The start of a new season has many promises to many teams in the NFL, many hopes and wishes to see their teams win the Super Bowl come February. While only 12 of the 32 teams make it out of the regular season and into the playoffs come January, every team starts out at 0-0. Of course if you're the Browns then... there's always next year. Just kidding. Here are my predictions on who gets in:
AFC:
East: Patriots
North: Steelers
South: Texans
West: Raiders
Wild Card: Chiefs, Ravens
NFC:
East: Giants
North: Vikings
South: Saints
West: Rams
Wild Card: Packers, Cowboys
Super Bowl:
Unbiased: Raiders over Saints
Biased: Packers over Raiders
MVP:
Derek Carr, Raiders
Coach of the Year:
Mike Zimmer, Vikings
Rookie of the Year:
Saquon Barkley, Giants
Well with these predictions, I'm just going off what seems well in my head. Probably the biggest gamble is going with the Raiders to win the AFC West. A lot is riding on how well Derek Carr can do with Jon Gruden's system, which isn't a walk in the park. Maybe the Raiders could have better luck next season in the second year of the coach's system. Other than that I feel that this is a solid prediction.
For this week's cool video of the week, I'm going with a selection that most Philadelphians know all too well. Once the Eagles take the field against the Falcons Thursday night on NBC, the memories of last season will pass away and the new season will begin. Enjoy Eagles fans, you've earned it.
The new season will kick off with a Thursday night game then will proceed to Sunday where there will be eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and two Monday night games. CBS will have the single game, and FOX will have the doubleheader. The week will begin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it will end in Oakland, California. Truly from sea to shining sea.
The first few weeks of the season are the toughest to predict since each team has new players, new schemes and everyone is a bit older than where they were last season. Along with me picking I will happily bring back, Cardinal Viking, my roommate, to be my competition again for this season. Rules are pretty simple, if you get a pick right, you get a win, you get it wrong then its a loss, and if its a tie, then its a tie. The time of World Cup, spicy politics, eating tide pods, and weird memes is over. HERE ARE THE PICKS:
Atlanta @ Philadelphia: Eagles. The scene in Philadelphia on Thursday will be very loud. You have to remember that the Eagles had not won a championship since 1960, way back when there was no Super Bowl, when there was a such thing as an NFL championship. The Falcons could play spoiler as the visitor like the Chiefs did last season to the Patriots but essentially the Eagles still have their key pieces back and should win the first game of the season. I mean you have to defend your home turf, right?
Buffalo @ Baltimore: Ravens. Kind of a revenge match for the Ravens. In week 17 of last season the Ravens had to win their game against the Bengals while the Bills had to win against the Dolphins to get in. The Bills got in, and the Ravens didn't. The Bills lost a few players during the offseason such as Tyrod Taylor, the guy who practically lead them to a 9-7 record to their first playoff berth since 1999. I feel the Ravens are out there to look for blood and they will get it in the Buffalo Bills.
Cincinnati @ Indianapolis: Bengals. Andrew Luck will get the start for the Colts who should be fine with his foot injury that he sustained in the preseason. Luck hasn't played a game since 2016 and didn't even take a snap in 2017 and will likely have to throw 40+ times in this game. Bengals seem to be a bit more balanced on offense and defense. I'll take my chances.
Houston @ New England: Patriots. The two teams played last season and it was a very good game. The game was a coming out party for Deshaun Watson and the Texans but the Patriots would be final say in the game in which they would win. Watson should be ready to go and lead the Texans to have a good season but to go against the Pats at home is a tough task. I'll take Brady & Company.
Jacksonville @ NY Giants: Giants. Probably one of the better matchups that should've been on the late slate of games but I'd be drooling over this one. Both teams have good quarterbacks, legit defenses, and running backs that can run. I like the Giants in this one with Saquon Barkley running the ball and controlling the clock. Could be a close game, I'll take the G-Men.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland: Steelers. One of the more bigger surprises last season was the Cleveland Browns going 0-16, 1-31 in two years. I feel the Browns will get a few wins this season but I don't like their chances against a Steelers team that is loaded on offense. It'll be a tough task for Tyrod Taylor to keep up with the Steelers. Sorry Cleveland.
San Francisco @ Minnesota: Vikings. Jimmy Garoppolo has not lost a start in his career (with the Patriots and the 49ers) as his 49ers head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. This season will have a new quarterback at the helm for the Vikes in Kirk Cousins. Could be a huge gamble in bringing in Kirk Cousins but I don't see the Vikings coming out of this game with a loss with their beast of a defense. Then again... I wouldn't mind if they lose. Whatever.
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans: Saints. The Saints were a surprise team with Drew Brees having a great year with the running back tandem in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Along with a better defense. Tampa comes into this season having failed to reach expectations for the past few seasons and I would be surprised to see them win 7 games this season. Geaux Saints!
Tennessee @ Miami: Titans. The last time we saw the Titans was in the AFC Divisional playoff against the Patriots. Despite the loss they did shock a Kansas City crowd the week before that in getting a playoff win. The Dolphins will have Ryan Tannehill back starting for them for the first time since 2016, or was it 2015? Either way it has been a while since the Dolphins have had stability in the QB position. I'll take the Titans offense squeaking out a win in Miami.
Kansas City @ LA Chargers: Chiefs. The first season in Los Angeles felt like a lost ship to the San Die... I mean Los Angeles Chargers (I CAUGHT MYSELF, SHUT UP). A lost ship that had lost course when at times it looked like they found land, but found a maelstrom instead. The Chiefs will have a new quarterback starting for them in Patrick Mahomes II. Mahomes, a 2nd year man out Texas Tech, will get handed the keys to Andy Reid's offense in this game. This game is a head scratcher, a toss-up. Either team could win it. Mahomes could be good as the Chiefs have their key position players back with Kareem Hunt. Chargers could win it on Philip Rivers arm. I'll play it safe with the Chiefs.
Dallas @ Carolina: Panthers. The Cowboys season looked good for a bit then Ezekiel Elliot's suspension derailed any chance of the Cowboys chances to get into the postseason. The Panthers, on the other hand, reached the playoffs despite losing to the Saints in the wild card game. The Cowboys could run up the score on the Panthers but I'll go with the Panthers on Cam Newton's arm and solid defense.
Seattle @ Denver: Broncos. The Seahawks would see one of the bigger team demolishes in the offseason with a lot of key defensive players going to free agency. The Broncos picked up Case Keenum, who helped the Vikings to the NFC championship game last season, in the offseason. The Broncos seem to have a solid defense that can keep them in games and if the Broncos offense can put up enough points they should win this one.
Washington @ Arizona: Cardinals. The Redskins got a new quarterback in Alex Smith from Kansas City, who can still put up numbers in the NFL. The Cards picked up Josh Rosen from the draft and Sam Bradford from free agency. Bradford will get the start for this one and should win this one with a balanced offense attack of air and ground. Ground from David Johnson. Washington still looks like a wreck.
Chicago @ Green Bay: Packers. The Sunday night game features an old rivalry renewed as the Bears head to the "Not So Frozen Tundra... Yet" Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Packers extended Aaron Rodgers contract and look to be a contender in the NFC. The Bears will have Mitch Trubisky who will be in his first full season of the NFL. Chicago's offensive weapons could pose a threat to the Packers but you can't count out #12 for the Packers.
NY Jets @ Detroit: Lions. The Jets surprised a lot of people with a 5-11 record, when most people picked them to win lower than 5 games. The Lions ended in another disappointed season for them as they didn't get to the playoffs but in true Lions fashion, they have a lot of question marks but they still have Matthew Stafford so at least that counts. The Jets could be even a bigger trainwreck than the Lions, which is saying a lot. What up Fireman Ed?
LA Rams @ Oakland: Rams. The week finishes off in Oakland where the Raiders play host to the Rams. The Raiders got a new head coach in Jon Gruden who is returning to the sidelines for the first time in a decade. Despite the loss of Khalil Mack, the Raiders still look good to make a contention in the AFC. Los Angeles Rams got a lot of people in the offseason and have thus won the "OFF SEASON SUPER BOWL." Will the Rams be the favorite to win it all? I don't personally think they will, but they should get a win in this game. As long as they stick to their formula that got them the attention last season.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Single:
Kansas City @ LA Chargers
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FOX Early:
San Francisco @ Minnesota
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX Late:
Dallas @ Carolina
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
To check what game is playing in your area, go to www.506sports.com.
Record:
Cardinal Viking:
2017: 167-89
2017: 167-89
2018: 0-0
My record:
2012: 164-90-2
2013: 162-92-1
2014: 172-83-1
2017: 164-92
2018: 0-0
See you guys next week!
-Tom
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