I originally had the Raiders ahead of the Chargers for no reason other than they might as well. Also I think their D is going to be better than decent. But Harbaugh has a history of having an immediate impact, so I’m going to say the Chargers and Raiders finish with the same record.
AFC South
Texans
Colts
Jaguars
Titans
I don’t really think the Texans are going to be that good, but they’re going to be fun to watch. Probably the division I care least about this year.
AFC North
Bengals
Ravens*
Browns
Steelers
A surprisingly competitive division last year and not the way you expected. I like the Bengals this year. I still like the Ravens.
AFC East
Dolphins
Jets*
Bills*
Patriots
This one’s the most difficult AFC division to figure out. I’ll be rooting for Josh Allen and the Bills, who I think I picked to win the Super Bowl each of the last three seasons, but who is he throwing the ball to? Too many exciting pieces on Miami and New York.
NFC West
Rams
49ers*
Cardinals
Seahawks
The Rams were so much better last year than people seem to remember.
NFC South
Falcons
Buccaneers*
Saints
Panthers
I feel silly picking the Falcons to win this division. No matter what they look like on paper, they finish the same: disappointments. I admit my pick here is a reflection of my impressions of Kirk Cousins on last year’s The Quarterback on Netflix. I really didn’t like him before, but now I do.
NFC North
Lions
Bears*
Packers
Vikings
Vikings will have the worst record in football, which makes me sad because I don’t think it’s going to be Sam Darnold’s fault. I flipped a coin on the Packers and Bears. I think Caleb just has to be decent in order for this team to win games. He is likely to be better than decent. Mina Kimes says this is going to be the most competitive division.
NFC East
Eagles
Cowboys
Commanders
Giants
If the Cowboys overperform and the Eagles underperform (as they did in the second half last year), the order at the top could be the other way, but who looks like the better team? Philly. Second place will just miss the wildcard.
—
AFC championship: Chiefs over Bills
NFC championship: 49ers over Lions
Super Bowl: 49ers over Chiefs
MVP: Christian McCaffrey
Comeback player of the year: Aaron Rodgers
I’m very out-of-touch with the NFL, but my guess is that the AFC North will be one the most competitive divisions. A lot depends on the level of play of DeShaun Watson and Russ. (For Russ, I think a lot depends on the Steelers OL.)
I no longer have gamepass, so I won’t be watching the games, but I hope Seattle’s defense is much improved. I hope their offense isn’t a spread passing attack in the run-and-shoot mold (but it’s looking like it will be).
I’m only watching highlights this year (although if the Seahawks run game gets going, I might start watching their games), and I’m not as in tune with the league.
But for whatever reason, I’m interested in coaching changes for next year, especially where Belichick and Vrabel. I would love if either went to the Raiders. (Hope Tom Brady can exert a positive influence on Mark Davis.) Maybe I lean towards Belichick because of his proven track record. Give him the keys to the whole operation and (Mark Davis) stay out of the way. If Belichick fails, I think it’s still a smart move (unless there is clear evidence that Belichick has lost it). But I would be happy with Vrabel. With either guy, though, they’re going to need a QB.
Two other coordinators I could see moving on (if their teams go deep into the playoffs): Cliff Kingsbury and Arthur Smith. Kingsbury to the Bears is intriguing. (I actually liked Kingsbury’s offense in Arizona. For an Air Raid guy, I liked the balance.) Then again, Ben Johnson might be Chicago’s first choice.
The teams likely making a coaching change: Giants, Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders, and the Bears.
Not related to coaching changes, but coaching–I really like what Jim Harbaugh has done. I’m following the Chargers because of this.
On a different note, even if the Steelers go deep into the playoffs, Russ could move on. What would be a good landing spot for him? To me, it’s a team with a good OL and/or really good run game. The Browns comes to mind. The Raiders don’t have this, and this would be a bad place for him, but I think he could be a great stop-gap QB. Actually, if they can agree on a contract, the Steelers are probably the best place for Russ, and good for the Steelers as well.
In thinking about this more, I wonder if Kingsbury would be a good fit. Murray and Daniels are running threats, and that seemed to really help the run game and the offense overall. Williams seems more like a scrambler than a running threat. Then again, I believe Kingsbury coached Williams at USC, so maybe it is a good fit.
A part of me would like to see someone like Vrabel go to Chicago and build a physical team, including a physical run game. Teams would dread playing in Chicago during December and January.
***
On a completely different note, Justin Tucker seems to be struggling. He’s really hurting the team. What do you do in that situation? Stick with a great kicker–and maybe lose some games because of this–or move on?
I’m disappointed that Belichick will be coaching at UNC next year and not in the NFL. A part of me feels like he’s being blackballed. I know he has several seasons to turn around the Patriots, but it seemed like his relationship with Kraft really deteriorated, and I wonder if that affected his coaching. Also, he didn’t have a good QB. Belichick deserves a second chance in the NFL. Put him on a team with a good QB. (I would have wanted the Raiders to hire him, but they don’t have a good QB.)
I’ve heard/read that he burnt many bridges in the NFL. I’m not super sure what that means entirely, and yet I feel like it’s completely believable. That being said, I cannot help but think the biggest obstacle of receiving a coaching job offer in the NFL is control. Belichick will need to be coach and GM. I think Belichick even mentioned the amount of control he will have coaching college.
That being said, I cannot help but think the biggest obstacle of receiving a coaching job offer in the NFL is control.Wonder what he did to burn bridges.
Given his track record, this shouldn’t be as big an obstacle. I never thought he assembled a great roster–but he won Super Bowls. From an owner’s perspective that’s what should matter. I’d like to see him get another shot in the NFL, but with a really good QB.
Watching this game reinforces my disappointment that the Raiders didn’t hire Jim Harbaugh. I love their physicality, and the way they run the ball.
Overall the game was a good one. Denver seemed in control in the first half. The Chargers defense struggled to stop the Bronco offense. But the Charger defense really came alive and clamped down in the second half. For the Bronco defense, I thought they played well for the whole game–it’s just the Chargers played a little better. (The Bronco defense looks really good.)
Here are my picks. Wildcards have asterisks.
AFC Best
Chiefs
Raiders
Chargers
Broncos
I originally had the Raiders ahead of the Chargers for no reason other than they might as well. Also I think their D is going to be better than decent. But Harbaugh has a history of having an immediate impact, so I’m going to say the Chargers and Raiders finish with the same record.
AFC South
Texans
Colts
Jaguars
Titans
I don’t really think the Texans are going to be that good, but they’re going to be fun to watch. Probably the division I care least about this year.
AFC North
Bengals
Ravens*
Browns
Steelers
A surprisingly competitive division last year and not the way you expected. I like the Bengals this year. I still like the Ravens.
AFC East
Dolphins
Jets*
Bills*
Patriots
This one’s the most difficult AFC division to figure out. I’ll be rooting for Josh Allen and the Bills, who I think I picked to win the Super Bowl each of the last three seasons, but who is he throwing the ball to? Too many exciting pieces on Miami and New York.
NFC West
Rams
49ers*
Cardinals
Seahawks
The Rams were so much better last year than people seem to remember.
NFC South
Falcons
Buccaneers*
Saints
Panthers
I feel silly picking the Falcons to win this division. No matter what they look like on paper, they finish the same: disappointments. I admit my pick here is a reflection of my impressions of Kirk Cousins on last year’s The Quarterback on Netflix. I really didn’t like him before, but now I do.
NFC North
Lions
Bears*
Packers
Vikings
Vikings will have the worst record in football, which makes me sad because I don’t think it’s going to be Sam Darnold’s fault. I flipped a coin on the Packers and Bears. I think Caleb just has to be decent in order for this team to win games. He is likely to be better than decent. Mina Kimes says this is going to be the most competitive division.
NFC East
Eagles
Cowboys
Commanders
Giants
If the Cowboys overperform and the Eagles underperform (as they did in the second half last year), the order at the top could be the other way, but who looks like the better team? Philly. Second place will just miss the wildcard.
—
AFC championship: Chiefs over Bills
NFC championship: 49ers over Lions
Super Bowl: 49ers over Chiefs
MVP: Christian McCaffrey
Comeback player of the year: Aaron Rodgers
I’m very out-of-touch with the NFL, but my guess is that the AFC North will be one the most competitive divisions. A lot depends on the level of play of DeShaun Watson and Russ. (For Russ, I think a lot depends on the Steelers OL.)
I no longer have gamepass, so I won’t be watching the games, but I hope Seattle’s defense is much improved. I hope their offense isn’t a spread passing attack in the run-and-shoot mold (but it’s looking like it will be).
I’m only watching highlights this year (although if the Seahawks run game gets going, I might start watching their games), and I’m not as in tune with the league.
But for whatever reason, I’m interested in coaching changes for next year, especially where Belichick and Vrabel. I would love if either went to the Raiders. (Hope Tom Brady can exert a positive influence on Mark Davis.) Maybe I lean towards Belichick because of his proven track record. Give him the keys to the whole operation and (Mark Davis) stay out of the way. If Belichick fails, I think it’s still a smart move (unless there is clear evidence that Belichick has lost it). But I would be happy with Vrabel. With either guy, though, they’re going to need a QB.
Two other coordinators I could see moving on (if their teams go deep into the playoffs): Cliff Kingsbury and Arthur Smith. Kingsbury to the Bears is intriguing. (I actually liked Kingsbury’s offense in Arizona. For an Air Raid guy, I liked the balance.) Then again, Ben Johnson might be Chicago’s first choice.
The teams likely making a coaching change: Giants, Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders, and the Bears.
Not related to coaching changes, but coaching–I really like what Jim Harbaugh has done. I’m following the Chargers because of this.
On a different note, even if the Steelers go deep into the playoffs, Russ could move on. What would be a good landing spot for him? To me, it’s a team with a good OL and/or really good run game. The Browns comes to mind. The Raiders don’t have this, and this would be a bad place for him, but I think he could be a great stop-gap QB. Actually, if they can agree on a contract, the Steelers are probably the best place for Russ, and good for the Steelers as well.
As soon as the Bears fired their coach, I thought of Kingsbury. It seems like a good landing spot for him.
In thinking about this more, I wonder if Kingsbury would be a good fit. Murray and Daniels are running threats, and that seemed to really help the run game and the offense overall. Williams seems more like a scrambler than a running threat. Then again, I believe Kingsbury coached Williams at USC, so maybe it is a good fit.
A part of me would like to see someone like Vrabel go to Chicago and build a physical team, including a physical run game. Teams would dread playing in Chicago during December and January.
***
On a completely different note, Justin Tucker seems to be struggling. He’s really hurting the team. What do you do in that situation? Stick with a great kicker–and maybe lose some games because of this–or move on?
I’m disappointed that Belichick will be coaching at UNC next year and not in the NFL. A part of me feels like he’s being blackballed. I know he has several seasons to turn around the Patriots, but it seemed like his relationship with Kraft really deteriorated, and I wonder if that affected his coaching. Also, he didn’t have a good QB. Belichick deserves a second chance in the NFL. Put him on a team with a good QB. (I would have wanted the Raiders to hire him, but they don’t have a good QB.)
I’ve heard/read that he burnt many bridges in the NFL. I’m not super sure what that means entirely, and yet I feel like it’s completely believable. That being said, I cannot help but think the biggest obstacle of receiving a coaching job offer in the NFL is control. Belichick will need to be coach and GM. I think Belichick even mentioned the amount of control he will have coaching college.
Given his track record, this shouldn’t be as big an obstacle. I never thought he assembled a great roster–but he won Super Bowls. From an owner’s perspective that’s what should matter. I’d like to see him get another shot in the NFL, but with a really good QB.
Broncos@Chargers
Watching this game reinforces my disappointment that the Raiders didn’t hire Jim Harbaugh. I love their physicality, and the way they run the ball.
Overall the game was a good one. Denver seemed in control in the first half. The Chargers defense struggled to stop the Bronco offense. But the Charger defense really came alive and clamped down in the second half. For the Bronco defense, I thought they played well for the whole game–it’s just the Chargers played a little better. (The Bronco defense looks really good.)