10 Bold Predictions For The Upcoming NFL Season
Eddie Lacy is looking to rebound after a down year going into the final year of his rookie contract
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The NFL season is officially less than 2 weeks away, and right now it's prediction season. Everyone seems to be giving their takes on who is going to do what this year and for me, it's part 3 of the "A Few Good Mics" NFL season preview. In parts one and two I gave you 3 teams that were going to have a breakout year, and 5 teams that wouldn't live up to expectations. Now I'll give you 10 "bold" predictions for players and teams this upcoming season.
10 Bold Predictions For The Upcoming Season
1. Eddie Lacy will return to 2014 form and rush for over 1,000 yards and 10+ touchdowns
Eddie Lacy last year was very disappointing going for less than 800 yards and only 3 touchdowns. This year he was pressured by head coach Mike McCarthy to lose some weight in the offseason and Lacy delivered by showing up to camp 20 pounds lighter. So far this preseason he's averaged almost 6 yards per carry and looks very explosive like he did his rookie season. Lacy is also going into the final year of his contract and another bad year could cost him a lot of money next summer, so I expect Lacy to come through with a big season and help the Packers back onto the top of the NFC standings.
2. The Denver Broncos will MISS the playoffs
I know that they're the reigning Super Bowl champs, but things didn't go very well for them this summer. Most pundits are brushing it off, but I think the losses of Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan as well as losing Vance Walker for the season will hurt them. The major problem with this team is their obvious quarterback (or lack of a quarterback) situation. Mark Sanchez did lead the Jets to 2 AFC title games, but that was 6 seasons ago. The fact that he still hasn't beat out Trevor Siemian for the job is troubling. I think it will be a problem situation for them all season long and it will cost them several games, especially given their mediocre offensive line. My predictions have the Broncos finishing at 9-7 and missing the playoffs, all because John Elway got cocky and let Osweiler walk in free agency.
3. The Oakland Raiders will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002
The Raiders may be in the same division as the Chiefs and the defending champion Broncos, but the Raiders will no doubt be the most improved team in the AFC this season. In his first two seasons, Derek Carr has shown that he's the quarterback the Raiders have been looking for ever since Rich Gannon retired, and Amari Cooper is one of the best young wide receivers in the game. On defense Khalil Mack is already a powerhouse as a pass rusher and now they've added Bruce Irvin to put on the opposite side. They also added Pro Bowl cornerback Sean Smith away from the Chiefs to solidify their secondary. As long as they stay healthy, I think they steal the division crown away from the Broncos and clinch their first playoff appearance since they made the Super Bowl in 2002.
Will Andrew Luck be healthy enough to lead the Colts back into the playoffs?
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4. Even with Andrew Luck healthy, the Colts will MISS the playoffs
The Colts last year couldn't catch a break with Andrew Luck. He missed most of the season with several injuries, most notably a ruptured kidney. This year they return with virtually the same offense, a 33 year old Frank Gore as the lead back, an average-at-best offensive line, and an average-at-best defense. Their best offensive weapon is a 5'9'' 180 pound receiver in T.Y. Hilton and I can't trust that both him and Luck will be healthy all year long to get the Colts back into the playoffs where it's gotten a lot deeper the past few seasons.
5. The Green Bay Packers will set the NFL record for points scored
The original record was set in 2013 by the Denver Broncos with 606 points, and I think the Packers this year have the potential to break that record. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in football and he has his #1 target Jordy Nelson returning from injury. New signing Jared Cook gives the Packers a threat at tight end they haven't had since Jermichael Finley was forced to retire. Cook has the reputation of a perennial underachiever, but he's averaged close to 50 receptions and 600 yards per season, and that's with his best quarterback options being Jake Locker in Tennessee and Nick Foles in St. Louis. Those two with a refocused and lighter Eddie Lacy, the Packers are poised for an explosive season on the offensive side of the ball.
6. The Jacksonville Jaguars will get to 10 wins, but still WON'T make the playoffs
I'll start by saying I'm really high on the Jaguars this year. Blake Bortles showed big strides last year, and you could make the case that they have the best WR tandem in the league with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. They were able to bring in a legit #1 back this summer in Chris Ivory, and they made big additions on defense signing Malik Jackson and Prince Amukamara in free agency. The Jaguars season will come down to big AFC showdowns and they need to solidify those tiebreakers to make the playoffs. I think they'll prove this year they're not a team to be messed with in the future, but it'll be one more year until they can get into the playoffs.
In Hue Jackson's offense, RGIII has the potential to return to his rookie form
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
7. Robert Griffin III will start all 16 games for the Browns
I'll be honest here, I was extremely intrigued when I saw the Browns were reconfiguring their front office by bringing in former baseball guys to run the show and give them a sort of "moneyball" approach. I especially loved the hire of Hue Jackson as their head coach. The Browns being able to bring in a low-risk high-reward project like RGIII into a Hue Jackson offense is a no lose situation for them. I don't think the Browns will win many games this year (3-13 is my prediction), but I do think that RGIII will show some signs that he can return to his rookie of the year form. And all that starts with him staying healthy for the entire season.
8. Brock Osweiler proves his worth in Houston
The Houston Texans raised a lot of eyebrows and forced a lot of hot takes when they signed Brock Osweiler to a 5 year, $72 million deal this summer. Although it is a lot of money for a guy with less than 10 career starts, if you think that he can be your quarterback of the future, you pay what you can to get him. Without Osweiler it's not a guarantee that the Broncos even make the playoffs let alone get in position to win a Super Bowl. And with the past few years of Texans fans being forced to watch Brian Hoyer's inconsistency, Osweiler will be a welcome sight. With the additions of Lamar Miller from the Dolphins and Will Fuller and Braxton Miller in the draft, Brock has the weapons on offense to put Houston as a possible Super Bowl contender.
9. There will only be 2 new playoff teams this year
Every year there's usually a few teams that we can expect to fall out of the playoffs while others get their chance to shine in January football, but this year I don't think that will happen to a degree we'd expect. The new playoff teams will be the Oakland Raiders in the AFC and the New York Giants in the NFC, with the Broncos and the Redskins falling out in their respective conferences.
10. This year we finally get a Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl
I think that this year there are more teams than ever that can legitimately make a case to be in this year's Super Bowl, but this time we finally get the matchup that we've been trying to predict for years. We get the New England Patriots vs the Green Bay Packers. Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodgers. Tom Brady could solidify his case as the best quarterback in NFL history if he wins his 5th title, and Rodgers can officially move past the legacy left behind by Brett Favre if he leads the Packers to a 2nd championship.
Article by Thomas Mooney
Follow on Twitter: @thomas_mooney1, @AFewGoodMics
