It’s finally come.
The 2017 NFL season has arrived, and it is officially week 1. This means more football, more complaints about the officiating, more injuries, and more week 1 overreactions. This is what it’s all about.
So to celebrate, I’m doing a double whammy, giving out my week 1 predictions and my playoff predictions. Most of the article will be focused on the week 1 predictions, with the postseason predictions coming afterwards.
Kansas City at New England
As per usual, The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots are the best team in the AFC, if not the entire NFL. With a busy offseason involving the addition of Brandin Cooks, Dwayne Allen, Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead, and Stephon Gilmore, we were given a reminder why a Conference birth at the least is a lock for them. Virtually the only team to rebuild without actually rebuilding, the Patriots continue to add veterans and young talent to ensure they remain a competitive team year in and year out.
You’d think the Chiefs would do the same, but their offseason said otherwise. They traded up to draft a quarterback sitting behind Alex Smith instead of adding depth to the receiving corps and got rid of Jeremy Maclin, leaving more questions about the holes instead of answers. The defense, especially the secondary, is very good, and Andy Reid’s scheme plus Travis Kelce continues to make the offense appealing, but the team’s failure to truly upgrade has left the AFC West wide open.
With Tom Brady available from the start, it should be a long day for the Chiefs. The loss of Julian Edelman for the season will hurt somewhat, but the Patriots have the scheme and the WR depth to overcome it. Kareem Hunt will get his first career start with Spencer Ware done for the season, and his initial reputation will be put on the spot immediately in a primetime game.
One team is quarterbacked by Alex Smith, and the other by Tom Brady. Patriots take this one.
Winner: New England
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Why?
Previous Jets and Bills matchups were miserable, but not quite as miserable as this. The Jets virtually have zero #1 receivers (though Jermaine Kearse isn’t bad), and the Bills got rid of their young receivers in an attempt to rebuild with older guys. This makes no sense; In order to properly rebuild, you have to cut older talent in the hopes that you can free up cap space in future seasons while rolling with younger players. The Bills have made a bunch of controversial moves in their hopes to rebuild, and it’s looking like it’s going on the wrong tracks.
Either way, both teams are set to be among the worst in the league. With rare exceptions in the run game, there’s barely anything appealing about either team. It’s going to be a long year for Tyrod Taylor, who’s being set up to fail, and it’ll be a long year for anyone who has to watch the New York Jets’ QB carousal. At least the Jets would be more interesting with Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg, but with Josh McCown, you know he’s going to suck, and that takes away the fun.
The Bills are slightly better, so they win this one.
Winner: Buffalo
Atlanta at Chicago
Surprisingly, this is one of my most anticipated matchups of week 1. Reigning MVP Matt Ryan and the defending NFC Champion Falcons are hoping to get back to the Super Bowl without offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and while that will be difficult, they do have some nice pieces on offense and defense. Julio Jones is a sensation, and the combo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman is the best of any backfield. Taylor Gabriel and Mohamad Sanu are competent backups to Julio, but Atlanta needs one of them to step up at the WR2 position to prove their worth.
The defense should play a lot better this season. The front 7 should project to being one of the more talented units in the league, with the explosive Vic Beasley, who can create pressure and sacks from virtually any angle, leading the way at linebacker. Add that with Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, a promising young talent in Takkarist McKinley, and a secondary that gets Desmond Trufant (arguably the best corner in the league) back, and the Falcons defense should be a lot more appealing.
The Bears are getting slept on somewhat. They won’t be a playoff team, but they won’t be a 3-win team either. The offensive line is really good, especially the interior combo of Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair, and Kyle Long, and the run game is extremely underrated, with the electrifying Tarik Cohen and very reliable Benny Cunningham running behind Jordan Howard. The offense will need Kevin White to breakout this season, however, because the receiving corps is mostly mediocre. The defensive line has some intriguing pieces, so the Bears should be a middle of the pack team this year.
As far as this matchup goes, I’m really excited to see the Falcons’ defensive line go up against the Bears’ offensive line. Mike Glennon over Mitchell Trubisky is disappointing, but Glennon hasn’t really been as bad as people have said he is, and with the interior returning healthy he’ll get plenty of clean protection this season.
This is the start of Matt Ryan and the Falcons proving they can survive without a coordinator change, Ryan was fortunate to get away with a surprising number of throws that should’ve been picked, so he’ll need to take care of the football well from the beginning. The game will be closer than people think, but the Falcons should take care of this game.
Winner: Atlanta
Baltimore at Cincinnati
The Ravens have a team built like the 2000 roster, with an underwhelming offense but a really good defense. They spent free agency and the draft acquiring defensive talent, but also took the time to add in Jeremy Maclin from the Chiefs. The run game and offensive line look unappealing, but this is a team that will likely win games based on how good their defense is.
That’s better than I can say about the Bengals. The Bengals won’t be terrible this season thanks to some intriguing weapons (including AJ Green, Joe Mixon, Jeremy Ross, and Tyler Eifert), but the offensive line might as well be. That’s not good for Andy Dalton, who has constantly relied on good protection to elevate his game instead of the other way around. The team’s blatant refusal to re-sign Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth will suffocate the pass game against talented defenses such as the one Baltimore has.
Joe Flacco has been one of the league’s worst quarterbacks in the last few years, and only now being cleared to play won’t help him out early on. The weakness of most of Baltimore’s protection will allow the Bengals defensive line plenty of opportunities to feast.
This will be an ugly match, but the Bengals are my pick.
Winner: Cincinnati
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
For both teams come big additions.
Martavis Bryant has finally been cleared to play. This is huge as Bryant is one of the best WR2s in the league. His ability to stretch downfield as well as his catch radius will matchup well with Antonio Brown on the other side, as well as this guy named Le’Veon Bell who’s supposed to be good or something. Todd Haley is extremely underrated, and his scheme and a top 3 offensive line will make the offense nearly unstoppable providing Ben Roethlisberger is healthy. They need him to be because the defense is lacking.
Entering year 2 of their rebuild, the Browns have quietly made one of the best supporting casts on offense. In addition to Hue Jackson calling the shots with a great scheme, the offensive line (which added Kevin Zeitler and J.C. Tretter) is great again, and the run combo of Isiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, and newcomer Matthew Dayes should be explosive again. Kenny Britt has arrived, Corey Coleman looked exciting in the preseason, and David Njoku will be an enticing rookie tight end. The defense won’t be good, but Myles Garrett looks amazing, and Jamie Collins will be with him on the defensive front in addition to a couple more interesting pieces. At last, the future looks bright for the Browns, even if the playoffs aren’t likely this season.
The real story is the debut of rookie quarterback Deshone Kizer, the only rookie QB starting this season. While his accuracy left a lot to be desired in the preseason, he made enough impressive plays for Hue to see him as the starter for the 2017 season. His presence will give the Browns a better chance at winning games this season, and behind a very QB friendly environment no less.
Will this be a blowout for Pittsburgh? Maybe. It really depends on Roethlisberger’s health and consistency. After the Miami regular season game last year in which he missed a game with a knee injury, he was terrible. That’s not a coincidence, and if he doesn’t maintain the quality we’ve come to expect from him, the Browns have a chance to pull off an upset to start the season.
As it is, I don’t think Roethlisberger will be that bad week 1, and even if he is, the Steelers have the scheme and the best back in the league to overcome it. For Cleveland, this will be less a game about winning and more to see how Kizer does in his debut. With that said, the Steelers should win this one against a rebuilding Browns defense.
Winner: Pittsburgh
Arizona at Detroit
After a season where the offense completely collapsed for seemingly no reason, the Cardinals hope to return to the playoffs this season. Carson Palmer is still a really good QB, he was just suffocated by an injured offensive line and unreliable receivers in 2016. David Johnson is a top 3 back, and his diverse skill set will continue to be enticing for years to come providing he’s healthy. The defense should be fine, but really, it’s up to the offensive line to stay healthy and the receivers to not be as unreliable as they were last season.
Matthew Stafford and the Lions set a record for 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives in 2016, but how likely will that hold up in 2017? The offense is very appealing. Jim Bob Cooter runs an excellent short passing scheme, and the skill set players (Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Marvin Jones, and Golden Tate) are extremely underrated. The offensive line won’t be terrible, especially with the additions of Ricky Wagner and T.J. Lang, but Taylor Decker’s return would be welcomed. Kenny Golladay is a fascinating rookie as well.
It’s the defense that will likely hold back the Lions. It’s basically similar to the Saints after they gave Drew Brees his big contract. With Detroit spending big bucks on Stafford, it’ll be tough to build on a defense that’s projected to be the worst in the league by some people.
In addition, Stafford was extremely lucky to not turnover the ball. He was often the reason the Lions were in close games, both for the right and wrong reasons. With his same mentality, it’s unlikely that trend continues.
Thanks to the awfulness of the Lions defense, the Cardinals should take this one.
Winner: Arizona
Jacksonville at Houston
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, J.J. Watt’s generosity will be the main storyline going into week 1, and for good reason. It’s a miracle that Houston gets to see their team without having to move anywhere, and my heart goes out to the city for what they’ve experienced and hope they have a good time watching this matchup.
The Jaguars have done their best to build what they believe is a playoff team. If this league outlawed the QB position, they might be onto something. But if Blake Bortles isn’t the worst starting QB in the league this year, he’s in the bottom 3. You want a QB that can recognize and diagnose defensive coverage, throw with accuracy, stand in the pocket with poise, make multiple reads, throw with anticipation, or throw with a quick motion? If so, you’ll have to find another quarterback.
It’s clear the Jaguars are trying to be a run-heavy team much like the 2014 Cowboys. But where the 2014 Cowboys had a great QB and weren’t trying to mask his attempts, the Jaguars have the opposite. Doug Marrone apparently isn’t joking about wanting to pass zero times. While we appreciate that he’s trying to prevent us from watching Bortles, you need to pass in order to set up the run, not the other way around. If you’re going to run 90% of the time, it’s going to make the offense far more predictable to defenses.
Meanwhile, the Texans have one of the deadliest, if not the deadliest, front sevens in the NFL. It’s unfair enough that they get the best defensive player in Watt back on the field, but Jadeveon Clowney was finally able to stay healthy and prove his worth. His ability to create instantaneous pressure and his sheer presence alone have made him one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL. Both Watt and Clowney allow the rest of the defensive line to play competent and smart, but even Whitney Mercilus and Benardrick McKinney are quality players.
The offense is another story. We get the privilege of watching Tom Savage because of how bad DeShaun Watson was in the preseason, and that’s not good when you consider Houston traded up to get him in the first round. It’s only a matter of time before they move on to Watson, but either way, Godspeed to DeAndre Hopkins. You have to get one of the best receivers in the league the ball, and that’s what Brock Osweiler was unable to do last year. Lamar Miller is a great, underrated running back, and Bruce Ellington hopes to be a surprisingly good WR2 if he works his way up. Otherwise, Bill O’Brien’s playcalling, the offensive line, and the rest of the depth chart (with exception to C.J. Fiedorowicz, a talented receiving tight end) are all underwhelming.
Expect a defensive slaughtering hosted by the Texans. The Jaguars do not have a good offensive line, so Watt, Clowney and crew will be expected to overwhelm the Jaguars offense all day long. The aggressive Leonard Fournette will be used to pound the rock early on, but behind a bad line that won’t be enough. When your QB can’t even hit Allen Robinson or Allen Hurns, that just makes the rest of the offense an absolute disaster.
The Texans don’t need good QB play to pull off a win.
Winner: Houston
Tampa Bay at Miami
Note: My thoughts and prayers go out to the city of Miami. Hope you guys stay safe from Hurricane Irma.
It’s been an exciting offseason for the Buccaneers. The addition of DeSean Jackson alongside Mike Evans gives the team arguably the best WR1/WR2 combo in the league. Add that with a really good tight end in Cameron Brate and another really good prospect in O.J. Howard, and Jameis Winston has plenty of enticing weapons to throw to. In a vertical offense with rough pass protection, that will be tough.
The Dolphins have certainly been hyped this season, but the loss of Ryan Tannehill will hurt more than people realize. Jay Cutler at his current state has come off multiple injuries to his throwing arm from 2016, and his lack of consistency last year ultimately resulted in him getting cut from the Bears. He could still make some impressive throws, but the receiving corps isn’t exactly as good as people think. Kenny Stills is good, but Jarvis Landry struggles with hesitation after the catch, and Davante Parker must develop consistency at the catch point in order to thrive. Jay Ajayi will be good again this year, but the offensive line, even with Adam Gase’s presence, threatens to subdue the offense.
Neither team has a good defense, but pairing Gerald McCoy with T.J. Ward makes the Buccaneers’ defensive line a bit more intriguing. Vernon Hargreaves is due for a breakout year, and is insanely talented but needs to polish up his man coverage skills.
Because the Buccaneers have the better offense, they’re winning this one regardless if it’s moved or not.
Winner: Tampa Bay
Oakland at Tennessee
Once again, two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL meet, in Tennessee as per usual.
The Raiders have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Everyone knows about the spectacular one-two punch of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, since either receiver could be the WR1 on any given day. The backfield combination of Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard, and DeAndre Washington is extremely alluring, as is the offensive line, which will continue to provide Derek Carr a boatload of time in the pocket. Carr needs to be less hesitant under clean protection and be more patient, because with that defense he’ll need to be.
The Titans are pretty much a lock to win the AFC South this season. Marcus Mariota is a sensational young quarterback, combining quick decision-making with deadly accuracy and the ability to throw no look passes to deceive defenses and move coverage. He’ll get joined by the excellent combo of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, as well as a new duo of receivers in Corey Davis and Eric Decker. The ever reliable Delanie Walker will be at his side as well.
How far the Titans go depends on how far Mike Mularkey will let them. His play calling is downright questionable at times, often stalling drives with failed trickery and not understanding Mariota’s role is as a pocket passer and not a running quarterback.
Raiders and Titans games have generally been entertaining the last couple of years, and this one anticipates doing the same. The Titans should have little problem tearing up a bad Raiders secondary, while Oakland must go the same route they did (win games with the offense carrying the defense) in 2016. That doesn’t promise to be sustainable, though, so the defense has to make some plays itself for the Raiders to have a chance.
I have the Titans taking this one.
Winner: Tennessee
Philadelphia at Washington
The Eagles have been at work. The offensive line should be one of the best in the league with Lane Johnson returning, and Alshon Jeffery is a damn good vertical receiver. Doug Pederson’s scheme will give Carson Wentz plenty of easy reads as well. Wentz was terrible in his rookie season. For the Eagles to have a shot at making the playoffs, he has to improve his poise and accuracy. It’s a lot to accomplish, but the defense will help Philly remain competitive.
The Redskins have been a disaster this offseason. Failing to retain either DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon, Kirk Cousins may ultimately see a regression in stats. His impressive production was the result of throwing to receivers who erased his accuracy and decision-making, as well as getting empty yards when the games were already decided. Cousins’ inability to put up points in the red zone also doomed the offense. Terrelle Pryor, Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed, and Josh Doctson (hopefully) are still a really good group of receivers, and the offensive line is quality, but the QB may ultimately hold the team back again.
With two quarterbacks that have shown bad accuracy and poise in the past, this projects to be a sloppy game. Both offenses feature impressive pass protection, but only the Eagles feature the defense that can make up for whenever the offense gets sloppy. They need to get immediate pressure on Cousins so they can force him into easy mistakes, as well as limit his first reads.
I’m going with the Eagles for this game.
Winner: Philadelphia
Indianapolis at Los Angeles Rams
Watching the Colts without Andrew Luck is like playing pinball without the flippers working (I should know since I have a broken pinball machine). While taken off the PUP, Jacoby Brissett will be taking the starting role. The Colts supporting cast isn’t the worst the league has, but the incompetence of Chuck Pagano and Rob Chudzinski make every unit on the offense that much worse. Pagano’s days as HC have to be numbered at this point.
Surprisingly, the Rams are somewhat intriguing. After receiving Sammy Watkins, Andrew Whitworth, Robert Woods, and head coach Sean McVay in the offseason, the team doesn’t look quite as bad as it was last season. McVay will likely give Jared Goff and Todd Gurley more breathing room, though it can’t be guaranteed Goff takes huge leaps in quality.
Even with Aaron Donald likely not playing due to a holdout, the incompetence of the Colts coaches will seal the team’s fate without Luck. The Rams offense has some very interesting weapons this season, and without Jeff Fisher we may see these players breakout. Indianapolis will likely adjust the offense for Brissett, making it all the more aggravating they don’t do the same when Luck is in.
Either way, the Rams should take this one easily.
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
Seattle at Green Bay
The Seahawks have given Russell Wilson the best supporting cast of his career. Outside of offensive line, Wilson has everything you could ask for: A great run game, great receivers, a great scheme, and a defense that has just added Sheldon Richardson. The line will continue to be among the worst in the league, but Wilson could be a legitimate MVP candidate this season, especially since he’s returning healthy.
Aaron Rodgers is by far the best quarterback in the league. His accuracy and arm talent are all phenomenal, but his most underrated trait is his patience. He’ll create subtle movements in the pocket and fake out the front 7 to better enhance his pass protection and allow receivers to get wide open, and that’s huge in an offense that doesn’t create a lot of separation. We could see a better Jordy Nelson this season, but I don’t expect much from Randall Cobb or Davante Adams. I’m more interested in Geronimo Allison, who looked very promising when he played last year, and the addition of Martellus Bennett gives Green Bay a really good tight end that can stretch the field and win routes.
The Packers have an interesting run game. Ty Montgomery is a very good player that can play receiver and running back quite well, and Jamaal Williams might pan out well. A big question for the Packers is how they’ll handle the loss of T.J. Lang and J.C. Tretter. They won’t have a bad offensive line thanks to the edge guys, but the interior may see a step down in terms of quality.
For the third straight season, the Seahawks and Packers play at Green Bay. Two of the best quarterbacks will again sling the ball downfield, but with some holes left in the Packers’ interior line, it’ll be engaging to see how well the Seahawks’ defensive line plays. The quality of the secondary is already fantastic with Earl Thomas returning alongside Richard Sherman, but the addition of Sheldon Richardson alongside Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Frank Clark and Bobby Wagner makes for arguably the best all around defense in the league (something Seattle is familiar with).
I’m going with an upset this week with the Seahawks finally winning on the road at Green Bay.
Winner: Seattle
Carolina at San Francisco
The Panthers really spiraled down in 2016 after reaching the Super Bowl in 2015. Due the injuries in the offensive line, a tougher schedule, and the unreliability of Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess, the team struggled to a 6-10 record, a major step down from 15-1 a season before.
Cam Newton remains excellent. His deteriorating health in the 2nd half of 2016 warped his perception due to the stats he was putting up, but he wasn’t put in a position to succeed with everyone around him failing him. He is not just an excellent athlete, but also an excellent passer that can stretch the field and throw in tight windows as well as get the most out of limited pass protection. He won’t have better receivers this season, but Greg Olsen remains good, and Christian McCaffrey will be fantastic immediately (Jonathan Stewart also is a great player with a skill set that has aged beautifully due to his health).
The defense gets Luke Kuechly back, and the front looks good, but the secondary has questions to answer. The effort of certain players was extremely questionable in the last couple of games of the season, and they’ll need to answer back hard to prove their worth.
In a time where many teams are trying to rebuild like the Browns but are doing it wrong, the 49ers have actually handled it pretty well. They won’t win a lot of games this season, but like the 2016 Browns with Hue Jackson, Kyle Shanahan will keep the team in games. Some of the offense’s strong pieces include Pierre Garcon and Kyle Juszcyk, and 5th round rookie Trent Taylor is an intriguing Cole Beasley-esque receiver underneath. The defensive front also has Soloman Thomas and Reuben Foster, the latter of which has looked dangerous in the preseason.
With the 49ers attempting to win in the future while suffering in the present with Brian Hoyer, there’s not much to expect from them in this game. Kyle Shanahan’s presence will give the offense plenty of diverse playcalling in spite of a lack of talent, but the Panthers should take this one on the road against a young defense.
Winner: Carolina
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Once again, we have the Giants and Cowboys playing week 1 on NBC.
The Giants have debatably the best receiving corps in the NFL. The availability of Odell Beckham is in jeopardy for week 1, but when he returns he’s backed up by Brandon Marshall, Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, with Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen in the backfield. Eli Manning will need to hold his arm together this season, as the overall strength showed a decline in the last few games of the 2016 season.
On the other side of the ball, the heavy investment in defense has paid off. Landon Collins was terrible in his rookie season. In his sophomore season, he was a fantastic safety that improved his coverage skills and has been a perfect fit in the blitz heavy scheme Steve Spagnulo runs. Joining him is a talented defensive front in Jason Pierre Paul, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Oliver Vernon.
The Cowboys will likely be without Ezekiel Elliot for the first 6 games of the season, but Dak Prescott will be there. Prescott had a great rookie season. Much of the credit has gone to the offensive line, but Prescott’s advanced poise, patience, and ability to diagnose defenses before and after the snap elevated the team last year, and should do so this season. The offensive line will be terrific again, and Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley highlight the receiving corps, but the defense all around is a question mark.
Naturally, the big story will be the Giants’ pass rush going up against the Cowboys’ offensive line. The Giants were a rare team that was able to get to Prescott by creating as much pressure on him as possible and limiting the connection Dak and Bryant have (Bryant was limited to 18 yards combined in 2016 against the Giants). The same should be seen in this game.
With Beckham likely not playing in this game, that hurts the Giants’ receiving corps, even with the upgrades. So the edge just barely goes to the Cowboys in this one.
Winner: Dallas
New Orleans at Minnesota
Drew Brees ages like a fine wine. Hosting some of the fastest footwork you’ll ever see, smooth mechanics, and the ability to throw receivers open, the future Hall of Fame QB should see another fantastic season. Sean Payton’s play calling will make the offense great again, but it’s Michael Thomas that will really elevate this team. Thomas was phenomenal in his rookie season, possessing the ability to win downfield and underneath against polished veterans. With Brandin Cooks in New Orleans and Willie Snead suspended, we’ll be able to see more reps from Thomas.
The defense sucks and will keep the Saints from reaching the playoffs. Again. Next.
The Vikings are being underestimated. Sam Bradford is a really good quarterback who has made the most out of perhaps the worst offensive line we will ever see in 2016. The run game has some nice options with Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, and the duo of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen is underrated.
When healthy the defense was insanely good last season, and they will be to start the season. Danielle Hunter has shown promise, while guys like Anthony Barr, Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph highlight the front. Xavier Rhodes is a really good corner, but Trae Waynes has to show more consistency and not get beat as much.
Adrian Peterson was added to the Saints this season (even though Mark Ingram is fine as the starter), but has looked sluggish in the preseason. As a pass protector he has struggled, and he can’t be trusted as a receiving back at this point, since that’s not what he was for his career. It’s up to Payton, Brees, and Thomas to elevate the rest of the offense in this one.
On the road against a great defense and an offense with plenty of good skill players, New Orleans will drop one against the Vikings.
Winner: Minnesota
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
Much like the Vikings in the NFC, the Chargers are being overlooked as a potential playoff team. Philip Rivers is clearly a great player, but the key is the players being healthy. Keenan Allen will make a big impact if healthy, and Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin, and Mike Williams (who is somehow back despite being on the Chargers) further highlight the receiving corps. Hunter Henry is an insane talent that should be starting at tight end, and Melvin Gordon is really good in addition. The defense gets Jason Verrett back, in addition to a front 7 that includes nasty players such as Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
Instead of going after a quarterback like Colin Kaepernick or Tyrod Taylor, the Broncos are interested in keeping a number of bad quarterbacks to hold back a talented defense and excellent WR1/WR2 combo in Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Brock Osweiler’s return is getting local praise for picking him up cheaper, despite him being Brock Osweiler. The release of T.J. Ward was also puzzling, as has been much of John Elway’s moves this season.
With the talent the Chargers have all around and the homefield advantage Denver has, this could be an exciting conclusion to week 1. I’m going to go with the upset pick with the Chargers in this one.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 1 Recap
New England>Kansas City
Buffalo>New York Jets
Atlanta>Chicago
Cincinnati>Baltimore
Pittsburgh>Cleveland
Arizona>Detroit
Houston>Jacksonville
Tampa Bay>Miami
Tennessee>Oakland
Philadelphia>Washington
Los Angeles Rams>Indianapolis
Seattle>Green Bay
Carolina>San Francisco
Dallas>New York Giants
Minnesota>New Orleans
Los Angeles Chargers>Denver
Playoff Predictions
Let’s just get my postseason predictions out-of-the-way. These are only my predictions, so try not to get too offended.
AFC East
- New England
- Miami
- Buffalo
- New York
AFC North
- Pittsburgh
- Baltimore
- Cleveland
- Cincinnati
AFC South
- Tennessee
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Jacksonville
AFC West
- Los Angeles
- Oakland
- Kansas City
- Denver
NFC East
- New York
- Dallas
- Philadelphia
- Washington
NFC North
- Minnesota
- Green Bay
- Chicago
- Detroit
NFC South
- Tampa Bay
- Atlanta
- New Orleans
- Carolina
NFC West
- Seattle
- Arizona
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
AFC Playoff Teams
- New England
- Pittsburgh
- Tennessee
- Los Angeles
- Oakland
- Kansas City
NFC Playoff Teams
- Seattle
- New York
- Minnesota
- Tampa Bay
- Dallas
- Atlanta
AFC Championship Game: Steelers at Patriots
NFC Championship Game: Giants at Seahawks
Super Bowl Prediction: Seattle over New England
Awards
MVP: Tom Brady
OPOY: David Johnson
OROY: Christian McCaffrey
DPOY: J.J. Watt
DROY: Myles Garrett
COY: Bill Belichick
CPOY: J.J. Watt
Featured image via huffingtonpost.com
Brick Wall Blitz 