Last offseason most of the National Football League talk was about
Deflategate. This summer its stink still lingered as a federal court of appeals
sided with the NFL, enforcing that Article 46 is absolute. Regardless of what
you think about him, the ruling reinforced that Commissioner Roger Goodell has
the power to reign and dish out discipline as he pleases.
The decision reinstated New England Patriots
quarterback Tom Brady’s four game suspension, which is a royal kick in the you
know what for Patriots fans. For most fans outside of New England Brady and
the cheating Patriots got what they deserved. But if Goodell would do this to
one of the game’s most popular players for not rolling over and bowing down to
the shield what does that mean for the rest of the league?
Goodell could theoretically impose a similar
punishment to an impact player on another team for not cooperating like Brady and in the process piss off an another entire fan base. In response what are
fans supposed to do? Stage a boycott? With the popularity of the NFL it’s highly
unlikely. Will the players look to challenge Article 46 when the next
collective bargaining agreement ends in 2020? Also unlikely. Since the players’
median salary is roughly $900K they need their pay checks more than the
billionaire owners do, so most players can’t afford a lockout.
With Goodell imposing his wrath on the Patriots
and costing them their franchise quarterback for a quarter of a season is New
England ready to give up their AFC crown? The Pats have won seven straight
division titles and are primed to make another run to their sixth straight AFC
Championship game. As for the rest of the league seven other teams that made
the playoffs last season made the postseason the year before (Green Bay,
Cincinnati, Denver, Seattle, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Arizona). Are we going to
see more of a shakeup in 2016? We’ll find out over the next four months, where
Sundays and the shield rule once again.
Postseason
Picks:
AFC Wild Card: NFC
Wild Card:
(6)
Raiders over (3) Bengals (3) Packers
over (6) Buccaneers
(5) Steelers over (4) Texans (5) Cardinals over (4) Redskins
AFC
Divisional Round: NFC
Divisional Round:
(1)
Patriots over Raiders (1)
Panthers over Cardinals
(2) Chiefs over Steelers (2) Seahawks over
Packers
Championship
Round:
Patriots
over Chiefs
Seahawks
over Panthers
Super
Bowl:
Patriots
over Seahawks
With
the First Pick in the 2017 NFL Draft…
I’m
looking at you Cleveland Browns,
with the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit
Lions rounding out the top five.
 |
| Robert Griffin III |
The
Browns are looking to recover from the Johnny Football hangover and are banking
on Robert Griffin III to show some flashes of his 2012 Rookie-of-the-Year
season and bring some stability to the quarterback position. The return of receiver
Josh Gordon in Week 5 will make a nice target for RGIII, but in a physically
tough division the Browns still have a long hill to climb.
New
head coach Chip Kelly inherits a rebuilding project in San Francisco. Forget
the fact that he has to play both Seattle and Arizona twice, but when Blain
Gabbert and ignoramus Colin Kapernick are vying for the starting quarterback
position you know it’s going to be a long season.
The
Titans are hoping quarterback Marcus Mariota will not suffer a sophomore slump,
and Demarco Murray is looking to rebound from his embarrassing season in Philly.
However, Tennessee decided to bring back Mike Mularkey as head coach, who went
2-7 as interim coach last year after Ken Wisenhunt was fired after Week 8.
Mularkey’s 18-39 regular season record as a head coach speaks for itself.
Philly
overhauled their coaching staff, cut high-priced players brought in by Chip
Kelly, and traded up to draft quarterback Carson Wentz. These are all smart
moves, but now that quarterback Sam Bradford is out of town, wins are going to
be hard to come by.
After
a decline in completions and yards every year since 2011, Lions quarterback
Matthew Stafford had somewhat of a bounce back season in 2015. Losing big
target Calvin Johnson to retirement is not going to make things easier. And
when the betting odds for your head coach (Jim Caldwell) to be the first coach fired
in 2016 are not in your favor, look for Detroit to be in the mix for a top
draft pick in 2017.
Health
Can Make All the Difference
I’m
referring to the devastating injuries to Dallas
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Minnesota
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. If both were going to be under
center going into Week 1 then Dallas and Minnesota would be contending for
playoff spots. Now I’m not so confident.
 |
| Dak Prescott |
Romo
is going to be out 6-10 weeks with a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra, and
at 36 years of age I can only imagine the healing process is going to be on
the longer side (unless he goes to Ray Lewis’s doctor). Can fourth-round rookie
quarterback Dak Prescott keep Dallas in contention until Romo returns? In one
of the worst conferences in football it’s possible, but when you bring in Mark
Sanchez as insurance don’t be surprised if they’re competing with Philly for a
second straight last place finish in the NFC East.
As
for Bridgewater, his dislocated right knee and torn ACL has sidelined him for
the season. With a strong defense, an aging but still top running back (Adrian Peterson), and a young core of
exciting receivers, the Vikings feel their time is now. They blatantly overpaid
and swapped a first-round pick for Sam Bradford, who was less than stellar for
the 7-9 Eagles last year. If Bradford can manage the offense and not do Sam
Bradford things, a wild-card spot is not out of the question.
Super Bowl Hangover
 |
| Von Miller |
The
Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl
not from the play of now retired Peyton Manning (who was statistically the
worst quarterback in the league) but mostly from their top ranked defense. And
like most Super Bowl champs a lot of things conveniently fell into place. After
signing linebacker Von Miller to a record contract the defense still has the
capability to be tops in the league. Second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian has
some big shoes to fill, and I don't see lightning striking for a second
straight year. Denver's reign at the top of the AFC West will come to an end.
Playing
in January is Still a Stretch
A
quick run through of the remaining mediocre teams playing tackle football on
Sundays:
AFC:
J-E-T-S
Jets Jets Jets. New York has a great front seven on the defensive side, but
Ryan Fitzpatrick is still Ryan Fitzpatrick. Double digit wins are feasible but
not enough to overthrow the Patriots.
The
Miami Dolphins are still relying on
Ryan Tannehill as their quarterback. Enough said.
Putting
any money on the first head coach to be fired this year? Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan isn't a bad choice.
The return of linebacker Terrell
Suggs from a torn Achilles for the Baltimore
Ravens is a step in the right direction, but age appears to have caught up
with this team. The playoffs are still out of reach in a division with
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
With a healthy Andrew Luck returning
to the Indianapolis Colts a return to
the playoffs is possible. However, Houston and Jacksonville have both improved,
and the Colts defense isn’t scaring anybody.
 |
| Blake Bortles |
The once laughable Jacksonville Jaguars have an optimistic
offense with quarterback Blake Bortles and budding receiver Allen Robinson. If
their defense can improve, the Jags could be the surprise team in the AFC.
Sure
Philip Rivers can still sling, but the San
Diego Chargers are not going to be able to hang with some of the top
defenses in their division. Coach Mike McCoy could also be shown the door if
San Diego falters early.
NFC:
The
New York Giants have all of the
capabilities to put points on the board. It’s the defense that will dictate if
new head coach Ben McAdoo can make the playoffs in a watered down division.
The
Chicago Bears brought in some parts
to improve the defense, but lost key offensive weapons Matt Forte and Martellus
Bennet. With quarterback Jay Cutler still manning the ship with limited
offensive pieces the outlook in Chicago is frigid as the weather.
The
Atlanta Falcons started out 6-1 in
2015 and then finished 2-7. Which team will take the field in 2016? With question
marks all over the defense, look for the latter.
 |
| Todd Gurley |
With
quarterback Drew Brees not showing any signs of slowing down anything is
possible in the Big Easy. The offense will score, but the New Orleans Saints defense will give up points too. It’s not enough
to make the playoffs.
The
Los Angeles Rams have a sunny new
home, a talented front seven on defense, and a young running back (Todd Gurley)
that should compete for the rushing title. They also have four dates with
Seattle and Arizona, are developing a rookie quarterback (Jared Goff), and have
an unfavorable schedule.
The
Playoff Teams
The Oakland Raiders are finally putting things together. Quarterback
Derek Carr has the potential to breakout in his third season, and offensive
targets Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and running back Latavius Murray will
certainly help. Plus defensive end Khalil Mack is a game-changing beast and
will compete for defensive player of the year. With the Broncos taking a step
back in the AFC West Oakland is good enough for a wild-card spot.
 |
| Antonio Brown |
With
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown the Pittsburgh Steelers have the capability
to boast one of the top offenses in the NFL. Losing receiver Martavis Bryant
for the year due to his suspension will hurt, but running back Le’Veon Bell is
one of the best in the game when he’s not missing games for failing to show up
for a drug test. The defense won’t be good enough to take the AFC North title,
but the Roethlisberger/Brown combo will air it out to the postseason.
The Kansas City Chiefs won 11 out of their last 12 regular-season games
in 2015 and their first playoff game since 1993. Quarterback Alex Smith isn’t
going to light up the stat board but manages an effective offense with running
back Jamaal Charles, receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce. With a
top-ten defense still intact the Chiefs have the talent to make a deep playoff
run.
The
Cincinnati Bengals are similar to
Kansas City. They have a stout defense and quarterback Andy Dalton has multiple
options on offense. They’ve made the postseason the past five seasons but have
yet to make it out of the first round. Is there any indication that will change
this season? They have the talent to win the AFC North, but head coach Marvin
Lewis needs to figure out their playoff woes.
That
leaves the Houston Texans to come
out of the AFC South. After an abysmal performance by quarterback Brian Hoyer
against the Chiefs in the wild-card round last year the Texans brought in
Brock Osweiler from the Broncos to man the offense. With a competent
quarterback under center and a stiff defense Houston can win a relatively easy
division.
NFC:
 |
| Jameis Winston |
I’m
going all in on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Their defense rounded out the top ten last season and they found their
quarterback in Jameis Winston. With the help of big targets Michael Evans,
Vincent Jackson and a resurgence of Doug Martin to bolster the running game,
Winston has the capabilities to manage one of the top offenses in the league.
After head coach Lovey Smith was shown the door former offensive coordinator
Dirk Koetter was handed the keys and has the talent to improve on their six
wins. If Winston can make a big leap in his sophomore season Tampa will be the
surprise team of the NFC and make their first postseason appearance since 2008.
With
Romo’s injury, the Eagles rebuilding and the Giants defensive woes, the door is
wide open for the Washington Redskins
to win the NFC East. Kirk Cousins proved that he can man an offense and be a
serviceable quarterback. The organization is confident enough in Cousins that
they finally parted ways with RGIII, their second overall pick in 2012 (in case
you had forgotten). The Redskins are not the most talented team in the
division but nine wins just might be enough to take the title.
Also
coming out of the NFC South will be the reigning NFC Champs Carolina Panthers. League MVP Cam
Newton was exceptional last season and will look to shake off his poor
performance in the Super Bowl. The return of Kelvin Benjamin from injury will
help solidify the receiving corps and add to the already solid rushing attack.
The secondary will be more exposed with the loss of cornerback Joss Norman to
Washington, but linebacker Luke Kuechly is still patrolling the defense. The
well-rounded Panthers will again be playing deep into the playoffs.
Last
season the Green Bay Packers started
off like you would expect at 6-0 going into the bye in Week 7. They would only
win four more games and suffer three unheard of losses at Lambeau Field that
included the last game of the regular season to lose the division to the
Vikings. Besides his injury plagued season in 2013 quarterback Aaron Rodgers
arguably had his worst season since 2010. With receiver Jordy Nelson returning
from a knee injury and running back Eddie Lacy deciding to actually train in
the offseason Rodgers will look to bounce back to his MVP form.
The
Arizona Cardinals are the trendy
pick to win the Super Bowl this year, and rightfully so. They boasted the top
ranked offense last season and added pass rusher Chandler Jones to their fifth
ranked defense. Does anyone else remember Carson Palmer’s four interceptions in the
NFC Championship game against Carolina in January? The week before that the
Cardinals barely squeaked past Green Bay at home in overtime for Palmer’s FIRST
playoff win at the age of 36 (with the Carolina loss, his playoff record is
1-3). The Cardinals will dominate during the regular season and will compete
for the NFC West title, but Palmer needs to move past his big-game jitters if
he wants to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
The Super Bowl
Along
with Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers the Seattle
Seahawks have arguably the best quarterback in the NFC. But Newton seems to
care more about his touchdown celebrations and his wardrobe than diving for a loose football in the most important game of his life. Russell Wilson might not be
all that flashy but he knows what it takes to win a championship. Beast Mode
may not be running the rock anymore but it’s not going to matter. When Marshawn Lynch was on the shelf
after Week 10 last year, Wilson threw 24 touchdowns and one interception as the
Seahawks won six of their last seven games. The defense should be dominant
again, and if Wilson can keep up his rapport with his receivers, Seattle has
the talent and know how to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
 |
| Tom Brady |
In
last year’s preview I said the New
England Patriots would be playing with an “us against the world” attitude
and picked them to win the Super Bowl. Obviously I was wrong. They made it to
the AFC Championship game in Denver and were a missed extra point and
two-point conversion from reaching another Super Bowl. Their woes continued
when Brady’s suspension was reinstated in April, and all eyes will be focused on
backup Jimmy Garoppolo during the first four games of the season. If Brady was
playing with a chip on his shoulder last year, how motivated do you think he’s
going to be when he returns in Week 5? At age 39 he’s shown no sign of slowing
down. The defense has the talent to be one of the best in the league, and even
without Brady head coach Bill Belichik knows how to scheme against anybody. For
Patriots fans nothing will be sweeter than if Roger Goodell has to hand the
Lombardi Trophy to Pats owner Robert Kraft in Houston next February. Anything
less will be unacceptable. You won’t see a more climactic moment on television
in 2017, and it needs to happen. In a rematch of Super Bowl 49 the Pats will
be champions once again.
