The NFL season is upon us. So much of the NFL landscape will look different after these 18 weeks of regular season and the highly anticipated playoffs. Some teams will over perform, some teams will underperform. Some players will break out, some players will fall off. No one knows what the league could look like at this time next year, but one thing is for certain: this NFL season will be amazing just like all the others. Let’s get into these predictions and break them down.
PLAYOFFS
Super Bowl:
Rams defeat Bills (31-24)
AFC Championship:
Bills defeat Browns (38-35)
NFC Championship:
Rams defeat Packers (31-27)
AFC Divisional:
Browns defeat Ravens (31-28)
Bills defeat Chiefs (37-34)
NFC Divisional:
Rams defeat Saints (28-23)
Packers defeat Buccaneers (34-31)
AFC Wild Card:
Browns defeat Colts (34-21)
Bills defeat Chargers (34-27)
Chiefs defeat Titans (28-21)
NFC Wild Card:
Buccaneers defeat Cardinals (27-21)
Packers defeat Seahawks (35-24)
Saints defeat Football Team (24-17)
Summary:
I could be boring and give you guys a Bucs-Chiefs Super Bowl prediction, but that’s not how we roll. In fact, I’m predicting they both get knocked out in the divisional round. The Bills get revenge on the Chiefs after last season, the Packers also get their revenge on the Bucs, just to get knocked out by this scary looking Rams team. The Rams win it all over the Bills and Aaron Donald and Matt Stafford hoist their well earned first Lombardi Trophy.
STANDINGS
(An asterisk means the team makes the playoffs)
AFC North:
1. Baltimore Ravens (14-3)*
2. Cleveland Browns (13-4)*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-12)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (4-13)
AFC East:
1. Buffalo Bills (13-4)*
2. Miami Dolphins (10-7)
3. New England Patriots (6-11)
4. New York Jets (4-13)
AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts (11-6)*
2. Tennessee Titans (10-7)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-15)
4. Houston Texans (2-15)
AFC West:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)*
2. Los Angeles Chargers (12-5)*
3. Denver Broncos (9-8)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)
NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers (10-7)*
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
3. Chicago Bears (4-13)
4. Detroit Lions (4-13)
NFC East:
1. Washington Football Team (12-5)*
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-7)
3. New York Giants (7-10)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-13)
NFC South:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)*
2. New Orleans Saints (12-5)*
3. Carolina Panthers (5-12)
4. Atlanta Falcons (3-14)
NFC West:
1. Los Angeles Rams (13-4)*
2. Seattle Seahawks (11-6)*
3. Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
4. San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
Summary:
There are bound to be surprises on both the AFC side and the NFC side. For example, the Chargers make the playoffs over teams like the Steelers, Dolphins, Patriots, and Broncos. Another example is the Saints and Cardinals sneaking into the playoffs over teams like the Vikings, Cowboys, Giants, and 49ers. The Ravens do beat the Browns, the Rams take the loaded NFC West, the Colts outlast the Titans, and the Washington Football Team take the weak NFC East again. Lots to unpack here, but this is what we’re going with.
LEADERS
Passing Yds: Josh Allen (5396 yards)
Passing TDs: Patrick Mahomes (49 TDs)
Passing INTs: Ben Roethlisberger (25 INTs)
Passing Comp%: Kirk Cousins (69.9%)
Passing Rating: Josh Allen (85.1 QBR)
Rushing Yds: Nick Chubb (1879 yards)
Rushing TDs: Alvin Kamara (18 TDs)
Receiving Yds: Stefon Diggs (1661 yards)
Receiving TDs: Tyreek Hill (15 TDs)
Receptions: Stefon Diggs (131 rec)
Tackles: Darius Leonard (169 tackles)
Sacks: Myles Garrett (19.5 sacks)
INTs: Jaire Alexander (7 INTs)
FGM: Justin Tucker (31/34)
Summary:
This list is headlined by some superstars, but it looks fairly similar to last year. I think Nick Chubb goes under the radar and wins the rushing title, Josh Allen gets the reins and puts on a clinic for the passing title, and Myles Garrett proves that he’s the best defensive end in football and leads the league in sacks. Kamara might not get six on Christmas, but I think he could lead the league in rushing touchdowns. Pat Mahomes rides Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill to lead the league in passing touchdowns. Ben Roethlisberger throws the most interceptions, and Jaire Alexander solidifies himself as a top tier corner by snagging the most. I also expect a big season out of Stefon Diggs with Allen throwing him the rock. Oh, and yes, don’t sleep on Kirk Cousins’ accuracy in 2021. I said what I said.
AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Josh Allen
(2: P. Mahomes, 3. J. Herbert)
Offensive Player of the Year: Alvin Kamara
(2. N. Chubb, 3. S. Diggs)
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
(2. J. Ramsey, 3. A. Donald)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mac Jones
(2. T. Lawrence, 3. K. Pitts)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons
(2. P. Surtain, 3. K. Paye)
Coach of the Year: Brandon Staley
(2. S. McVay, 3. K. Stefanski)
Summary:
Josh Allen does enough for this Bills team to snag the MVP award at the end of this season, narrowly beating out two AFC West QBs in Mahomes and Herbert. Alvin Kamara carries the Saints offense with plenty of all purpose yards and touchdowns to snag the Offensive Player of the Year, over Nick Chubb and Stefon Diggs. Myles Garrett goes on a tear to beat a couple of Rams defensive studs in Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald for Defensive Player of the Year. Mac Jones takes advantage of getting the starting nod early and beats out Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Pitts for the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Micah Parsons dominates on the defensive side and snags the Defensive Rookie of the Year over Pat Surtain II and Kwity Paye. Brandon Staley takes the Chargers to the playoffs in his first season and that nets him the Coach of the Year award, beating out Sean McVay and Kevin Stefanski.
ALL NFL TEAM
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Alvin Kamara
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Stefon Diggs
WR: Tyreek Hill
WR: Keenan Allen
TE: Travis Kelce
OT: Ryan Ramscyk
OT: Ronnie Stanley
OG: Quenton Nelson
OG: Zack Martin
C: Erik McCoy
DE: Myles Garrett
DE: Chase Young
DT: Aaron Donald
DT: DeForest Buckner
LB: Darius Leonard
LB: Demario Davis
LB: T.J. Watt
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Jaire Alexander
S: Jessie Bates
S: Marcus Williams
K: Justin Tucker
P: Michael Dickson
KR: Deonte Harris
Summary:
The league is filled with superstars at every position, but these guys will rise above the rest and be the best at their positions. Not too many huge underdogs, but definitely some surprises. I fully expect everyone on this list to have huge years.