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With the beginning of the NFL season coming this week, which means it is time for everybody’s favourite factor: PREDICTIONS.
Positive, most individuals solely love studying predictions in order that they will make enjoyable of every thing you bought incorrect on the finish of the season, however that is not an issue for me. I am a center baby, so I have been made enjoyable of my complete life.
Earlier than we get to my predictions, let me clarify how issues are going to work right here: I will undergo every division and predict every crew’s remaining document. After that, I will be making a daring prediction for every division. When you roll by the divisional portion of those predictions, you will see my playoff picks and finally, my Super Bowl champion. In 4 of the previous seven years, I’ve accurately picked the AFC crew that ended up within the Tremendous Bowl, and in two of the previous seven years, my preseason Tremendous Bowl decide has ended up successful all of it, so that you may need to scroll down and take a look at my prediction for the Tremendous Bowl to see if I am selecting your favourite crew.
Additionally, since everyone knows that making enjoyable of somebody’s predictions is half the enjoyable of studying predictions, you may ship all of your hate tweets to me on Twitter by clicking here, and simply so you realize, Cardinals followers, I am already mentally getting ready in your hate tweets.
Lastly, for those who’re questioning how I did final season, I predicted the exact win total of five different teams. I additionally accurately predicted your complete NFC divisional spherical of the playoffs. Not solely did I predict that the Packers would play the 49ers, however I additionally predicted that the Rams would play the Buccaneers. Alternatively, I fully whiffed on Philadelphia. I had the Eagles going 5-12 and for those who watched any soccer in 2021, then you definitely already know the Eagles did not go 5-12. With a first-year coach, they ended up going 9-8 and making the playoffs. I really feel so unhealthy about whiffing on them final yr that I will make it as much as them by selecting them to win the division this yr…. or perhaps I will not. I do not know, I am undecided but.
You do not care about final yr although, so let’s get to the 2022 predictions.
AFC East
1. *Payments: 13-4
2. Dolphins: 9-8
3. Patriots: 7-10
4. Jets: 5-12
AFC East daring prediction: Sauce Gardner wins Defensive Rookie of the 12 months
I haven’t got excessive expectations for the Jets this yr, however I do have excessive expectations for Sauce Gardner, their rookie nook who was chosen with the fourth general decide within the NFL Draft. Gardner performs in a division the place a cornerback can thrive and that is as a result of the beginning quarterbacks he’ll be dealing with within the AFC East all love throwing interceptions. Josh Allen, Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa all completed with double-digit picks final season (Allen tied for the third-most interceptions within the NFL with 15 whereas Jones threw 13 and Tua threw 10). After all, even when he would not win rookie of the yr, I do totally count on him to win coolest endorsement of the yr as a result of nobody goes to high “Sauce sauce.”
A Jets participant doing enterprise with an organization that has “Buffalo” within the title can solely imply that Gardner goes to torture the Bills this season…. or Buffalo goes to torture him. One or the opposite.
AFC North
1. *Ravens: 12-5
2. *Bengals: 11-6
3. Steelers: 8-9
4. Browns: 6-11
AFC North daring prediction: Ravens go from worst-to-first
Yearly, the NFL appears to provide a minimum of one crew that goes from worst-to-first. Final yr, it was the Bengals, and this yr, I feel that crew is as soon as once more going to come back from the AFC North with Baltimore. Though the Ravens completed on the backside of the division final yr, their 8-9 document was arguably sort of spectacular when you think about what number of gamers they misplaced to harm. I may try to listing all of them right here, however my keyboard may explode if I attempted to listing that many names (There have been numerous them). Not solely did they lose Lamar Jackson for 5 video games, however additionally they misplaced key starters like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, together with operating backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. So long as they will keep wholesome, I feel they will win the division.
AFC South
1. *Colts: 10-7
2. Titans 8-9
3. Jaguars: 6-11
4. Texans: 5-12
AFC South daring prediction: Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor each high 1,900 dashing yards
The AFC South has arguably the 2 greatest operating backs within the NFL in Henry and Taylor, so I am placing them in a prediction collectively. The rationale this qualifies as a daring prediction is as a result of it is NEVER occurred in NFL historical past. There’s by no means been a season the place two operating backs each rushed for greater than 1,900 yards. The closest it got here to taking place was in 2003 when Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis (2,066 yards) and Inexperienced Bay’s Ahman Inexperienced (1,883) each ran for greater than 1,half of one mile. Though Henry has been one of many NFL’s greatest operating backs all through his six-year profession, he is solely topped 1,900 yards as soon as. As for Taylor, his career-high got here final season when he led the NFL with 1,811 yards. This yr, I am going to predict they each high 1,900.
AFC West
1. *Chargers: 12-5
2. *Chiefs: 11-6
3. Broncos: 10-7
4. Raiders: 9-8
AFC West daring prediction: Each crew within the division finishes above .500
The AFC West is so loaded this yr that your complete division may find yourself making NFL historical past. Because the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, there has NEVER been a season the place each single crew in a division completed with a successful document. There have been a number of seasons the place the final place crew completed 8-8 (most lately in 2008 NFC East), however there’s by no means been an occasion the place each crew completed ABOVE .500. With Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr at quarterback, it is arduous to think about any crew on this division ending the yr with a shedding document.
NFC East
1. *Eagles: 11-6
2. *Cowboys: 10-7
3. Commanders: 6-11
4. Giants: 5-12
NFC East daring prediction: Micah Parsons wins Defensive Participant of the 12 months
I considered selecting the Giants to win the division, simply kidding, no I did not. I simply needed Giants followers to be ok with one thing for a quick second as a result of I am undecided there’s going to be a lot to be ok with this yr. Anyway, my daring prediction within the NFC East is that Micah Parsons finally ends up taking dwelling the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. Parsons had one of the electrifying rookie seasons of any defensive participant in NFL historical past and that is an enormous cause why he was voted Defensive Rookie of the 12 months final season. The Defensive Participant of the 12 months award is often reserved for Aaron Donald or somebody with the final identify of Watt, however this yr, I will say Parsons breaks by and wins it.
NFC North
1. *Packers: 12-5
2. *Vikings: 10-7
3. Lions: 6-11
4. Bears: 4-13
NFC North daring prediction: Romeo Doubs wins Offensive Rookie of the 12 months
Throughout his MVP season final yr, Aaron Rodgers focused Davante Adams 169 instances and with Adams not on the roster, these targets need to go some place else and I am guessing that numerous them will probably be going to Doubs. The rookie receiver had a formidable coaching camp and though he is struggled slightly with drops, I am not too involved about that. I imply, there was a concern about drops with Ja’Marr Chase through the preseason final yr and every thing appeared to work out simply advantageous for him. It is a daring prediction as a result of Doubs is at present considerably of a protracted shot to win the award. At 14-to-1, there are 4 gamers with higher odds.
NFC South
1. *Buccaneers: 10-7
2. *Saints: 9-8
3. Panthers: 7-10
4. Falcons: 4-13
NFC South daring prediction: Tom Brady units single-season document for many passing yards
Tom Brady already holds almost each NFL passing document, so why not add yet another? The Buccaneers quarterback threw for five,316 yards final season, which was the third-highest single-season complete in NFL historical past. Though Brady was spectacular final yr, apparently he is perhaps even higher this yr.
Not even an 11-day trip can gradual him down.
If Brady is throwing it higher than ever, then the NFL ought to simply cancel the season as a result of there is not any approach he will let Tampa Bay lose a single sport. The one concern with this prediction is that Brady won’t survive the season enjoying behind Tampa Bay’s battered offensive line. If he does survive, I will not be shocked if he tops Peyton Manning’s document of 5,477 passing yards that was set in 2013.
NFC West
1. *Rams: 11-6
2. *49ers: 10-7
3. Seahawks: 6-11
4. Cardinals: 6-11
NFC West daring prediction: Cardinals end in final place
After watching the Cardinals make the playoffs final season, I am predicting that they completely collapse this yr. The 2 issues that fear me essentially the most are the lack of DeAndre Hopkins (who’s suspended for the primary six video games) and their depth at nook. On the Hopkins finish, since buying him in March 2020, the Cardinals offense has struggled each time he is not on the sector, which implies they could wrestle to attain factors early within the season. Additionally, they are going to be short-handed at nook with Antonio Hamilton lacking a minimum of the primary 4 video games of the season. Not having the ability to rating and never having the ability to cease the cross may imply bother early within the season because the Playing cards open the yr with consecutive video games in opposition to three high-powered offenses within the Chiefs, Raiders and Rams. If the Cardinals begin 0-3, I may see them totally imploding from there.
NFC Playoffs
Groups: 1. Packers 2. Rams 3. Eagles 4. Buccaneers 5. Cowboys 6. Vikings 7. 49ers
Wild Card
(7) 49ers 22-19 over (2) Rams
(6) Vikings 30-27 over (3) Eagles
(4) Buccaneers 34-31 over (5) Cowboys
Divisional
(1) Packers 20-17 over (7) 49ers
(4) Buccaneers 30-23 over (6) Vikings
NFC Championship
(1) Packers 27-24 over (4) Buccaneers
AFC Playoffs
Groups: 1. Payments 2. Chargers 3. Ravens 4. Colts 5. Chiefs 6. Bengals 7. Broncos
Wild Card
(7) Broncos 27-20 over (2) Chargers
(6) Bengals 34-27 over (3) Ravens
(5) Chiefs 31-23 over (4) Colts
Divisional
(7) Broncos 26-23 over (1) Payments
(5) Chiefs 37-30 over (6) Bengals
AFC Championship
(7) Broncos 23-20 over (5) Chiefs
Tremendous Bowl LVII in Phoenix (Fox)
Broncos 31-24 over Packers
Playoffs daring prediction: Broncos shock everybody and win their fourth Tremendous Bowl
The previous two Tremendous Bowls have each been gained by a quarterback who was in his first yr with a brand new crew (Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford) and you realize what, I’ve determined I am simply going to journey that prepare till it crashes, so I am going with Russell Wilson and the Broncos to win all of it this season.
If I’ve discovered one factor from watching Wilson for the previous 10 years, it is that for those who give him protection, a strong operating sport and respectable receivers, there is a good probability he will get you to the Tremendous Bowl, and the Broncos have all of that.
Throughout Tremendous Bowl week, we’ll be capable to spend seven straight days speaking about the truth that the Broncos are coached by a man (Nathaniel Hackett), who spent the previous three seasons in Inexperienced Bay as Matt LaFleur’s offensive coordinator.
The prediction right here is that Wilson and Hackett the Broncos to a 31-24 win over the Packers, which will probably be considerably poetic because the win will come 25 years after the Broncos beat the Packers 31-24 in Tremendous Bowl XXXII. I totally count on this sport to be a thriller as a result of that is principally what occurs any time Wilson and Aaron Rodgers face one another (See: Fail Mary and/or 2014 NFC title sport).
If the Packers lose, I am guessing Aaron Rodgers will spend your complete offseason on a South American psychedelic drug bender, which might be the identical factor I’d do.
Alternatively, if the Broncos find yourself successful the Tremendous Bowl, Russell Wilson will virtually actually be spending his complete offseason turning one of many 12 bogs in his new Denver home right into a Lombardi Trophy room.
I imply, let’s be sincere, nobody wants 12 bogs.
As a remaining word, I’ll have you realize that I’ve solely picked the Broncos to win the Tremendous Bowl one other time since I’ve been working at CBS Sports and that came in 2015. The excellent news is that I ended up being proper. The unhealthy information is that I did not find yourself shifting to Barbados.
Lastly, if my season predictions all pan out — and I am positive they’ll — here is what the highest of the NFL Draft order will appear to be subsequent April.
Order of first 5 picks for 2023 NFL Draft
1. Falcons
2. Texans
3. Giants
4. Bears
5. Jets
