Post by spiderfan on Sept 5, 2018 22:08:37 GMT -8
Hello Sports Coast to Coast, it is me Spiderfan here and today I bring you my 2018 NFL Regular Season Predictions. Feel free to leave your own predictions down below as well as your thoughts on my predictions. Let us begin!
NFC South
1.) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are low-key SB contenders in my book. They have talent everywhere and have also showed that the ghost of SB52 isn't as bad as I thought it would be. They have also made playoff runs in the recent past, meaning they have postseason experience and know what and what not to do in a playoff game. At least they should and if they don't it will be a shame to see these Falcons players not end up with a SB ring on their finger.
2.) New Orleans Saints
The Saints are good, but their defense is young and when it counted most could not stop the Vikings. Admittedly, they did stop the Panthers in the playoff game but Cam Newton was concussed so that doesn't count in my book. If Brees does end up winning another ring IMO he will have a great case for being the GOAT. But we'll have that discussion if/when the time comes.
3.) Carolina Panthers
I think Cam Newton is legit and a franchise QB. I know that is a controversial statement to make but this a guy who's had more success than a number of QBs currently in the league and has shown that he is indeed legit and a franchise QB. Why do I bring all that up? Because new Panthers OC Norv Turner is likely to mess with Cam and make him worse than he is, which will bring down the whole team. When this happens you will see talking heads on various talk shows rip Cam Newton. Just like they did before the Panthers beat the Patriots on the road and ended up going to the playoffs last year.
I just hope that Cam Newton ends up somewhere better than Carolina if things go bad in Charlotte.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For as much as I don't the Panthers hire of Norv Turner, the Panthers aren't the worst team in the NFC South as it is clearly the Buccaneers. They bottomed out after appearing to have finally dug out of the post-Gruden era hole that they were in. Speaking of Jon Gruden the only reason HC Dirk Koetter still has his job is because the Bucs ownership, the Glazers, did not want to fork over the money to bring him back. They will regret that mark my words.
I do want to bring up one thing and that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the current backup QB may very well take Jameis Winston's starting QB job. My logic? When Fitzpatrick is hungry and making not much he plays well, sometimes really well. Fitzpatrick's problem is that when he is fed and making a lot he does not play well, sometimes atrocious. If that precedent has weight then then Winston is benched and either traded, cut, or will have to fight to get his starting job back next training camp.
If Fitzpatrick plays similar to how he did in 2015 the Bucs may very well end up higher than last in the division, but I'll keep the Bucs at the bottom as precedent may not hold and Winston may retain his job. They are also the worst overall team in the division as far as talent goes, so obviously that doesn't help.
NFC North
1.) Green Bay Packers
I picked them to win the division last year and that didn't work out, although in my defense Aaron Rodgers got hurt and instead Brett Hundley was the Packers QB. This is an overall great division but Rodgers will ultimately do what he does and get the Packers back into the playoffs and as SB hopefuls. If the Packers don't win the division and don't make the playoffs, HC Mike McCarthy's seat may get hot as there is new management up in the box at Lambeau.
2.) Chicago Bears
The Bears had a top 10 defense last year and a great RB in Jordan Howard. Nonetheless their overall offense was not good and John Fox was out as HC after last year's 5-11 campaign. Enter new HC Matt Nagy, last year's Chiefs OC and I think the Bears will have a turnaround similar to the one the LA Rams achieved last year. Add on to those ingredients with one Khalil Mack and you've got yourself a playoff caliber football team. The future is bright for the Bears and they will surely be better than they've been in the post-Lovie Smith era.
3.) Detroit Lions
The Lions won't just be all Matt Stafford for once, as this offseason they added both Keryon Johnson from Auburn and LeGarrette Blount to their backfield. The division is tough but they should be able to stay a .500 team if not better.
4.) Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are what you call franchise quarterbacks. I think Mitch Trubisky will transform into one as well. You know who isn't a franchise quarterback? Kirk Cousins. There was a reason that the Redskins decided not to keep him, he isn't that good. Sure on a Sunday afternoon game that only ends up being seen in the Virginia area he does decent, but can't handle the pressure of big games whether they be season deciding/playoff games or primetime games. Case Keenum last year in his one season with the Vikings accomplished more with the Vikings than Kirk Cousins ever has in his entire career.
The Vikings will not make the playoffs and they will regret signing Kirk Cousins and letting Case Keenum go. It won't matter what Dalvin Cook and the guys on the side of the ball do, eventually sometime Cousins choking ways will catch up to them. Instead of bad luck getting the Vikings, it is going to be bad decision making, at least in my opinion.
NFC West
1.) Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have all the pieces to make a SB run. A great coach, a great defensive coordinator, a good QB, a really good RB, a good WR, and a defensive that is filled with stars all around. If this team doesn't end up having success similar to the infamous "Dream Team" Eagles, it will be one of the biggest disappointments in NFL history.
2.) Arizona Cardinals
This was a team that went 8-8 with their 3rd string QB Blaine Gabbert playing a whole bunch of games. The roster is talented and if Sam Bradford stays healthy there will be good times in State Farm Stadium. 1st Round pick Josh Rosen will probably have a rough start to his career if he ends up getting in the game, so hopefully things go as planned.
3.) Seattle Seahawks
The Legion of Boom is gone and the team outside of Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll is different from the teams that played in SB 48 and 49. It is a young team with a bunch of unproven talent that I think will need to play a season before getting to where the Seahawks want to be, back in SB contention.
4.) San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Garrapollo looks to be the real deal, however the roster on the 49ers is awful and HC Kyle Shanahan is vastly overrated, so in one of the better divisions in the NFL the 49ers will end up placing last. Again.
NFC East
1.) Philadelphia Eagles
I am curious to see if the Eagles have a Super Bowl hangover or not. The reason I mention that is because both Jason Peters and Carson Wentz were not part of the Eagles SB run. With them back, it adds a whole new dynamic to the phrase "Super Bowl hangover" as it is arguable whether the team that actually won the thing was the "true Eagles". With how tough the conference is, I don't see them making another deep playoff run but they should win the division with little fuss.
2.) Washington Redskins
Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson make the Redskins better than they were before and if the team can stay healthy (something which they haven't done in recent time) the Redskins will have success. Whether they get into the playoffs or not, I don't know, as again the NFC is tough.
3.) New York Giants
A team that was not only riddled by injuries but riddled by terrible coaching and management last year, will go into this year with better coaching and management and hopefully healthy. As I said last year, the Giants are going to have to rebuild, which is a shame because Eli Manning deserves one last playoff run.
4.) Dallas Cowboys
Aw, the Cowboys. Boy, I have got things to say about this bunch. First off, the Cowboys coaching is REALLY bad and the coaching staff absolutely needs a complete and thorough cleaning. HC Jason Garrett is the ultimate locker room cancer, in that he gets rid of players he doesn't like because "his way" and then walks around acting like "his way" works. All he does is spout off motivational quotes, which he probably found on Google Images or Facebook so he doesn't have much of a "way".
Then there is Stephen Jones Executive VP of Football Ops, who apparently is only good and scouting and drafting 1st round offensive lineman and is co-guy in Garrett's "cleaning" of the roster.
On defense all there is Snake, I mean Sean Lee who is the only player on the Cowboys defense that has true value. You have DeMarcus Lawrence but despite his sacks he isn't truly valuable IMO.
On offense you have a depthless offensive line and worst of all, the worst receiving corps in the NFL. Great idea get ridding the best WR in franchise history (Dez Bryant) Stephen and Jason you have completely set up Dak Prescott to fail and when he does are going to throw him under the bus and replace him with Drew Locke when you get a top 5 pick. The Cowboys will be in that discussion make no mistake about it. #FeelbadforZeke
AFC South
1.) Jacksonville Jaguars
Marquise Lee's injury isn't good for the Jaguars obviously, but they have the best defensive in the NFL as well as a great RB in Leonard Fournette. If Blake Bortles can play decent the Jaguars will be in great shape to make another deep playoff run and potentially make a SB run.
2.) Houston Texans
The Texans have one of if not the most loaded roster in the NFL. There is one HUGE problem and that is HC Bill O'Brien. He will keep them from making the SB run that those Texans players should get a shot at. Good coaching is important, which is an obvious thing to say, but Texans Owner Bob McNair apparently doesn't realize that.
3.) Tennessee Titans
Titans faithful hated previous Titans HC Mike Murlarkey and with him gone comes new blood. Mike Vrabel who shouldn't have a HC job and will probably go something like 6-10 or 7-9 in his first year. The Titans after fighting out irrelevancy are right back in it.
4.) Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck is back but it is going to take a season for him to be back where he was pre-injury. Add on to that the Colts were really bad last year and you have a recipe for another last place year.
AFC North
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers win the division almost by default. Bell's holdout will slow things down for them, but they'll survive and end up making the postseason. Their goal at this point is to make a SB run and IMO they have missed their opportunity and Big Ben should have gotten out when he had the chance as the Steelers will only get worse from after this season and fall further down the AFC standings.
2.) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are old and will be facing the challenge pretty soon of having to transition from their old guys to new guys, both players and management. Joe Flacco has some fire under his seat and will play decent enough to go be a starter somewhere else, but the question becomes when do we see Lamar Jackson? I hope sooner rather than later because he is an electrifying talent that will change the Ravens franchise for the better. If the Ravens don't make the playoffs, I think John Harbaugh will get fired and if/when that happens, the next coach should be happy with the QB he'll have.
The Ravens are second in this division because IMO while not that great, they are still better than the Bengals and Browns.
3.) Cincinnati Bengals
It looked the Bengals had finally moved on from Marvin Lewis after last season but they gave him an extension and thus he stays the HC of the Bengals. Thus the status quo of "eh" stays with him.
4.) Cleveland Browns
Do not buy the Browns hype. I've thought in previous the Browns were going to be ok and they were not. The Browns will stay close to the bottom and be in the top 5 pick discussion by the end of the year. Hue Jackson should get fired, but at this point who knows if he'll ever get fired at this point. They are still as much the worst franchise in sports as they were last year and the year before that and the year before that. 6-50 in their last 56 games. They'll probably add 3 or so wins to that. Maybe less, they are the Browns after all.
AFC West
1.) Denver Broncos
The Broncos were Lolcows last year plain and simple, and this year I believe they will turn things around. The QB situation is the most stable it has been since the 2015 offseason, and that will help the Broncos win football games. The Broncos also added Bradley Chubb to their defense and being that they are likely to be playing with a lead, the defense should be able to make stops.
2.) Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is the truth. The Chiefs offense is going to be insanely fun to watch this season and the defense will be okay too. It is worth mentioning that the Chiefs have had a really good regular season record in the Andy Reid, so if recent precedent rings true they will win football games just not enough to win the division. The Chiefs will be extra scary once Mahomes has a season of starting under his belt.
3.) Las Vegas... er.. I mean Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack being traded is not as terrible as people are making it out to be. While Mack is a good player getting two 1st round picks for him is a good trade and new old HC Jon Gruden shouldn't be getting slack as those picks will lead to good things, whether they be multiple draft 1st round picks or really great trade bait.
It will take a year before the roster is fully shaped by Gruden, so I expect this to be a rebuild year of sorts for the Raiders. Bad news for Oakland, but great news for the city of Las Vegas.
4.) Los Angeles Chargers
Here is the thing, the LA Chargers are not a bad football team, far from it. They have talent on both sides of the ball and should be SB contenders. The problem is that they have terrible luck, whether it be a failed kickoff or a missed FG or a turnover that costs them the game. If they can ever turn their luck around, they'll be scary as previously mentioned but being that they have yet to do so, I doubt they will, thus they will be in last place in the AFC West.
AFC East
1.) New England Patriots
The Patriots showed last year that it doesn't matter how flawed their roster appears to be, they still win a LOT of football games. One has to wonder when Tom Brady will either retire outright or be forced into retirement because his play falls off a cliff. I highly doubt it will be this year though.
2.) Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen surprised me with his play in the preseason and the Bills will end up doing okay this year. They'll have WAY more cap space next year so I would expect more success in Buffalo starting next season.
3.) New York Jets
The Jets were not the awful football team that I expected them to be last year, however Sam Darold will be a turnover machine and I think the under .500 status quo will stay. Congrats to Todd Bowles for becoming a being a better liked version of Dave Campo and to Sam Darnold for being a better liked Jay Cutler!
4.) Miami Dolphins
Dolphins GM Mike Tannebaum and HC Adam Gase is probably the dumbest people in the NFL. They got rid of all their good players in an effort to either "cleanse" the roster or they are tanking. Here is the problem with their "cleansing" or tanking: They won't be around to see the results of their "rebuild". They are going to end up being the worst team in the NFL, and their new regime should enjoy having the number 1 pick. Ed Oliver should make up the loss of Suh on the D-line.
Super Bowl 53 pick time!
Now that my thoughts and predictions on every team and division in the NFL has have been made it is time for me to make my pick for who will play in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Georgia. My official preseason pick is the New England Patriots facing the Los Angeles Rams.
With all of that said, this has been a much bigger project than I originally imagined and I hope you fine folks enjoy it as well as my other content here on SCtoC. I thank you all for reading and look forward to talking more NFL football. This is spiderfan out.
NFC South
1.) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are low-key SB contenders in my book. They have talent everywhere and have also showed that the ghost of SB52 isn't as bad as I thought it would be. They have also made playoff runs in the recent past, meaning they have postseason experience and know what and what not to do in a playoff game. At least they should and if they don't it will be a shame to see these Falcons players not end up with a SB ring on their finger.
2.) New Orleans Saints
The Saints are good, but their defense is young and when it counted most could not stop the Vikings. Admittedly, they did stop the Panthers in the playoff game but Cam Newton was concussed so that doesn't count in my book. If Brees does end up winning another ring IMO he will have a great case for being the GOAT. But we'll have that discussion if/when the time comes.
3.) Carolina Panthers
I think Cam Newton is legit and a franchise QB. I know that is a controversial statement to make but this a guy who's had more success than a number of QBs currently in the league and has shown that he is indeed legit and a franchise QB. Why do I bring all that up? Because new Panthers OC Norv Turner is likely to mess with Cam and make him worse than he is, which will bring down the whole team. When this happens you will see talking heads on various talk shows rip Cam Newton. Just like they did before the Panthers beat the Patriots on the road and ended up going to the playoffs last year.
I just hope that Cam Newton ends up somewhere better than Carolina if things go bad in Charlotte.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For as much as I don't the Panthers hire of Norv Turner, the Panthers aren't the worst team in the NFC South as it is clearly the Buccaneers. They bottomed out after appearing to have finally dug out of the post-Gruden era hole that they were in. Speaking of Jon Gruden the only reason HC Dirk Koetter still has his job is because the Bucs ownership, the Glazers, did not want to fork over the money to bring him back. They will regret that mark my words.
I do want to bring up one thing and that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the current backup QB may very well take Jameis Winston's starting QB job. My logic? When Fitzpatrick is hungry and making not much he plays well, sometimes really well. Fitzpatrick's problem is that when he is fed and making a lot he does not play well, sometimes atrocious. If that precedent has weight then then Winston is benched and either traded, cut, or will have to fight to get his starting job back next training camp.
If Fitzpatrick plays similar to how he did in 2015 the Bucs may very well end up higher than last in the division, but I'll keep the Bucs at the bottom as precedent may not hold and Winston may retain his job. They are also the worst overall team in the division as far as talent goes, so obviously that doesn't help.
NFC North
1.) Green Bay Packers
I picked them to win the division last year and that didn't work out, although in my defense Aaron Rodgers got hurt and instead Brett Hundley was the Packers QB. This is an overall great division but Rodgers will ultimately do what he does and get the Packers back into the playoffs and as SB hopefuls. If the Packers don't win the division and don't make the playoffs, HC Mike McCarthy's seat may get hot as there is new management up in the box at Lambeau.
2.) Chicago Bears
The Bears had a top 10 defense last year and a great RB in Jordan Howard. Nonetheless their overall offense was not good and John Fox was out as HC after last year's 5-11 campaign. Enter new HC Matt Nagy, last year's Chiefs OC and I think the Bears will have a turnaround similar to the one the LA Rams achieved last year. Add on to those ingredients with one Khalil Mack and you've got yourself a playoff caliber football team. The future is bright for the Bears and they will surely be better than they've been in the post-Lovie Smith era.
3.) Detroit Lions
The Lions won't just be all Matt Stafford for once, as this offseason they added both Keryon Johnson from Auburn and LeGarrette Blount to their backfield. The division is tough but they should be able to stay a .500 team if not better.
4.) Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are what you call franchise quarterbacks. I think Mitch Trubisky will transform into one as well. You know who isn't a franchise quarterback? Kirk Cousins. There was a reason that the Redskins decided not to keep him, he isn't that good. Sure on a Sunday afternoon game that only ends up being seen in the Virginia area he does decent, but can't handle the pressure of big games whether they be season deciding/playoff games or primetime games. Case Keenum last year in his one season with the Vikings accomplished more with the Vikings than Kirk Cousins ever has in his entire career.
The Vikings will not make the playoffs and they will regret signing Kirk Cousins and letting Case Keenum go. It won't matter what Dalvin Cook and the guys on the side of the ball do, eventually sometime Cousins choking ways will catch up to them. Instead of bad luck getting the Vikings, it is going to be bad decision making, at least in my opinion.
NFC West
1.) Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have all the pieces to make a SB run. A great coach, a great defensive coordinator, a good QB, a really good RB, a good WR, and a defensive that is filled with stars all around. If this team doesn't end up having success similar to the infamous "Dream Team" Eagles, it will be one of the biggest disappointments in NFL history.
2.) Arizona Cardinals
This was a team that went 8-8 with their 3rd string QB Blaine Gabbert playing a whole bunch of games. The roster is talented and if Sam Bradford stays healthy there will be good times in State Farm Stadium. 1st Round pick Josh Rosen will probably have a rough start to his career if he ends up getting in the game, so hopefully things go as planned.
3.) Seattle Seahawks
The Legion of Boom is gone and the team outside of Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll is different from the teams that played in SB 48 and 49. It is a young team with a bunch of unproven talent that I think will need to play a season before getting to where the Seahawks want to be, back in SB contention.
4.) San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Garrapollo looks to be the real deal, however the roster on the 49ers is awful and HC Kyle Shanahan is vastly overrated, so in one of the better divisions in the NFL the 49ers will end up placing last. Again.
NFC East
1.) Philadelphia Eagles
I am curious to see if the Eagles have a Super Bowl hangover or not. The reason I mention that is because both Jason Peters and Carson Wentz were not part of the Eagles SB run. With them back, it adds a whole new dynamic to the phrase "Super Bowl hangover" as it is arguable whether the team that actually won the thing was the "true Eagles". With how tough the conference is, I don't see them making another deep playoff run but they should win the division with little fuss.
2.) Washington Redskins
Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson make the Redskins better than they were before and if the team can stay healthy (something which they haven't done in recent time) the Redskins will have success. Whether they get into the playoffs or not, I don't know, as again the NFC is tough.
3.) New York Giants
A team that was not only riddled by injuries but riddled by terrible coaching and management last year, will go into this year with better coaching and management and hopefully healthy. As I said last year, the Giants are going to have to rebuild, which is a shame because Eli Manning deserves one last playoff run.
4.) Dallas Cowboys
Aw, the Cowboys. Boy, I have got things to say about this bunch. First off, the Cowboys coaching is REALLY bad and the coaching staff absolutely needs a complete and thorough cleaning. HC Jason Garrett is the ultimate locker room cancer, in that he gets rid of players he doesn't like because "his way" and then walks around acting like "his way" works. All he does is spout off motivational quotes, which he probably found on Google Images or Facebook so he doesn't have much of a "way".
Then there is Stephen Jones Executive VP of Football Ops, who apparently is only good and scouting and drafting 1st round offensive lineman and is co-guy in Garrett's "cleaning" of the roster.
On defense all there is Snake, I mean Sean Lee who is the only player on the Cowboys defense that has true value. You have DeMarcus Lawrence but despite his sacks he isn't truly valuable IMO.
On offense you have a depthless offensive line and worst of all, the worst receiving corps in the NFL. Great idea get ridding the best WR in franchise history (Dez Bryant) Stephen and Jason you have completely set up Dak Prescott to fail and when he does are going to throw him under the bus and replace him with Drew Locke when you get a top 5 pick. The Cowboys will be in that discussion make no mistake about it. #FeelbadforZeke
AFC South
1.) Jacksonville Jaguars
Marquise Lee's injury isn't good for the Jaguars obviously, but they have the best defensive in the NFL as well as a great RB in Leonard Fournette. If Blake Bortles can play decent the Jaguars will be in great shape to make another deep playoff run and potentially make a SB run.
2.) Houston Texans
The Texans have one of if not the most loaded roster in the NFL. There is one HUGE problem and that is HC Bill O'Brien. He will keep them from making the SB run that those Texans players should get a shot at. Good coaching is important, which is an obvious thing to say, but Texans Owner Bob McNair apparently doesn't realize that.
3.) Tennessee Titans
Titans faithful hated previous Titans HC Mike Murlarkey and with him gone comes new blood. Mike Vrabel who shouldn't have a HC job and will probably go something like 6-10 or 7-9 in his first year. The Titans after fighting out irrelevancy are right back in it.
4.) Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck is back but it is going to take a season for him to be back where he was pre-injury. Add on to that the Colts were really bad last year and you have a recipe for another last place year.
AFC North
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers win the division almost by default. Bell's holdout will slow things down for them, but they'll survive and end up making the postseason. Their goal at this point is to make a SB run and IMO they have missed their opportunity and Big Ben should have gotten out when he had the chance as the Steelers will only get worse from after this season and fall further down the AFC standings.
2.) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are old and will be facing the challenge pretty soon of having to transition from their old guys to new guys, both players and management. Joe Flacco has some fire under his seat and will play decent enough to go be a starter somewhere else, but the question becomes when do we see Lamar Jackson? I hope sooner rather than later because he is an electrifying talent that will change the Ravens franchise for the better. If the Ravens don't make the playoffs, I think John Harbaugh will get fired and if/when that happens, the next coach should be happy with the QB he'll have.
The Ravens are second in this division because IMO while not that great, they are still better than the Bengals and Browns.
3.) Cincinnati Bengals
It looked the Bengals had finally moved on from Marvin Lewis after last season but they gave him an extension and thus he stays the HC of the Bengals. Thus the status quo of "eh" stays with him.
4.) Cleveland Browns
Do not buy the Browns hype. I've thought in previous the Browns were going to be ok and they were not. The Browns will stay close to the bottom and be in the top 5 pick discussion by the end of the year. Hue Jackson should get fired, but at this point who knows if he'll ever get fired at this point. They are still as much the worst franchise in sports as they were last year and the year before that and the year before that. 6-50 in their last 56 games. They'll probably add 3 or so wins to that. Maybe less, they are the Browns after all.
AFC West
1.) Denver Broncos
The Broncos were Lolcows last year plain and simple, and this year I believe they will turn things around. The QB situation is the most stable it has been since the 2015 offseason, and that will help the Broncos win football games. The Broncos also added Bradley Chubb to their defense and being that they are likely to be playing with a lead, the defense should be able to make stops.
2.) Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is the truth. The Chiefs offense is going to be insanely fun to watch this season and the defense will be okay too. It is worth mentioning that the Chiefs have had a really good regular season record in the Andy Reid, so if recent precedent rings true they will win football games just not enough to win the division. The Chiefs will be extra scary once Mahomes has a season of starting under his belt.
3.) Las Vegas... er.. I mean Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack being traded is not as terrible as people are making it out to be. While Mack is a good player getting two 1st round picks for him is a good trade and new old HC Jon Gruden shouldn't be getting slack as those picks will lead to good things, whether they be multiple draft 1st round picks or really great trade bait.
It will take a year before the roster is fully shaped by Gruden, so I expect this to be a rebuild year of sorts for the Raiders. Bad news for Oakland, but great news for the city of Las Vegas.
4.) Los Angeles Chargers
Here is the thing, the LA Chargers are not a bad football team, far from it. They have talent on both sides of the ball and should be SB contenders. The problem is that they have terrible luck, whether it be a failed kickoff or a missed FG or a turnover that costs them the game. If they can ever turn their luck around, they'll be scary as previously mentioned but being that they have yet to do so, I doubt they will, thus they will be in last place in the AFC West.
AFC East
1.) New England Patriots
The Patriots showed last year that it doesn't matter how flawed their roster appears to be, they still win a LOT of football games. One has to wonder when Tom Brady will either retire outright or be forced into retirement because his play falls off a cliff. I highly doubt it will be this year though.
2.) Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen surprised me with his play in the preseason and the Bills will end up doing okay this year. They'll have WAY more cap space next year so I would expect more success in Buffalo starting next season.
3.) New York Jets
The Jets were not the awful football team that I expected them to be last year, however Sam Darold will be a turnover machine and I think the under .500 status quo will stay. Congrats to Todd Bowles for becoming a being a better liked version of Dave Campo and to Sam Darnold for being a better liked Jay Cutler!
4.) Miami Dolphins
Dolphins GM Mike Tannebaum and HC Adam Gase is probably the dumbest people in the NFL. They got rid of all their good players in an effort to either "cleanse" the roster or they are tanking. Here is the problem with their "cleansing" or tanking: They won't be around to see the results of their "rebuild". They are going to end up being the worst team in the NFL, and their new regime should enjoy having the number 1 pick. Ed Oliver should make up the loss of Suh on the D-line.
Super Bowl 53 pick time!
Now that my thoughts and predictions on every team and division in the NFL has have been made it is time for me to make my pick for who will play in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Georgia. My official preseason pick is the New England Patriots facing the Los Angeles Rams.
With all of that said, this has been a much bigger project than I originally imagined and I hope you fine folks enjoy it as well as my other content here on SCtoC. I thank you all for reading and look forward to talking more NFL football. This is spiderfan out.