My best bet for the worst O-line and starting QB in the league . I just can't see this offense being able to do much of anything .Know matter how good a defense is if they are on the field all the time they will get tired, beat up, and they will give up a lot of points.
SUMMARY : Transition year , but if Allen show's enough for them to still believe he's the QB of the future after this season they could end up with the #1 overall pick . If another team falls in love with a QB in next years draft they could trade their pick for a big haul to set them up for the long term, and be back in contention after only one down year .
AFC SOUTH
1.JAGUARS - 11-5 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE :A great defense , strong running game, upgraded O-line( Andrew Norwell) and unified organizational game plan .
NEGATIVE: Blake Bortles and unproven weapons at receiver .Can Fournette stay healthy ?
SUMMARY : The best team in the toughest division in football .
2.TEXANS - 9-7 WILD CARD
POSITIVE :The most exciting young QB in the game . Potentially lethal pass rush . Hopkins, Fuller, and Coutee could be the best starting receiving core in the league in time . Potentially a great defense if they can stay healthy .
NEGATIVE: Bad O-line . Injury prone key players .
SUMMARY : If this team can keep Watkins and Watt healthy they are a contender, but they should just be happy if they can play 12 games each and sneak into the playoffs with both mostly healthy .
3.COLTS - 9-7
POSITIVE :The mighty Luck is back , upgraded O-line to FINALLY have a chance at adequately protecting him . They have had back to back great drafts .
NEGATIVE: The overall defense except the injury prone Malik Hooker .
SUMMARY : Luck has dragged this team kicking and screaming into contention before. If he's healthy I expect he will again, but will the rust wear off in time for them to win enough games to make the playoffs in a really tough division ?
4.TITANS - 8-8
POSITIVE :A lot of talent overall , and a good O-Line .
NEGATIVE: They looked like they weren't clicking in their new innovative offense in the pre-season .
SUMMARY : They could win 11 games or 5 , but I think they will fall somewhere in the middle of that . Mariota needs to show he can stay healthy and master this offense by the second half of the season , or they may be drafting a QB high very soon.
AFC NORTH
1.STEELERS - 10-6 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE : Good offensive & defensive Lines , good coach, and great skill position talent .
NEGATIVE: Suspect defense and a lot of their high profile offensive leaders are suspect attention seekers too. EXAMPLES. 1-Roethlisberger - WHAAAAHHAAAHHH. I am gonna retire but don't draft a QB. I wish I was Brett Favre so I'll pull all the crap he did later in his career, but in a softer wussier way . 2- Bell - If I don't get what I want I will hold out and have a slow start to the season because I reported late and not in football shape despite my slow start when I did the same thing last year , or maybe not report until week 10. Plus I have a history of off the field problems and major injury's. 3- Brown- look at me please. I'll do or say anything for attention. I'll even video my coach in the locker room and live tweet it if you will just please like me.
SUMMARY : They are the clear favorite in the division , but it wouldn't surprise me if any team except the Bengals won the division .
2.RAVENS - 9-7 WILD CARD
POSITIVE :The drafting of Lamar Jackson was smart in many ways . It seems to have lit a fire under Flacco for this season, I believe in Jackson long term, and if Flacco plays well again they can still trade him to get back the first rounder they gave up to get Jackson . Plus if Marshall Yanda is back to form they should have a good O-line . Also a solid defense with play makers at every position group . A really good overall coaching staff .
NEGATIVE: A lot of their key players are past their prime and they have uncharacteristically missed on a lot of high draft picks recently .
SUMMARY : This team could win it all if Flacco catches fire again, but it's just as likely a lot of their older players get hurt and this ends up as a rebuilding year .
3.BROWNS - 7-9
POSITIVE :Talent everywhere coming out the ass .
NEGATIVE: Bad track record of ownership makes me think they will find a way to meddle again and screw up a franchise that appears to finally be going in the right direction . Hugh Jackson may the a Norv Turner type. Good coordinator but not a good head coach .
SUMMARY : If they can't win at LEAST 6 games with this roster Hue needs to be replaced, but based on talent they are a legitimate threat to win the division .
4.BENGALS - 6-10
POSITIVE :The O-line should be better and they still have a lot of talent on the overall roster NEGATIVE: Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis have proven they can't win at a high level. I doubt Brown fires himself , but he needs to at least fire Lewis. Plus he would be wise to pull a Jerry Jones and appoint smarter football people to make the decisions and then he might even end up in the HOF. Dalton has repeatedly failed in big games .
SUMMARY : Based on talent they should be a contender, but the triumvirate of Owner , head coach, and QB make me think they are about to have a top 5 pick and start over next year .
NFC WEST
1.RAMS - 11-5 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE :The innovative offense and coaching staff. The defense with the best defensive player in the league added 3 perennial Pro Bowlers in Suh, Peters, and Talib . Solid starting O-line . A young franchise running back & QB .
NEGATIVE: Overall depth and their entire LB core- on and off the ball .
SUMMARY : Everyone else in their division is rebuilding and if they stay healthy they have a chance to win it it all .
2.49ers - 8-8
POSITIVE :It looks like they have a new franchise QB and I like the stability that Shannahan has with his long term contract . Back to back solid drafts and some explosive big play WR's, and Dante Pettis a potential game changer as a return man . Solid lines on both sides of the ball .
NEGATIVE: No proven elite players anywhere ,and other than Joe Staley no proven leaders SUMMARY : A team on the rise that could sneak into the playoffs , but more likely a year away.
3.SEATTLE - 7-9
POSITIVE :Russell Wilson , Pete Carroll, Frank Clark, Bobby Wagner, for now Earl Thomas, and a lot of young highly athletic talent . O-line has no where to go but up, and they look improved in the pre-season .
NEGATIVE: Loss of a lot core of defense standouts that made them a perennial contender
SUMMARY : It's a rebuilding year , but the marquee players they still have , Carrol's reputation as a charismatic teacher , and a weak division give them at least an outside shot at the wildcard .
4.CARDINALS - 6-10
POSITIVE :They finally got a young potential franchise QB to throw to the awesome Fitz and Jhonson . Plus Patrick Peterson, Chandler Jones, and I predict a breakout for Budda Baker .
NEGATIVE: Bad O-line and some of their recent first round picks need to step up. Their top 2 QB's are great when healthy but injury prone .
SUMMARY : In my opinion the Over/Under on when Bradford gets hurt is 4 games in my book, but behind that O-line the over under on when Rosen gets hurt is also 4 games . So I see them having a top 10 pick, and hopefully improving their O-Line in the draft .
NFC EAST
1.EAGLES - 11-5 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE :The most complete deepest roster in the NFL. One of the leagues best Offensive & defensive Lines, the leagues best backup QB, and the leagues best young starting QB . Potentially the best receiving TE duo since Gronk/Hernandez .
NEGATIVE: The health of Wentz . Too many kneelers worried more about politics than football . WR core lacks true number one .
SUMMARY : I would see them as the favorite to repeat, but I think the fame and non football stuff has gone to some heads .
2.COWBOYS - 10-6 WILD CARD
POSITIVE :If Travis Frederick comes back healthy and is the same player I think they will once again have the leagues best O-line. No more Dez running the wrong route or causing a problem with his outburst . Zeke is the best back in the league in my opinion. I predict they will have one of the best defenses in the league, and they are young so this could be the start of a new era . Finally out of salary cap hell .
NEGATIVE: Jason Witten's contributions as a blocker, reliable short area target, and leader will be sorely missed . Filling that void is the biggest question they have and if he had stayed and Frederick was healthy I would have picked them to go the Super Bowl in spite of Garrett . Jason Garrett and his clock mismanagement and refusal to overrule the play calling when it gets repetitive or stupid . Cutting one of the most consistent kickers in the history of the NFL after a subpar injured second half sure seems premature to me . Lack of any proven wide receivers .
SUMMARY : They are young but halfway between rebuilding and rebuilt . They could be the 90 cowboys who went 7-9 but showed promise , the 91 cowboys who lost their second playoff game, or the 92 team that won the Superbowl and started a new dynasty. I think the lack of a Jimmy Johnson type coach is why I doubt it's the latter .
3.GIANTS - 8-8
POSITIVE : Improved O-Line and off the ball LB's after years of both being a weakness . Elite skill level talent . New regime seems to have them moving in the right direction . 2 Time Superbowl MVP at the games most important position .
NEGATIVE: Not sure how much Eli has left after being constantly knocked around . Will he still have happy feet when he doesn't need to ? The main reason they won their last 2 Super Bowls was an elite pass rush , and I'm not even sure if this years team will have an average one . All new schemes on offense and defense usually take awhile to adjust too .
SUMMARY : This looks more like a transition year to me, but they also made key additions at key positions so I think they will be competitive and with a few breaks they could make a run for a wild card .
4.REDSKINS - 7-9
POSITIVE : While I think Cousins is a little better ,they got Alex Smith a for a lot less . Good offensive & defensive Lines .
NEGATIVE: A team decimated by injuries already last year (especially along the O-Line) already lost Guice ,and they are counting on some other skill players to play key roles that have had extensive injury history's . The secondary is the biggest question mark .
SUMMARY : They are in a tough division , but could sneak into wild card contention, but it would take a ton of things to go right for me to buy them as a contender this year .
NFC SOUTH
1.SAINTS - 11-5 DIVISION CHAMP and SUPERBOWL CHAMP
POSITIVE :An elite QB with a good O-Line and one of the deepest overall rosters in the NFL . I have a sneaky feeling this is the last season for Drew Brees and I think he is the type of guy to save the best for last before he strolls off to the HOF . Excellent coaching and play calling . Good mix of veteran and young talent .
NEGATIVE: They have already traded away next years first and 3rd rounders so they better win it.No proven #2 WR .
SUMMARY : They look like a team that is ALL-IN to win this years Super Bowl , and I think they can pull it off .
2.FALCONS - 10-6
POSITIVE :The second year under Steve Sarkisian looks more crafty & less predictable in the pre-season with a lot more motion & misdirection . Proven veteran QB and a lot of talent at the skill positions . Good O-line and a fast attacking defense .
NEGATIVE: They are undersized and vulnerable against the run and they need to turn the edge rushers loose , and that's if those guys stay healthy.
SUMMARY : They are a contender, but in a tough division and in a stronger conference I think they just miss. However, if they make the playoffs they have the talent to win it if they stay healthy .
3.PANTHERS - 8-8
POSITIVE :Adding Norv Turner could help Newton take the next step as a passer, and that's saying something as he is already a unique play maker . They really upgraded their skill level talent over the last 2 years . The leagues best LB core . The Matt Kalil injury may be a blessing because I think Taylor Mouton is an upgrade there .
NEGATIVE: Edge rush, the secondary, and LG. Has Ryan Kaili lost it or has he just hit a bad streak of injury's. Either way it's a worry . Will Cam ever learn how to throw the ball with touch? You don't always need to fire it in there, especially when they receiver is close to you SUMMARY : Another team hard to predict, but I think a lot would have to go right to make them a contender this year, although as long as Newton's healthy they are a threat to make the playoffs .
4.BUCCANEERS - 6-10
POSITIVE : Really improved D-Line. The linebackers and a strong receiving core .
NEGATIVE: The entire secondary, Jameis Winston's suspension, and their left tackle .
SUMMARY : Last year I thought they were going to be a surprise contender . I was wrong and not much went right for them . In this division almost everything would have to go their way for them to sneak into the playoffs . Winston needs to show he can stay healthy and out of trouble , or they may be drafting a QB high very soon.
NFC NORTH
1.VIKINGS - 11-5 DIVISION CHAMP
POSITIVE :Upgrade at QB. Excellent talent at all the skill positions . A great well rounded defense. A good head coach .
NEGATIVE: The Vikings draft was up and down for me . Hughes is worth that pick on tape, but the secondary was already a big strength . I think they will regret passing on Connor Williams and Will Hernandez. I still don't like their O-Line . I have both read and heard about how the Vikings had a good line last year and how they fueled the season the team had. To quote the mighty Dwight K. Schrute " FALSE" . The truth is the O-Line was so injury wracked & bad in 2016 that in comparison the 2017 version looked better than they were . Combined with Pat Shurmur's excellence as a play caller it made them into a team that made the NFC championship . They have already lost one starter this preseason ,and unless they suddenly get a lot better soon expect some regression from this offense despite upgrading a quarterback with Kirk Cousins . After playing for Washington's excellent O-line Cousins is likely to be disappointed, although last years O-Line at offensive line for the skins was also beset by injuries. So Kurt should have some experience with running for his life right after the ball is snapped .
SUMMARY : If the O-line shores up by the second half of the season they can win it all, but I think they fall just a tad short again .
2.PACKERS - 10-6 WILD CARD
POSITIVE :One of the great QB's in the league . Don't underestimate the value of what Jimmy Graham brings in the red zone . Strong along both lines when healthy . Upgraded the secondary in the draft , and it already looks improved in the pre- season
NEGATIVE: Edge rush still needs an upgrade and a lot of young unproven WR's .
SUMMARY : It's a tough division , but with the personnel moves they made in the off season and a healthy O-Line & Rodgers they are a threat to win it all.
3.BEARS - 8-8
POSITIVE :The new coach has brought a motion based tricky offense that should help Trubisky make a nice jump up this year . Strong O-line if healthy. Huge get in Khalil Mack , but they paid a heavy price. They added a lot of pass catching talent to help out the young QB . A lot of athletic young talent on defense .
NEGATIVE: Too much youth, at key positions , learning new systems , make me think they are a year away from wild card contention , especially in this division. They now lack their next 2 first rounders , and it's hard to keep going upwards without them. It messes with your cap and you have to hit a lot in the later rounds . They paid Mack a ton, but at least it's off set by how much they have to pay their QB right now .
SUMMARY : They are a team on the rise but learning new schemes with a lot of youth and new faces rarely mean playoffs .
4.LIONS - 7-9
POSITIVE :A franchise QB who has become more consistent the last few years . A upgraded O-line and RB stable . Excellent 3 WR set , and all of them have different profiles and strengths . Good secondary .
NEGATIVE: Bad pass rush. Sketchy LB core and in a tough division .
SUMMARY : They can make a run if their defense takes a big step up in many areas but more likely they end up with a top 15 pick and takes some pass rushers in a loaded D-Line class .
SUPER BOWL
SAINTS OVER THE CHARGERS
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