2016 NFL Predictions

[74_75_78_79_]

AFC
East
New England (2)
NY Jets
Miami
Buffalo

North
Pittsburgh (1)
Baltimore (5)
Cincinnati
Cleveland

South
Jacksonville (4)
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee

West
Kansas City (3)
Oakland (6)
Denver
San Diego

1st Round: Raiders over CHIEFS, Ravens over JAGUARS
Divisionals: STEELERS over Raiders, Ravens over PATRIOTS
AFCC: Ravens over STEELERS

NFC
East
NY Giants (1)
Washington
Philadelphia
Dallas

North
Minnesota (3)
Green Bay
Chicago
Detroit

South
Tampa Bay (4)
Carolina (6)
New Orleans
Atlanta

West
Seattle (2)
Arizona (5)
Los Angeles
San Francisco

1st Round: VIKINGS over Panthers, Cardinals over BUCCANEERS
Divisionals: GIANTS over Cardinals, SEAHAWKS over Vikings
NFCC: GIANTS over Seahawks

SUPER BOWL LI: RAVENS OVER GIANTS - MVP, Joe Flacco

Obviously very unbiased. I do HOPE that I'm dead-wrong on this!

[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.

[JWL]

You can make predictions every week in a Yahoo pro pick 'e m group.

ID- 27526
Password- glanville

[74_75_78_79_]

AFC

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

I think everyone else in the division besides NYG will be well-below-500. 'Air'-Eli it'll be this year. Will have his best statistical season. Green Bay and Chicago ought to have winning seasons; they'll split with each other as well as with Vikings who I think got back in the driver's seat in acquiring Bradford. I would have never fired Lovie Smith - I think he would have led Bucs to playoffs this year as well - but Koetter, last year's OC, will get them there just the same. Koetter still being present will be the reason Jameis has a breakout year. Another solid year from Doug Martin and Mike Smith at DC really ought to assure things. Jags 'announce' their 'arrival' by beating GB in opener. Steelers will beat Pats this season hence winning them top-seed in the end. Harbaugh/Flacco good enough to make playoffs, and once they start they win-out as they did in 2012. Flacco vs Eli...someone will have to lose.

[ChrisBabcock]

Yes, I am picking the Jaguars, Raiders and Rams to all make the playoffs.

Patriots 10-6 (2)
Jets 8-8
Dolphins 6-10
Bills 5-11

Steelers 11-5 (1)
Bengals 10-6
Ravens 7-9
Browns 5-11

Jaguars 10-6 (4)
Colts 10-6 (5)
Texans 7-9
Titans 5-11

Raiders 10-6 (3)
Broncos 10-6 (6)
Chiefs 8-8
Chargers 6-10

Giants 8-8 (4)
Redskins 8-8
Eagles 6-10
Cowboys 5-11

Packers 12-4 (2)
Vikings 9-7
Lions 6-10
Bears 5-11

Panthers 10-6 (3)
Falcons 8-8
Saints 8-8
Buccaneers 7-9

Cardinals 13-3 (1)
Seahawks 11-5 (5)
Rams 9-7 (6)
49ers 3-13

Raiders over Broncos
Colts over Jaguars
Panthers over Rams
Seahawks over Giants
-----------------------
Patriots over Raiders
Steelers over Colts
Panthers over Packers
Cardinals over Seahawks
--------------------------
Steelers over Patriots
Cardinals over Panthers
---------------------------
Cardinals over Steelers

[Reaser]

AFC
WEST
Chiefs 8-8 (4)
Chargers 8-8
Raiders 7-9
Broncos 6-10

NORTH
Steelers 11-5 (2)
Bengals 10-6 (5)
Ravens 8-8
Browns 3-13

SOUTH
Texans 9-7 (3)
Colts 8-8 (6)
Titans 6-10
Jaguars 6-10

EAST
Patriots 13-3 (1)
Bills 8-8
Jets 8-8
Dolphins 8-8

NFC
WEST
Seahawks 13-3 (2)
Cardinals 11-5 (5)
Rams 4-12
49ers 2-14

NORTH
Packers 14-2 (1)
Vikings 8-8 (6)
Bears 8-8
Lions 5-11

SOUTH
Panthers 11-5 (3)
Falcons 8-8
Buccaneers 7-9
Saints 7-9

EAST
Giants 11-5 (4)
Redskins 8-8
Eagles 6-10
Cowboys 6-10

Super Bowl: Seahawks over Patriots

I think we'll see a lot of bad football this season, even by teams that end up with good records. Yet people will call it 'entertaining' because it'll be below average team beats below average team 34-31 all year. Teams like the Steelers and Giants who would be 8 win teams in a more competitive league will have inflated W/L records.

The only team that will look championship material all regular season will be the Packers.

By the end of the regular season the NFC will be the Packers as clear favorites with the Seahawks and Cardinals (with a few saying Carolina) as the two teams people think might be able to knock them off in the playoffs.

By the end of the regular season the AFC will be the Patriots and a lot of average teams. Whoever comes from the AFC North (I picked the Steelers) will be the clear #2 but well behind the Patriots as projected AFC Champions going into the playoffs.

The playoffs will be similar to the regular season, 'exciting' (because of close games) though low quality football.

We won't get what we've had - and I prefer best v. best in championships - the previous 3 years.

The Packers lose in the Divisional round. Puts Seattle at home for the NFC Championship where they win.

The Steelers who by this time are clearly the only team that could even give the Patriots a competitive AFC championship also lose in the Divisional Round. The Patriots coast through the playoffs and easily win the AFC Championship against an overmatched average team.

[Rupert Patrick]

For what it's worth, Peter King in his MMQB column yesterday (and I guess in SI also) picked Pittsburgh over Green Bay in Super Bowl LI.

[JWL]

Advertising one final time-

You can make predictions every week in a Yahoo pro pick 'em group.

ID- 27526
Password- glanville

We had a PFRA pick 'em group about five years ago and never did it again. The group currently has a whopping five people in it and just one PFRA member. If I can just get one person to join from here, that would be nice.

[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.

[Reaser]

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.