With the NFL season getting closer and closer, training camps being under way,
I thought (Before my official season predictions) I would make 20 surprising
predictions for the 2014 season. I did
this before the 2011 season (didn't post it) and managed to get 7 out of 20
surprising predictions right. None of
these are going to be very predictable (Such as saying the Broncos will win the
AFC West). I'll try to go out on a limb
for each one.
20. The NFC West WILL have a team lose at least 10 games... maybe 11 or 12.
Yes, the NFC West is good, and will have at least two playoff teams for sure, but I think one team might just succumb to the pressure of playing in the best division in football. I'm not sure which team, but either the Rams or Cardinals are most likely, obviously. I'm crossing my fingers that it's the 49ers.
19. Perfection will die early--No perfect teams after Week 7's games
There are plenty of very talented teams in football, which is exactly the reason why no one will be perfect after week 7. Usually there's one team that starts 8-0 or 9-0... but not this year.
18. The worst division in football won't be the AFC South, but the AFC East
Just going on a limb, thinking the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins could all have losing records, one of which might have a top 3 pick in next year's draft.
17. The Jacksonville Jaguars will shock the world and ALMOST go .500 for the year.
I think Gus Bradley's doing a really good job in Jacksonville and I think under first-year signal caller Blake Bortles the Jags will go 7-9, perhaps good enough for 2nd in the paltry AFC South.
16. The best rookie quarterback won't be Manziell or Bortles or even Carr. It will be Teddy Bridgewater.
Teddy has a running game in place, can run himself, and has an improving defense. Sound familiar? He also doesn't have too many tough defenses to deal with in the NFC North.
15. The team with the worst record in the NFC will come from... THE NFC EAST?!
Yep, that's right. Sure, the Bucs, Vikes, and Falcons could contend, but all are bound to have better seasons than their last. The worst NFC team will come from the NFC East. And that division won't do too hot this year, either.
14. A historically inept franchise will make the playoffs
So either the Raiders, Browns, Jaguars, Bills, Buccaneers, Cardinals, or Lions will make the playoffs. I'll go with the Browns.
13. A recent perennial playoff team will finish in LAST place
So either the Ravens, Broncos, 49ers, Patriots, or Packers will finish in last.
12. Peyton Manning and the Broncos will have a slightly off year, be saddled with injuries, and not make it to the AFC Championship game
They'll probably still win the AFC West, but the Broncos won't do that hot. They'll probably get the 3 or 4 seed and lose before the AFC Championship.
11. The MVP will not be a quarterback
It will either be a defensive player (Kuechly?), wide receiver (Megatron), or running back (AD, Jamal Charles)
10. There will be a division separated by only three games.
Which means the last place team will only be three games behind the first place team. A lot of parity happening. I'll lean towards the AFC North. Division winner: 9-7 Last place: 6-10
9. The first coach to get fired will be Joe Philbin of the Miami Dolphins
Other possibilities: Dennis Allen of Oakland, Jason Garrett of the Raiders. But I don't think the Dolphins will get off to too good of a start.
8. Bishop Sankey of the Tennessee Titans will be in the Top 5 in AFC rushing, at least come close to a Pro Bowl, and come very close to offensive rookie of the year.
I think Sankey would've been close to a first round pick had he started his NFL career 10-15 years ago. He'll show everyone that running backs, especially young ones, can be very valuable.
7. No team will get to 13 wins
There might be a few 12 win teams, but no 13 win teams. Or 14, 15, etc. Too much parity this season.
6. The league leader in rushing will not be Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, or Adrian Peterson.
Not sure who it will be (Lacy? Lynch?) but it won't be one of those big three. Although they all might be close.
5. Johnny Manziell will start less than 4 games.
A lot of people think he'll start at least half of the Browns games, but I'm putting my money on Hoyer doing a great job.
4. The team that finishes with the worst record (and therefore the #1 pick most likely), will already have a franchise quarterback.
3. There will be an 8-8 playoff team.
Probably in the AFC as a wild card.
2. The worst team in the NFC South will have an equal or better record than the 2nd place team in the AFC South.
So if it was the Falcons in last place, their record would be better than or equal to say the Titans, if they finished 2nd.
1. The Seahawks will at least make it to the NFC Championship game.
There will be football well into January in Seattle.
After the season is over, I'll go back and review how I did on each prediction. Coming next (and soon): NFL Predictions and Seahawk Predictions! Stay tuned!
20. The NFC West WILL have a team lose at least 10 games... maybe 11 or 12.
Yes, the NFC West is good, and will have at least two playoff teams for sure, but I think one team might just succumb to the pressure of playing in the best division in football. I'm not sure which team, but either the Rams or Cardinals are most likely, obviously. I'm crossing my fingers that it's the 49ers.
19. Perfection will die early--No perfect teams after Week 7's games
There are plenty of very talented teams in football, which is exactly the reason why no one will be perfect after week 7. Usually there's one team that starts 8-0 or 9-0... but not this year.
18. The worst division in football won't be the AFC South, but the AFC East
Just going on a limb, thinking the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins could all have losing records, one of which might have a top 3 pick in next year's draft.
17. The Jacksonville Jaguars will shock the world and ALMOST go .500 for the year.
I think Gus Bradley's doing a really good job in Jacksonville and I think under first-year signal caller Blake Bortles the Jags will go 7-9, perhaps good enough for 2nd in the paltry AFC South.
16. The best rookie quarterback won't be Manziell or Bortles or even Carr. It will be Teddy Bridgewater.
Teddy has a running game in place, can run himself, and has an improving defense. Sound familiar? He also doesn't have too many tough defenses to deal with in the NFC North.
15. The team with the worst record in the NFC will come from... THE NFC EAST?!
Yep, that's right. Sure, the Bucs, Vikes, and Falcons could contend, but all are bound to have better seasons than their last. The worst NFC team will come from the NFC East. And that division won't do too hot this year, either.
14. A historically inept franchise will make the playoffs
So either the Raiders, Browns, Jaguars, Bills, Buccaneers, Cardinals, or Lions will make the playoffs. I'll go with the Browns.
13. A recent perennial playoff team will finish in LAST place
So either the Ravens, Broncos, 49ers, Patriots, or Packers will finish in last.
12. Peyton Manning and the Broncos will have a slightly off year, be saddled with injuries, and not make it to the AFC Championship game
They'll probably still win the AFC West, but the Broncos won't do that hot. They'll probably get the 3 or 4 seed and lose before the AFC Championship.
11. The MVP will not be a quarterback
It will either be a defensive player (Kuechly?), wide receiver (Megatron), or running back (AD, Jamal Charles)
10. There will be a division separated by only three games.
Which means the last place team will only be three games behind the first place team. A lot of parity happening. I'll lean towards the AFC North. Division winner: 9-7 Last place: 6-10
9. The first coach to get fired will be Joe Philbin of the Miami Dolphins
Other possibilities: Dennis Allen of Oakland, Jason Garrett of the Raiders. But I don't think the Dolphins will get off to too good of a start.
8. Bishop Sankey of the Tennessee Titans will be in the Top 5 in AFC rushing, at least come close to a Pro Bowl, and come very close to offensive rookie of the year.
I think Sankey would've been close to a first round pick had he started his NFL career 10-15 years ago. He'll show everyone that running backs, especially young ones, can be very valuable.
7. No team will get to 13 wins
There might be a few 12 win teams, but no 13 win teams. Or 14, 15, etc. Too much parity this season.
6. The league leader in rushing will not be Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, or Adrian Peterson.
Not sure who it will be (Lacy? Lynch?) but it won't be one of those big three. Although they all might be close.
5. Johnny Manziell will start less than 4 games.
A lot of people think he'll start at least half of the Browns games, but I'm putting my money on Hoyer doing a great job.
4. The team that finishes with the worst record (and therefore the #1 pick most likely), will already have a franchise quarterback.
3. There will be an 8-8 playoff team.
Probably in the AFC as a wild card.
2. The worst team in the NFC South will have an equal or better record than the 2nd place team in the AFC South.
So if it was the Falcons in last place, their record would be better than or equal to say the Titans, if they finished 2nd.
1. The Seahawks will at least make it to the NFC Championship game.
There will be football well into January in Seattle.
After the season is over, I'll go back and review how I did on each prediction. Coming next (and soon): NFL Predictions and Seahawk Predictions! Stay tuned!
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