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It’s the most wonderful time of the year — football season. After months of speculation, contract holdouts, fantasy drafts and expert analysis, the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs will finally kick off to start the campaign for Super Bowl LII. Here are my (somewhat) bold predictions for the eight division champions, four wild card teams and the eventual Super Bowl champion.
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
The NFC North has undergone substantial change this offseason, but the Packers remain the clear favorite to repeat as division champions. Rodgers gained a talented weapon in tight end Martellus Bennett (formerly of the Patriots), while returning much of the roster that played in last year’s NFC Championship. The Packers’ biggest challenge will come from the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford must prove himself worthy of his $135 million contract behind an offensive line replete with question marks. The Bears have a very young and talented squad, but the decision to start quarterback Mike Glennon over assumed Windy City savior, Mitch Trubisky, will prevent the Bears from competing with their divisional foes. In the frozen tundra of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a dreadful offensive line will demolish the Vikings’ playoff aspirations, yet again letting down one of the league’s most talented defenses.
NFC East: New York Giants (Redskins Wild Card)
The 2016 Dallas Cowboys, led by rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, were the top story in the league last year, finishing with a remarkable 13–3 record but unremarkably losing in the divisional round of the playoffs as the NFC’s number one seed. A six-game suspension due to domestic abuse allegations for elite running back Elliott and a struggling defense seemingly leaves the NFC East throne vacant. The New York Giants look poised to take advantage of the faltering Cowboys. The Giants’ defense led by Olivier Vernon has the opportunity to be dominant once again, and Odell Beckham Jr. is the most electric playmaker (and personality) in the league. Rookie tight end Evan Engram could add another dynamic option to the Giants’ offense to open up the field for Beckham Jr. The Philadelphia Eagles hope quarterback Carson Wentz will make a leap with new wide reciever Alshon Jeffery, while the Washington Redskins will lean heavily on offseason acquisition Terrelle Pryor. The Cowboys will falter, the Eagles will stumble, the Giants will snag the division crown and the Redskins will earn a surprising wild card playoff spot.
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks
The NFC West is a two horse race between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. The Los Angeles Rams’ best player (defensive tackle Aaron Donald) refuses to rejoin the team, and 2016 first overall draft pick Jared Goff was terrible under center last year. The San Francisco 49ers will compete with the Jets for the worst record in the NFL this season, despite possessing budding talent on defense. The Arizona Cardinals’ 2016 season was a massive disappointment to say the least. The Cards had title aspirations, only to finish the season 7–8–1. Arizona will rely on the production of David Johnson out of the backfield and a talented secondary led by Patrick Patterson and Tyrann Mathieu, but another regression from the 37-year old Carson Palmer could dismantle the Cardinals’ playoff hopes. The addition of former Jets’ defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to the “Legion of Boom” in Seattle will bolster the Seahawks’ NFC title aspirations. If the dicey Seattle offensive line is able to muster an ounce of protection for quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seahawks will coast to the number one slot in the West.
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons (Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wild Card)
I believe the NFC South will be the most competitive division in the conference during the 2017 season. It is difficult to predict how the Atlanta Falcons will rebound from the most devastating Super Bowl lost in league history, but with young talent on the defensive end in Vic Beasley, Deion Jones, Takkarist McKinley and Keanu Neal poised to have breakout seasons, the Falcons and reigning NFL MVP Matt Ryan are my choice to repeat as division champions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, will make the Falcons’ lives difficult all season. Jameis Winston has been solid in his first two professional seasons, but he looks ready to move into the top tier of signal callers with the help of new targets: veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J. Howard. The Buccaneers will narrowly finish as runner-ups in the NFC South, but will earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. I have little faith in a return to glory for the Panthers under a healthy Cam Newton, and a potent offensive attack will be unable to offset an atrocious defense for the New Orleans Saints.
AFC West- Los Angeles Chargers (Oakland Raiders Wild Card)
The Oakland Raiders were last season’s breakout team form the AFC West, but there is reason to question their ability to defend their title. Quarterback Derek Carr is coming off a broken tibia, and Marshawn Lynch has not played a professional football game in a over a year. Apart from reigning defensive player of the year Khalil Mack, the defense is dangerously unproven, especially in the secondary. The weapons in Oakland are talented enough to repeat as a playoff team, but I expect they will earn a wild card spot, not a division championship. I believe the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers will steal the AFC West from the Raiders in 2017. Year after year, Philip Rivers proves himself as one of the top passers in the league. Star wideout Keenan Allen returns from a season-ending injury alongside 2016 breakout receiver Tyrell Williams and talented rookie Mike Williams (pending his injury status). Defensive rookie of the year Joey Bosa is back for his sophomore season after proving himself as an elite pass-rusher, and will lead a strong defense in Los Angeles. The Kansas City Chiefs’ Alex Smith will constantly be under the spotlight with rookie Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the future, breathing down his neck. Quarterback controversy will spell disaster for the Chiefs. The Broncos did nothing to address their own quarterback dilemma, wasting another year of elite defense on a non-playoff team.
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
I’ll try to not let my Rust Belt prejudice influence my AFC North prediction too heavily, but it is hard to imagine that my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers will not earn the 2017 AFC North crown. The Killer B’s (Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant) comprise the most talented offense in the NFL when healthy. The Steelers have possessed one of the weakest pass-defenses in the league in recent history, and new signees Joe Haden and J.J. Wilcox will not be enough to prevent opposing quarterbacks from racking up yards against the “Steel Curtain.” If the Steelers stars can stay on the field, they will be able to outscore any opponent and will sail to the AFC Championship game. The Cincinnati Bengals have a solid all-around roster, but neither side of the ball has the potential to be elite. Cincinnati has massive holes in its offensive line, which will be disastrous for Andy Dalton, who ranks as one of the league’s worst quarterbacks under pressure. The Ravens defense is always a dominant force, but a significant lack of weapons and the uncertain health of Joe Flacco will prevent Baltimore’s playoff push. The Cleveland Browns have reason to be optimistic…in 2018.
AFC East: New England Patriots
It’s best not overthink it; the Patriots are going to mop up the AFC East. Everyone’s least favorite team led by everyone’s least favorite player look primed to pursue perfection in the 2017 NFL regular season. Even with the loss of his top target Julian Edelman, Tom Brady, the 40-year old five-time Super Bowl champion, has overcome larger obstacles, namely a 28–3 halftime deficit in Super Bowl LI. The New York Jets will struggle to win even a single game this year. The Buffalo Bills are most likely starting Nathan Peterman under center, and yes, I had to Google who that was too. The Dolphins mounted an admirable challenge to the Patriots last winter, earning a wild card berth to the playoffs. A devastating season-ending injury to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill forced the Dolphins to resort to Jay Cutler, who is a significant downgrade from Tannehill. The Dolphins have many weapons on offense, but a signal-caller returning from retirement will limit the potential the unit has.
AFC South: Tennessee Titans (Houston Texans Wild Card)
The winner of the AFC South will be the lone team with a stable situation at quarterback, the Tennessee Titans. Marcus Mariota has an arsenal of capable receivers, a talented running back, a top-five tight end and a brick wall protecting him. The Titans added enough pieces on the defensive end to capitalize on a weak division and win the AFC South title. The Colts have a solid roster, but the uncertainty surrounding Andrew Luck’s return will prevent Indianapolis from participating in the playoff hunt. Despite having a talented defense bolstered by millions spent in free agency, the Jaguars can only go as far as Blake Bortles can take them. Bortles cannot carry them very far. The Houston Texans will narrowly capture the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC. The Texans will struggle with quarterback Tom Savage calling the shots, but when he is inevitably benched for newcomer and collegiate legend Deshaun Watson, Houston re-emerge in the AFC playoff picture. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney will wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines on their way to a first round playoff win.
AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers over New England Patriots
NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers over Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl LII: Green Bay Packers over Pittsburgh Steelers
The Vince Lombardi Trophy will return to the Midwest after Aaron Rodgers connects on a 65-yard Hail Mary at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. to a chorus of boos. Nationwide cheese head orders will sky-rocket on Amazon. I will need at least two months to cope with the loss before the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA title run.
