2020 NFL Predictions

The MLB season is only in it's third month, but the NFL season is less than a week away.  Seems weird.  That's what happens when a global pandemic postpones or cancels different sporting leagues.  

I usually do fairly well with these predictions, so I will continue, going division by division, giving each team a predicted Win/Loss record.  I'll predict the playoffs under the new seven team per conference playoff format, and then some predicted award winners.

I usually go game by game for the Seahawks, but I'm usually way off.  The Hawks will no doubt win some games I predict them to lose, and they will lose a game or two (at least) that I predict them to win.  Instead, I will just talk about the team briefly and what I expect from each position group.  

So without further ado, the NFL win/loss record predictions:

* = Wild Card

AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills, 10-6
3. Miami Dolphins, 9-7*
3. New England Patriots, 7-9
4. New York Jets, 6-10

Summary: For the first time since 2000, Tom Brady does not enter the season as the Patriots starting quarterback.  This is a huge opportunity for anyone else to claim the division, and with Buffalo being a 2019 playoff team, they have the best opportunity.  I think they will be solid, if unspectacular.  The Dolphins surprise a lot of people and make the playoffs, riding a win streak after switching to Tua at QB.  The Patriots aren't awful, but they are a far cry from the team that won the Super Bowl a few years ago.  That leaves the Jets as the odd man out.  Sam Darnold does decently, but the defense falls apart and Adam Gase is fired.  

AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens, 14-2
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6*
3. Cleveland Browns, 9-7*
4. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-13

Summary: The Ravens enter as clear favorites.  Can Lamar repeat his 2019 regular season success?  Odds are yes.  The Steelers, being a (mostly) veteran team and getting their veteran QB back, return to the playoffs and play solid ball.  The Browns barely make the playoffs, but only because the rest of the AFC is trash. The Bengals tread water but realize they like Burrow; it's just they need to get him help.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5
2. Houston Texans, 8-8
3. Tennessee Titans, 7-9
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-15

Summary: Probably the weakest division in the AFC (again).  The Colts, with new QB Philip Rivers, claim the title.  The Texans struggle a bit without many offensive weapons.  The Titans realize they shouldn't have handed Ryan Tannehill that contract.  The Jaguars, meanwhile, struggle mightily but are a fun watch with Gardner Minshew, and they win their first game in week 17 against a Colts team whose playoff position is settled at that point.  

AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 12-4
2. Denver Broncos, 8-8
3. Oakland Raiders, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-10

Summary: This might be the most surprising division I've predicted.  The Chiefs are still clear front-runners, although as defending champs they will be the target of many.  The Broncos aren't able to really make a statement as injuries and opt-outs hurt them.  The Raiders have an up and down season and they are still left with many questions (Is Carr the future?).  The Chargers bad luck rears its ugly head again (they've lost Derwin James to injury already again), and Tyrod Taylor is unable to do anything to right their sinking ship.  Justin Herbert is given the reigns in the later part of the season.

NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7
2. Dallas Cowboys, 7-9
3. Washington Football Team, 6-10
4. New York Giants, 4-12

Summary: The worst division in football again.  The Eagles struggle with injuries and inconsistency again, but are decent enough to win the division.  The Cowboys are fun to watch for the most part, but are clearly missing their once dominant O-Line.  Washington is surprisingly good defensively, with Chase Young breaking Jevon Kearse's rookie sacks record.  The Giants aren't awful, but Daniel Jones has a set back and the Giants start to wonder if he's the future.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers, 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings, 9-7*
3. Chicago Bears, 7-9
4. Detroit Lions, 7-9

Summary: Hell hath no fury like an Aaron Rodgers scorned.  The Packers as a whole aren't quite as good, but Aaron Rodgers clearly carries them to a few wins, as drafting a possible successor is enough to light a fire under him.  The Vikings keep pace all year but fall a tad short.  The Bears and Lions show flashes, but it's still not enough.  

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints, 13-3
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-6*
3. Atlanta Falcons, 6-10
4. Carolina Panthers, 6-10

Summary: The Saints prosper in times of uncertainty, so why not now?  The Bucs with Tom Brady are fun to watch, but lose some games they probably should have won.  The Falcons struggle with the Todd Gurley experiment, and the Panthers aren't awful in Matt Rhule's first year as coach.  

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers, 11-5
2. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6*
3. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Rams, 8-8

Summary: In the NFL's most well-rounded division, the 49ers come out on top again.  They prove they are clearly too well-built to be a one-year wonder.  The Seahawks, meanwhile, fall one game short of the division title (again) as they lose in week 17 to those 49ers.  The Cardinals have some bright moments and surprise some teams, while the Rams falter down the stretch and are left scratching their heads.  

Before we get to the playoffs, what happens before the playoffs every year?  Oh yeah, "Black Monday".  The day many coaches get fired.  These are the following coaches I think will be fired by season's end:

Adam Gase, Jets
Doug Marrone, Jaguars
Matt Patricia, Lions
Dan Quinn, Falcons

And one coach resigns/retires...

Bill Belichick, Patriots

That's it.  Usually it's closer to half a dozen, but I feel the rest of the coaches are either a possible future hall of famer (Reid, Carroll, Harbaugh), will have or recently had success, or will be given more time to turn things around (any coaches hired this offseason, Taylor).  But yes, Bill Belichick retires after this season, not wanting to go through a rebuild.

Now the NFL seedings:

AFC
1. Ravens, 14-2
2. Chiefs, 12-4
3. Colts, 11-5
4. Bills, 10-6
5. Steelers, 10-6
6. Dolphins, 9-7
7. Browns, 9-7

NFC
1. Saints, 13-3
2. 49ers, 11-5
3. Packers, 11-5
4. Eagles, 9-7
5. Seahawks, 10-6
6. Buccaneers, 10-6
7. Vikings, 9-7

AFC Wild Card Round
(7) Browns at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
Would be a very high-scoring and exciting game, but the Chiefs come out on top, predictably.  The Browns aren't good enough in the back end of their defense to stop Mr. Mahomes.

(6) Dolphins at (3) Colts: Colts win
In a battle of a veteran against a rookie, the veteran usually wins in the playoffs.  That remains the case.  Colts advance.

(5) Steelers at (4) Bills: Steelers win
The Steelers beat the young Bills to prevent them from their first playoff win in 25 years.

NFC Wild Card Round
(7) Vikings at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
In a rematch of last year's divisional round game, the 49ers win again, although perhaps not quite as easily.  

(6) Buccaneers at (3) Packers: Packers win
Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady in the playoffs, does it get better than that?  Rodgers prevails as Brady's old bones can't handle Lambeau's cold.  

(5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles: Seahawks win
Yet another rematch from last year (and at the same locale as well).  The Hawks prevail again, this time with a healthy Carson Wentz under center all game.  Russ goes off, hitting DK and Tyler for long bombs.  

AFC Divisional Round
(5) Steelers at (1) Ravens: Ravens win
Lamar Jackson finally gets his first playoff win in his third try.  The Ravens entire team is too much for the team from Pittsburgh.

(3) Colts at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
The Chiefs are too much for the Colts, but it's fairly close.

NFC Divisional Round
(5) Seahawks at (1) Saints: Saints win
Will there even be a crowd (and therefore crowd noise) in this instance?  Either way, I think the Saints beat the Hawks.  I can't remember the last time the Hawks won a playoff game in a dome (if ever).  

(3) Packers at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
The 49ers prove too much for the Packers yet again.  I think this would be a closer contest, but the same result as last year's NFC Conference Championship matchup.

AFC Championship Game
(2) Chiefs (1) Ravens: Ravens win
The Ravens take control early by harassing Patrick Mahomes and claim their first AFC Championship since 2012.

NFC Championship Game
(2) 49ers at (1) Saints: Saints win
Think of last year's matchup between these two teams in the regular season.  Exciting like that, except this time it's in the Saints' favor.  The Saints return to the big dance.  

Super Bowl LV
Ravens vs. Saints: Saints win
In a fantastic matchup, the Saints prevail, giving Drew Brees one more Super Bowl ring before he retires.  He rides off into the sunset a happy man.  

Well, if my Seahawks couldn't win it all, I'd be happy for the Saints and Drew Brees.  Now some award predictions:

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Offensive PotY: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive PotY: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive RotY: Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Defensive RotY: Chase Young, Washington Football Team
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton


Seahawks: 

Well, I know they've made moves to try to reclaim the NFC division title (trading for Jamal Adams), but the 49ers are just going to be a tough hurdle to get over.  Plus, the line play will prevent the Hawks from soaring to heights or even establishing any kind of long winning streak.  Position by position though, here's what I think:

Quarterback - Russ will be magical once again.  He will have to be decisive and quick in his decision-making, and sometimes he won't be.  He'll be in the talks for MVP yet again, but without winning the division it will be difficult to even get votes.

Running back - Can Carson stay healthy all year?  Will we see Rashaad Penny at all?  How will Carlos Hyde be?  All those questions will be answered, and I think we'll get a mixed bag.  Carson will probably do another 1,000 yards or close to.  Deejay Dallas may even see some time and surprise, prompting for us to probably move on from Penny.

Wide Receiver - This may be the best receiving corps we've had in my time watching the Hawks.  We all know about Lockett.  DK should take a giant step forward this year, and hopefully he can hold on to the ball a bit better.  Dorsett should be like a flashier Jaron Brown.  Will we get Josh Gordon back?  Even if we do, he probably won't have a huge impact.

Tight End - This is an interesting group.  As long as either Dissly or Olsen are healthy, we should be fine, although preferably both remain healthy.  Hollister will make a good #3 or 2 if need be.  

Offensive Line - It will be interesting to see.  Can Duane Brown hold up still at his age?  Time will tell, but he might miss some games I feel.  I've never really liked Ethan Pocic, and I think he'll struggle.  Damien Lewis will be interesting to watch as he's a rookie.  As long as this line isn't god awful, the Hawks should be fine.

Defensive Line - Can they get some pressure on the quarterback this year, please?  I don't care who.  It sucks that another rookie lineman is again injured (Taylor), but hopefully Collier proves why we drafted him so high.  I just want the D-Line to be adequate, that's all.

Linebacker - Man what a loaded unit.  This group is so stacked Shaquem Griffin had to go to the practice squad.  Jordyn Brooks will hopefully get some time to shine.  Will Cody Barton get some time as well?  We shall see.

Defensive Backs - My what a stacked unit they've become.  Will Dunbar be able to start all year?  Hopefully.  And Jamal Adams... well I bet his impact will be felt quickly.  Can't forget about Diggs or Griffin, two very capable players. 

Special Teams: Jason Myers, don't miss gimmie field goals.  Mike Dickson, don't shank any punts.  Cover teams, don't allow any return touchdowns.  That's all I ask.  Thanks.

Well, that is it for my 2020 predictions!  Hopefully the Hawks exceed my predictions for them.  If the line play is decent and the rest of the units play to their potential, there's a shot the Hawks could get the division and a top seed.  Should be fun to watch (despite no fans, at least for now).