By Will Menser, Contributing Writer
The NFL preseason has kicked off already, signifying the start of “football season,” which means that predictions about the upcoming season have already begun. There are thousands of storylines that affect every team each year, which can lead to either success or failure for a franchise, so none of the predictions here will be made with certainty. That is why predictions are fascinating in analyzing a football season, and one of the best ways of looking at it is by breaking it down division by division.
Starting off in the AFC, the Patriots are strong favorites to not only win their division, but to be the conference representative in the Super Bowl. This is partly due to their trip to the Super Bowl last season and a lack of roster turnover. Quarterback Tom Brady is back and will surely be as good as he always is, which means that they’re a near-lock for the playoffs, barring any crazy injuries. The only thing of note is that wide receiver Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games. There is one team, however, that they will especially have to watch out for this season. The Jaguars are a near-lock for the playoffs because of their incredible run last year as well as some powerful offseason moves they made. They will be extremely dangerous for any and every team as long as QB Blake Bortles is consistent like he was last season. They picked up multiple receivers as well as an offensive lineman to support the young quarterback and a couple of defensive backs, which could give them an edge in the AFC.
As for the rest of the AFC, there are a few “sleeper” teams that may have unexpected success in the upcoming season. Two teams truly fit this category in the AFC that could really shock many spectators this year: the Colts and the Browns. Both teams have had little success and are undergoing major rebuilding. Starting with the Browns, they made serious changes during the offseason, some so radical that they could completely change the franchise itself. This isn’t the typical draft-a-new-QB drill that they run almost every year; this actually has the potential to be the start of something great for this franchise. Baker Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor will battle for the QB spot, which is music to Cleveland fans’ ears finally to have multiple capable passers. They also drafted Nick Chubb who was a powerhouse in college and has the potential to bring that with him to the Browns. Finally, they picked up and traded for multiple offensive and defensive weapons, including wide receiver Jarvis Landry. The season still has the possibility of being a disaster for them due to depth issues or a possible inability to get a system in place with all of the new additions. The Colts are in a similar situation to the Browns, only with fewer additions, more players returning from injury and a stacked draft class. Quarterback Andrew Luck is back, and the offensive line is much better with the addition of Quenton Nelson and the return of Ryan Kelly. There are concerns for the defense, but with a healthy Malik Hooker and some more rookie additions, things are looking up for the Colts. If Luck cannot stay healthy though, the Colts could easily be a sub-four win team.
As for the NFC, the leaders, unsurprisingly, are the Eagles. The Eagles are not only the defending champions but are favored by many to repeat this year. They didn’t lose much and are bringing back a lot to this season. They still have both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, which is a miracle considering the talent of both quarterbacks and the impact they had on the Eagles’ season last year. They were able to keep many of their other playmakers as well as sign several free agents that will help give them depth and fill any gaps they may have had in their roster. The only team that may be a major contender with Philadelphia is the Falcons. They had a great season last year and will have few challenges to overcome entering this season. They still have many of their players from their trip to the Super Bowl in 2016 and will likely be neck-and-neck with the Eagles. The only thing standing in their way is, well, the Eagles. They lost to Philadelphia in the playoffs last season, so they will certainly be seeking revenge this season.
The sleepers for the NFC are more obvious than in the AFC: the Vikings and the Saints. The Vikings had an incredible season in 2017 and are hoping to build on that and become major Super Bowl contenders. They have a new QB, which could be good or could cause problems. While Kirk Cousins had a solid year last year, it can be tough to learn a new system and have immediate success. The Saints had great success last season, and Drew Brees is once again playing well. Mark Ingram, who played his best season yet in 2017 with over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, is back, and receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn will give the Saints an offensive advantage in many of their games. They will certainly be in contention, while remaining in the shadow of the Eagles and Falcons.
Outside of these teams, there are players who are less likely to have win success but still will play tremendously well and make major impacts on the NFL season. These players to watch out for include Odell Beckham Jr., Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Le’veon Bell and DeAndre Hopkins. I think these players will be some of the best at their positions on teams that aren’t part of the major contenders or sleepers that I mentioned.
