NFL Preseason Predictions
The NBA may be months away, baseball is unwatchable, and EPL games are always on at ungodly hours, but football is right around the corner. NFL preseason games kicking off recently leads me to wonder what everyone's way-too-early predictions for this season are. Any breakout teams, predictions for division winners, or teams taking a step back?
I'm thinking the Colts and Texans are going to be leading the playoff chase with both of their qb's back and the Jags miss the playoffs. Kind of thinking the Chiefs might miss the playoffs too since the Chargers roster looks stacked and they'll probably take the AFC West. Still betting on Brady at 40 no matter how bad his receiving core is. Really pumped to see Rodgers healthy again; it should be interesting to see who wins the NFC North since the Vikings still have the better roster and upgraded from Case Keenum. I'm not even going to try to figure out the rest of the NFC since its competitive enough that half the division could make the playoffs. Should be a fun year!
Edit: This isn’t a forum for discussing the national anthem protest. If I wanted to make a forum to discuss politics I would have. Keep it civil and related to football.
obnoxiously biased packers fan, so while I think they have a real chance at at least making the NFC championship again (retooled on secondary, 3 headed monster at RB, Rodgers healthy, davante stepping in as a WR1 replacement for Jordy, new defensive coordinator, etc), I'll set aside that bias on my bullish picks
bullish
bearish
show me
Extrapolating from what we saw from Watson, the entire Jags season, Marcus Mariota doing Oregon-style things, and knowing that Luck has donned an uncle rico 'stasche in his return to football, I would say for the first time in a long while, the AFC South has some serious potential to be a pretty exciting division to watch.
As a Pats guy I have to go with them as my AFC East/AFC Conference team, Tom Brady plus random white guys receiver corp seem to get it done year in and year out (with or without a healthy Gronk). I think the Dolphins are content playing in Miami for 7 games a year and nothing else given their release of Landry and even that nice weather couldn't keep Jay Cutler from returning to retirement and possibly becoming the greatest living NFL Meme on TV. I wish the Jets weren't treating Teddy Bridgewater like a trade bait candidate but given the injury history I cant blame them, but with their number one rec probably doing some suspension time I'm not sure what they expect out of this season, I guess we will get to see Darnold sooner rather than later if things go sideways. What can I say about the Bills that hasn't already been said, I love the city and its people, but I have Allen at the bottom of my Mayfield, Darnold, Rosen, Allen QB stack from this draft, and I'm not sure what they think AJ McCarron is going to do for them, all I know is that he had a really hot girlfriend that one time like 4 years ago.
The Steelers might be ok simply because their division is dysfunctional. The Ravens invited chaos by drafting Lamar Jackson, so he'd better perform if they ever bench Flacco, and the Browns and Bengals aren't making the playoffs so it might just be more of the same. It was the right decision not paying Bell; he'll have to perform well anyway so someone pays him next offseason. I really don't trust the Raiders. The Gruden 10 year deal (for a guy who hasn't coached in ages) seems like classic Raiders noise; they're not a good analytics team, and they haven't protected Carr well enough. I don't see them topping LA or KC. They're probably better than Denver just because of Carr although I like what Denver did in the draft. I think the cowboys got beat up last year by a tough schedule and Zeke's whole situation, but I see them as a borderline playoff team. Agree with everything else, especially on the Packers. It's ridiculous that they have arguably the best qb in the league right now and they can't help him get a championship. Rodgers deserves to get another Super Bowl soon.
So running back by committee, damaged goods qb, who's that at WR1 and who cares about a new coordinator. Biased Vikings fan response.
Actually - good luck - should be a hell of a race between Pack and Vikes.
let's not do this. just say fuck the bears
How did you not include the Giants anywhere in your post? You can never write of Eli "CLUTCH" Manning & OBJ...
I did mention them, but I'm assuming you want more than a crude reference at eli's perceived lack of intelligence
I'll state my bias that I'm a vikings fan.
Three headed monster at RB? that's over the top. You backs still have way too much to prove to even be mentioned as a three headed monster. Retooled secondary makes sense, but you're places a lot of faith in some rookies (Admittedly I like your draft picks and they hsould upgrade your dire secondary from last year), but will it be a upgrade from trash to bad, ok, or good? The biggest thing overall is Rodgers, it sucks as a Vikes fan how he can literally carry your team, he's that good. Overall I think the Vikings are entirely the more talented team, but the Packers have Rodgers which always makes them dangerous.
I still think the Vikes take the division thought even with our shaky OL.
like I said, I'm obnoxiously biased. I'm optimistic about the secondary, the combo of 2 first rounders in alexander & king combined with the experience of house & williams along with HaHa over the top makes the secondary not a welcome mat like in years past. so I'd say it's an upgrade from trash to OK at the moment, we'll see if they trend to good or bad as the season goes on.
as for the RBs, watch some tape of aaron jones and jamaal williams. we are not in the same conversation as a kamara-ingram combo, but to have 2 promising youngsters with a RB with size and great hands in Montgomery, the threat of the run hasn't been realer in GB for a while. besides, it's less about winning games with the run and more wearing out the defense. Rodgers got wins without any run game to speak of. simply adding one RB moves that needle bigly, having 3 options? fugeddaboudit. at this point, I'd put the actual stats (on any team in the NFL) as average to maybe slightly above average. but them in combination with the rest of the offense makes them a difference maker
glad you recognize rodgers, unlike the bro above who said he's damaged goods.
as for the division, if cousins proves to be a good add and the defense holds up as it has in recent history, minnesota probably takes it. but if I'm right about our secondary and run game, it'll be a much tighter race than expected
The Vikings have some good talent.. but like you said, they're in a division with the Packers(which sucks).
I love watching Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers throw a football
I dislike the rams, but wow on paper they're ssssssttttacked
Chargers might be ok
EPL games on Saturday and Sunday start from like 6:45 am through 12 noon (central time)....
I’m the west coast there are games on at 4am. Not saying all the games are on too early, but many of them have been.
In*
I'm old enough to recall there being only 3 games/week being played on Sundays, plus the Monday night game that was like a bonus for us kids back in the 70s. Not going to sit here and wax nostalgic about the bi-gone years of the real NFL. I will tell you that while all the "fans" and players are figuring out how to tackle the National Anthem debate this year, no pun intended, I will be tuning out. Already seen a few knuckle-dragging buffoons from the Fins protesting the anthem in pre-season. The issue isn't going away but fans are. I will now be counted amongst those who have been lost to stupidity, exactly like what baseball did to my love of that sport back in '92. Haven't watched a single game since that strike.
Man you really do sound like an old man. Why do you care what these guys do during the anthem?
It is called TRADITION. It is also one of the very, very few things that professional athletes may do to show their respect to a country that has afforded them a life only the very few, very lucky can even dream of living. Instead of them playing with themselves in the locker-room before the game, they should be out on the field, toeing the white sideline, paying homage to a symbol of American freedom. All of this BS the left has tried to make Ol' Glory represent is a bunch of hogwash.
With the added good fortune these professional athletes have been blessed with comes added responsibility such as appreciating fans, spending a precious few hours doing something good for the community (even if they are doing it simply because it's in their contract) and just being decent human beings because so many children look up to these people, some of whom are reprobates.
I'm sure I do sound like an old man. Case in point: I don't give a shit! What I said about the NFL as well as the professional baseball association is spot on. In honest fact, I'm being rather passive about the subject compared to how I truly feel.
Are you watching football or people singing the National Anthem? I'm sure a good YouTube search can satisfy the latter.
Neither. The anthem has been part of the game since I have been old enough to know what football was. If the game has devolved to a point where we may not even play the National Anthem at a professional sporting event, then I want not a damned thing to do with any of it!
Ironically, I live less than 30 minutes from the KC Chiefs/KC Royals stadium here in KC, have been given free tickets every year for 20+ years to both teams, yet I haven't been to a single game from either sport in over a decade. I used to LOVE going to Chiefs games but the game has changed, as well as the fan-base and the basic culture of stadium sports. The last game I attended two guys got into a brawl right in front of my then 7-year old son. That's been 11 years ago and the last time I ever went to a professional game of any kind other than hockey.
I just think it’s funny you guys don’t find the Eli discussion above more obnoxious.
I personally don’t care about the kneeling but you millennial turds were given a chance for moral exhibitionism and goddayum you jumped on it.
Also, go Niners
Sigh, we can't have a sports thread now without some begrudged douche making it political. Fml. I am sure you were very outraged about the sanctity of the anthem when it came out that the NFL charges the military to play the anthem and engage in their veteran appreciation. I'm sure you announced your boycott then and there. Dude go whine about this shit in a thread about politics.
Fuckoff asswipe. Calling me a begrudged douche because you dick-wad millennials have to make everything on the planet political is a joke.
Has not a god damned thing to do with politics by the way.
I want to say that while I disagree with you about what constitutes "real fans" and "real football", you are absolutely entitled to your opinion, but you kinda derailed a pretty "front-pagable" thread by not sticking to the topic.
I will however suggest that given your proximity to Arrowhead stadium, maybe you give it a chance again after all this time. That stadium is absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere is pretty great there and the last time I was there they didn't have any of the talent they currently have. If you're getting free tickets you don't even have to feel like you're contributing to a league who's policies you don't necessarily agree with.
Ill use an analogy (which will likely further throw off the thread but fuckit), I am pretty disdainful of the NRA, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying firearms, I just try and avoid all of the polarizing stuff that I don't agree with. At the end of the day I realize that when I'm at the range, more people probably feel different than me about the topic, but I don't let that stop me from enjoying my time. Gotta go along to get along my man.
I'll be honest doc, I've been to Arrowhead dozens of times as well as the Royals stadium probably nearly 100 times. I work in the engineering field and have been entertaining clients when they come to town for years, plus I used to get free tickets to the point where I would turn them down. That was before the tax-law changed, but I was quite fortunate for a decade. I saw every home game one year, had seats on the 20 yard-line, parking passes and I never paid a thin dime for any tickets.
That being said, it sounds trivial and, as one theoretical physicist postulated in a previous post, we "octogenarians" amuse brainless twits because we people over 50 still sometimes wax poetic about a day in this country when a trip to the ball field meant a sense of excitement, escape, joy, family time, etc. etc. Nowadays, before the damned game even starts there is often-times flare ups in the stands (especially during night games when people come in a little more drunk than on Sunday morning) between fans, there is often a player or two who will do something inflammatory which will piss off at least 1/2 the crowd, the experience is simply not enjoyable to me anymore.
Kaufman Stadium is one of the finest in baseball. I've been to 19 ballparks in my travels around the country. I believe it is the only one with a waterfall if I recall. At least the only one I've seen. Chiefs Stadium is storied. From Len Dawson to Christian Okoye to Darren Thomas...…
There has been some amazing football since I've lived here, but the game itself has changed and I fear the fan-base has changed as well. If the current movement in the game continues to permeate the sport, and continues to trickle down to the collegiate level, I will simply give up on professional sports altogether. Far too many things in this country to take up as a hobby that is cheaper, non-political in every sense of the term, and nowhere nearly as commercialized as this garbage they force down our throats these days. I probably sound like that octogenarian grumpy ass that the font of intellect above was referring to. It is what it is.
I've been an Eagles fan since a kid. Last year, I had no expectations going into the season, and it was the most fun I've had during the NFL season ever. I'm going in with even less expectations and I can't wait to watch every game I can again.
I am going to keep this short and just predict division winners and the wild cards.
NFC South: Atlanta (could see Carolina winning this) NFC East: Philly NFC North: Minnesota NFC West: LA
Wild Cards: Green Bay & Carolina
AFC South: Houston AFC East: New England AFC North: Pittsburgh AFC West: Kansas City (honestly I have no idea who will win this division but I have zero trust in Gruden, Denver's offense is trash, and San Diego is destined to take Ls)
Wild cards: Cincinatti & Jacksonville
You don't see new orleans being a contender again?
NFC is too difficult a conference, they probably win 9 games. They led the league in turnovers last year which usually regresses to the mean. Brees is one year older and looked like he was declining last year (prior to the playoffs) and there is no way their run game can continue to be that dominant.
I might be biased since I'm a Pats fan, but I wouldn't necessarily call Tom's receiving core bad. Edelman and Gronkowski are two obvious standout players, but guys like Hogan and White have been successful with the team as well. I wouldn't call it a perfect full clip, but he's definitely got some weapons. I see the Pats breezing through the really sad AFC East.
Other teams that I find interesting:
I see the Eagles being good again. That team was not just skill, but a lot of on/off the field cohesion. Guys play better when they're friends, and that chemistry showed in every game they played.
The Steelers should be good, but they always find a way to fuck up. The absolute arrogance of that team led to the Jags making them their bitch, and the fact that they were so fixated on playing NE again (in their annual playoff loss to the Pats), they seemed to forget that they had a game that weekend. Their heads are planted so far up their asses that they continuously manage to screw up, and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again. Feel bad for my boy Juju.
The Saints - damn, do I want them to be good. If they beat the Vikings last year, I feel like the NFC championship would have been a much different game.
The Rams are a fire team and have a ton of potential. Sometimes you just aren't ready for a playoff game, and that might have been the case with their early elimination last year. Regardless, they're a team to beat.
Edelman and Gronk are great but I just feel bad for Brady for the first four games of the season with Edelman suspended and Gronk's injury history. They lost two great receivers from last season too. I think it speaks to Brady's greatness that he's consistently performed no matter who he's throwing too though, and if both Edelman and Gronk are healthy it'll be fine. They've never had a system where they were overly reliant on a deep threat wideout anyway. Definitely with you on the Eagles; with Wentz back it would not surprise me one bit if they're right back in it this year.
Prediction: Viewership continues to decline
Nathan Peterman continues his preseason stardom and leads the underdog Bills to the playoffs with the last wildcard spot.
With luck on their side, they are able to advance to the divisional round by beating the suspension-riddled Steelers who lost JSS (pornstar scandal) and Bellcow (had a rap recording that day). Tomlin was not able to lead his team to victory, despite his top-notch cheering.
Despite momentum on their side, they head to Gillette Stadium with 1:200 odds at Vegas. Boston hasn't been kind this January and is unleashing 4 inches of snow on the day of the game. Sith Lord Belichick looks through his playbook and quickly finds the correct plays, not the ones for 3.5 inches of snow, and not the ones for 4.5 inches of snow, it's specifically the plays for 4 inches of snow. Situational football. By half-time, Tom Brady was already looking at his fingers on his left hand, deciding on the location of his soon-to-be new SuperBowl ring. As players were returning for second half, a group of 5 people enter the field. It's 4 police officers and Shady McCoy, who was just found not guilty of the death of his ex-girlfriend, despite video evidence. The police officers release Shady from his cuffs, and a hush spreads through the crowd. The Knight King has arrived. While every single other player slips and slides in the snow, Shady gracefully and effortlessly navigates the terrain, and drives the Bills to tie up the game at the end of the fourth quarter. With the 2 minute warning just behind him, ole Petey rises to his omnipotent form and drives down the field 80 yards for a game winning touchdown. Everyone in the stadium is shocked. Robert Kraft has a heart attack (unrelated to the game, he was poisoned by his 38yr old model). Tom Brady is screaming in rage. Sith Lord Belichick is already planning his next trip to McDonald's (best training program for any cornerback). Ole Petey has become the hero of Buffalo and the mafia is certain that the SuperBowl is theirs. Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Conference Finals? Talk about a free win.
Bills in Duval. Not the most common sight in Florida. Bills mafia broke a record-setting 25,000 tables before the game even starts, cheering and laughing about how easy this game will be. But one thing they forgot about is that they are the Buffalo Bills. McDermott all of the sudden forgot that they were playing in the playoffs and decides to take a "calculated risk" and put Josh Allen in the game. Allen throws 12 interceptions to Jalen Ramsey and the Bills lose the game 52-12.
McDermott does not regret his decision.
....
Just kidding - Prediction: Patriots make it to the SuperBowl.
That was a rollercoaster.
This was great.
I laughed, I cried, felt things I haven't felt in years from that write up.
This season of the NFL is going to have especially poor ratings:
It seems every year, pro football worsens as a product, and college ball will be there to take Market share
Number 2 could be a huge issue if they don't fix/adjust the new helmet rule before the regular season starts. One more reason why college football is so much better.
the targeting rules are a lesser but similar problem in college football.
The underlying of why it worsens every year is because they keep deluding the core product to try and attract more viewers (everyone can be included). Happens in a lot of other areas, for example, rap music has been deluded to 3 minutes songs with 5 words in it.
It would be like if you made mexican food, but kept taking out the flavor and spices until you just had grilled chicken or beef. Everyone can eat it, but it lacks flavor.
My NFL predictions league wide: Might be the last year of the established and the beginning of the changing of the guard. Big Ben, Brees, Brady, Eli are all getting old, new QBs are going to have to step up or emerge.
Giants fan predictions: Same thing everything, probably be close to or at .500 most of the season. Play like shit against the cowboys week 2 (like lose 10-7), click toward the end of the season, lose to Dallas week 17, talk about how "if we played the beginning of the year like we ended, we would have went undefeated"
Jimmy G will emerge and be the truth Dez Bryant will haunt the league until about week 5. Might get a shot on a team but won't back up the talk I'll have a great draft in my fantasy team but still wont make the playoffs Jameis Winston will say something that makes us all dumber, or do something so stupid none of us can comprehend One player (probably LeGarette Blount) will start a fight with something (dog, woman, fan, himself, bear?) that makes national news
In re: to your second paragraph, I don't necessarily disagree with your logic, but what makes more money every year, Taco Bell or your local Mexican food truck, what do you like more flour or corn tortillas (and don't lie to me and say corn). I think you understand why everything eventually gets reduced to its least common denominator.
-No LB love???? given the last two seasons results I'm expecting the Lions to beat the Eagles in the NFC championship and then the Pats in the Super Bowl.
I agree with you, and I agree that analogy didn't 100% correlate.
My response was more in Swedish_1 saying the NFL worsens every year. It's because they continue to delude the product. Which makes sense, but is worse for the hardcore fan. A hardcore fan can watch a game of 6-3 and think its a great game, where as someone who just started watching has a harder time comprehending. Whats easier to explain to someone whose never watched football, the dynamics of a great run play bc the guard pulled and got a second level block, or the QB threw it far?
Think about the modern NFL, it's geared toward scoring and tailgating, because that's what people want. Game play is probably like 4th on the list behind superstars. Thats why the NFL does everything in its power to get stars to shine (aka get Tom Brady to the Super Bowl) and the NBA does the same thing with Lebron. You think the NFL wants Rex Grossman in another Super Bowl?
Running long here, but in terms of Taco Bell vs real Mexican, Taco bell is geared toward getting customers, where Mexican food is focused on being authentic. Taco bell is more of a comfort food for people, because they were raised on it and its the same thing at every location. Same thing with movies, Adam Sandler sells tickets, is he the best actor?
In terms of Blount, maybe he has the magic touch, we'll see. Most of these guys are crazy anyway, I mean, Richie Incognito is cutting heads off.
seeing anthem arguments like this play out makes me wonder what people being born today will say about my generation's "traditions"
it never ends, the elder generation reminisces and the younger generation laments it. the elder generation points out problems with the younger one, and the younger one calls them outdated, irrelevant, whatever. the cycle as old as time. I'm sure the same thing happened 500 years ago, just as it will continue to happen for generations to come. respect never seems to be in surplus, it seems
“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.” - Socrates
This helmet rule is going to be an absolute disaster.
yeah seriously, will be biggest story of the year ugh
Brady makes his way back to the Super Bowl to start filling up his second hand with more rings.
Texans will have a surprisingly good season now that Watson is back and healthy. Between him and Hopkins, I think they'll make it pretty far.
I put 2 minutes of thought into this, let's see....
Eagles and Rams will be really good but I dont see an Eagles repeat and fuck the rams
Biggest surprise: Browns (8-8), SF (9-5) Biggest disappointments: Cowboys (5-11), Falcons (7-9), Seahawks (6-10),
Superbowl: Saints over Steelers
Saints Pats, duh Andy.
yeah i had that originally.. f it i want pittsburgh to have a good season i'm picking them
Should of been!!!
Although has a Pats fan I'm not complaining
I'm pulling for Eagles again but I think the Rams are going to be the contender.
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