Football is here. Finally. After a long summer of bad Phillies baseball, the new Eagles season is like a breath of fresh air. Hope springs eternal- at least until the first game on Sunday at Washington.
The following is my NFL predictions for 2017. The division races, the wild cards, the playoff teams, the over/under line. It will be fun to look back at this blog after the New Year to see how close I came....
NFC EAST
Over/Under Line for Season Prediction
1. NY Giants 8 1/2 Over
2. Eagles 8 Over
3. Cowboys 9 1/2 Under
4. Redskins 7 1/2 Under
Notes:
Giants- Offensive line concerns. Weapons galore. Will Beckham Jr. grow up? Is Eli still a stud and able to make one last run to the playoffs? Or is Eli on the downside? Giants may be the most stable of all NFC East teams. 10 wins.
Eagles- Improved. Still a lot of questions, including the coach. Birds have the pieces- more weapons- but will they use them properly? I think the Eagles win 10 games but they are still another draft or two away from making a serious run. Tough schedule, especially early.
Cowboys- Too many issues. Will Elliot be suspended and for how long? I don't like all the changes. Plus no team has won the NFC East two years in a row since 2004. I see Dallas winning 9 games. In the playoff hunt, but Prescott and crew won't match their 2016 season.
Redskins- Did they get better, losing weapons like Jackson and Garcon? Will the cousins situation be distracting? Washington is only two years removed from the playoffs. NFC East clubs will beat up on each other, so the 'Skins will be in it. I'm thinking 7-9 at best.
NFC CENTRAL
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Packers 10 1/2 Under
2. Vikings 8 1/2 Under
3. Lions 7 1/2 Over
4. Bears 5 1/2 Under
Notes:
Packers- One more division title for Green Bay. Who is going to challenge them? 10 1/2 is a big number. Can't see the Pack winning 11 games, even in a weak division. 10 wins looks good and a playoff appearance. With Rodgers, a Super Bowl run is always possible.
Vikings- I would like to think Minnesota will step up and challenge GB. After a 5-0 start last season, the Vikes crumbled. I can't see Sam Bradford leading a team anywhere. Delvin Cook will help. 8-8 or 7-9.
Lions- QB Matthew Stafford got a new contract. Is he really an elite QB capable of leading Detroit to their first ever Super Bowl? The Lions are one of those teams they will have one good season then five more bad ones. They are the definition of the word "mediocre.' So, I give them an average 8-8 record.
Bears- Chicago is a trendy pick. They may have had a good draft-time will tell- but that's exactly it. It's gonna take time, so for 2017 make it 4 wins.
NFC SOUTH
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Falcons 9 1/2 Under
2. Panthers 9 Even
3. Buccaneers 8 Even
4. Saints 8 Under
Notes:
Falcons- Atlanta still has a solid team, with QB Matt Ryan in his prime. I just don't think the Falcons will be as good this season. Call it a gut feeling. There has to be some hangover from blowing the Super Bowl. Plus the division is tougher. I say 9 wins, with a harder schedule too.
Panthers- Carolina was in disarray in 2016, but this is a team only a few years removed from a Super Bowl. With their defense and QB you can't count out the Panthers from bouncing back, especially with an easier schedule. 9-7 looks about right.
Bucs- Tampa Bay is the trendy selection this season. Young squad, improved weapons, QB Winston emerging as elite QB. Still, the Bucs aren't ready I say 8-8, but I wouldn't be surprised if they break out and go 9-7.
Saints- Drew Brees always deserves respect but the division is too tough to win. New Orleans goes 7-9 or 6-10.
NFC WEST
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Seahawks 10 1/2 Over
2. Cardinals 8 Over
3. Rams 6 Under
4. 49ers 5 Under
Notes:
Seahawks- 10 1/2 is a big number, but I see Seattle winning 11 or 12 games. Another team not far removed from the Super Bowl. Home field advantage is big. Plus the West doesn't impress me. They should make a serious playoff run.
Cardinals- Wow. Arizona could be really good, with Palmer, Fitzgerald and the speedy defense- or bad again. I see the Cards being good, beating up on the division, breaking even with Seattle. I just can't see them in the playoffs, let alone making a run. Still, 9 games looks realistic.
Rams- Another trendy pick. But is QB Goff the guy? Doesn't LA need a few more drafts to get on stable, solid ground? I don't think they will win over 6 games- 4 or 5 seems right.
49ers- It's gonna take a while to dig out from the mess Chip Kelly left ) sounds familiar?). Who are the Niners going to beat? Still, they play surprisingly well in San Francisco. 4 games, competing with the Rams for NFC West cellar-dwellers.
WILD CARD TEAMS-
Panthers and Eagles
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME-
Seahawks over Giants
AFC EAST
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Patriots 12 1/2 Under
2. Dolphins 7 Over
3. Bills 6 1/2 Under
4. Jets 5 Under
Notes:
Patriots- For once, I would love to pick someone other than New England to win AFC East. But I can't They are that good and the rest of the division is that bad. I don't see the Pats being too cocky- not with Brady around. Yet 12 1/2 is a big number. I see 12-4. Once in the playoffs, they will be tough to beat- as always- in cold, snowy Foxboro..
Dolphins- Maybe QB Jay Cutler leads Miami to the playoffs? They have a good, young team. But until Brady retires the Fish will always be lackeys to the Pats. A wild card berth is a possibility, especially since Miami will be beating up on the bills and Jets as everyone else will. So I'm going over, with a 9-7 record.
Bills- It's like Buffalo is tanking even before the season starts. RB McCoy is still around but not much else. They can't suck as bad as the Jets,c an they? 4 or 5 wins at the most.
Jets- Poor Jets. Their coaching and quarterback carousels continues. Their offense is putrid. Maybe they beat Cleveland and Buffalo, but who else? 2-3 wins at the most.
AFC CENTRAL
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Steelers 10 1/2 Over
2. Ravens 9 Over
3. Bengals 8 1/2 Under
4. Browns 4 1/2 Under
Notes:
Steelers- I like Pittsburgh to slug it out with Baltimore again for the division. Both should make the playoffs. I see QB Rothenberger having a big year. They're due for a Super Bowl appearance. Give them 11-12 wins. Home field will be key to determine of they can get by NE. I think they will.
Ravens- QB Flacco and crew step up. Baltimore has one of the best home field advantages in football. They should beat up on a weak division, while keeping pace with Pittsburgh. I see them with at least 10 wins.
Bengals- They have loads of talent, but something keeps holding them back. The coach? Andy Dalton? Regardless, there's no way they are better than Pitts. or Balt. 8 1/2 seems too big for a team trying to find their way with issues at coaching. 6 wins at the most.
Browns- Why does everyone think the Browns are so improved ? True, you can't do much worse than a 1-15 season. But let's face it- the Browns still suck. maybe they beat the equally-awful Jets. Under 4 1/2 is my guess.
AFC SOUTH
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Titans 8 1/2 Over
2. Texans 8 Over
3. .Colts 8 1/2 Under
4. Jaguars 6 1/2 Under
Notes:
Titans- My surprise pick I think QB Mariotta will emerge as an elite guy. The rest of the division is average. I think Tennessee will win 9 games.
Texans- Playing on extra emotion this season because of the floods. I expect J.J. Watt to have a big year. 9 wins sounds right.
Colts- Will QB Andrew Luck ever remain healthy and step up to be the franchise guy who leads Indy back to a Super Bowl? Not yet. In fact, I don't think the Colts will cover the line, winning 7-8 games at the most. I don't like their coach.
Jaguars- Jacksonville is improving- slowly. Winning over 6 games this season is a reach, but in an average division, it's possible. I say they go Under and continue to rebuild.
AFC WEST
Over/Under for Season Prediction
1. Raiders 9 1/2 Over
2. Broncos 8 Over
3. Chiefs 9 Even
4. Chargers 7 1/2 Under
Notes:
Raiders- Oakland and QB Carr will be good again. But you have to wonder what effect the future move to Vegas will have on the Raiders. Maybe they will be pissed off and get to the AFC Championship game. Or maybe they remain good but not great. Tough division. I see 10 wins.
Broncos- Denver steps up over KC. The have QB issues but the defense, led by Von Miller, still shines. I like them to win 9-10 games and vie for a wild card.
Chiefs- My guy feeling is that the Chiefs take a step back this year. They have been knocking on the playoff door for some time now, but can't seem to fully kick it in and advance to the championship game. Andy Reid takes a slide.
Chargers- Yet another trendy team. Just because they move to Los Angeles doesn't suddenly make them contenders. You would think QB Phillip Rivers would have one more great year left in him. But in a tough division, can you really seem them winning more than 8 games? I don't.
WILD CARD TEAMS-
Ravens and Broncos
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME-
Steelers over Patriots
SUPER BOWL-
Steelers over Seahawks
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