*Refresher for those that don't remember how these works. I pick every single NFL game. Sometimes the records look a little skewed, and it's tough without knowing what disastrous injuries will cut a team's season short. I base the playoffs on the games I pick. Then I also rank the teams based on my formula of 3: QB, Coach and Organization and team defense. Usually it looks a lot alike. This season is no different.
AFC East
N.E. Patriots 12-4 (2)
Miami Dolphins 5-11
Buffalo Bills 4-12
N.Y. Jets 2-14 (#1 pick and Sam Darnold in next year's draft).
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 (4)
Baltimore Ravens 10-6
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 3-13
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 12-4 (1)
Oakland Raiders 11-5 (5)
Denver Broncos 8-8
L.A. (San Diego) Chargers 7-9
AFC South
Houston Texans 12-4 (3) - Poor Texans, bad tiebreakers.
Tennessee Titans 11-5 (6)
Indianapolis Colts 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11
Tennessee at Houston - Houston
Oakland at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh at K.C. - Pittsburgh
Houston at N.E. - N.E.
Pittsburgh at N.E. - Patriots win the AFC
NFC East
N.Y Giants 11-5 (4)
Dallas Cowboys 9-7
Washington Redskins 7-9
Philadelphia Eagles 5-11
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 11-5 (2)
Minnesota Vikings 9-7 (6)
Detroit Lions 6-10
Chicago Bears 4-12
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 12-4 (1) See what I mean. I hemmed and hawed over 7-8 games. Could be 8-8.
Seattle Seahawks 9-7
L.A. Rams 4-12
S.F. 49ers 3-13
NFC South
Tampa Bay Bucs 11-5 (3)
Atlanta Falcons 11-5 (5) - This is huge. T.B. wins one more divisional game. Atl might pay for it.
Carolina Panthers 9-7 - Lost to the Vikes. Huge.
New Orleans Saints 7-9
Minnesota at Tampa Bay - Bucs
Atlanta at Giants - Atlanta
Tampa Bay at Green Bay - Bucs
Atlanta at Arizona - Atlanta
Atlanta at Tampa Bay (Home field advantage) - Tampa Bay
Might as well stay with my picks. I like Tampa to meet New England in Minneapolis next February. Unfortunately, I think the Patriots crush them both times they meet. It's not a good matchup for Tampa, unless Doug Martin goes for 160 and they control mad clock.
Nate's 9 Players to watch for the 2017 NFL Season:
9. Sam Bradford. I think the playoffs lock up the starting job and 15 million per.
8. Odell Beckham Jr. Giants might start thinking about the unthinkable, but I think he shuts up and plays.
7. Brandin Cooks. The expectations are soooo high. This will be fun to watch.
6. Famous Jameis. If I'm going to be right, he takes the next step to elite QB.
5. Von Miller. I think he's the best defensive player in the league (ahead of Watt) their battle will be fun.
4. Derek Carr. I think a lot of people assume they will challenge New England for the Super Bowl out of the AFC.
3. Joe Haden. Somewhat of a punk move going to the Steelers, but I get it. No one wants to be a Brown forever.
2. Tyrann Mathieu. If he becomes league's best, my 12-4 Cardinals prediction seems safer.
1. Dak Prescott. Not being shy about Super Bowl aspirations, I see Cowboys missing playoffs. Who wins this battle?
Nate's Rankings
AFC East
1. New England 19.3 (out of 20)
2. Miami Dolphins 12.6 (w Tannehill 14.6)
3. Buffalo Bills 9.6
4. N.Y. Jets 7.3
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 17.6
2. Baltimore Ravens 16.3
3. Cincinnati Bengals 13.0
4. Cleveland Browns 8.6
AFC West
1. Oakland Raiders 15.6
2. Kansas City Chiefs 15.3
3. Denver Broncos 14.3
4. L.A. Chargers 14.0
AFC South
1. Tennessee Titans 15.3
2. Indianapolis Colts 15.0
3. Houston Texans 15.0
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 11.6
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys 16.0
2. New York Giants 15.6
3. Washington Redskins 15.0
4. Philadelphia Eagles 13.6
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers 17.0
2. Minnesota Vikings 15.0
3. Detroit Lions 14.3
4. Chicago Bears 11.3
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks 17.0
2. Arizona Cardinals 16.3
3. S.F. 49ers 11.0
4. L.A. Rams 10.0
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons 17.6
2. Tampa Bay Bucs 16.3
3. Carolina Panthers 15.6
4. New Orleans Saints 15.3 - Man, Sean Payton and Drew Brees, but that defense is so bad.
Formula: 15.0 or higher should be a team that wants to be in the playoffs.
QB
1: Replace immediately, awful.
5: Might win a game or two on their own, wouldn't build with one.
10: Average, fans recognize his face, might not clamor for the backup
15: QB that can always take you to playoffs, wouldn't actively replace.
20: Joe Montana or Tom Brady most years.
Coach/Organization
1: Sh*% Show, wouldn't care if team left.
5: A new GM is needed soon, and bring in a coach as well.
10: Figuring some stuff out, while messing up other things.
15: Bringing in the right personnel, a little luck could push to the Super Bowl
20: Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, Bill Walsh, anyone named Bill really.
Team Defense
1: Touchdown scored upon almost every time, Saints a few seasons ago.
5: Pretty damn bad, you look forward to playing this type of team.
10: Can give some teams fits, other teams score in bunches.
15: A tough defense to play against every week, studs in each level of defense.
20: Baltimore Ravens of 2000, Bears of 1985.
(Seahawks scored a 20 a few years back, most recent defensive team to 20 in awhile.)
Enjoy the season my friends, feel free to make your own Super Bowl Predictions.
