USA Today Projections for all NFL teams

[PDay8810]

Yuck, your snarkiness aside, this team could use more talent. It's not just the first round, it's a better second round pick, better third round pick. Obviously I'm pulling for them to do well, I'm not hoping they tank, but clearly going 8-8 every year isn't beneficial. I'd gladly sacrifice a year if it means they're more productive the following years.

Yuck.....on top 10 pick in each round.

define more productive....is that a playoff birth? one playoff win? two?

 

[Manster7588]

I hope Vegas has us over/under 3. If so I'm taking the over.

 

[jarntt]

Yuck, your snarkiness aside, this team could use more talent. It's not just the first round, it's a better second round pick, better third round pick. Obviously I'm pulling for them to do well, I'm not hoping they tank, but clearly going 8-8 every year isn't beneficial. I'd gladly sacrifice a year if it means they're more productive the following years.

But, you have to remember...Does the #5 pick in the draft (or each round) always have a better career than the #16 pick? I'll take an 8 win team over a 3 win team every single time. I never understood the theory of having a bad year to set you up for good years down the road. I'm not a smart man, but I always thought it was easier to improve by 2 wins the following year than 10 wins...and getting better talent comes more from better talent evaluation than it does from picking a few spots earlier.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

But, you have to remember...Does the #5 pick in the draft (or each round) always have a better career than the #16 pick? I'll take an 8 win team over a 3 win team every single time. I never understood the theory of having a bad year to set you up for good years down the road. I'm not a smart man, but I always thought it was easier to improve by 2 wins the following year than 10 wins...and getting better talent comes more from better talent evaluation than it does from picking a few spots earlier.

This is I can somewhat agree with. Obviously a high end pick is only as good as the person evaluating them. But the bottom line is, some of those high end guys do pan out. If you hit one out of the park it makes a world of difference. It's also the difference between being in a position to take a guy like Lawrence without having to sacrifice your 3rd round pick. Again, it's not a guarantee and I hope we don't get a top 10 pick. But if we suck this year it's also not the end of the world.

 

[PDay8810]

I'd call that progress....least now top 10 in each round doesn't assure something better than 8-8

 

[jarntt]

I absolutely would rather have a top 5 pick in the draft than a mid first rounder of course. My point is that I think a 3 win team with a top 5 pick is less likely to win anything in the near future than a team with 8 wins and the #16 pick.

 

[LucklessPadresFan]

As far as the AFC West goes, I don't see how the Reid led Chiefs suddenly become a 4-12 team. I think the Broncos are still tops, but I think the Chiefs still have what it takes to make a push for the WC. I think they also have the Raiders highly underrated. I see the Raiders moving to 8-8 or even 9-7. They will have a vastly improved offense and the QB position should be dramatically improved. I think they are spot on with my Chargers. We have too many question marks on the offensive line and our secondary is a disaster and will need another year or two to develop.

 

[Ekspozed]

There are teams that pick in the top 10 every year.

 

[UK Cowboy]

We had a top 16 pick in the top four rounds of one of the deepest drafts ever. We came away with Zach Martin, Demarcus Lawrence and Anthony Hitchens. I'm calling one solid starter, one situational pass rusher and a special teamer. Nothing wrong with that, but I wouldn't plan the parade. The thought of being happy about losing more so you can get a higher draft position is absurd to me. If Jerry would call Bill Polian or Bill Parcells, ask them how many of his millions it would take for them to come out of retirement as GM of the Cowboys, it wouldn't matter if we were picking #1 or #32, we'd have better results

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Any one of CIN, PIT, or BAL can win the DIV and only b/c CLE continues to have CLE luck (Gordon) and still sorting out QB keeps them out of the mix.

My guess...

1st. place...PIT - 10-6, OFC...I think they have solved the OL problems to some extinct and a full season with Bell/Blount running it will take some pressure off the passing game. Although not proven in some areas, Ben has more talent around him this year.

DEF...yeah, they kept Troy and Ike, so some concern about age in the back 4, but as a whole...with Mitchell now at FS...Shamarko Thomas another year in the system and the emergence of Gay as a NFL caliber CB gives way for some hope. Shazier is the perfect fit for a sub pkg guy likely to take over the other ILB spot...Shazier, Mitchell, and Thomas put a lot more speed on the field. Tuitt should see the field in rotation on the DL...this still won't be the high pressure DEF Lebeau was known for in PIT...but it should be faster and get a little more pressure on the QB.

2nd place...BAL...9-7...I think Flacco benefits early from getting his TE Pitta back...Steve Smith will have an impact...they will figure it out on the running game. On DEF, like PIT I think they will need to rely on some young players early...imo BAL has the harder road schedule out of DIV.

3rd place...CIN...9-7...I say this every year it seems, but CIN has a very talented roster, but even now, some uncertainty about the QB position...I think @ NE, @ IND, and @NO is going to hurt them.

4th place...CLE...8-8...also a lot of high draft picks on this roster...I'm still a doubter, but maybe JM really can play at this level. In either case, Gordon has put them in a trail position again I think for 2014. More of the same...expect CLE to play a lot of close, low scoring games, but come out on the wrong end.

 

[jonvi]

If Buffalo goes 3 - 13, Marrone is history.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

No way the boys win only 3 games. Hell, division games alone, will most likely be split.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Unlike my favorite player, I tend to get caught up in what others say. When I first saw the title I thought well maybe they will have us 10-6. Quite a shock to see 3 wins for me. Someone really actually thinks we are going to be that bad. I can understand trolls coming to a forum saying it but this is a national paper. Call me stupid, but Im trying to talk myself into thinking we have a shot at the Superbowl, and now I see 3 wins.

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

In a way this makes sense to me. We are gambling that a 34 year old qb is going to survive the season. We have nothing behind him. Orton is overrated. Weeden can't handle pressure. This defense still is gonna suck, we still have the worst secondary in the NFL and probably the worst DL in the division. Compound that with a draft where we wasted 3rd to 5th round picks and did not have a 6th rounder. Also add in that Garret SUCKS as a game planner and game manager. This team got worse after Garrett took away OC duties from Calahan,

 

[Tharvot]

This projection would have the Browns with 2 top 10 picks in next year's draft. Lol @ the Bills.

 

[jonvi]

Holy shit....that's right...Buffalo gave up their 1st rounder for Sammy. lol. If 3 - 13 is right, Marrone is so toast.

 

[Earl Stevens]

Well thank god it's USA Today publishing this bullshit and not espn

3-13 is asinine. Like they want to get attention for making such a ludicrous pick. USA Today is now officially the Skip Bayless of sports journalism.

I don't really think ESPN will be much better. Not that it means anything but Mark Brunell, Skip, and Stephen A. already have the Cowboys penciled in as the worst team in the East. And I'm sure the NFL experts on ESPN will think the same thing.

 

[jarntt]

In a way this makes sense to me. We are gambling that a 34 year old qb is going to survive the season. We have nothing behind him. Orton is overrated. Weeden can't handle pressure. This defense still is gonna suck, we still have the worst secondary in the NFL and probably the worst DL in the division. Compound that with a draft where we wasted 3rd to 5th round picks and did not have a 6th rounder. Also add in that Garret SUCKS as a game planner and game manager. This team got worse after Garrett took away OC duties from Calahan,

Well since you predcit 3 wins EVERY year I wouldn't expect you to disagree

 

[Ekspozed]

Not sure how being competitive for the last idk how many seasons = 3 wins, total.

 

[PhoenixEagles1]

If Vegas puts Dallas at 3-13 Im taking that all day long..... but they wont.

Last year when a couple knuckle heads said Philly was going to be the worst team in the NFL, I and many others said theres just too many good players on Philly to be the worst team in the league. THere is no way you can roll out an offense with Dez, Murray, Romo, Fredricks, T. Smith, Witten and say thats going to lead to a 3-13 season. No way, no how. Infact, I remember saying our OLine alone is too good to wind up being the worst team in the league and Dallas has the potential to have a top OLine in the league.