The beginning of September. Cloudy skies, hoodie and shorts weather, you can smell football in the air.
Nine days is all that separates us from the start of the 2020 NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans next Thursday in the season opener.
So naturally, this is the time of year for media and fans alike to unveil their full regular season, playoffs, and individual predictions. Predictions that normally are looked back at in the offseason with much laughter.
In a unique season like the one that is about to take place during a pandemic, with an extra playoff spot available in both conferences, it is even more difficult to get a feel for what is about to happen over the next five months.
Regardless, it is an exercise that must be done, and done it shall be:
AFC Standings:
1.) Kansas City Chiefs
2.) Baltimore Ravens
3.) New England Patriots
4.) Houston Texans
5.) Buffalo Bills
6.) Pittsburgh Steelers
7.) Denver Broncos
There is a clear drop-off in the AFC after the Chiefs and Ravens. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are destined to rule this conference for a long time. Mahomes gets the one bye week in a new playoff format.
The Bills should be seen as a lock to make the playoffs. Although they have superior talent than that of the Patriots, when you see the predictions for Cam Newton in 2020, you'll understand why I have Newton and Bill Belichick leading the Patriots back to, yet, another AFC East title.
Although Bill O'Brien doesn't deserve it, Deshaun Watson is going to carry him to another AFC South win, where the Tennessee Titans significantly regress and the Indianapolis Colts remain a .500 team.
Pittsburgh's elite defense almost carried Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges into the playoffs last year. Ben Roethlisberger's return gets the Steelers in. Meanwhile, a fun, young Broncos team squeaks in thanks to quarterback Drew Lock and pass-catchers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, and Noah Fant finally giving Von Miller and the Denver defense some help on the other side of the ball.
Wild Card:
2 - Baltimore Ravens def. 7 - Denver Broncos
3 - New England Patriots def. 6 - Pittsburgh Steelers
5 - Buffalo Bills def. 4 - Houston Texans
Divisional Round:
1 - Kansas City Chiefs def. 5 - Buffalo Bills
2 - Baltimore Ravens def. 3 - New England Patriots
AFC Championship:
2 - Baltimore Ravens def. 1 - Kansas City Chiefs
NFC Standings:
1.) New Orleans Saints
2.) Arizona Cardinals
3.) Philadelphia Eagles
4.) Green Bay Packers
5.) Seattle Seahawks
6.) Dallas Cowboys
7.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Over the last three seasons, the NFL has seen a second-year quarterback take an MVP-level step as their team becomes a surprise Super Bowl contender. Carson Wentz in 2017. Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Lamar Jackson in 2019.
Kyler Murray could be next in line, especially after the Cardinals traded for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Both the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers quickly appeared in Super Bowls early on in a rebuild. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cardinals follow that path. Their offense is loaded with explosive weapons for Murray. Their defense features star power on every level in defensive end Chandler Jones, linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons, cornerback Patrick Peterson, and safety Budda Baker. Arizona grabs a top spot in the NFC, while the 49ers become the 2019 Rams, regressing into a team that misses the postseason all together.
The Eagles have proven the last two years, even with a catastrophic amount of injuries and impossible playoff odds, they will find a way. Keep this team that looks to have fixed their speed issue on both sides of the ball healthy? They could return to 2017 dominance.
Russell Wilson won't let Seattle miss the playoffs. The talent on both offense and defense for Dallas won't let Dak Prescott keep them out of the playoffs again. Tom Brady isn't missing the postseason with the supporting cast Tampa Bay has surrounded him with.
Wild Card:
7 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers def. 2 - Arizona Cardinals
3 - Philadelphia Eagles def. 6 - Dallas Cowboys
5 - Seattle Seahawks def. 4 - Green Bay Packers
Divisional Round:
1 - New Orleans Saints def. 7 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 - Philadelphia Eagles def. 5 - Seattle Seahawks
NFC Championship:
1 - New Orleans Saints def. 3 - Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl LV:
Baltimore Ravens def. New Orleans Saints
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens figure out their playoff issues and win their third Super Bowl in the last 20 years.
Individual Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Cam Newton - QB - New England Patriots
Offensive Player of the Year: Julio Jones - WR - Atlanta Falcons
Defensive Player of the Year: Chandler Jones - DE - Arizona Cardinals
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB - Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Isaiah Simmons - LB - Arizona Cardinals
Comeback Player of the Year: Teddy Bridgewater - QB - Carolina Panthers
Coach of the Year: Kliff Kingsbury - Arizona Cardinals
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