Here we go with another year of NFL predictions. Unlike recent years, there seem to be more questions than answers are more Super Bowl contenders than ever. After the Cincinnati Bengals went from not winning a playoff game in 30 years to minutes away from a Super Bowl championship, there really isn't any off-the-wall thinking anymore. Anything can happen.
We have new quarterbacks everywhere. Russell Wilson leaves Seattle for Denver. Matt Ryan leaves Atlanta for Indianapolis. Carson Wentz leaves Indianapolis for Washington. Deshaun Watson leaves Houston for (eventually) Cleveland. Baker Mayfield leaves Cleveland for Carolina. Remember that the last two Super Bowl champions had a veteran quarterback who was playing their first season with their new team.
So here is how I predict the 2022 season will shake out. As always, I'll hit on some and be wildly off on others. But here it goes:
AFC EAST
1-Bills*
2-Patriots
3-Dolphins
4-Jets
Buffalo is the class of this division and I'm not wavering from that. I feel they're on a mission to dominate the regular season, earn the AFC's top seed, and watch teams have to go up to Buffalo in January to try to stop them. The rest of the division? Meh. The Patriots still have Bill Belichick running things so I'm giving them the second slot. I like the Dolphins' direction, but I think they may be a year away from being a playoff team in a stout AFC. And then there's the Jets.
AFC SOUTH
1-Colts*
2-Titans
3-Jaguars
4-Texans
The Colts were looked at as a dangerous team last season, and that was before Jonathan Taylor blew up and while Carson Wentz was their quarterback. With Matt Ryan running things, I think they get back to being division champs. The Titans take a step back, but don't count them out. Derrick Henry was un-freaking-real last season before missing the last couple months of the regular season. I do think the Jags make that run down the right track with a new culture, a more experienced Trevor Lawrence and the organization doing whatever they can to help him. Houston is in full rebuild mode but can bite someone along the way. Still, they'll be doing a lot of quarterback scouting this year.
AFC NORTH
1-Ravens*
2-Bengals*
3-Steelers
4-Browns
This is a division filled with interesting stories. I mean, the Ravens nearly made the playoffs despite all of the injuries they suffered last season. I think they (plus Lamar Jackson betting on himself) will vault back up to that top status. That's not to say Cincinnati will be worse. They'll be a much better team now that they've tasted success and the front office working on protecting Joe Burrow. Remember that this was a 10-7 team a year ago that got hot. They could win 12 or 13 games and still finish second here. The Steelers made the playoffs despite having a statue at quarterback last season. Not to say that Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett will light up the league, but it opens up a lot of the play book. Cleveland is a wildcard. They have a ton of talent, but can they stay afloat until Deshaun Watson gets back. And when he does, it will be nearly two years since he played a regular season game.
AFC WEST
1-Chiefs*
2-Broncos*
3-Chargers*
4-Raiders
The best division in football. I still have Kansas City winning the division. I know that Tyreke Hill is gone and this isn't the dynamic team it has been the last few years, but they have a great combination of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes that I just can't let go of yet. I have the Broncos ahead of the Chargers just due to the fact that I think Los Angeles takes a couple of those confusing losses along the way. They are extremely talented and will soon be in that elite class with the Bills and Bengals in the next wave of AFC studs, but this will be a learning to win season. The Raiders are the best last place team there is and it will be so interesting to see how Josh McDaniels uses Derek Carr and Devonte Adams.
NFC EAST
1-Eagles*
2-Cowboys*
3-Commanders
4-Giants
This race truly comes down tn.n.o the Eagles and Cowboys. Dallas may have the bigger names but Philly has the more reliable team and coach. I think the Eagles can work around Jalen Hurts' weaknesses and win the division. Dallas will still be a strong contender, especially if they figure out their offensive line. The Commanders have a puncher's chance if the defense plays to its potential and Carson Wentz is able to be counted on. They were 6-6 and in the division race before a four game losing streak (two to both the Eagles and Cowboys) tanked the season. The Giants are in full rebuild mode and are essentially taking stock of what they have.
NFC SOUTH
1-Buccaneers*
2-Saints
3-Panthers
4-Falcons
I want to pick the Saints really badly, but despite all that feels weird in Tampa Bay I am still sticking with this veteran roster led by Tom Brady. New Orleans is extremely talented, but Jameis Winston is coming off a huge injury and there are a lot of variables to consider. I feel the Saints have a higher ceiling but a lower floor. Carolina and Atlanta will bring up the rear. For the second straight season the Panthers have traded for a quarterback that his former team didn't want anymore. If Christian McCafferty can stay healthy then they have a shot at a wildcard run. The Falcons start with a cast-off quarterback but will look to their future QB (Desmond Ridder) at some point during the season.
NFC NORTH
1-Packers*
2-Vikings*
3-Lions
4-Bears
Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers and no one else in the division has anything close. Sure, this doesn't feel like a Packers team that can win it all but maybe the window is still open. I'm loving the Vikings and feel if Kirk Cousins has a career low in dumb mistakes then they can take this division. They have such explosive weapons. The have-nots are the Lions and Bears ... oh my. Both are in stages of rebuilding and there's nothing to feel confident in that would make them sleeper contenders right now.
NFC WEST
1-Rams*
2-49ers*
3-Cardinals
4-Seahawks
Like each of the NFC's divisions, there seems to be a clear divide between the top two teams and the bottom two teams. Same goes in the West where the defending champs will have to fight off complacency to get back to the big game. Remember that there were some who felt that this team would break apart after the Super Bowl (Sean McVay and Aaron Donald retiring, for example). Also remember that the Niners were thiiiiiiiis close to popping the Rams in the NFC title game and enter this season with the biggest wildcard in the country -- Trey Lance. Will Lance be the guy that unlocks the Niners' true potential or will his inexperience doom San Francisco? The Cardinals have talent, but with DeAndre Hopkins out they may not reach their potential before it's too late. Seattle will be competitive, but won't do any damage.
There will be eight teams fighting for those seven NFC playoff spots, and I think the Niners end up reaching the Super Bowl. I trust Kyle Shanahan and that he'll be able to get Trey Lance on task for a postseason run.
In the AFC, we will see another wild postseason with all seven teams as legit Super Bowl contenders. I think it is finally the Buffalo Bills time.
So we get the Chris Berman Super Bowl. If you remember in the late 1980s and 1990s, Berman used to always predict the 49ers and Bills matching up in a Super Bowl. Well, it happens in 2023 with the Bills winning, 34-21
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