- Thread starter
- #1
iknowftbll
Well-Known Member
As promised, I'm taking my predictions to the next level this year. I haven't decided if this is a one-time thing simply because the Broncos are defending champs or what. Now we all know how hard it is for a team to repeat. (That's why I don't buy into the narrative about the 2000 Ravens or 2002 Buccaneers: i.e. "You can't repeat on defense alone." because it's damn near impossible to repeat anyway! Why are those teams singled out as if other teams have been any more successful? But I digress.)
Knowing how hard it is to repeat, I am going to preface my predictions with a bit of a cop-out. In recent years I've always expected the Broncos to contend for a Super Bowl title and rightly so. This year I expect no less: The Broncos will contend for a Super Bowl title. But to what extent to I truly EXPECT them to repeat? I can see it...then again I can see them falling short too. So what I've assembled here is what I consider a reasonable charting of how a repeat would transpire, if indeed it were to transpire.
So let's start at the beginning. Or more appropriately, the ending. As in how the final standings will look at the end of the regular season. And like I said, while I always pick playoff seeds, this is my first time actually picking W-L for the entire league. And guess what? It's probably just as good as anything any of the experts will put together too!
In the AFC:
West:
Broncos: 12-4
Raiders: 10-6
Chiefs: 8-8
Chargers: 7-9
Rationale: Stated and re-stated.
South:
Texans: 10-6
Colts: 8-8
Jaguars: 7-9
Titans: 4-12
Rationale: When I started I was going to go out on a limb and pick the Jaguars. They've got a lot of talent up and down the roster, but it just hasn't come together yet. The Colts are once again a one-man show with Andrew Luck. I see them as good enough to reach .500 but not good enough on O or D to get over the hump. The Titans...well maybe there's next year. The Texans are the most logical pick because they have hands down the best defense in the division and their offense should be a cut above what it was last year. Give those Jags another year and this may be a hotly contested division.
North:
Bengals: 12-4
Steelers: 11-5
Ravens: 7-9
Browns: 4-12
Rationale: It would be really easy to take a look at the Browns schedule and nominate them most likely to go 0-16 in 2016. But Hue Jackson won't let that happen. The Ravens had a tough season last year, and it's really hard to discern to what extent a team like that is going to rebound. The Steelers are an awesome team, one of the better offenses in the league, but their defense is still a work in progress. The Bengals represent the best balance in the division. I think they've got a consecutive division title in them. That hasn't happened in years.
East:
Patriots: 11-5
Bills: 8-8
Jets: 7-9
Dolphins: 5-11
Rationale: The Patriots even without Brady likely don't start any worse than 2-2. The Jets may get a better record than that if they bring back Fitz. Even if that happens I am not sure if I'm ready to proclaim them contenders because Fitz pretty much has had just the one really good season. The Dolphins just can't seem to get it together. As for the Bills, I am just not a believer in Rex Ryan. I like the guy but I don't think he has what it takes to get his team over the hump. Especially in a division that includes the Patriots.
The NFC is coming up next...
Knowing how hard it is to repeat, I am going to preface my predictions with a bit of a cop-out. In recent years I've always expected the Broncos to contend for a Super Bowl title and rightly so. This year I expect no less: The Broncos will contend for a Super Bowl title. But to what extent to I truly EXPECT them to repeat? I can see it...then again I can see them falling short too. So what I've assembled here is what I consider a reasonable charting of how a repeat would transpire, if indeed it were to transpire.
So let's start at the beginning. Or more appropriately, the ending. As in how the final standings will look at the end of the regular season. And like I said, while I always pick playoff seeds, this is my first time actually picking W-L for the entire league. And guess what? It's probably just as good as anything any of the experts will put together too!
In the AFC:
West:
Broncos: 12-4
Raiders: 10-6
Chiefs: 8-8
Chargers: 7-9
Rationale: Stated and re-stated.
South:
Texans: 10-6
Colts: 8-8
Jaguars: 7-9
Titans: 4-12
Rationale: When I started I was going to go out on a limb and pick the Jaguars. They've got a lot of talent up and down the roster, but it just hasn't come together yet. The Colts are once again a one-man show with Andrew Luck. I see them as good enough to reach .500 but not good enough on O or D to get over the hump. The Titans...well maybe there's next year. The Texans are the most logical pick because they have hands down the best defense in the division and their offense should be a cut above what it was last year. Give those Jags another year and this may be a hotly contested division.
North:
Bengals: 12-4
Steelers: 11-5
Ravens: 7-9
Browns: 4-12
Rationale: It would be really easy to take a look at the Browns schedule and nominate them most likely to go 0-16 in 2016. But Hue Jackson won't let that happen. The Ravens had a tough season last year, and it's really hard to discern to what extent a team like that is going to rebound. The Steelers are an awesome team, one of the better offenses in the league, but their defense is still a work in progress. The Bengals represent the best balance in the division. I think they've got a consecutive division title in them. That hasn't happened in years.
East:
Patriots: 11-5
Bills: 8-8
Jets: 7-9
Dolphins: 5-11
Rationale: The Patriots even without Brady likely don't start any worse than 2-2. The Jets may get a better record than that if they bring back Fitz. Even if that happens I am not sure if I'm ready to proclaim them contenders because Fitz pretty much has had just the one really good season. The Dolphins just can't seem to get it together. As for the Bills, I am just not a believer in Rex Ryan. I like the guy but I don't think he has what it takes to get his team over the hump. Especially in a division that includes the Patriots.
The NFC is coming up next...