2017 NFL Season Predictions

Here's how I see 2017 unfolding in the NFL. Playoff seeds are listed to the left of each team.

NFC East:

 

(3) New York Giants: 11-5

(5) Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

      Philadelphia Eagles: 9-7

      Washington Redskins: 6-10

Analysis: This should be one of the most competitive divisions in football as it was last season. The Giants are loaded with weapons on offense and saw their defense improve significantly last year. They’ll enter the season as a slight favorite in this division and their offensive line is the only serious question mark. Many experts are forecasting a regression to the mean for Dallas after a 13-win season in 2016.  The win total should decrease for the Cowboys, but there’s enough talent on their roster to return to the playoffs, regardless of how many games Ezekiel Elliott plays this year. The Eagles had a good offseason, filling several holes, and should compete for a playoff spot while the Redskins appear to be the odd team out.

NFC North:

            (2) Green Bay Packers: 12-4

                  Detroit Lions: 8-8

                  Minnesota Vikings: 7-9

                  Chicago Bears: 4-12

Analysis: It’s hard to think of a team challenging Green Bay here, although Detroit did make the playoffs in 2016 and Minnesota got off to a hot start before coming back to earth. The Packers are the team with the fewest flaws in the NFC North. Detroit’s offensive line and pass defense both appear to be suspect entering the season and the ceiling for Minnesota’s offense remains low. Chicago is in a rebuilding phase and the biggest question of its season will be when the reins are handed to number two overall pick Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback.

NFC South:

            (4) Carolina Panthers: 10-6

                  Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7

                  Atlanta Falcons: 9-7

                  New Orleans Saints: 7-9

Analysis: While this division holds the defending NFC champions, it’s likely to be at least a three-team race all season. Carolina’s schedule is favorable early and the Panthers close with three of their last four in their backyard in Charlotte. Therefore, a path to 10 wins is very conceivable for Ron Rivera’s bunch. Tampa Bay and Atlanta will certainly be in the playoff picture, but in a crowded NFC, some teams are bound to be left out. Atlanta’s offense likely will not be as good as it was one year ago with the departure of Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco and Tampa Bay doesn’t appear to be all that much better from its 9-7 season in 2016. If New Orleans can piece together even an average defense this year, the Saints could hang around, but that remains to be seen.

NFC West:

(1)   Seattle Seahawks: 13-3

(6)  Arizona Cardinals: 10-6

       Los Angeles Rams: 7-9

       San Francisco 49ers: 3-13

Analysis: Seattle won the NFC West last year with Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Thomas Rawls all hampered by injuries. Their offensive line is still a mess, but it’s been a concern the last couple seasons and the Seahawks have still posted double-digit win seasons every year since 2012. A healthy Seattle team should be the NFC’s top seed. Arizona is a good bounce back candidate after finishing in the top 10 in total offense and total defense last season but missing the playoffs. The Rams will improve in year one of the Sean McVay era, but still have a long way to go and San Francisco will be in the running for the first overall pick all year long.

AFC East:

(1)  New England Patriots: 14-2

Miami Dolphins: 8-8

Buffalo Bills: 5-11

New York Jets: 2-14

Analysis: Another year, another uncontested AFC East title for the Patriots.  Many feel New England could flirt with perfection and the Pats should wrap up this division by late November. Miami quietly won 10 games and got to the playoffs last year. But the loss of Vance Joseph to Denver could cause its defense to regress this season and we’ll see how Jay Cutler holds up filling in for Ryan Tannehill.

AFC North:

            (4) Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6

                  Baltimore Ravens: 8-8

                  Cincinnati Bengals: 6-10

                  Cleveland Browns: 5-11

Analysis: This division should be a two-horse race between two bitter rivals. Pittsburgh is far superior to Baltimore offensively and made efforts to bolster its defense with the recent signing of Joe Haden and spending a first-round pick on T.J. Watt. The Ravens are always in the mix, and this year is likely no exception, but they lack the appropriate playmakers on offense to hang with the Steelers. Maybe this will finally be the year Cincinnati fires Marvin Lewis while the youth movement continues in Cleveland.

AFC South:

            (3) Tennessee Titans: 11-5

            (5) Houston Texans: 10-6

                  Indianapolis Colts: 7-9

                  Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12

Analysis: Tennessee was in contention for this division in 2016 until Marcus Mariota went down with the season-ending injury late in the year. With Mariota healthy, one of the league’s best rushing attacks and added weapons for Mariota to hook up with in the passing game, the Titans are the best team in the AFC South and will be one of the league’s best offenses. There are concerns about Tennessee’s secondary, which will likely limit its ceiling, but the Titans will still win this division. Houston has a talented roster, but its quarterback play remains a question mark entering the season. Nevertheless, the Texans are good enough to make the playoffs which would be a great story for the NFL after Hurricane Harvey. Indianapolis will start the year without Andrew Luck and the rest of its roster still has glaring holes, and the Jaguars remain the Jaguars.

AFC West:

(2)  Oakland Raiders: 12-4

(6)  Los Angeles Chargers: 9-7

       Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8

       Denver Broncos: 7-9

Analysis: This is the year the Raiders take over in the AFC West. Oakland has slowly built up a promising young nucleus and a high-powered offense. There are question marks about the team’s linebackers, but the Raiders did address a glaring weakness in the secondary spending their first two draft picks on defensive backs to go with young safety Karl Joseph and veteran Reggie Nelson. The Chargers have enough talent to make the playoffs and will if they stay healthy.  However, second-round pick Forrest Lamp is already out for the year and first-round pick Mike Williams started camp on the PUP list and could be limited all season. However, if they can get a full year with Keenan Allen, Jason Verrett and Joey Bosa, they could play into January. Kansas City falls back here due to the Chargers’ ascension while quarterback questions will continue to limit Denver’s ceiling.

AP Awards:

MVP and Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers

Defensive Player of the Year: Earl Thomas

Coach of the Year: Anthony Lynn

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Joe Mixon

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Myles Garrett

Comeback Player of the Year: Marshawn Lynch

Playoffs:

Wild Card Weekend:

NFC

(3)  New York Giants over (6) Arizona Cardinals

(5)  Dallas Cowboys over (4) Carolina Panthers

AFC

            (3) Tennessee Titans over (6) Los Angeles Chargers

            (4) Pittsburgh Steelers over (5) Houston Texans

Divisional Weekend:

NFC

            (1) Seattle Seahawks over (5) Dallas Cowboys

(3) New York Giants over (2) Green Bay Packers

AFC

            (1) New England Patriots over (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

           

            (2) Oakland Raiders over (3) Tennessee Titans

Championship Weekend:

NFC

            (1) Seattle Seahawks over (3) New York Giants

AFC

            (2) Oakland Raiders over (1) New England Patriots

Super Bowl LII:

Oakland Raiders over Seattle Seahawks