2016 NFL Predictions

[74_75_78_79_]

Well, Rupert picked Pats and Packers to be in today's CCs (and lose to Cincy & Cards respectively), Chris picked Steelers and Pats for the AFCC (game being at Pittsburgh, Steelers winning it). Reaser the only one to pick Pats actually making SBLI. Wow was I off! Cards seemed to be the biggest disappointment.

I think/thought NE was one of the clearest obvious/lock conference championship winning teams in recent history. Before the season - and eventually during it - the AFC didn't seem competitive at all. There was NE then everyone else, or more accurately NE, a sizeable gap, then everyone else. I had 'predicted' the Steelers to be the clear #2 which it ended up that way, and we saw today the gap there.

NFC had more possible teams. I'm glad Atlanta made it but obviously didn't see that coming. Had GB/SEA as the NFC's best teams.

Chris and I had the Falcons finishing 2nd in the NFC South at 8-8. Rupert had them 2nd in the south also but had them in the playoffs losing in the WC round (good call on at least having them in the playoffs). 'Someone' had them finishing last in the NFC South, ha.

Yep, and the funny thing was that I - correct me if wrong - predicted Quinn leading them to the playoffs before last season began (or at least thought so initially). Just thought all three in their division would be better.

[Reaser]

Yep, and the funny thing was that I - correct me if wrong - predicted Quinn leading them to the playoffs before last season began (or at least thought so initially). Just thought all three in their division would be better.

Yup, you had them winning the division last year. Which looked good, until we got to November.

[Rupert Patrick]

AFC

East
New England 2
Buffalo 6
NY Jets
Miami

North
Cincinnati 1
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cleveland

South
Indianapolis 4
Houston 5
Jacksonville
Tennennee

West
Kansas City 3
Denver
Oakland
San Diego

Wild Card - Kansas City over Buffalo, Indianapolis over Houston
Divisional - Cincinnati over Indianapolis, New England over Kansas City
Championship - Cincinnati over New England

NFC

East
Philadelphia 4
Washington
NY Giants
Dallas

North
Green Bay 2
Minnesota 6
Detroit
Chicago

South
Carolina 3
Atlanta 6
New Orleans
Tampa Bay

West
Arizona 1
Seattle 5
Los Angeles
San Francisco

Wild Card - Carolina over Atlanta, Seattle over Philadelphia
Divisional - Arizona over Seattle, Green Bay over Carolina
Championship - Arizona over Green Bay

Super Bowl LI - Arizona over Cincinnati

Five things to look for:

1 - I think the NFC East is going to have a tough time producing a team who wins more than eight games in 2016.

2 - With the sudden success of the Panthers in 2015, they will fall back to earth in 2016. I expect them to win 10 games, which should be enough to win the NFC South.

3 - Trying to find a historical parallel to the 2016 Broncos, I am forced to look at the 2001 Ravens. The Ravens won the Super Bowl the year before with a historic D and no offense and they got rid of their QB after the season, which is sort of the situation Denver is in although Denver's defense is not quite as good as the Ravens. Baltimore finished 10-6 in 2001; I think the Broncos will finish 8-8, maybe 9-7 if their QB situation pans out. However, it won't be enough to make the playoffs.

4 - In the AFC North, the Ravens are going to improve, I think the Steelers will slip a notch, and I expect Cincinnati to breeze to the North title and clinch home field in the AFC.

5 - The Cowboys will be the worst team in the NFL this year, and Jerry Jones will clean house after the season.

I got three division winners correct and six of the 12 playoff teams. In my predictions, I was right about the Broncos as they finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs. About the Cowboys, not so much as I and nobody foresaw that Dak Prescott would come out of nowhere to revitalize the team along with Elliott and would make Tony Romo obsolete. As long as the two of them can stay healthy and pick up a good receiver I think Dallas will have a good run over the next 5-6 years or longer. Jason Garrett has saved his job in Dallas.

I don't know what happened in Cincinnati and Arizona. Both teams seemed ready to step forward. I still think Arizona could surprise next season, they are an explosive team and could shake things up in the offseason.

[JohnH19]

The only prediction I made before the season was Seattle over New England in the SB.

[ChrisBabcock]

I think the biggest regular season surprises that no one saw coming were the Cowboys rise and the Panthers and Cardinals collapse.

[rhickok1109]

Well, Rupert picked Pats and Packers to be in today's CCs (and lose to Cincy & Cards respectively), Chris picked Steelers and Pats for the AFCC (game being at Pittsburgh, Steelers winning it). Reaser the only one to pick Pats actually making SBLI. Wow was I off! Cards seemed to be the biggest disappointment.

I think/thought NE was one of the clearest obvious/lock conference championship winning teams in recent history. Before the season - and eventually during it - the AFC didn't seem competitive at all. There was NE then everyone else, or more accurately NE, a sizeable gap, then everyone else. I had 'predicted' the Steelers to be the clear #2 which it ended up that way, and we saw today the gap there.

Aren't you forgetting about Oakland before Derek Carr's injury?

[Reaser]

Aren't you forgetting about Oakland before Derek Carr's injury?

No.

Though, in what context do you mean? That they were right there with NE all season? No. NE was clearly the best team in the AFC. The Raiders could only play who was on their schedule but they weren't beating good teams. They lost to KC (with Carr), they lost to KC again (with Carr), they lost to ATL early season (with Carr). I believe the only playoff team they beat were the Texans. They spent most of the season winning close games against bad teams and average/around .500 teams. I liked watching them, it was a good season but they weren't anywhere near NE.

If you mean as 2nd best team. I said that it ended up being that way with the Steelers. Which it did, obviously (see: AFC Championship was NE v. PIT). Going on what did happen, when the playoffs started the Raiders were not a team that anyone would think that could beat NE.

[Rupert Patrick]

Aren't you forgetting about Oakland before Derek Carr's injury?

No.

Though, in what context do you mean? That they were right there with NE all season? No. NE was clearly the best team in the AFC. The Raiders could only play who was on their schedule but they weren't beating good teams. They lost to KC (with Carr), they lost to KC again (with Carr), they lost to ATL early season (with Carr). I believe the only playoff team they beat were the Texans. They spent most of the season winning close games against bad teams and average/around .500 teams. I liked watching them, it was a good season but they weren't anywhere near NE.

If you mean as 2nd best team. I said that it ended up being that way with the Steelers. Which it did, obviously (see: AFC Championship was NE v. PIT). Going on what did happen, when the playoffs started the Raiders were not a team that anyone would think that could beat NE.

The two best teams in the AFC met in the AFC Championship. I think Oakland would have had a tough time getting out of the Wild Card/Divisional round even with a healthy Carr. They made a lot of progress in 2016, but they did play a third place schedule, and in 2017 will have to face tougher competition. I doubt they'll win 12 games in 2017, they may only win 10 or 11 games, but they may be a much stronger team. I am impressed with what Del Rio has done in Oakland, and I Oakland and KC are going to be fighting over the West for the next five years unless Denver can pull a quality QB out of their hat.

[Reaser]

The two best teams in the AFC met in the AFC Championship.

Exactly.