NFL Preview & Predictions

The new NFL season is finally here, and I cannot remember the last time I have been this excited. This is new ground for someone like me, a Patriots fan, who after so many years of dominance, excellence, and legendary levels of greatness, suffered one of the harshest of NFL seasons a year ago. Does that sound too dramatic? Well look, I am not used to having a sub .500 season, and not making the playoffs. After 20 odd years of it always being a foregone conclusion, it’s not easy getting used to being terrible…

I’m not a Jet fan, so I don’t know what this is like! But now there is reason for hope, and for Patriots fans you can’t spell hope with M-A-C. 

Time for some ‘Mac Attack’ (I am going to try really hard to make this stick. Mac n Cheese sounds stupid. Reason number 1 of 25 why the Pats had to cut Cam Newton).

But while I will not drone on and on about the boy wonder, the next big thing, the answer to our prayers, I’ll shift to discuss the other 31 teams in the sport in my ‘NFL Preview & Predictions’ article. After this ‘other’ quarterback led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl victory in team history, the Bucs and Tom Brady look to run it back in 2021. They brought back virtually everyone, and they could be even more explosive than they were a year ago with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin starting the year off healthy. There will be more competition in the NFC this year than they did a year ago, with the Cowboys and 49ers bringing back key personnel from injury and Aaron Rodgers is looking happy in Green Bay again…

Maybe he is?...Who knows?

As for the AFC, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs would like a redo of their disappointing performance in the Super Bowl and they have added some key additions to their offensive line who should keep Mahomes more upright, and even more dangerous. The Bills emerged as Super Bowl contenders a year ago, and if Josh Allen continues to improve, they will continue to raise the ceiling of a franchise who is desperate to get their first Super Bowl trophy. The AFC North has a bunch of contenders, and even the Bengals with Joe Burrow coming off that horrific knee injury could get into the action as well. 

So who is doing what? Let’s get into it and find out! 

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills

2. New England Patriots

3. Miami Dolphins

4. New York Jets

Why the Bills Will Win The Division: Josh Allen and lots of depth

The Bills added a much needed playmaker in Stefon Diggs last year, and he allowed Allen to take a huge step forward in his development, finally providing Allen with the weapon he needed. But as great as Diggs was, Allen progressed into a top 5 quarterback in the league, using both his arms and legs to do so. While people may be very optimistic about the futures of New England and Miami, Allen is the best player in the division, and like Brady before him, could run the division for years to come. 

But what makes Buffalo different from the rest is the depth they have on both sides of the ball, particularly on defense. Sean McDermott’s defense finally solidified last year with the likes of Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde and one of the best front fours in football with Jerry Hughes, Star Lotulelei, Ed Oliver and Mario Addison. The Bills brought back all of their key defenders and added to the group with highly touted defensive end Greg Rousseau and added to their improved offensive line with Spencer Brown and Tommy Doyle (one of the few areas of weakness for the Bills). 

AFC North

1. Cleveland Browns 

2. Baltimore Ravens 

3. Cincinnati Bengals 

4. Pittsburgh Steelers 

Why The Browns Will Win The Division: Because they have the fewest issues

I really wanted to pick the Ravens for the division this year, but with the loss of J.K. Dobbins and how they failed to address the wide receiver position in free agency and the draft, I decided they were not the pick. Then I toyed with the idea of the Bengals, because I am secretly the biggest Joe Burrow/Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins fan in the world, the defense is not ready, and as explosive as this offense could be in 2021, they won’t be explosive enough to overcome the defense. As for Pittsburgh, Big Ben is still wobbling out there and it’s only a matter of time before the bottom drops out in Steel Town. 

So what is left is a really good football team in Cleveland, who may not win any beauty pageants for the way they win games, but it will be more than enough to win this division. If Chubb and Hunt can stay healthy, and either Jarvis Landry or Odell Bekcham Jr. can resurrect their careers, this could be the best team in the AFC. But even if that doesn’t happen, they should still be good enough to win the division. 

AFC South

1. Tennessee Titans

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Jacksonville Jaguars 

4. Houston Texans

Why The Titans Will Win The Division: Because the offense may finally outshine the defense.

Derrick Henry is a monster, a true old-school back who appears to have what running backs in the 1980s and 1990s had, which is, what I like to call, the two D’s: Durability and Dominance. But while Henry will probably be the leading rusher in football once again, the passing attack should be more dynamic than ever before. Ryan Tanniehill has been dependable at worst, pretty good at best with young receivers like A.J. Brown but the addition of Julio Jones should really put this offense over the top. 

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2. Denver Broncos

3. Las Vegas Raiders

4. Los Angeles Chargers 

Why The Chiefs Will Win The Division: Patrick Mahomes is still playing football. 

I have to believe that this point that the level that Patrick Mahomes has reached is so elite, that as long as he laces up his cleats in Kansas City they will be the division favorite every single year. Much like Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, the only realistic way you can say this team would lose this division is if some team put it all together and became not just a divisional contender but a Super Bowl contender. But thankfully for Rodgers he plays and the NFC North where that doesn’t ever appear to be the case, and Mahomes may be in a similar situation in the AFC West. 

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. New York Giants

3. Washington Football Team

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Why The Cowboys Will Win The Division: Dak Prescott Returns & Micah Parsons Emerges.

It was so close to rhyming...but the return of Dak Prescott and the emergence of Micah Parsons is going to both transform the Cowboys offense and defense into what should be...wait for...a Super Bowl contending team. Yes the Cowboys could be that good, where they should make a deep run in January and possible play for the Lombardi trophy come February. But even if they are not that good, they should at the very least be good enough to win this division.

The Giants should continue to make the right steps in the right direction with the return of Saquon Barkley, and I think the addition of Kenny Galloday was one of the better acquisitions in free agency. Sterling Shepard improved last year, but the addition of Galloday gives the Giants a true number one receiver that should take significant pressure off of Shepard and allow the Giants to use him in more diverse ways. Washington will be in contention for the division for half of the season, but the Cowboys will be too good and the Giants will be good enough to keep the Washington Team (it’s so stupd we have to keep calling them the Football Team) in third place. As for the Eagles…let the rebuild begin. 

AFC North

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Minnesota Vikings 

3. Chicago Bears 

4. Detroit Lions

Why The Packers Will Win The Division: The Packers are still the best, but the gap is closing.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers should enjoy at least one more year in the sun as the kings of the NFC North, but the Vikings and Bears will be putting up a good fight this season. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense, as we all know, is very potent and an improving defense will still make the Packers contenders in the NFC. But I think the true story of this division lies with Minnesota and Chicago and how close they can get this year in contending for the division crown. 

Now I am not saying they are going to get there, but I like one of these two teams (I actually like both) to be much better than the experts are planning on. The Vikings have two of the best weapons in the sport on offense in Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, and the two of them are good enough to hide the inadequacies of Kirk Cousins. On defense, the Vikings have to be looking to improve on that side of the ball, and if Mike Zimmer hopes to keep his job, he will have to improve the defense. I really like Mike Zimmer as a coach, and I am willing to wager he is the head coach heading into 2022. The Bears have a lot to be excited about with Justin Fields, as he may not stabilize the quarterback position for the first time in, I don’t know, 70 years? But he may also become one of the most dynamic players in the sport. Couple that with one of the best defenses in football, and the Bears should be nipping at the Packers heels all year long…

...the Lions are still bad though. 

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

2. Carolina Panthers

3. Atlanta Falcons

4. New Orleans Saints 

Why The Bucs Will Win The Division: The Bucs defense is as good as the Bucs offense. 

While everyone focuses and praises the all great and powerful Tom Brady (and rightfully so) the legacy of Brady has really overshadowed what is one of the best defenses in the league. Last year in the Super Bowl, the defense shined in completely dismembering one of the greatest talents in NFL History in Patrick Mahomes, and shutting down one of the most high powered offenses in the league. Many believed with the efforts made by so many last year on the Bucs that their impending Free Agents would take lucrative deals elsewhere and Tampa Bay would have to figure out how to fill those holes. 

But that didn’t happen and the Bucs return with virtually everyone they had from one year ago. A healthy Chris Godwin and Mike Evans should make the offense even more explosive, but the good news for Brady is he doesn’t have to be the superhero he has been for this Bucs team to win games. Considering the Falcons are in the midst of a rebuild, the Saints have major questions on offense, and the Panthers, who should contend for a wildcard spot this year, also have questions on offense, the Bucs should win this division easily. 

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers

2. Los Angeles Rams

3. Arizona Cardinals

4. Seattle Seahawks 

Why The 49ers Will Win The Division: They are healthy. 

It really could be that simple. The 49ers were decimated by injuries a year ago, more than any other team in the NFL. But entering the 2021 season the 49ers return many of their impact players on defense which was once regarded as one of the elite defenses in the NFL. If that defense can return to form, it will be the ultimate x-factor in the NFC. 

The offense should be improved as well, especially considering this will be a make or break year for Jimmy Garropolo, with rookie quarterback Trey Lance nipping at his ankles. A year ago, the 49ers, were one of nine teams to have thrown for over 5900 yards and rushed for over 2000 yards, but ranked 21st in points scored. If the 49ers can continue to move the ball like they have in the Kyle Shanahan tenure, they should have better luck getting the ball into the endzone, as opposed to settling for field goals. 

NFL MVP: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen surprised everyone a year ago by becoming one of the top 5-7 quarterbacks in the NFL. This year, Allen will not only have more competition for the AFC crown but for the AFC East title as well. The Patriots and Bills should be neck for neck for the division crown, but ultimately the Bills, and most notably Allen will have too much firepower and will hold off the Patriots. Allen will post the stats, and will win the big games to make him the MVP for the 2021 season. 

NFL Rookie of the Year: Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears

I am really rooting for this to happen, not just because of my unwavering support for Justin Fields, because the Bears finally deserve a quarterback. I think it would be a great storyline if the Packers and Bears fought to the bitter end to decide this division, which would reignite one of the NFL’s greatest rivalries. With stars like Aaron Rodgers, DeVante Adams, Khalil Mack and now Justin Fields, their yearly matchups will be must-see TV. 

NFL Head Coaches Who Will Be Fired By The End Of The Year:

1. Mike Zimmer: This year  will be the final year Minnesota believes in both Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins. Zimmer however is much easier to get rid of then Cousins. 

2. Jon Gruden: He may not get the axe, but I could see Gruden calling it quits and returning back to the booth after this season. It was a fun reunion, but these reunions do not last forever. 

3. Mike McCarthy: Dallas is going to raise the bar in terms of expectations, but Jerry is not going to be patient after being far too patient with Jason Garrett. 

4. Pete Carroll: Like Gruden, I think the Seahawks are going to give Carroll the chance to retire as opposed to firing him. It’s been a great ride, but there needs to be a new vision in Seattle. 

Offseason Storylines To Look Forward To: 

1. Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers will be on new teams in 2022: Both want out, and another disappointing season should allow both of these all-time greats to force their way out of their franchises. And with two big names out there on the trade market, it should be the most compelling offseason in all of sports. 

2. Jerry Jones wooing Lincoln Riley: He was the hot name to be hired by the Cowboys prior to McCarthy, if McCarthy were to go in 2022, there would be one name at the top of Jerry Jones’s list. 

3. Cleveland Drafts A Quarterback: If the Browns are unable to get to the next level in the 2021 campaign, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Cleveland, with all the talent they now have, bring someone in to challenge Baker. If you think it is too crazy to imagine, I’ll remind you...it’s Cleveland. 

Super Bowl Prediction: Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers

I think it is just too easy to say the Chiefs and Buccaneers will return to the Super Bowl, especially considering they are the best teams in the NFL once again. But making it back to the Super Bowl is incredibly hard, and it has only happened a few times in the last twenty years. Typically you have to have a guy named Brady be your quarterback (Oh wait, the Bucs have that). Regardless, there are two teams I am very high on this season who I do believe will ultimately end up playing for the Lombardi Trophy.

I call this the ‘Boomer Pick’ because for years on ESPN’s NFL Countdown, Chris Berman would pick the Bills/49ers to go to the Super Bowl, and this is the year it should happen. With Allen making another step in his development and the 49ers boasting what I believe will be the NFL’s best defense, the Bills and 49ers will be the best in the sport. 

One of the developing stories will be Trey Lance taking over at quarterback for the 49ers. Lance will offer the big play ability that Garropolo has been unable to sustain as an NFL starter. But a rookie quarterback starting in the Super Bowl might be a tall task, therefore I like the Bills to finally breakthrough and win their first NFL Super Bowl.