NFC West 2016 Prediction

by Tony | Sep 7, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Speculation

Tony: If you’ve got Amazon Prime, and you’re a fan of the NFL (which, if you’re reading this, I assume you are), then I highly recommend you start watching All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals. Now. Seriously, we’ll wait.

The 2015 Cardinals were a great story, and the NFL Films crew did a great job documenting it. And in 2016, there’s no reason in my mind to expect much less. The Cardinals added Chandler Jones by trading a starting guard, replaced the guard with Evan Mathis, and drafted one of the more intriguing names in Robert Nkemdiche, who’s draft stock fell faster than that time he fell out of a hotel window.

Seemingly the only thing that could stop the Cardinals from repeating as division champion would be the Seattle Seahawks, who are probably excited to see if Russell Wilson can keep getting lucky on the field, now that he’s getting lucky off the field. The Seahawks are still suspect on the offensive line, and have questions at running back with Marshawn Lynch retiring, but they still have one of the best defenses in the league.

Andy: I’ll give you a reason why the Cardinals can’t repeat. Brett Favre.

You remember how great he was in 2009, leading the Vikings within a 12-men-in-the-huddle call of a FG to win the NFC Championship game? Most thought when he came back in 2010, it would be the same story. But instead, injuries and age set in, Brad Childress got canned and Favre left the game crumpled and concussed in a heap.

Carson Palmer was fantastic in 2015 right up until the NFC Championship game. But age is catching up with him too. I don’t think the fall will be quite as dramatic with him as it was with Favre. But I do think Arizona takes a step back.

And yes, Tony is right, it is Seattle that will challenge Arizona. And the Seahawks will win. The offensive line is suspect, but it is better than it was at the start of 2015. Thomas Rawls will do a passable Marshawn Lynch impression and he’ll have help from Christine Michael and, eventually, C.J. Prosise. But what has me most intrigued about Seattle this year is the continued emergence of Russell Wilson, who really came on the second half of last season when he was given the chance to start winging the ball a bit more. Watch out for Tyler Lockett this season – he’s a star in the making.

After that you’ve got St. Lou … Err, the Los Angeles Rams returning and, much like before they left, mostly achieving mediocrity. My only questions on the Rams: A) How long will Jeff Fisher keep his job while producing repeated 8-8, 7-9 seasons and B) How long before the Los Angeles fans stop showing up, reminding everyone why two teams left that city within the last 30 years?

Tony: My guess—one season, and two seasons.  I think Rams ownership kept Fisher around for the transition because 1) he’d done it before (moving the Houston Oilers to Tennessee), and to have one fewer transitions to worry about while adjusting to their new city. Barring a miraculous turnaround, I suspect they will clean the slate while also announcing a return to their just as ugly blue and yellow uniforms.

And then you’ve got the 49ers, who’s fall from grace has been so amazing that they likely rival San Diego for most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL. Seriously, how did we reach the point where the Oakland Raiders are the model franchise within the state—at least for another year or so?

Andy: I actually like the Rams’ ugly blue and yellow uniforms. Bring them back! Bring them back!

The Rams have some talent, but not nearly as much as Arizona. They do have more than San Francisco. I echo everything Tony said in the last paragraphs.

Tony’s Prediction:
Arizona
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles

Andy’s Prediction:
Seattle
Arizona
St. Louis, err, Los Angeles
San Francisco

NFC South 2016 Prediction

by Tony & Andy | Sep 6, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Speculation

Tony: After the Super Bowl last year, I predicted to Andy that the Carolina Panthers would not make the playoffs in 2016, largely based on the immaturity shown by Cam Newton after the loss to the Denver Broncos—but also on the level of competitiveness of the rest of the division. I’m not sure I still believe my prediction, because the Panthers still have the fewest questions in the division, even after cutting Josh Norman—but at least two teams in the division do appear to be closing the gap.

Andy: I wonder which of the teams Tony think hasn’t closed the gap.

I like where the Bucs are headed. Jameis Winston was solid as a rookie and should only get better. I am not alone in expecting that Mike Evans will take his already solid play up a notch this year. And while Lavonte David’s prediction that the Bucs’ defense can be the best ever is stunningly laughable, it does have some interesting pieces.

But there are questions. As there are in Atlanta and New Orleans, where, respectively, the ability to rush the passer and the ability to field a professional level defense, are in serious question.

Of the two, I think New Orleans has the offense more capable of overcoming a way subpar defense. Michael Thomas should be a fun-to-watch replacement for Marcus Colston. And Drew Brees can still sling the pig. I question in Atlanta whether Mohamed Sanu can replace the departed Roddy White as Julio Jones’ sidekick. That said, the Matt Ryan-to-Julio Jones combo is always formidable.  (more…)

NFC North 2016 Prediction

by Tony & Andy | Sep 5, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Speculation

Tony: What a difference a week makes…when we started writing these summaries, the NFC North looked like it might be one of the most entertaining battles in the NFL, with the Vikings and Packers going back at it again after the Vikings managed to wrest the division title away from the Pack in 2015.

A few days later, and the Vikings are trying to figure out if Shaun Hill can hold together for 16 games, something he’s never even been close to having to do before.

And oddly enough, in a very un-Minnesotan like manner, there are still a lot of fans who think that the defense, combined with Adrian Peterson, still provides a legitimate shot at the division. Of course, many Viking fans have also showed their idiocy following Teddy Bridgewater’s injury, which is disheartening to this Viking fan.

Meanwhile, Green Bay did it’s regular Green Bay thing, by adding such offseason free agents as Jared Cook and…well, that’s about it. Of course, getting Jordy Nelson back, along with about 80% of Eddie Lacy back, means the Packers should improve upon their 23^rd ranked offense (yardage)—but will their defense maintain or improve on their performance from 2015?

And one of the funniest comments I saw on Twitter after the Bridgewater injury was a Lions fan asking if a door had just opened for the Lions…

Andy: The Bridgewater injury was agonizing, as was the fan follow up. I actually saw one guy say the Vikings should trade Bridgewater and a 1st for Philip Rivers or Eli Manning … Like for some reason the Giants or Chargers were going to be clamoring to acquire a QB whose knee had just been turned to goo.

Shaun Hill is a guy you don’t mind throwing in for a game or two if Teddy gets nicked, but Hill, at five years younger than me, is not the guy you want to throw out there for 16 games. That means the Vikings will be looking for waiver wire or trade targets, which means they’re not going to have their guy at QB for two to four weeks, perhaps.

So … Yeah, I don’t think Minnesota overcomes that this year. It’s a disappointment for Vikings fans, but Green Bay will win the division this year. They might have even before the injury, but now I think they do so comfortably.

With Nelson back and Lacy not eating everything in site, the offense was going to be improved. The Vikings’ defense is still good enough to compete for a playoff spot. And … No, a door did not just open for the Lions. Not even a crack.

Tony: Nor did the door open for the Bears, who are likely once again the doormats of the division. They made some solid free agency signings, like Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, and some interesting draft picks like Cody Whitehair, but the team was too void of talent to take the next step, even with the master of squeezing everything out of the talent a team has (until Super Bowl time) John Fox at the helm.

In fact, I only see two ways that the Bears could jump the Lions this year—first, if the Lions learn to regret their decision to retain Jim Caldwell, who has always just struck me as outmatched for some reason—great coordinator, lacking as a head coach. The second is if Jay Cutler somehow out performs Matthew Stafford in their new look offenses—something that seems to be a stretch.  Cutler finally gets a chance to have two real WR again, with Kevin White healthy—but also has to overcome the offensive coordinator that re-vitalized his career taking his talents to South Beach. Meanwhile, Stafford lost his best target in Calvin Johnson—but very well may be better off for it, as he can more effectively distribute the ball to his full array of weapons, which includes newly signed Marvin Jones, who has impressed in preseason.

I still don’t like the Lions to jump into the playoff discussion yet, as their defense still has a ways to go, but they might be another team that is headed in the right direction.

Andy: I find it hard to believe that Stafford will be “better off” for not having Johnson, but there will be, out of necessity, a more balanced approach. That said, with guys like Eric Ebron, Marvin Jones and Ameer Abdullah, who have not exactly been the picture of durability throughout their respective careers, I see attrition as one way the Bears could step up and finish at the top of the lower half of the North. High praise, I know.

This is a two team division, in terms of the playoff race. Probably about one-and-one-third with Bridgewater’s injury. The Lions and Bears are playing to stay out of last place.

Tony’s Prediction:

Packers
Vikings
Lions
Bears

Andy’s Prediction:

Packers
Vikings
Lions
Bears