2015 NFL Season Predictions

The NFL season is here and that is good news for football fans everywhere.While I prefer the college game personally, I get jacked for NFL as well. Since the season is here, it is prediction time. Hopefully, these picks go slightly better than last year.

NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
New York Giants (9-7)
Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
Washington Redskins (5-11)

NFC North
Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Detroit Lions (9-7)
Chicago Bears (6-10)
Minnesota Vikings (5-11)

NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Carolina Panthers (10-6)
New Orleans Saints (6-10)
Atlanta Falcons (5-11)

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals (12-4)
Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
St. Louis Rams (6-10)
San Francisco 49ers (5-11)

AFC East
Buffalo Bills (13-3)
New England Patriots (9-7)
New York Jets (7-9)
Miami Dolphins (5-11)

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Cleveland Browns (3-13)


AFC South
Houston Texans (10-6)
Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)
Tennessee Titans (2-14)

AFC West
San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Oakland Raiders (6-10)


MVP
Joe Flacco QB Baltimore Ravens

People love to hate on Joe Flacco for some odd reason. However, all Flacco does is win. He also has a receiver again in Beshaud Perriman and the two best DBs on the Steelers retired. Everything is pointing towards Flacco having a terrific season. Do not be surprised when he gets a lot of MVP votes this year.

Coach of the Year
Bill O'Brien

Look, I know I picked this last year too, but this year it comes true. It was a little too ambitious at that time considering that the team had no real option at QB. This year you may think there is no real option, but Brian Hoyer is a big step up from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Additionally, Tom Savage is in year 2 of O'Brien's offense. Everything should go much better this year for the Texans who win the AFC South.

5 Bold Predictions outside of records
1. The Rookie of the Year will be Jameis Winston.
2. Marcus Mariota will not start every game and the Titans will have the worst record in the NFL finishing with the #1 overall pick next year. I realize that goes with a record prediction, but adds the tidbit about Mariota.
3. TY Hilton will lead the league in receiving.
4. Darren McFadden will have 1,500 rushing yards behind the Cowboys offensive line if he stays healthy.
5. Sam Bradford will be comeback player of the year and make the Philadelphia Eagles a Super Bowl Contender.

NFL Playoffs Round 1
Buccaneers over Giants
Packers over Panthers
Colts over Chargers
Texans over Chiefs

Round 2
Cardinals over Packers
Eagles over Buccaneers
Ravens over Colts
Bills over Texans

NFC Championship
Cardinals over Eagles

I do not have a lot of faith in Carson Palmer. In fact, I think he is nowhere near a typical Super Bowl Winning QB. However, he leads the Cardinals to the Super Bowl simply because they are the best and most talented team. They were the best team last year and will be one of the best again with the only hangup in this prediction being the health of Carson Palmer. Heck, actually as long as Drew Stanton stays healthy too, they were still the best team with him. It took the dreadful Ryan Lindley playing to knock down the Cardinals. Assuming that they aren't forced to go with Lindley again, the talent around Palmer is so good that this is a legit Super Bowl contender.
Most people hate on the Eagles and Chip Kelly, but I have a feeling his moves are going to workout. However, all of his moves depend on the health of his QB Sam Bradford. While I am incredibly high on Bradford still, I must admit that he is incredibly injury prone. He leads the Eagles to a familiar position as the NFC Championship Game loser.

AFC Championship
Bills over Ravens

In my typical fashion, I have picked somebody that not many people have picked here. Stale predictions are boring 1 and 2 you have to go with what you truly feel will happen. Joe Flacco simply wins in the playoffs and if not for a collapse from the defense last year against New England, he could have easily picked up his second ring last year. The Ravens will certainly be in the mix again this season.
My prediction though is that they lose to Rex Ryan's Bills. Ryan is a defensive mastermind that just inherited perhaps the most talented starting defensive line in football. There is a lot of talent on that Bills defense, and Ryan will have them performing at the top of their game. One of the reasons they get to this game is that the Pats lost some players on defense and Brady will start the season suspended creating opportunity. One of the reason they win this game is because they will be one of the few teams that can really get pressure on Joe Flacco. The big question with the Bills is how their quarterback play will be with a talented supporting cast.

Super Bowl

Bills over Cardinals

The Bills have historically lost this game when they got here, but not this time. That defense against an injury prone QB on a big stage and the QB will make a lot of nervous mistakes. The Bills will take advantage. They put everything together and win the Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl MVP

EJ Manuel

The Bills will have to get super play out of whoever wins their starting job this year. Whether it be Manuel or somebody else, whoever wins the job must play well. They have the supporting cast to do it, especially after the Bills traded for Shady McCoy. These guys are primed and ready for a Super Bowl run and win. EJ Manuel will be the man behind center helping them to win it. At least that is how I see it today. It is time for him to take over and if he can take the reigns at the level I and many others expect, the Bills will have a rather memorable season.

-Noland