BUFFALO BILLS: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. MIA, vs./ JAC, vs. NYG, vs. DEN, vs. NYJ, vs. DAL) (Key Loses - N/A)

So after two seasons in a row of failing to reach the AFC Championship game. I foresee the Buffalo Bills in an off-season that has been filled with a lot of uncertainty surrounding Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs both players seemed to have put behind them. However, I believe that last season showed some glaring issues with the offense later on in close games and that seems to do with Brian Daboll moving on to the New York Giants last off-season. Ken Dorsey, in his second season now as the play caller will have hopefully learned from his struggles last year. I think the Bills start the season at 3-1 then go 4-0 to bring their record to 7-1. The rest of the way, I think the Bills go 2-2 and unfortunately, I think that the Bills struggle going 2-3 the rest of the way and finishing the season at 11-6 with uncertainty heading into the playoffs with the sixth seed in the AFC their lowest seed since 2019. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. DEN, vs. NYG, vs. DAL, vs. BUF) (Key Loses - @ NE) 

After making the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016 the Miami Dolphins come into this year riding momentum and one of the teams with a lot of optimism heading into the season surrounding the team. That was before Jalen Ramsey went down during the first week of training camp with an injury that will sideline him throughout most of the season. The Dolphins were counting on Ramsey to provide some much-needed help to a defense that ranked 18th in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed last season. With him going down I think the Dolphins struggle early going 1-3 by week 4, but I think they rebound and go 4-0 and bring their record to 5-3. The rest of the way I think they finish up at 5-1 and finish the year at an impressive 11-6 and roar into the playoffs with the AFC East crown for the first time since 2008 and the fourth seed in the AFC. 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: 7-10 (Key Wins - vs. PHI, vs. MIA, vs. LAC, vs. NYJ) (Key Loses - @ LV) 

After an up-and-down season last year, I can not see the New England Patriots being too successful this year. They ranked 20th in passing yards last season and while Ramondre Stevenson had a solid season last year the team ranked overall 24th in yards. Their defense was average last year as well against the pass they ranked 16th and against the run they were stingy ranking 6th against the run. Both sides of the ball didn’t improve in free agency and while Christian Gonzalez is going to help the pass game I don’t feel confident in relying on a rookie. I think they feed off Tom Brady and the crowd in the first game and get off to a 1-0 start, but I think they turn average and go 2-3, and then suffer a 3-game losing streak and their record falls to 3-5. I do think they get on a little bit of a hot streak going 3-1 and overall 6-6. However, I think that the Patriot’s luck turns, and they go 1-4 the rest of the way to finish 7-10. Their first back-to-back losing seasons since the 1992-93 season. Is a change coming? 

NEW YORK JETS: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. BUF, vs. KC, @ DEN, vs. PHI, vs. LAC, vs. ATL (Key Loses - @ NE)

The New York Jets I think for the first time since 2015. Last year, the Jets ranked 25th in total yards and just 15th in passing yards. Had Zach Wilson played a little better last season they may have won some more games last season and their season could have continued into the playoffs. The team ranked just 25th in rushing yards, but with a healthy Breece Hall this season perhaps they can improve that stat and he will complement the passing game of Aaron Rodgers, the prize acquisition in the off-season. Rodgers was average at best last season in his last year with the Green Bay Packers, but with a much better-receiving core and a potential #1 in Garrett Wilson, the Jets should thrive. I think they come out of the gates strong going 5-1. However, I think they stumble after going 2-3 and will be 7-4 heading into December. In the final month, I think that the Jets finish the year strong going 4-2 and overall at 11-6 which is good enough for the seventh and final seed in the AFC and will finally make the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-2011 season. 

BALTIMORE RAVENS: 12-5 (Key Wins - @ CLE, vs. DET, vs. SEA, vs. CIN, vs. MIA, vs. PIT) (Key Loses - N/A) 

The pressure has shifted from Raven’s front office over to Lamar Jackson. Before, there was pressure from the front office to sign him to a long-term deal. Check. Now for Jackson, he needs to perform after signing a massive 5 year $260 million deal with $185 million fully guaranteed. The Ravens went out and got him some help with the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, Veteran receivers and both receivers can help improve the Raven’s slot position. The Ravens also added veteran running back Melvin Gordon while J.K. Dobbins continues to sit out during training camp. The Ravens I see coming out of the gates at 3-1 and then go yet again 3-1 bringing their record to 6-2. I then see them at 3-1 for the next four games. I then see them going 3-2 and capture the AFC North division for the first time since 2019 and hold the third seed in the AFC. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS: 12-5 (Kew Wins vs. BAL, vs. SEA, vs. BUF, vs. PIT, vs. MIN, @ PIT) (Key Loses - @ CLE) 

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off yet another heartbreaking end to a fantastic playoff run. In the off-season, the Bengals lost safety Jessie Bates III to the Atlanta Falcons but did manage to retain linebacker Germaine Pratt. This season I see them having a solid year and starting the year off well at 5-1, then I see them struggling to go 3-3 and at 8-4 overall as they head into the home stretch. Then, I think they finish the season strong with a 4-1 record in their final five games and will hold the fifth seed in the Wild Card. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS: 8-9 (Key Wins - vs. CIN, vs. PIT) (Key Loses - N/A)

This season there is a lot of pressure to succeed riding on Kevin Stefanski. Deshaun Watson looked mediocre at best last season and the Browns went 3-3 in their remaining 6 games last year with Watson at the helm and had a 7/5 touchdown to interception ratio. I believe the start of the season will not get off to a roaring success and go 6-6. I think for the rest of the season the Browns sit at 2-3 the rest of the way and finish year one below .500 at 8-9. This will lead to Kevin Stefanski losing his job. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: 10-7 (Key Wins - vs. BAL, vs. JAC) (Key Loses - @ LV, @ CLE)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not suffered a losing season since 2003. I believe that will continue this season, but this team only goes as far as Kenny Pickett will. The Steelers I think made some minor additions that I think could be major additions in the long run. Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander will be good fits in this scheme. A healthy T.J. Watt could go a long way this year for the Steelers as well. To start this season I think they will boom. I think they start decently at 2-2, and then go 5-0. After that I see them losing 2 straight and overall at 7-4. After that I believe they win 3 straight at 10-4, unfortunately, they fall at the end of the year against the Ravens, Seahawks, and Bengals. Finish the year at 10-7 and keep the plus .500 intact. 

HOUSTON TEXANS: 5-12 (Key Wins - N/A) (Key Loses - vs NO, @ CAR, @ TEN, vs. CLE, @ IND)

For the Houston Texans this season I think they have a solid building season and they finally set the foundation. C.J. Stroud will have some growing pains as does any young quarterback but the most valuable connection he can start to build is with John Metchie III. I believe they go 2-4 going into the week 7 bye. I think they follow that by going 2-2 and overall at 4-6. Unfortunately, for as young as they are I think they struggle moving forward and lose 5 straight, and finish up with a win against the Titans and a loss against the Colts on the road to end the year at 5-12.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: 5-12 (Key Wins - N/A) (Key Loses - @ HOU, vs. CLE, @ CAR, @ NE, @ TEN, @ ATL, vs. LV) 

The Indianapolis Colts have made a good hire with Shane Steichen and drafted Anthony Richardson is a player that is a project that can become a star in this league if built correctly and with what Shane Steichen did with Jalen Hurts I think that’s a real possibility. With the question mark surrounding Jonathan Taylor, I think it becomes a problem on the season because taking away Taylor’s ability to run the ball I think taking that away will be a problem in Richardson’s development. The Colts I think struggle out of the gate going 0-3 and then win 2 straight at 2-3. I then, unfortunately, see them going 1-4 the next few days at 3-7 and finish off the year going 2-5 and overall 5-12. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: 13-4 (Key Wins - vs. ATL, vs. CIN, vs. BAL, (Key Loses - N/A) 

The Jacksonville Jaguars will build off of their strong 2022 season with a strong 2023. The AFC South is not a division that could post to be one of the worst in the NFL. However, the Jaguars have some work to do with the building of Trevor Lawrence, but they got him some help with Calvin Ridley. Travis Eitteine should break out this season and will see if Evan Engram can continue to improve off of his strong 2022 season. The Jaguars I believe will start the season off going 5-3. After the bye week I think they finish the season going 8-1 and end the season at 13-4 with the top seed in the AFC. 

TENNESSEE TITANS: 6-11 (Key Wins - vs. LAC, vs. ATL, vs. JAC) (Key Loses - @ NO, @ CLE, @ IND, @ TB, @ HOU)

Last season felt all too familiar for the Tennessee Titans over the past fifteen years. Mediocre. That should continue in 2023. Ryan Tannehill should be a good segway for Will Levis to get used to the speed of the NFL. The Titans struggled last season with passing the ball last year and the run game can only bail them out so far. The rest of the NFL is aware of what the Titans can’t do passing the ball and they will be prepared more than over this season against Derrick Henry. For the beginning of the season, I see the Titans struggling at 1-5 heading into the bye week, I then see them going 1-3 and overall at 2-8 and this will be when I see Will Levis getting his start in the NFL during this four-game stretch. I then think they go 4-3 the rest of the way and finish off at 6-11. 

DENVER BRONCOS: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. KC, vs. MIN, vs. LAC) (Key Loses - N/A)

With the hiring of Sean Payton the Denver Broncos should be a more complete team. After all, they have been a quarterback away for the past few seasons. Russell Wilson’s struggles last season should be put to  This is Denver’s third head coach in the last five years. The Broncos ranked 19th in the NFL in passing yards and 21st in rushing. JaVontae Williams will also hopefully get the opportunity to show what he can do in the league. The Broncos I believe will start well and be 5-3 heading into the bye. I think they win 2 out of their next 3 games and that will bring their record to 7-4. I then think that they go out and win 4 out of their next 6 games and will be 11-6 by season’s end. 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: 12-5 (Key Wins - vs. DET, @ JAC, vs. DEN, vs. LAC, vs. MIA, vs. BUF) (Key Loses - N/A) 

Coming off their third Super Bowl win in franchise history the Kansas City Chiefs have established themselves as the NFL’s team to beat. Patrick Mahomes has turned himself into the unanimous best quarterback in the NFL and things can not be much better for the Chiefs this season. However, that’s where the Chiefs could get hurt. I don’t see that happening for the Chiefs. I think that Mahomes is too committed to winning for the Chiefs to end up with a letdown year. What the Chiefs need to do this year is improve themselves defensively, last year they ranked 18th in passing yards. Second-year cornerback Trent McDuffie needs to step up in his second season and become the top corner on this team. In McDuffie’s way will be L’Jarious Sneed and those two combined if they can play up to a top tandem should help the team against the pass. With Frank Clark gone this opens the door for second-year pass rusher George Karlaftis to become a top pass rusher on the team. During the season, I think the Chiefs will start the year off going 6-3 heading into the bye week. Then I think they go hot and win six straight and will be at 12-3. In the final two games I think they lose the final two games of the season and end up at 12-5 and finish second in the AFC.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: 8-9 (Key Wins - vs. PIT, @ DET, vs. MIN, vs. LAC) (Key Loses - N/A) 

This season the Las Vegas Raiders have acquired Jimmy Gorappolo, a quarterback who hasn’t played a full season since 2019. The Raiders have not played that well under Derek Carr and I am not sure what makes them believe they will be better with Gorappolo, a quarterback that does not push the needle. Gorappolo has also benefited from having a team that had one of the best defenses in the NFL with San Francisco. The Raiders last year had one of the worst defenses in the league. Aside from Maxx Crosby, I don’t see another player on this team contributing to the Raider’s defense. They signed Marcus Epps from the Philadelphia Eagles and he played well last season but remember the top cornerbacks that he benefited from. The offense also traded away tight end Darren Waller, but they drafted promising tight end Michael Mayer. The Raiders have aging Marcus Peters and Amik Robertson who show promise but is he a consistent starter? I doubt it. For the Raiders I think they go 1-3 at the start of the season, I then think the next four games they bounce back and go 3-1 to be even at 4-4. However, I think November will be the month of their dismay and go 0-4 against playoff hopefuls, and finish the year going 3-2 to finish their record at 7-10. I see Josh McDaniels getting fired at the end of the season. 

Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7 Key Wins (vs MIA, vs. DAL, vs. DET, vs. BAL, vs. DEN, vs. BUF, vs. KC) Key Loses - @ TEN, @ NE, @ LV)

This is the end of the line for Brandon Staley. The Chargers have been a sleeping giant for some time now. It feels like the defense has gotten a bit better under Staley, but they leave room for improvement. Last year they were among the worst against the run but among the best against the pass. This year they didn’t get that much better on pen and paper but we will see if JC Jackson can be fully healthy this year. I think the Chargers start the year average at 2-2, then I think they have the same result the next four games at 2-2 to have an overall record at 4-4. Then I think they go 3-1 and then finish the year up at 3-2. They finish the year at 10-7 and I am not sure if that is enough to get them to the playoffs. 

DALLAS COWBOYS: 10-7 (Key Wins - vs. NYJ, vs. NYG, vs. PHI, vs. DET) (Key Loses - N/A) 

I think that the Dallas Cowboys will have an interesting season, to say the least with the new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. I disagreed with moving on from Kellen Moore after last season and I think that Schottenheimer staying in the season will help with the transition. I do think that with Schottenheimer the run game with first-year starter Tony Pollard will improve. This is where things get interesting with the trade for Trey Lance. Lance coming over from the San Francisco 49ers a team that is a run-first team and I think this will intensify the pressure for Dak Prescott. Prescott struggles under pressure and just look at how he plays in December. The defense needs to improve greatly against the run if this team wants to have a chance late in games. In the regular season, I think the Cowboys start in their first four games at 3-1 then I see them going the reverse at 1-3. San Francisco will be too much for them on the road as well as Philadelphia and the Chargers offense will get their revenge for their OC. Then, I see Dallas get in a groove going 4-0, and then finish up the season at 2-3 and overall at 10-7. The Cowboys I think will just sneak into the playoffs as the last seed in the NFC as the #7 seed.

NEW YORK GIANTS: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. DAL, vs. SEA, vs. NYJ, vs. PHI) (Key Loses - @ WAS) 

Years of poor draft picks, bad free-agent signings, and dumb trades are over with the Giants. The Giant’s offense struggled last season in the passing game ranking 26th in passing yards and they seemed to find the answer with Darren Waller coming in at tight end. Waller has had two back-to-back underwhelming seasons and seasons that have not lived up to his standards. Of course, a lot of that is because Waller has not been able to stay healthy throughout the past two seasons. The Giants also ranked among the worst last year in stopping the run at 27th in the league. The Giants then signed linebacker Bobby Okereke to improve their defense this season. Okereke should provide a force quarterbacking that defense. I see the Giants starting the year off well at 3-1. Then I see them going even at 2-2 in their next four games, and then going even again at 2-2 to bring their overall record to 7-5. I then see them ending the year on a very strong note after the bye week and finishing at 11-6. For the first time since 2006-07 I think the Giants will go back-to-back years to the playoffs and hold the #6 seed in the playoffs. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: 11-6 (Key Wins - vs. MIN, vs. MIA, vs. DAL, vs. BUF, vs. SF, vs. NYG (Key Loses - @ NE) 

Coming off losing the Super Bowl at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in excruciating fashion. The Philadelphia Eagles are trying to finish the job. In the off-season, they managed to re-sign corners James Bradberry and Darius Slay, both of whom helped the team finish last year as the best against the pass in the NFL. CJ Gardner Johnson was the big loss in the off-season and to combat that would be the help of Reid Blankenship who filled in for Gardner Johnson when he went down last year. So to start the season I have the Eagles going 3-1. Then they continue to go 3-1 and overall at 6-2 at the midway point. Then I see them at 3-1 and then struggle the rest of the way going 2-3 and chances of another Super Bowl run in the playoffs are in doubt. The Eagles will finish the season good enough to be the first repeat division champion in the NFC East for the first time since 2003-04 and capture the #2 seed.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: 4-13 (Key Wins - vs. BUF, vs. NYG) (Key Loses - @ NE, @ LAR)

There is no sugarcoating it; the Dan Snyder era in Washington was an embarrassment. Constant horrific decisions by the front office in free agency as well as coaching mistakes resulted in years of mediocrity and the NFC East’s punching bag. In 2023, the Washington Commanders fans are hoping that will all change. The Commanders also unfortunately dealt multiple years with poor quarterback play. Unfortunately, that will continue this season. The Commanders ranked 21st in the league in passing yards last season and 23rd in passing touchdowns. Those numbers should not improve at all with first-year starter Sam Howell under center. Howell was not a bad college football starter and while he has a good core of receivers and a promising run game he does not have an offensive line to protect him. This season I see Washington start the year at 2-2 and then that’s where the optimism ends going 1-3 in the next four games to be 3-5. I think they continue to struggle and go 1-3 at an overall record of 4-7. In the final six games, I think the Commanders go 0-6 and finish the year at 4-13.  

CHICAGO BEARS: 5-12 (Key Wins - vs. DET, vs. ATL) (Key Loses - @ TB, @ WAS, vs. LV, @ NO, @ CLE, @ GB)

The Chicago Bears started to show life as a team that they think they can be next season. There is no denying that Justin Fields has had the most excitement circulating him this off-season than in his previous two seasons, but I think this is the most hype for a quarterback without the team expected to win (that was not a rookie season) maybe ever. The Bears ran middle of the pack last season against the pass, but unfortunately, Chicago did not improve their cornerback room. They also did not improve their defensive line at all. For the offense Justin Fields last year was sacked 55 times. I know that there is tons of hype for him to take the next step but unless he gets protection this team is going nowhere. For the season I see the Bears starting 1-3 then going 0-4 to bring their record to 1-7. The next four I see them going 1-3 to be at 2-10 and then going 3-2 the rest of the way. This will leave tons of uncertainty in the fan base heading into the off-season. 

DETROIT LIONS: 9-8 (Key Wins - vs. SEA, vs. ATL, vs. DEN, vs. MIN, (Key Loses - @ GB, vs. LV, @ NO)

This is a huge year for third-year coach Dan Campbell. The first year he was given a pass because of how bad the team was shaped up the previous years and how the team had continued to underwhelm that season. Last year, the Detroit Lions did well with a 9-8 record, and the Lions just barely missed the playoffs. Detroit went out and improved the team by signing CJ Gardner Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley after the team was among the worst last season in passing yards and they decided not to re-sign cornerback Amani Oruwariye and then traded away former 5th-round pick Jeff Okudah. By signing Gardner Johnson and Moseley they have two players who have made Super Bowls and will bring a championship-style mentality to that team. For the season I think the Lions start off at 4-4 throughout their first 8 games. Then I think they go 2-2 to bring their record to 6-6. I think the Lions end up going 3-2 the rest of the way and finish up the year at 9-8 leaving doubt for the playoffs. However, in a tiebreaker with the Minnesota Vikings that will come down to a win-loss record within the conference, I see the Lions clinching the NFC North for the first time. The Lions will hold the #3 seed.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: 6-11 (Key Wins - vs. DET) (Key Loses - @ CHI, @ LV, @ TEN, @ CAR)

For the first time since 2008 a quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback week one for the Green Bay Packers. It’s officially the Jordan Love era in Green Bay. He inherits a team that in the backfield is a veteran corps of running backs with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, but the receiving corps is still young and raw much like Love. The offensive line is not much better aside from David Bakhtiari. The Packers are still very much a question mark on offense. On defense, things are not much better. Aside from Kenny Clark and Jaire Alexander, the Packers do not have a defense that should rank anywhere near the top ten in the league or may not even come close to average. During the Packers season, I started off at .500 throughout their first four games to be 2-2. Then I think they continue to go 2-2 and at this point, the conversation will be around the Packers being a possible playoff team. Unfortunately, that’s as far as I see it going. I foresee them struggling losing 5 straight to be at 4-9 overall. The final four games I think will bring some encouragement heading into next season with a 2-2 record and overall finishing up at 6-11.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: 9-8 (Key Wins - vs. LAC, vs. KC, vs. SF, vs. DET) (Key Loses - @ CAR, @ GB, @ LV)

The Minnesota Vikings were among the NFC’s best last season. However, in the playoffs, they could not shake their old ways of postseason luck. The Vikings last year were among the worst ranked on defense. The offense was among the best in the league, but the offense can not be the whole team and with Kirk Cousins aging the jury is still out on them. They lost some of their defensive core last year with Eric Kendricks, Za’Darius Smith, and Patrick Peterson. The hope for the Vikings is that Andrew Booth Jr. can grow into a starting role this season and Byron Murphy can sign as a free agent. This season I see the Vikings starting off 2-2 and then I see them getting hot going 3-1 and overall at 5-3. I then see them going 2-2 yet again and being overall at 7-5 the rest of the way I think they struggle and finish up going 2-3 and overall at 9-8. This leaves the rest of the season in doubt. I believe that the Vikings will miss out on the playoffs this season.

ATLANTA FALCONS: 9-8 (Key Wins - N/A) (Key Loses - @ TEN, @ ARI, @ CAR, @ CHI) 

This is a big make-or-break year for Arthur Smith. The way I see it they make the playoffs or show some serious signs of improvement or Smith is fired. At the end of last season, Desmond Rider did a decent job but is it enough to name him the face of the franchise? This is a big deal for the production of their past three first-round picks. The Falcons have an offense overloaded with the draft picks of tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London, and the prize of this year’s draft running back Bijan Robinson. The Falcons were ranked 31st in offense last season and 23rd in the league in passing touchdowns. Dave Ragone the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator has coached the likes of Jake Locker and Ryan Fitzpatcik both split time with each other in 2013, and when he was with the Chicago Bears Jay Cutler and Mitch Trubisky. So will he be able to help Desmond Ridder or will he be just another average quarterback on Regone’s belt. The defense is going to be the main turnaround this year with Ryan Nielson coming over from the New Orleans Saints, a defensive line that he helped turn into one of the most productive in the NFL over his tenure there. He looks to do the same in Atlanta. For the regular season, I see the Falcons starting off the year at 2-2 and then they start excelling going 3-1 to bring their average to 5-3. The next four I see them going 2-2 to be 7-5 and finally 2-3 to wrap up the season going 9-8 and among the top in the NFC South. I think the Falcons will win the NFC South for the first time since their Super Bowl season in 2016 and finish as the #4 seed.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: 8-9 (Key Wins - vs. MIN, vs. ATL) (Key Loses - @ CHI, @ TEN, @ NO)

This is a big opportunity for new head coach Frank Reich. Finally, he has a young quarterback that he can groom and turn into a top passer in the NFL. Reich had the Indianapolis Colts a quarterback away almost every season he was there. The Carolina Panthers have acquired running back Miles Sanders which should continue to improve their run game that was ranked top 10 in rushing yards. Their defense should improve this season with Ejiro Evero coming over from the Denver Broncos where they were very strong defensively. Unfortunately, there is a lot of raw talent on that team. For the season I see this one being fairly successful for the Panthers. I think they go 2-2 to start the season and then continue that into their next four games at 2-2 to be overall at 4-4. Then, I see the Panther’s season going in another direction and going 1-3 to be 5-7 overall, but I believe they finish up on a high note at 3-2 and end the year a solid 8-9. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: 7-10 (Key Wins - vs. DET) (Key Loses - @ CAR, @ GB, @ NE, @ IND, @ LAR) 

If it wasn’t for the New York Jets trading for Aaron Rodgers perhaps the biggest off-season Quarterback move would have been the New Orleans Saints signing Derek Carr. Carr is looking to improve a passing game that was ranked 16th. Carr should do just that with Chris Olave who had a stellar rookie season and may very well be the next top receiving target that Carr gets to work with. The Saint’s defense last year was among the NFL’s stingiest last season, however, a lot of the guys in that secondary are another year older. With that being said, the defense did get better on the lines with draft picks Bryan Breese and Isiah Foskey both players should have impacts in the future. This season I believe the Saints will start off at 2-2 for their first four games of the season. In the next four games, I think they go 1-3 and will be 3-5 overall. This should still leave them with a chance to get back into the playoff race in the second half of the season. In the next four games for the Saints, I think they go 2-2 bringing their record to 5-7, and then in the remaining five games they finish up 2-3 and miss out on the playoffs for the third straight season at 7-10.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: 2-15 (Key Wins - N/A) (Key Loses - @ NO, @ HOU, @ IND, vs CAR, @ GB, vs NO, @ CAR)

If you were to tell me the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be in this spot two years ago fresh off of winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history I would assume the worst. They perhaps gutted the entire team. However, the only missing piece right now from then to now is Tom Brady and the offensive line. However, with the season he had last year and how the Buccaneers got lucky the rest of the NFC South was busy running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers made the mistake of signing Baker Mayfield, someone who just has not lived up to the hype and has struggled to perform in the past few seasons. Todd Bowles I also believe is a much better defensive coordinator than he is a head coach. This season I think the Buccaneers start off at 1-3 then I see them going 0-4 and overall at 1-7. I think they go the remainder of the way 1-8 and finish the year an embarrassing 2-15 but it may put them in play for quarterback prospect Caleb Williams.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: 2-15 (Key Wins - vs. ATL, vs. LAR) (Key Loses - @ WAS, @ LAR, @ CLE, @ HOU,  @ CHI) 

The Arizona Cardinals are ready to start over from square one…. again. This has happened far too many times for the Cardinals franchise over their history and it looks to be happening once again. Kyler Murray appears to be checked out and Budda Baker has already requested a trade out of Arizona. After firing Kliff Kingsbury, who in my opinion was scapegoated in that scenario. The Cardinals went out and hired Jonathan Gannon who led the Philadelphia Eagles defense to the Super Bowl. However, he appears to be a flash-in-the-pan hire and the Cardinals are waiting for a better candidate to become available maybe next season. For the season, the Cardinals start off their season 0-9. Yes. I think it becomes that bad in Arizona. They have no real identity as an offense and for their defense that is a young core that may show signs of improvement throughout the season but for the majority of the year will probably be at the bottom of the league. I think they go 2-1 throughout the next few games, improve to 2-10 overall go winless the rest of the way, and be a disappointing 2-15. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS: 4-13 (Key Wins - vs. SF) (Key Loses - @ IND, @ GB vs. CLE)

Last season was a disappointment for the defending Super Bowl champions. Do Super Bowl hangovers happen? Yes. There were injuries all over the place. However, the offense was lackluster for almost all of the season. This year I think with a healthy Cooper Kupp their offense can improve, but he’s been dealing with nagging injuries throughout the Summer. The defense ranked towards the bottom of the league and they did not improve upon that in the off-season. The Rams on the year should start the year off 1-3 and then go 1-3 yet again in their next four to be 2-6 overall at the middle of the season. Then I think they struggle during the toughest part of the season and go 0-6, but I think they finish off the year on a high note at 2-3 going 4-13 at the end of the year. This could provide the end to the Sean McVay era in Los Angeles. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: 12-5 (Key Wins - @ PIT, vs. NYG, vs. DAL, vs. CIN, @ JAC, vs. BAL) (Key Loses - @ LAR)

The biggest surprise of last season. Brock Purdy. Will he prove that he is a starter who can win as a full-time starter in San Francisco? I believe he has the right weapons to win. The main turnaround is Demeco Ryans accepting the head coaching job with the Houston Texans. Steve Wilks is no Demeco Ryans but then again who would have thought that Demeco Ryans could replace Robert Saleh? For this season, I think the 49ers start the year off well at 3-1, and the lone hiccup I don’t foresee hurting their confidence as a team moving forward. In the next couple of games, they should go 3-1 again and be 6-2. The following four games I think they hit the toughest part of the season at 2-2 and overall at 8-4. The rest of the season I think they finish 4-1 and end the year at 12-5 making the playoffs 4 out of the last 5 years. The 49ers I think will finish as the #5 seed.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: 13-4 (Key Wins - vs. SF, @ DAL, @ SF, vs. PHI, vs. PIT) ( Key Loses - N/A)

Am I crazy? Probably. This is not a popular pick I am sure for most people but this is a team I believe is hungry to win. They are young and are among one of the most exciting teams offensively on pen and paper. One big question is can Geno Smith, last year’s Comeback Player of the Year have another 4,000-yard season? With this receiving core? Absolutely. While he isn’t catching anyone by surprise he is going to be more prepared than almost any other quarterback in the league. With Pete Carroll at the helm who has seen more football than a majority of the coaches in the league, Smith is in good hands. The defense improved by bringing back Bobby Wagner and drafting cornerback Devon Witherspoon. This season the Seahawks should start off average at 2-2 and then go 2-2 the next four games to be at 4-4 overall. This is where they get hot. The rest of the way they finish up 9-0. Catching the San Francisco 49ers on a cold point in their season. It is going to be a tough stretch but I think this team is up for it. I see the Seahawks coming out as the #1 seed in the NFC.