Zero's 2021 NFL Predictions

[dave mcbride]

28 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I sort of split the difference. I do think the Chiefs are the best team in football let alone the AFC. I think they were aggressive in addressing their weaknesses and have plenty of playmakers. However, being the best team is no guarantee of anything. The best team doesn't win the Superbowl every year. That isn't how it works. I think KC will be the #1 or #2 seed but I just think someone will find a way in the playoffs to get the better of them on the day. 

You think they are better than Tampa? TB absolutely destroyed them on the biggest of all stages. It wasn’t as close as the score indicated, and the score wasn’t close.

[GunnerBill]

Just now, dave mcbride said:

You think they are better than Tampa? TB absolutely destroyed them on the biggest of all stages. It wasn’t as close as the score indicated, and the score wasn’t close.

 

I think Tampa would struggle to destroy them up front with the additions they have made on their lines. Espeicially the oline but I have always been a fan of Jarran Reed too and think he could help in their Dline rotation. I also still need to see Tampa look impressive for a season. They were great in the Superbowl, no doubt. But I saw them be really bad 3 times last year too and I think for me to consider them the best team in football that needs to change.

[dave mcbride]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think Tampa would struggle to destroy them up front with the additions they have made on their lines. Espeicially the oline but I have always been a fan of Jarran Reed too and think he could help in their Dline rotation. I also still need to see Tampa look impressive for a season. They were great in the Superbowl, no doubt. But I saw them be really bad 3 times last year too and I think for me to consider them the best team in football that needs to change.

They struggled early but won their last 9 games including the postseason, where they beat three teams that had won at least 13 games. Brady is the GOAT still. I would take him over anyone in a postseason game. The evidence, which is massive, doesn’t lie.

1 hour ago, Zerovoltz said:

 

I can understand why people would say this about my predictions.....clearly I have a bias....but the national media and Vegas oddsmakers aren't going to KC "by default". there are good reasons for it.  

 

History does tell us that KC probably won't make it...and a lot of years even the team with the best record etc doesn't always go either....The Bills could EASILY be the AFC rep in the SB.  I won't be surprised at all if it is the Bills in the SB.  A lot has to go right just to make it to that game.

Good takes overall. My one bone of contention is Goff, who I strongly believe doesn’t suck. I think he has holes in his game but real strengths too, and overall I’d say he’s a little above average. The numbers back it up too. Given Cousins’s trajectory, I’d place him as the second best QB in that division for this upcoming season. The team overall isn’t good, though, so I expect the Lions to struggle (as usual).

Edited August 28, 2021 by dave mcbride

[GunnerBill]

41 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

They struggled early but won their last 9 games including the postseason, where they beat three teams that had won at least 13 games. Brady is the GOAT still. I would take him over anyone in a postseason game. The evidence, which is massive, doesn’t lie.

 

 

He did throw 3 picks in the NFCCG.... I just need to see Tampa not throw in those clunkers.

[billybrew1]

9 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I don't have as much faith in the Rams because I don't think their offensive struggles were all Goff. Since Patricia put the blue print out there everyone has worked McVay's scheme out and he has struggled to properly adjust. Stafford is an upgrade on Goff but the pressure is on McVay big time. If the offense does not get back to its best of his first couple of years then he is going to carry the can. 

 

I do think they will make the playoffs.... they have too much talent not to. But I am not as convinced it was just a case of Goff holding them back. I think McVay's inflexible scheme played a part in it too. 

 

Oh and the Bills will be #1 seed and having lost to them again in the regular season will finally take down the Chiefs at the Ralph in the AFCCG. 

 

Otherwise there isn't a huge amount that I disagree with.

 

Plus, the rams lost a lot of talent to free agency....

[Zerovoltz]

On 8/27/2021 at 11:56 PM, Zerovoltz said:

***MODS  PLEASE MOVE IF THIS IS BELONGS SOMEWHERE ELSE***  (some would say, it belongs in the trash :D) 

 

NFC EAST

1. Washington Football Team (WFT has strong enough D and skill players that Fitz can guide them to win this weak division)

WFT has been OK, but not going to win this division.

2. Dallas Cowboys (Talent is there to win, coaching is not.)

Benefitting from weak division, and overcoming some bad coaching.

3. NY Giants. (They will finally realize Daniel Jones isn't it.)

Daniel Jones does in fact suck.

4. Philadelphia Eagles. (Jalen Hurtz is meh, with too much uncertainty and questionable coaching)

The Eagles are fighting for a playoff spot...better than I thought they'd do

 

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (clearly the best roster in a bad division, and Rodgers is still awesome)

Correct

2. Chicago Bears (Made playoffs 2 of last 3 years with Trubisky, They'll let Dalton eat some L's VS hard competiton to start year, then Fields takes over and gets some Ws) 

They aren't going to finish 2nd.

3. Minnesota Vikings (Team is more talented than 3rd place in divsion, but I think Zimmer's message falls flat and locker room loses respect for Cousins, they underachieve)

I think this is pretty accurate

4. Detroit Lions (They will be a try hard team, with no where near enough talent to win much.  Goff sucks)

Correct

 

NFC SOUTH

1.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (The band is back together and this time, they'll start the season running the Brady offense and not Arians bombs away attack. They'll be a tough out)

Correct

2. New Orleans (Jameis Winston, running short pass attack with some deep shots mixed in...will be better than people think.  Payton can still coach.)

It was working out allright until Winston got hurt.

3. Atlanta Falcons (They had statistically awful luck in close games..they'll regress to the mean and win about 7 games and look like the Titans doing it.)

Still fighting for a playoff spot

4. Carolina (more or less a tie with Atlanta.  D is still young and I am not convinced that Darnold is it....hard team to read...better than 4th if McCaffrey plays all 17 games)

 

Darnold was NOT it.  Run DMC hurt.  Accurate

 

NFC WEST Got the Rams right.  Niners fighting for playoffs.  Seattle crap D, correct...Totally missed the Cardinals.

1. San Francisco 49ers (deep roster, good skill players, good QB to start, and a better one waiting to start.  tough division, but 49ers edge with depth.)

2. LA Rams (Stars and JAGS approach with Stafford running McVay offense I think will work out well.  This team was 9-7 with bad QB play last year)

3. Seattle Seahawks (such a hard division....Seahawks will have to overcome their meh defense most weeks.  WIlson will have to carry them in playoffs if they are to win)

4. Arizona Cardinals (Brutal schedule, and brutal division.  For all the hype, coach Bro and Kyler Murray haven't been able to produce a dynamic O, and D isn't great either)

 

NFC Playoff seeding

1. Green Bay

 

2. Tampa Bay

3. San Francisco

4. Washington

5. LA Rams

6. Seattle

7. New Orleans

 

TB over NO

SF over Seattle

RAMS over Washington

 

RAMS over GB

SF over TB

RAMS over SF

 

NFC Champion LA RAMS

 

AFC EAST

1. Buffalo Bills (By far and away the best team in this division, and with improved pass rush, a legit title contender)

I stand by this...Bills win VS NE and this is still their division.

2. NE Patriots (Roster is better with alot of covid opt outs, now back, QB situation is in flux and better, but team will need to win with D)

Accurate

3. Miami Dolphins (good and deep roster, but will only go as far as Tua can take them.  Not enough efficient deep pass plays to get over the top.  too much dink and dunk)

They are starting to get rolling...might come up just short of playoffs.

4. NY Jets (Wilson will take some lumps but show he is a legit QB....the roster is still a few more seasons of churn away from being competitive.)

I got this spot right, but I have much less optimism about Wilson now than I did when I wrote this.

 

AFC NORTH  This division is a complete toss up at this point. 

1. Cleveland Browns (Cleveland will use the tried and true power run game, limit turnovers, and play good D, to win the division)

2. Baltimore Ravens (The secrew to Lamars MVP success was having 2 awesome TE's. not more WR's etc.  They don't have 2 TE's.  Jackson can't pass.  Too one diminsional)

3. Cincinnatti Bengals (A healthy Joe Burrow makes or breaks this team.  They can make a little noise if he's healthy....a big if)

4. Pittsburg Steelers (I have no faith in Big Ben having anything left, nor any faith in their O line.  I think they bottom out and start a mini rebuild next year)

 

AFC SOUTH

1. Tennessee Titans (the core of a good team is all back...and the division sucks...would help if they could find a pass rush)

They are limping to the end with an easy late schedule.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (Part of finsihing 2nd in the divison is that I think the Colts will be bad...if they can halfway block on offense, they should be OK)

I totally missed how bad they'd be.  

3. Indianapolis Colts (a decent roster, with a bunch of QB's I don't have any faith in.  I think Wentz just aint it.  They aren't good enough to win despite the QB)

Getting hot behind a strong RB/Running game...might not be soon enough to overcome two losses to titans and a glut of other similar teams in the AFC

4. Houston Texans (A real threat to go 0-17.  Worst roster in the NFL...and it's one of he oldest as well.  It will be YEARS of roster building to get back to being competetive)

They do suck...have won more than I thought though

 

AFC WEST

1. Kansas City Chiefs (key to season is completely new O Line.  IF KC can use entire playbook on any spot on field, down and distance...will be very hard to stop them)

O line has taken some time to gel, but is playing well now.  D now healthy and everyone playing correct position (Chris Jones)  Team is hot and still improving

2. LA Chargers (pretty good roster, and expected ascension of Herbert...Chargers should be solid across the board.  Need to stay healthy)

Correct

3. Denver Broncos (good roster except QB and right side of O line.  Those are bad places to suck though...easiest schedule in NFL..could get them to 9-10 wins)

Correct

4. Las Vegas Raiders (The team just can't get out of 6-11 mode.  Don't draft or roster build well enough...fix one area, and get worse in another.  Shallow depth)

Correct

 

AFC Playoffs

 

1. Kansas City (that week 5 Bills/Chiefs matchup is HUGE!) Looking like it might not matter that much afterall.

 

2. Bills

3. Titans (benefit from being in week division) Weak division is really helping out the Titans.

4. Browns

5. Chargers

6. Ravens

7. Patriots

 

Bills OVER Patriots

Titans OVER Ravens

Chargers OVER Browns

 

Chiefs OVER Chargers

Bills OVER Titans

 

Chiefs over Bills 

 

Super Bowl

 

Chiefs over Rams.

 

Just taking a look at where my preseason predictions are headed...not too bad....not great though...missed on the Cowboys making playoffs, Cardinals...etc.  

[LabattBlue]

Great LAMP.   Thanks for the update no one cares about. 

[Zerovoltz]

19 minutes ago, BTB said:

Great LAMP.   Thanks for the update no one cares about. 

You're welcome!