NFL 2020

 This is going to be a season unlike any other, and I believe that predictions are going to be next to impossible to make. Still doesn't mean that I won't do them! If you consider that I won't take the lack of a crowd into consideration and when/if they show up in the later weeks, then that's all I need. The NBA and NHL have proven that it's been a bit of a crap shoot when it's come to guessing who's going to run the show. Even MLB has been a little unusual, the Rangers and Red Sox usually challenge for playoff places and this year they are in contention for a top 5 pick in next year's draft. In any case, football is back! 

7 playoff teams now instead of 6. I will use an * to designate which teams I think will make the playoffs.

The playoffs if they happen are going to be insane if there are no fans. Anyone could beat anyone without the distraction of crowd noise and "abusive" environments. (Bye Eagles)

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys*

2. Philadelphia Eagles*

3. New York Giants
4. Washington DC Team

I think Dallas runs away with it here. They are really set up to run for the next two or three seasons, and dare I say it, but they kind of look like the 1998 Minnesota Vikings with their offensive talent. Should be fun to watch if Dak can put it all together. I think Eagles and Giants will be extremely close, maybe even down to final weekend. Eagles get Washington while Giants get Dallas, and I'm guessing that's the difference. DC Team are quietly building one of the NFL's best defenses, but that offense... it's awful. A Trevor Lawrence could make things really interesting in years to come. 2-14 might not be all bad.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers*
2. Minnesota Vikings*
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

Such strange teams all. Packers are drafting like a rebuild, but have a roster built to win now. Coach Mike Zimmer blew up his defense, let go of Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen, and traded away Stefon Diggs, but may have replaced everyone they lost. If Jefferson can win a OROY award, the offense shouldn't lose a step. Chicago is now a few players away, where I felt like last year, they were only a QB away. Jimmy Graham was a weird signing considering their draft, and I'm not sure Anthony Miller is a bona fide #2 WR. Love their defense though. Roquan Smith might be best OLB in the league. Khalil Mack is a monster. Lions are another strange team right now. Loaded on offense, and D'Andre Swift could be another OROY. Defense they lost Darius Slay, and there's no depth at all. I like Patricia, but his time is running out.

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints*
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Carolina Panthers

The Saints keep attempting to create a team that can win a 2nd Super Bowl for Drew Brees and always seem to come up short. This finally might be their year, and they added a few nice pieces. I look for Emmanuel Sanders to be big in the clutch, and Taysom Hill to provide big moments to potentially get them over the hump. Tampa Bay did everything in their power to give Tom a team capable of going to the super bowl. It's going to be close, but I think with their difficult schedule and lack of depth on the defense that they end up short of the playoffs. But it will be the most exciting team to watch. Atlanta and Carolina are both very talented teams, experiencing a lot of changes. Todd Gurley will break in the Atlanta O, and Matt Rhule will introduce some very interesting formations to the Panthers. 2021 might be a better bet for both of these teams.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers*
2. Arizona Cardinals*
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Los Angeles Rams

Toughest division to predict. I think the Cardinals will be the surprise package and sneak into the playoffs at the expense of the Bucs and Seahawks. Big bet for me. Russell has a bit of help again on the defensive side, but I think the offense takes a step back. The 49ers should probably be the team that doesn't have quite the good season, but I think that defense has a chip on their shoulder for such a poor 4th quarter against the MVP. Kyle Shanahan keeps the offense exciting and interesting and maybe one step ahead of the rest. The Rams will be the best last placed team in the league, but trying to even win 3 games in this division might be a little tough. They have the league's best defensive player, but if Jared Goff can't take that jump, it might be a long year for a talented team.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills*
2. New England Patriots*
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets

The dynasty is finally over! And Bill will probably prove all of us wrong and get the best out of Cam Newton, but I'm going to take my shot here. I really, really like the Bills and their defense could be one of the best in the league. Assuming the Bills don't blow any easy games (they have 5), they should be able to win 10-11 games and pull off the division. Bill Belicheck will push them to the end. I just think they lost to many players to the virus list and losing Tom Brady would affect any franchise. Miami could be on a really quick turn around, and challenging for a title in a year or two, assuming that Tua is as good as we were led to believe before injuries. They've put a bit of talent on this roster. New York is in disarray, and losing Jamal Adams will hurt. Le'Veon seems upset, Robbie Anderson is gone, but hey, they should have a good offensive line!

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens*
2. Pittsburgh Steelers*
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals

This division is deceptively tricky to me. All these picks get blown up if an injury happens to any QB. I really believe that Joe Burrow can have the Bengals close to the Browns, even this year. He is confident and he is good. I liked the Browns more last year, and they weren't very good. Any team with Jarvis Landry, OBJ, Nick Chubb and Baker Mayfield shouldn't be having problems. But they continue to do so. The division will be won on Ben Roethlisberger's return. If they don't miss a beat, I think they can jump ahead of the Ravens. But they have their own chip, and I do think Lamar plays 16 games. So I'll give the Ravens the nod here.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts*
2. Tennessee Titans*
3. Houston Texans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

The top 3 in this division are really difficult to choose from. I think Jacksonville is doing everything in their power to finish 3-13, but Gardner Minshew might be able to get a few wins out of this team. DJ Chark is a WR1, and the defense still has some pieces. The Colts, Titans and Texans will probably all battle until the final weekend, and I really like the rushing duo of Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack to get the Colts to the end. Nothing to say of Derrick Henry who is also great, but the Titans have a tough December. Houston is counting on Duke and David Johnson, which I'm not to high on, but they still have a solid defense. I'll give it to the rejuvenated Philip Rivers. 

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs*
2. Denver Broncos
3. LA Chargers
4. Vegas Raiders

I think everyone believes that the Kansas City Chiefs are the heavy favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl this year. They're probably not far off; this is as loaded of a roster as I've seen since some of the Patriots top teams. Not the recent winners that won with Tom and Bill outmaneuvering but the teams with Willle McGinest, Teddy Bruschi, Ty Law and all those other guys. They have the best QB in the league, arguably a top 3 WR, a top 3 TE, a top 3 O-Line and loads of talent on the defensive side. One of the best coaches in football, my real favorite for OROY (CEH) and a die hard fan base. But missing that last thing could hurt, also the Super Bowl hangover that seems to affect most teams. Denver is nice, but just lost their best player today to a season ending injury. I'll keep them 2nd because I had them there prior, but it's definitely an opening for the Raiders and Chargers. LA is a QB away, and we'll see if Austin Ekeler can be the horse. I don't watch Vegas, I don't care to watch Vegas, so putting them in last just felt like the right thing to do. Would love to see them prove me wrong.

NFC Playoffs:

1 seed: Dallas Cowboys
2 seed vs 7 seed: N.O. Saints vs Arizona Cardinals - Saints
3 seed vs 6 seed: S.F. 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles - 49ers
4 seed vs 5 seed: G.B. Packers vs Minnesota Vikings - Packers

1 seed vs 4 seed: Dallas Cowboys vs G.B. Packers - Cowboys
2 seed vs 3 seed: N.O. Saints vs S.F. 49ers - Saints

1 seed vs 2 seed: Dallas Cowboys vs N.O. Saints - Saints

AFC Playoffs:

1 seed: Baltimore Ravens
2 seed vs 7 seed: K.C. Chiefs vs N.E. Patriots - Chiefs
3 seed vs 6 seed: Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers
4 seed vs 5 seed: Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans - Titans

1 seed vs 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Ravens
2 seed vs 5 seed: K.C. Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans - Ah what the hell, Titans.

1 seed vs 5 seed: Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans - Finish last year's business, Titans.

Super Bowl: Tennessee Titans vs New Orleans Saints

I didn't think I would be here. It makes sense in a lot of ways, both teams have unfinished business left over from the last season, but I don't think they're the two most talented teams in the league (Chiefs, Cowboys). But in regards to the Cowboys, I don't think they're ready for the big moment, and for the Chiefs, maybe that hunger disappears? I never predict my Super Bowls, but I think this would be a delicious matchup of styles and head coaches. Two different ways to win. But with COVID lingering and fans missing anything can happen. Should be a great ride!

Nate's 9 to watch:

RB - Clyde Edwards Helaire. You're already seeing it tonight. Burrow was great, but CEH was right there.
WR - Brandon Aiyuk. Could be the 49ers #1 WR by end of year.
Chargers D-Line - Whoa!
Gardner Minshew - Least talented roster in the league, can he make magic!?
Drew Lock - Weapons galore! How long of a leash does Elway give him?
Dak Prescott - See above, but with Super bowl aspirations.
Jordan Love - Haha yeah right. My least favorite draft pick of all-time.
Darius Slay - I thought Eagles needed help elsewhere, but he might be motivated by a Super Bowl chance.
COVID - has a lot of power, could end our season at any time. 😔

NCAA Football Preview

What's that you say? Clemson and Alabama are still playing?

NCAA Championship game: Clemson vs Alabama