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

2014 NFL Season Predictions

The NFL season is here. Sit back and enjoy my predictions for this year. I will go division by division and bold the playoff teams. I will also give records of where I think the team will finish.
Before I continue though, I will fully admit that I was going to pick the St. Louis Rams to win the Super Bowl before the Sam Bradford injury. His injury affects them so negatively and the division is so tough that I no longer see the team even making the playoffs. I personally am a huge supporter and believer in Sam Bradford and I would like to wish him a speedy recovery. This guy will do some really special things if he can ever get to 100% and stay healthy.

NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Washington Redskins (8-8)
New York Giants (7-9)
Dallas Cowboys (4-12)

NFC North
Detroit Lions (10-6)
Green Bay Packers (9-7)
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Minnesota Vikings (3-13)

NFC South
New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Carolina Panthers (10-6)
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10)

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals (12-4)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
St. Louis Rams (7-9)
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)

AFC East
New England Patriots (10-6)
Buffalo Bills (9-7)
New York Jets (7-9)
Miami Dolphins (6-10)

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Cleveland Browns (3-13)


AFC South
Houston Texans (12-4)
Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
Tennessee Titans (4-12)

AFC West
Denver Broncos (13-3)
San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
Oakland Raiders (4-12)


MVP
Matt Stafford

Did I really just pick Matthew Stafford to be the MVP of the National Football League? I certainly did and I have not lost my mind. Stafford has the best receiver in the league and additional weapons to go along with it. The Lions finally have a number 2 receiver in Golden Tate and a freak at tight end in Eric Ebron. These guys will be lethal through the air even more so than normal. This award could easily go to Johnson if these guys put up the numbers I expect, but I think the production will spread out more than in years past and Stafford will be the guy.

Coach of the Year
Bill O'Brien

Look, I may be the only guy picking this, but the Texans will win the AFC South I believe. Ryan Fitzpatrick is serviceable and this team is loaded with talent. Everything that could go wrong last year did and the Texans got Clowney because of it. I don't see that disaster happening under Bill O'Brien's watch and the Texans got some fantastic young players that can contribute now. These guys will be much better than people think. Helping them out is the fact that this is the weakest division in football. I just think the Colts are in for a bad year too with an owner that has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. It all sets up for O'Brien to go from worst team in the league to playoff appearance. If they pull it off, it will be hard to give this award to anyone else. Although Jim Caldwell will get some consideration.

5 Bold Predictions outside of records

1) Johnny Manziel will not have any wins as a starter this season.
2) Andre Ellington will be a Pro Bowler
3) Kelvin Benjamin will be offensive rookie of the year
4) Week 1 against the Giants, Matt Stafford will throw for at least 400 yards and 4 Touchdowns. Do not be surprised if some NFL records are established
5) The Houston Texans defense will lead the NFL in sacks during the regular season


NFL Playoffs Round 1
Philadelphia Eagles over Seattle Seahawks
Carolina Panthers over Detroit Lions
San Diego Chargers over New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens over Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 2
Arizona Cardinals over Philadelphia Eagles
Carolina Panthers over New Orleans Saints
San Diego Chargers over Denver Broncos
Baltimore Ravens over Houston Texans

NFC Championship
Carolina Panthers over Arizona Cardinals

AFC Championship
San Diego Chargers over Baltimore Ravens

Super Bowl
San Diego Chargers over Carolina Panthers
MVP: Philip Rivers

I realize that this is something nobody thinks can happen, but Philip Rivers took a big step forward in his development last year I believe and he was just getting started. This guy is ready for primetime and ready to win. He finally has weapons again too now that Keenan Allen will be in his second year and he has a nice 3 headed monster at running back. The defense was the best in the AFC playoffs last year and it looked like they might pull it off then. Remember the Giants came out of nowhere both times Eli won the Super Bowl. Rivers is a better QB than Eli and capable of putting these guys in the Super Bowl with the win. The AFC is wide open. Much more wide open than the NFC. Peyton Manning is the greatest regular season QB of all-time, but the postseason he struggles. I think somebody knocks them out before the Super Bowl. I also think New England will go down before them. That leaves San Diego as my top choice. I had San Diego losing to St. Louis before the Bradford injury, but his injury changes things. I now see the NFC coming down to Arizona, Carolina, and New Orleans. I picked Carolina from that group because they have the best defense, but I can see any of the three making it to the championship. One of those four teams win it I think, but Rivers shows up in the big moment here I think. Brees vs. Rivers would be an exciting Super Bowl though too.

-Noland