It's that time of year again, time for the 2018 NFL standings and playoff predictions. This offseason saw some big changes as well as some franchise players making returns to the field. Will the returns of Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers make the ultimate differences in their divisions and perhaps in the playoffs against New England? Will the offseason move by the Los Angeles Rams pay off in the regular season? First I will start with the AFC, then move on to the NFC. With all of that said, let's start the predictions.
AFC
In the AFC, two teams have clearly stood alone for the last several years: New England and Pittsburgh. Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars from last year, who almost pulled off upsets against both teams but fell short against Tom Brady's prolific squad. Can Jacksonville sustain last year's success and improve on it? They will only take the next step......or they will simply regress. Houston and Indianapolis have something to say about Jacksonville's chances in the AFC South, and the AFC West is fair game with KC's loss of Marcus Peters and the loss of a game managing, safe QB for a new, more turnover-prone, chance taking QB.
AFC East
1.New England 13-3
2.Miami 11-5
3.New York 4-12
4.Buffalo 2-14
No surprise for who wins the division, but you may ask why do I have Miami at 11-5? Well, Miami I am expecting start the season 3-0, as they usually win their home openers. I am also predicting the return of the road wins with the jets. They should have no problem against Oakland's defense and have a better pass rush after the recent trade by the Oakland Raiders. Having back to back home games against Chicago and Detroit ensures they win one as well, which will be the latter, and their season will have them taking advantage of the bills' misfortunes sweeping them. I am also calling for two upsets, one of which is week 10 at Green Bay to satisfy a 2-2 NFC record.
As for the jets and bills, the jets have made some changes that could improve both sides of the ball, but they get bit by a tough scheduling arrangement. Having to start week 1 in Detroit in primetime, and then face Miami, an even more improved Cleveland on the road, and Jacksonville right after that does not help their chances at all. Then they face other teams looking to improve as well as the Vikings and Packers. The jets will have a lot of tough luck this year. As for the bills, they are in complete disarray that not even their defense will help them. They have the worst record in the NFL this year.
AFC North
1.Pittsburgh 10-6
2.Baltimore 10-6
3.Cleveland 9-7
4.Cincinnati 3-13
Pittsburgh takes a step back from the 13-3 season they had last year, losing a meaningless week 17 game at home to Cincinnati when they are locked into the third seed. This year, Baltimore does not lose both times, and they have some tough road matchups against the likes of New Orleans and Jacksonville. Pittsburgh's always had the tendency to lose big home games to teams who are better than people think, and one of those teams is Atlanta, who I have pulling out an upset in week 5.
What changes for Baltimore this year? They finally sweep the Bengals. The Bengals are a terrible team on short rest and that is where Baltimore can take advantage, winning in PBS again. When they play week 11 in Baltimore, the ravens are rested. With all of that said, 10-6 still may not be enough for them.
I may be going overboard but the browns are going to take a major step forward. What is helping them is the fact that a lot of teams on their schedule helping their odds. I have the browns losing week 1, and winning their next three, including beating the saints and raiders on the road. I cannot see Oakland being better after their recent trade of their star pass rusher. The saints have a tendency, especially after big years, to play down to opponents they should beat and this smells like a trap to me. I have them sweeping the Bengals. As for the Bengals, their only division win will be week 17 at Pittsburgh, and if Pittsburgh has a reason to play their starters, then they will not win any division games.
AFC South
1.Houston 12-4
2.Indianapolis 9-7
3.Jacksonville 8-8
4.Tennessee 5-11
Houston was an unstoppable offense before Deshawn Watson's season ending injury. Granted, they lost three games with him starting to NE, KC, and Seattle, but all three of those teams had to run up the score or keep up in shootouts. Week 1 is where Houston picks up where they left off and starts off with a big week 1 win at Foxborough. Andrew Luck will bring the colts back to a winning season, but it will not be enough. The differences are the week 13 and 14 road games at Jacksonville and Houston. Should Indy win either of those, they are in. As it stands, I have them losing both.
Jacksonville must know that Blake Bortles could not possibly maintain his level of play from last year. Jacksonville was not as good at home as they were on the road last year for the most part either except for when the hype propelled them to start winning home games after their bye week. Their home playoff win against Buffalo was lackluster and before their bye week they were 0-2 at home. However, their defense will help them out in some cases, but they are still going to be a better road team. The schedule is tougher this year as they face teams looking to improve and have film on them. Also, they are not sweeping the Texans and Colts again, and have to go to Tennessee on a Thursday. With Houston and Indy bouncing back, Tennessee is the odd team out. They have too much to contend with and I don't think Marcus Mariotta is at that level to handle it yet.
AFC West
1.Los Angeles 10-6
2.Kansas City 6-10
3.Oakland 4-12
4.Denver 4-12
This division has become a complete disaster, allowing for a Chargers team that would not be better than the recent division winners to have complete control. KC is going to have difficulties this season with a more explosive QB who will be taking lots of chances. Oakland's offseason is more chaotic and full of unknown reasoning, and while Denver improves on paper, the schedule is not easy for them. Even with wins against the Bengals, Browns, and Seahawks it won't be enough. I think LA sweeps them and KC as well until further notice.
AFC Playoff Standings
1.New England
2.Houston
3.Pittsburgh
4.Los Angeles
5.Miami
6.Baltimore
NFC
There's more parity in this conference from top to bottom, and last year saw two usual contenders miss the playoffs. Will Seattle, Green Bay, or both get back into their familiar stomping grounds? Are the Los Angeles Rams a force to be reckoned with in the NFC? Can the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings maintain their positions from last year? Do the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending super bowl champions, withstand the curse of the NFC East? That's up first...
NFC East
1.New York 11-5
2.Philadelphia 10-6
3.Dallas 10-6
4.Washington 4-12
NY, Philadelphia, and Dallas will be battling it out in this division and Washington will be left out in the cold. Ultimately my division win prediction came down to who I saw as the most improved, and to me, that was the Giants. All three teams go 4-2 in the division, but the Giants' last place schedule against Chicago and SF, both of which I see as wins, gives them the edge over Philadelphia. Philadelphia loses both to the Vikings and Rams; and Dallas will lose one more game against the NFC South than NY.
NFC North
1.Green Bay 12-4
2.Chicago 9-7
3.Minnesota 9-7
4.Detroit 6-10
The packers will bounce back. Even with some issues they may have, they are still good enough to have majority wins against the NFC West, AFC East, and beating Washington and Atlanta. They split with Chicago and Minnesota, but they sweep Detroit, who will go on a long losing streak after their Monday night win week 1. Minnesota is not going to go 5-1 in the division again, and they will have a reaction to a disappointment compared to the standards they have set. When they start the season 2-2 and the packers are 4-0, they know they will not do better than last year. Chicago was already looking to improve on offense, and then they traded for Khalil Mack. Their defense was sneaky good last year and now they could be even better when Mack picks up the process with the team. Chicago is back in the mix for contending rights, and in a year that would otherwise have been Detroit's, the Lions have just not really made any improvements and love losing to good teams, and they have a lot of them on the schedule this year.
NFC South
1.New Orleans 10-6
2.Atlanta 9-7
3.Carolina 7-9
4.Tampa Bay 5-11
This division is between the Saints and Falcons. The Saints win the division back to back for the first time in their franchise history, and the difference is they sweep Atlanta. However, they are taking a step back from last year. They have to go on the road against teams that will be better than last year, such as New York and Dallas. Going to NJ and asking for a win after going to Atlanta is asking too much. Further, playing back to back Thursdays is also a challenge, as the Saints are not familiar with that, which is why Dallas has won their last three post-Thanksgiving games that they have played in. As it stands, I see 2-2 against the AFC North, while I have Atlanta sweeping the division. The two losses are both traps and they could be the difference between another fourth seed and a first round bye.
As for the other two, Carolina continues to follow a winning season with a non-winning season, and Tampa Bay just needs a lot to go wrong.
NFC West
1.Los Angeles 13-3
2.San Francisco 11-5
3.Seattle 8-8
4.Arizona 3-13
LA will back up their offseason by taking HFA. What happens after that remains to be seen. I have them losing only to SF in the division at to NO and Chicago among the other two. Chicago is right after they go to Detroit, and they will have been away from playing at home for four weeks. SF will have a hiccup along the way, making it easier for LA to clinch before week 17. That will be week 10 against the Giants. Seattle's glory days are over for now, and they will miss the playoffs again, but I do have them sweeping Arizona, who has a new coaching change and new faces under center. After a tough start, Seattle will try to rebound, closing the season 5-1 in their last five weeks, losing only at SF week 15.
NFC Playoff Standings
1.Los Angeles
2.Green Bay
3.New York
4.New Orleans
5.San Francisco
6.Philadelphia
Wild Card Round
In the AFC, the dolphins and ravens go on the road against teams that will end their seasons. Baltimore does not get one over in Pittsburgh this time, and Miami is not playing LAC in the regular season. Pittsburgh and LA advance. On the NFC side, the biggest matchup is SF/NO. Who comes out on top in that matchup? Just because the Saints are at home and have not lost at home since before 2000 does not mean they cannot lose this game. Ultimately, I am picking SF to move on. Philadelphia has owned the giants in the playoffs, so while the giants won the division, they go home right after.
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Los Angeles over Miami
Philadelphia over New York
San Francisco over New Orleans
Divisional Round
Houston holds all the cards to stopping another New England super bowl, and they must beat Pittsburgh to have that chance. If Pittsburgh wins, they will most likely hand New England another AFC title, and that is what I am expecting to happen. LA could give NE a run for their money, but I don't think they can handle the cold temperatures in the Northeast. Also, Brady is 2-0 against LA in the postseason. In the NFC, Philadelphia gets to go to LA again after playing them four weeks earlier. This has been an upset many times in the past, and LA is the only team in the NFC West to lose at home in their first playoff game. LA has too much to lose, so Philadelphia falls short. Green Bay has lost their last two playoff games to SF, and this is also a rematch. Green Bay should end the playoff losing streak as the coaching will not be as stout as the Harbaugh era.
New England over Los Angeles
Pittsburgh over Houston
Los Angeles over Philadelphia
Green Bay over San Francisco
Championship Round
Does Pittsburgh finally have the guts to beat Brady for the first time since 2011? Can they beat NE for the first time in the Brady era in January? This has been the ultimate monkey on the back of Pittsburgh and the only thing standing in their way of hoisting the Lombardi. Also, this matchup will be for ultimate history, and if Pittsburgh gives NE the chance to tie them in all time super bowl wins, then it happened because of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is going to give away their super bowl lead,
New England over Pittsburgh
Green Bay will lose the regular season matchup at LA, but they have another shot at the Rams. Rodgers has a losing trend himself. He has lost his last two NFC championship games. This game will be close, and ultimately it's going to come down to coaching, defense, and running the ball. LA has the advantage in two of those. If Green Bay were to win, they would win it all, and I don't think the NFC is winning this year.
Los Angeles over Green Bay
Super Bowl
The Los Angeles Rams will achieve their goal in getting to the big game, but this team will learn about the meaning of experience. It does not matter how good LA's defense is, Goff is going to have to deliver against a team on a mission. I'm sorry to say, but we are not talking Nick Foles here. History is made with New England.
New England wins their sixth Lombardi, tying Pittsburgh for the most super bowls.
So, there you have it. New England wins for the third time in six years and is one win away from being the all-time super bowl winners.
AFC
In the AFC, two teams have clearly stood alone for the last several years: New England and Pittsburgh. Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars from last year, who almost pulled off upsets against both teams but fell short against Tom Brady's prolific squad. Can Jacksonville sustain last year's success and improve on it? They will only take the next step......or they will simply regress. Houston and Indianapolis have something to say about Jacksonville's chances in the AFC South, and the AFC West is fair game with KC's loss of Marcus Peters and the loss of a game managing, safe QB for a new, more turnover-prone, chance taking QB.
AFC East
1.New England 13-3
2.Miami 11-5
3.New York 4-12
4.Buffalo 2-14
No surprise for who wins the division, but you may ask why do I have Miami at 11-5? Well, Miami I am expecting start the season 3-0, as they usually win their home openers. I am also predicting the return of the road wins with the jets. They should have no problem against Oakland's defense and have a better pass rush after the recent trade by the Oakland Raiders. Having back to back home games against Chicago and Detroit ensures they win one as well, which will be the latter, and their season will have them taking advantage of the bills' misfortunes sweeping them. I am also calling for two upsets, one of which is week 10 at Green Bay to satisfy a 2-2 NFC record.
As for the jets and bills, the jets have made some changes that could improve both sides of the ball, but they get bit by a tough scheduling arrangement. Having to start week 1 in Detroit in primetime, and then face Miami, an even more improved Cleveland on the road, and Jacksonville right after that does not help their chances at all. Then they face other teams looking to improve as well as the Vikings and Packers. The jets will have a lot of tough luck this year. As for the bills, they are in complete disarray that not even their defense will help them. They have the worst record in the NFL this year.
AFC North
1.Pittsburgh 10-6
2.Baltimore 10-6
3.Cleveland 9-7
4.Cincinnati 3-13
Pittsburgh takes a step back from the 13-3 season they had last year, losing a meaningless week 17 game at home to Cincinnati when they are locked into the third seed. This year, Baltimore does not lose both times, and they have some tough road matchups against the likes of New Orleans and Jacksonville. Pittsburgh's always had the tendency to lose big home games to teams who are better than people think, and one of those teams is Atlanta, who I have pulling out an upset in week 5.
What changes for Baltimore this year? They finally sweep the Bengals. The Bengals are a terrible team on short rest and that is where Baltimore can take advantage, winning in PBS again. When they play week 11 in Baltimore, the ravens are rested. With all of that said, 10-6 still may not be enough for them.
I may be going overboard but the browns are going to take a major step forward. What is helping them is the fact that a lot of teams on their schedule helping their odds. I have the browns losing week 1, and winning their next three, including beating the saints and raiders on the road. I cannot see Oakland being better after their recent trade of their star pass rusher. The saints have a tendency, especially after big years, to play down to opponents they should beat and this smells like a trap to me. I have them sweeping the Bengals. As for the Bengals, their only division win will be week 17 at Pittsburgh, and if Pittsburgh has a reason to play their starters, then they will not win any division games.
AFC South
1.Houston 12-4
2.Indianapolis 9-7
3.Jacksonville 8-8
4.Tennessee 5-11
Houston was an unstoppable offense before Deshawn Watson's season ending injury. Granted, they lost three games with him starting to NE, KC, and Seattle, but all three of those teams had to run up the score or keep up in shootouts. Week 1 is where Houston picks up where they left off and starts off with a big week 1 win at Foxborough. Andrew Luck will bring the colts back to a winning season, but it will not be enough. The differences are the week 13 and 14 road games at Jacksonville and Houston. Should Indy win either of those, they are in. As it stands, I have them losing both.
Jacksonville must know that Blake Bortles could not possibly maintain his level of play from last year. Jacksonville was not as good at home as they were on the road last year for the most part either except for when the hype propelled them to start winning home games after their bye week. Their home playoff win against Buffalo was lackluster and before their bye week they were 0-2 at home. However, their defense will help them out in some cases, but they are still going to be a better road team. The schedule is tougher this year as they face teams looking to improve and have film on them. Also, they are not sweeping the Texans and Colts again, and have to go to Tennessee on a Thursday. With Houston and Indy bouncing back, Tennessee is the odd team out. They have too much to contend with and I don't think Marcus Mariotta is at that level to handle it yet.
AFC West
1.Los Angeles 10-6
2.Kansas City 6-10
3.Oakland 4-12
4.Denver 4-12
This division has become a complete disaster, allowing for a Chargers team that would not be better than the recent division winners to have complete control. KC is going to have difficulties this season with a more explosive QB who will be taking lots of chances. Oakland's offseason is more chaotic and full of unknown reasoning, and while Denver improves on paper, the schedule is not easy for them. Even with wins against the Bengals, Browns, and Seahawks it won't be enough. I think LA sweeps them and KC as well until further notice.
AFC Playoff Standings
1.New England
2.Houston
3.Pittsburgh
4.Los Angeles
5.Miami
6.Baltimore
NFC
There's more parity in this conference from top to bottom, and last year saw two usual contenders miss the playoffs. Will Seattle, Green Bay, or both get back into their familiar stomping grounds? Are the Los Angeles Rams a force to be reckoned with in the NFC? Can the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings maintain their positions from last year? Do the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending super bowl champions, withstand the curse of the NFC East? That's up first...
NFC East
1.New York 11-5
2.Philadelphia 10-6
3.Dallas 10-6
4.Washington 4-12
NY, Philadelphia, and Dallas will be battling it out in this division and Washington will be left out in the cold. Ultimately my division win prediction came down to who I saw as the most improved, and to me, that was the Giants. All three teams go 4-2 in the division, but the Giants' last place schedule against Chicago and SF, both of which I see as wins, gives them the edge over Philadelphia. Philadelphia loses both to the Vikings and Rams; and Dallas will lose one more game against the NFC South than NY.
NFC North
1.Green Bay 12-4
2.Chicago 9-7
3.Minnesota 9-7
4.Detroit 6-10
The packers will bounce back. Even with some issues they may have, they are still good enough to have majority wins against the NFC West, AFC East, and beating Washington and Atlanta. They split with Chicago and Minnesota, but they sweep Detroit, who will go on a long losing streak after their Monday night win week 1. Minnesota is not going to go 5-1 in the division again, and they will have a reaction to a disappointment compared to the standards they have set. When they start the season 2-2 and the packers are 4-0, they know they will not do better than last year. Chicago was already looking to improve on offense, and then they traded for Khalil Mack. Their defense was sneaky good last year and now they could be even better when Mack picks up the process with the team. Chicago is back in the mix for contending rights, and in a year that would otherwise have been Detroit's, the Lions have just not really made any improvements and love losing to good teams, and they have a lot of them on the schedule this year.
NFC South
1.New Orleans 10-6
2.Atlanta 9-7
3.Carolina 7-9
4.Tampa Bay 5-11
This division is between the Saints and Falcons. The Saints win the division back to back for the first time in their franchise history, and the difference is they sweep Atlanta. However, they are taking a step back from last year. They have to go on the road against teams that will be better than last year, such as New York and Dallas. Going to NJ and asking for a win after going to Atlanta is asking too much. Further, playing back to back Thursdays is also a challenge, as the Saints are not familiar with that, which is why Dallas has won their last three post-Thanksgiving games that they have played in. As it stands, I see 2-2 against the AFC North, while I have Atlanta sweeping the division. The two losses are both traps and they could be the difference between another fourth seed and a first round bye.
As for the other two, Carolina continues to follow a winning season with a non-winning season, and Tampa Bay just needs a lot to go wrong.
NFC West
1.Los Angeles 13-3
2.San Francisco 11-5
3.Seattle 8-8
4.Arizona 3-13
LA will back up their offseason by taking HFA. What happens after that remains to be seen. I have them losing only to SF in the division at to NO and Chicago among the other two. Chicago is right after they go to Detroit, and they will have been away from playing at home for four weeks. SF will have a hiccup along the way, making it easier for LA to clinch before week 17. That will be week 10 against the Giants. Seattle's glory days are over for now, and they will miss the playoffs again, but I do have them sweeping Arizona, who has a new coaching change and new faces under center. After a tough start, Seattle will try to rebound, closing the season 5-1 in their last five weeks, losing only at SF week 15.
NFC Playoff Standings
1.Los Angeles
2.Green Bay
3.New York
4.New Orleans
5.San Francisco
6.Philadelphia
Wild Card Round
In the AFC, the dolphins and ravens go on the road against teams that will end their seasons. Baltimore does not get one over in Pittsburgh this time, and Miami is not playing LAC in the regular season. Pittsburgh and LA advance. On the NFC side, the biggest matchup is SF/NO. Who comes out on top in that matchup? Just because the Saints are at home and have not lost at home since before 2000 does not mean they cannot lose this game. Ultimately, I am picking SF to move on. Philadelphia has owned the giants in the playoffs, so while the giants won the division, they go home right after.
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Los Angeles over Miami
Philadelphia over New York
San Francisco over New Orleans
Divisional Round
Houston holds all the cards to stopping another New England super bowl, and they must beat Pittsburgh to have that chance. If Pittsburgh wins, they will most likely hand New England another AFC title, and that is what I am expecting to happen. LA could give NE a run for their money, but I don't think they can handle the cold temperatures in the Northeast. Also, Brady is 2-0 against LA in the postseason. In the NFC, Philadelphia gets to go to LA again after playing them four weeks earlier. This has been an upset many times in the past, and LA is the only team in the NFC West to lose at home in their first playoff game. LA has too much to lose, so Philadelphia falls short. Green Bay has lost their last two playoff games to SF, and this is also a rematch. Green Bay should end the playoff losing streak as the coaching will not be as stout as the Harbaugh era.
New England over Los Angeles
Pittsburgh over Houston
Los Angeles over Philadelphia
Green Bay over San Francisco
Championship Round
Does Pittsburgh finally have the guts to beat Brady for the first time since 2011? Can they beat NE for the first time in the Brady era in January? This has been the ultimate monkey on the back of Pittsburgh and the only thing standing in their way of hoisting the Lombardi. Also, this matchup will be for ultimate history, and if Pittsburgh gives NE the chance to tie them in all time super bowl wins, then it happened because of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is going to give away their super bowl lead,
New England over Pittsburgh
Green Bay will lose the regular season matchup at LA, but they have another shot at the Rams. Rodgers has a losing trend himself. He has lost his last two NFC championship games. This game will be close, and ultimately it's going to come down to coaching, defense, and running the ball. LA has the advantage in two of those. If Green Bay were to win, they would win it all, and I don't think the NFC is winning this year.
Los Angeles over Green Bay
Super Bowl
The Los Angeles Rams will achieve their goal in getting to the big game, but this team will learn about the meaning of experience. It does not matter how good LA's defense is, Goff is going to have to deliver against a team on a mission. I'm sorry to say, but we are not talking Nick Foles here. History is made with New England.
New England wins their sixth Lombardi, tying Pittsburgh for the most super bowls.
So, there you have it. New England wins for the third time in six years and is one win away from being the all-time super bowl winners.
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