2015 NFL Predictions

With NFL starting, here are this writer’s 2015 season predictions.

MVP: Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis Colts)

It was between Luck and Green Bay Packers QB and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers, but ultimately the decision was Luck. Losing #1 receiver Jordy Nelson will hurt Rodgers no matter how much some will say the Packers will be just fine. Rodgers will still have a great year, as will Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, but Luck’s year might be historic. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and with new toys in wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore to go along with T.Y. Hilton, he might be considered the best by season’s end. The only question mark is the offensive line.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers)

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers)

Since Luck takes home the MVP award, Rodgers gets the consolation prize in Offensive Player of the Year. The aforementioned loss of Jordy Nelson will hurt, but he has plenty of other capable receivers such as Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. With a great running game led by Eddie Lacy and a very good offensive line, Rodgers will once again post gaudy numbers.

Honorable Mention: Antonio Brown (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt (DE, Houston Texans)

Was there anyone else one can consider putting here? After Watt’s historic year last year in which this writer believed deserved MVP honors over Rodgers’, expectations for this season will be sky-high. Watt became the first player in NFL history to have multiple 20-sack seasons. With a healthy Jadeveon Clowney and new addition Vince Wilfork to take some of the attention off of him, he may have another sensational season in store. Opposing quarterbacks beware.

Honorable Mention: Luke Kuechly (MLB, Carolina Panthers)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Amari Cooper (WR, Oakland Raiders)

Cooper has been very impressive in training camp and the preseason thus far. He will immediately be quarterback Derek Carr’s favorite target and post very good numbers right off the bat. He was the most pro-ready prospect in this year’s class of rookies and should be one of the NFL’s top young receivers from the get-go. Expect a huge year from the best receiver to wear Alabama’s crimson since Julio Jones.

Honorable Mention: Melvin Gordon (RB, San Diego Chargers)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Vic Beasley (DE, Atlanta Falcons)

This was another difficult one to pick. There were several ways to go here. It could have been New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams or Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters. Ultimately, it was Beasley. He will be needed to get to the quarterback since that was something Atlanta severely lacked last season. He will thrive under new head coach Dan Quinn and win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Peters (CB, Kansas City Chiefs)

Comeback Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson (RB, Minnesota Vikings)

There were several ways to go here. It could have been NaVorro Bowman or Sam Bradford. However, Peterson was the decision. After missing all but one game last season due to a suspension for child abuse, Peterson should return to elite form this season. Yes, he is at the dreaded age for running backs: 30. However, Peterson is not your average running back. He posted the 2nd-most single season rushing yards in NFL history the season after destroying his knee. The man is a freak. Don’t worry about his age. Worry that he had a year of rest and is going to be running angrier than usual.

Honorable Mention: NaVorro Bowman (MLB, San Francisco 49ers)

Coach of the Year: Mike Zimmer (Minnesota Vikings)

This was a difficult one as well. It almost went to Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons but ultimately this writer believes Zimmer will lead the Vikings to a record over .500 and will be contenders in the NFC North. They have a top-15 quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, an elite and also angry running back in Adrian Peterson, and an up-and-coming defense led by free safety Harrison Smith (one of the top five safeties in the NFL) and cornerback Xavier Rhodes (one of the top ten corners in the NFL). They also have a good defensive line and linebacking core led by Anthony Barr and rookie Eric Kendricks with veteran Chad Greenway.

Honorable Mention: Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons)

Surprise Team: Minnesota Vikings

Again, another close call. It came down to the Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons whom this writer believes will both have bounce-back seasons. The Vikings were the pick only because this writer believes that they have a better shot to make the playoffs. The Falcons have a very good, young team like the Vikings. They have a top-15 quarterback in Matt Ryan, a top-five receiver in Julio Jones, a soon-to-be elite left tackle in Jake Matthews, and a top-five corner in Desmond Trufant. However, the Vikings are better right now because they do not have as many questions defensively that the Falcons do. New head coach Dan Quinn who led the NFL’s top defense for the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, should change that in a hurry.

Honorable Mention: Atlanta Falcons

Disappointing Team: Chicago Bears

Why is there so much hype for the Bears? Jay Cutler may be ridiculed more than he should be but the fact remains he is a below-average starting quarterback. The receiving corps took a big blow when they lost Brandon Marshall to the Jets and rookie first-round pick Kevin White will be out for an extended period of time. The defense should be better with the addition of outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and head coach John Fox but it is far from elite. The Bears may not be as bad as they were last season, but a full turnaround should not be expected.

Honorable Mention: St. Louis Rams

Surprise Player: Sam Bradford (QB, Philadelphia Eagles)

If healthy, Bradford is a good quarterback. The key word that would be underlined, and be in bold to the highest degree is “if”. After coming off two ACL tears, Bradford’s career as a St. Louis Ram came to an end as he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason for Nick Foles. Bradford, the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and 2008 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, showed flashes in St. Louis but was always plagued by injuries. In Chip Kelly’s offense, he could be great IF he can avoid the injury bug. Watch your knees, Sam.

Honorable Mention: Geno Smith (QB, New York Jets)

Disappointing Player: DeMarco Murray (RB, Philadelphia Eagles)

The Eagles have the surprise and disappointing player in this writer’s list. After coming off a historic season in Dallas in which he led the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards and all-purpose yards from scrimmage with 2,261 yards. However, expectations should be tampered this season. He had a league-high 392 carries last season and also played behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. The Eagles actually had the best run-blocking offensive line in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. However, losing Pro Bowl offensive guard Evan Mathis is going to hurt. Also, Murray won’t receive nearly as many touches as he did in Dallas since the Eagles also have Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles who will be the main receiving back. Murray will still have a good year, but it will be nothing close to last year.

Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Sanders (WR, Denver Broncos)

Surprise Rookie: Tyler Lockett (WR, Seattle Seahawks)

Tyler Lockett was arguably the greatest receiver in Kansas State history. He set school records in career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns all of which were held by his father, Kevin Lockett. He was taken in the 3rd round by the Seattle Seahawks and should be a focal point in the passing game and on special teams as a returner. He should be one of the Seahawks top receivers along with Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. He could be in line for a big season. He is certainly a rookie who is capable of making highlight plays as evident by his two return touchdowns this preseason.

Honorable Mention: Maxx Williams (TE, Baltimore Ravens)

Disappointing Rookie: Bud Dupree (OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Bud Dupree is an athletic freak. He destroyed the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds at 269 pounds. He was taken 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft. He will be looked at to help fix a weak pass rush. However, he needs to work on his technique since he cannot win battles on athletic prowess alone. At times, he disappeared on tape at Kentucky. He has all the tools to succeed, but he needs time to develop.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Scherff (OG/OT, Washington Redskins)

Team Most Likely to “Earn” the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars held the 3rd worst record in the NFL with a 3-13 record. They have had a top-10 pick in the NFL draft every year since the 2008 NFL draft. They drafted Florida pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. with the 3rd overall pick but he will miss the entire 2015 season after tearing his ACL during rookie minicamp. The offense is led by second-year quarterback Blake Bortles who should be better than his rookie year. The running game is led by rookie 2nd-round pick T.J. Yeldon. The receiving corps is led by newly acquired tight end Julius Thomas. The offensive line is not good. Overall, the Jaguars offense should be better but still below average. The devastating problems lie on defense. The defensive line is mediocre while the linebacking corps and secondary are very bad. The Jaguars are a team that will be good in the future but for now they will still be in the NFL’s cellar.

Honorable Mention: Tennessee Titans

Player Most Likely to be Taken #1 Overall in the 2016 NFL Draft: Joey Bosa (DE/OLB, Ohio State)

Bosa is a consensus top prospect in next year’s draft. He is arguably the best player in college football. He recorded 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss last season. He has a terrific combination of size, strength, and speed. He has been compared to J.J. Watt who is arguably the best player in the NFL. With the Titans and Jaguars as two teams who have maybe the best shot to acquire the first pick, Bosa seems like the logical choice. Both teams don’t need a quarterback as they both drafted a quarterback with top-three picks in the last two drafts. (Mariota to the Titans at #2 in the 2015 draft, Bortles to the Jaguars at #3 in the 2014 draft).

Honorable Mention: Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida)

Season Predictions: (Please Note: This is not a win-loss prediction but rather which teams are the best in their respective division.)

AFC

North

Baltimore Ravens: The most balanced team in the division in terms of offense and defense. A sleeper Super Bowl contender.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Perhaps the best offense in the NFL but they keep suffering key losses and the defense is a liability. However, the offense should be good enough to carry them into the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals: Like the Ravens, a good offense and a good defense. Running back Jeremy Hill is a stud and wide receiver A.J. Green should have a bounce-back season. However, they will only go as far as quarterback Andy Dalton can take them. Potential Wild-Card team.

Cleveland Browns: The offense looks very bad with a weak receiving corps. The defense should be above average but the Browns will be killed by their offense with the quarterback play of Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel. However, the offensive line is very good as left tackle Joe Thomas and guard Joel Bitonio are one of the best at their position. However, they will be picking very high in the NFL Draft yet again.

South

Indianapolis Colts: A team who should have a lot of firepower offensively as quarterback Andrew Luck looks to solidify himself as perhaps the best signal-caller in the game. He finally has a running game to lean on as they acquired ex-49er Frank Gore in free agency and he has a new toy in ex-Texan wide receiver Andre Johnson. Johnson’s size and speed along with speedy T.Y. Hilton is a scary duo by itself. Throw in Luck, and defenses will have a lot to game-plan for. The offensive line is a weakness as is the defense. However, the secondary is not bad since they have one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in Vontae Davis and a great strong safety in Mike Adams. They are one of the favorites to win the AFC.

Houston Texans: The offense will be okay. Once running back Arian Foster returns, he will be looked to heavily. It remains to be seen how well quarterbacks Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett could lead this offense. They both have a great wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. The defense should be very formidable led by the NFL’s best player in defensive end J.J. Watt. They could sneak into the playoffs but it’s unlikely.

Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota looks like the franchise quarterback the Titans need. However, he doesn’t have much help. The receiving corps is very bad as is the running game. The defense is also very poor. Look to see the Titans picking very high again, perhaps at #1.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The offense, led by second-year quarterback Blake Bortles, is below average. The receiving corps is okay as is the running game. The defense will be awful. Look for the Jags to be picking in the top-five again.

East

New England Patriots: Patriots fans cries of “Free Brady!” were answered. Tom Brady is no longer suspended and will be playing angry which should scare all teams. They have the best tight end in the league in Rob Gronkowski and an okay receiving corps. The defense has some studs in the front-seven in Chandler Jones, Don’t’a Hightower, and Jamie Collins. However, the secondary may be their kryptonite, more specifically at cornerback. After losing arguably the NFL’s best corner in Darrelle Revis to division-rival New York Jets, the Patriots are stuck with Super-Bowl hero Malcolm Butler as their best corner. Besides the interception to win the Super Bowl, he did little else all season. Free safety Devin McCourty is one of the best safeties in the league, so he will be leaned on to lead the secondary. The Patriots may have a harder time winning the division than years’ past, but they should win nonetheless and possibly clinch a first-round bye.

Miami Dolphins: Miami went under a drastic makeover this offseason, signing arguably the best free agent available in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a massive contract. They also remade their receiving corps, trading Mike Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings, letting Brian Hartline sign with the Browns, and letting tight end Charles Clay sign with the Buffalo Bills. They acquired wide receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings and drafted Devante Parker in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. At tight end, they acquired Jordan Cameron. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has a new contract and he is very underrated as he is a top-15 quarterback in the NFL. They have one of the most terrifying defensive lines in the NFL with arguably the best defensive tackle in the league in Suh and one of the best pass-rushers in Cameron Wake. The secondary is led by strong safety Reshad Johnson and cornerback Brent Grimes, both above average at their respective positions. Look for the Dolphins to be in the fight for a Wild-Card spot.

Buffalo Bills: Rex Ryan’s first year in Buffalo has the same look of his old team in the Jets: An outstanding defense especially the defensive line but a major question mark at quarterback. Tyrod Taylor beat out veterans E.J. Manuel and Matt Cassel for the job under center. At running back, they will start LeSean McCoy whom they traded linebacker Kiko Alonso for from the Philadelphia Eagles. The wide receivers are led by Sammy Watkins who looks to build off of a solid rookie season. They have a new tight end as they acquired Charles Clay formerly of the Dolphins. On defense, they have arguably the best defensive line in the NFL in Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes at defensive end and Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams at defensive tackle, all of whom are among the best at their position. The linebacking corps took a big hit when they traded away star Kiko Alonso but the secondary is pretty strong with rising star in cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The Bills could have a big year if the quarterback position is not a liability.

New York Jets: The Jets had a great start to the offseason but fizzled down the stretch. They brought back corners Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall. However, it took a wrong turn when star defensive end Sheldon Richardson was suspended for four games in a mess of an incident and quarterback Geno Smith is out for a few games after he broke his jaw from a punch from a former teammate. The Jets’ defense should be great, but the offense may hold them back.

West

Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning still has something left at 39 years old. He’s definitely not the same as he was in his historic 2013 season, but he has the pieces around him to be successful. The receiving corps is very strong with stars Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. The running game has a potential star in C.J. Anderson. The defense has strong linebacking and secondary groups led by Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr. The Broncos are one of the favorites to win the entire AFC.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs finally have a good wide receiver after they signed Jeremy Maclin from the Eagles. He will pair up with tight end Travis Kelce to be quarterback Alex Smith’s favorite targets. The defense is led by linebacker Justin Houston who led the league in sacks with 22, only 0.5 short of Michael Strahan’s single-season record. The Chiefs should be a very competitive, possible playoff team.

San Diego Chargers: Quarterback Philip Rivers has a brand new deal so the Chargers don’t have to worry about his future. Their running game is led by rookie first-round pick Melvin Gordon, who led the nation in rushing at Wisconsin. The defense has a good secondary but is generally average everywhere else. The Chargers should be an average team that will be in playoff contention all year.

Oakland Raiders: This team is on the rise, but not there yet. They might have their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr and rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper is a stud. On defense, defensive end, Khalil Mack will solidify himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. The Raiders will be good, but for now they are stuck in the cellar.

NFC

North

Green Bay Packers: One of the best teams in the NFL took a major hit when it was revealed that star wide receiver Jordy Nelson would miss the entire season after tearing his ACL in the preseason. However, the wide receiving corps is far from doomed. Randall Cobb is now the #1 receiver, and he would be the #1 receiver on most NFL teams. Davante Adams is now the #2 receiver, and he showed enough promise in his rookie season to prove he is worthy of that role. The Packers have the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Eddie Lacy is a star. The defense does have some question marks, but the offense is still good enough to carry this team all the way to Super Bowl 50.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are a team that this writer is very excited about heading into the future. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is the real deal and is already one of the top-15 in the NFL. Running back Adrian Peterson will look to reclaim his position as the best back in the NFL after missing all but one game last season due to a suspension. The receiving corps is okay, but Mike Wallace should help. The offensive line is also okay as they took a major hit when right tackle Phil Loadholt went down with a torn Achilles and is out for the season. The defense is led by a very strong secondary. Free safety Harrison Smith is arguably one of the top-five safeties in the NFL and cornerback Xavier Rhodes is arguably a top-ten corner. They also drafted cornerback Trae Waynes with the 11th overall pick to help them out in the future. That secondary, along with a strong defensive line and linebacking corps, should help complement the offense and lead the Vikings to a surprising playoff berth.

Detroit Lions: The Lions passing attack is still very scary. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has a cannon, and he has Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate to throw to. The running game is a bit shaky, but rookie running back Ameer Abdullah and rookie offensive guard Laken Tomlinson should help that. The defense took a major hit when they lost star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to the Dolphins via free agency, but acquiring Haloti Ngata is a nice consolation. Linebacker DeAndre Levy is an absolute stud, as is free safety Glover Quin, who led the league in interceptions last season with 7. This team might not make the playoffs, but they will be in contention all year.

Chicago Bears: The Bears hired John Fox as their new head coach and he should help shore up a very bad defense. However, that should take some time. The offense still has some major issues, starting with quarterback Jay Cutler. Running back Matt Forte isn’t getting any younger, but the receiving corps looks very promising if they can stay healthy. 7th overall pick Kevin White looks like a stud but he might miss the entire season with a foot injury. The defense is switching to a 3-4 scheme, but this writer doesn’t know if Jared Allen can truly be an outside linebacker. He will have some help in free-agency acquisition Pernell McPhee who was great last season. This team will still struggle and will be picking very high in the draft once again.

South

Atlanta Falcons: Hear me out. The Falcons had a very rough 2014, but they have the talent to win the weak NFC South division this season. Quarterback Matt Ryan is one of the top-15 in the league with the potential to move much, much higher. The receiving corps is led by Julio Jones who is one of the top-five wide receivers in the NFL and has a brand new contract to prove it. The running game is unproven but rookie Tevin Coleman can be a stud. Left tackle Jake Matthews had an okay rookie year but he will be one of the premier blind-side protectors in the league in a few years. The defense was the major weakness but new head coach Dan Quinn looks to change that. 8th overall pick Vic Beasley will help an awful pass rush and cornerback Desmond Trufant is one of the five best corners in the NFL. The Falcons are a team on the rise and don’t be surprised to see them win the division this season.

Carolina Panthers:The Panthers suffered a major loss when star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL and thus will miss the entire 2015 season. Rookie 2nd-round pick wide receiver Devin Funchess will be looked to fill his role. The Panthers still have Cam Newton at quarterback and Greg Olsen at tight end so all is not lost. The offensive line has some serious issues though. The defense is led by middle linebacker Luke Kuechly who is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. The Panthers should be a decent team that will compete for the NFC South title.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints also lost a key member when they traded tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first round pick. Unger will fill a need but quarterback Drew Brees is losing an elite red-zone target. However, second-year wide receiver Brandin Cooks will have a breakout season. Brees is getting older and thus losing arm strength, but he still tied for the NFL-lead in passing yards last year with 4,955 yards. Mark Ingram and newly-acquired C.J. Spiller lead the running attack. The Saints offense is okay but the defense needs work. The defense will be the reason why the Saints won’t be as competitive as they once were.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers were the worst team in the NFL last season, but they should improve this year. (Nowhere to go but up, right?) They drafted quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick and he has the looks of a franchise quarterback. He will have some big targets to throw to in wide receivers Mike Evans (6’5”), Vincent Jackson (6’5”), and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (6’6”). We all saw how great Winston was at Florida State when he had Kelvin Benjamin (6’5”) to throw to in his redshirt-freshman season. (He won the Heisman Trophy and they won the national championship.) The defense is looking okay but defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David are two of the very best at their respective positions. The Buccaneers will likely have another rough season, but the future looks bright.

East

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys lost the reigning rushing champion in DeMarco Murray, but quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant will make the offense very good. Not to mention the Cowboys have the best offensive line in the NFL that can open up large enough holes that even you or I can run through. The defense looks better as they signed Greg Hardy and drafted Randy Gregory. Linebacker Sean Lee is back so that is a great sign. The secondary took a big hit when their best cornerback, Orlando Scandrick, tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. However, the Cowboys offense should be good enough to lead this team very far in the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have talent on both sides of the ball. Newly acquired running backs DeMarco Murray and Ryan Matthews should help replace LeSean McCoy. Sam Bradford can be great if healthy. The defense has some holes, but Connor Barwin is a stud. The Eagles could sneak into the playoffs.

New York Giants: The Giants had a sensational rookie in wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last season and now they have Victor Cruz to team up with him. Eli Manning looks to get a big contract so he may give a little extra more this year. The defense has some serious holes and star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s abilities to be the same defender after a firework accident seriously damaged his hand are unknown. The Giants will be an average team.

Washington Redskins: The Redskins are a mess. Kirk Cousins, not Robert Griffin III, is now the starting quarterback. He has some weapons in wide receivers Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and running back Alfred Morris but that’s about it. The offensive line is not that good besides left tackle Trent Williams. The defense is awful especially in the secondary but Ryan Kerrigan is a star. Do not be surprised to see the Redskins picking first overall in this year’s draft.

West

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have finally acquired a weapon in tight end Jimmy Graham. Rookie Tyler Lockett looks like a star in the return game, and he could be utilized heavily in the passing game too. Quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch are one of the best at their respective positions. The defense is, as always, fantastic. The secondary, led by cornerback Richard Sherman, is the best in the league. The Seahawks are favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl but there are two major questions: the offensive line and star strong safety Kam Chancellor’s holdout.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals have quarterback Carson Palmer back so they can breathe easy now. The wide receivers have some speed in John Brown and experience in Larry Fitzgerald. The defense has a very strong secondary led by cornerback Patrick Peterson. They should be contenders for the playoffs if Palmer can stay healthy.

St. Louis Rams: Out with Sam Bradford, in with Nick Foles. Foles has a weak receiving corps, but Tavon Austin can make big plays. Rookie running back Todd Gurley looks like a star but he will be out for a few weeks since he is still recovering from a torn ACL in November. The defensive line is one of the best in the league with defensive tackle Aaron Donald and defensive end Robert Quinn one of the best at their positions. The Rams could be good, but the passing game scares me.

San Francisco 49ers: After former head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach his alma mater, Michigan, it all went downhill in San Francisco. Linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, offensive tackle Anthony Davis, and defensive end Justin Smith all retired. Then, they lost running back Frank Gore, wide receiver Michael Crabtree, and offensive guard Mike Iupati in free agency. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman is a stud, but the 49ers will likely be picking at the top of this year’s draft.

Playoff Predictions:

AFC Wild Card

#6 Cincinnati Bengals at #3 Denver Broncos: Broncos

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers at #4 Baltimore Ravens: Ravens

NFC Wild Card:

#6 Minnesota Vikings at #3 Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys

#5 Arizona Cardinals at #4 Atlanta Falcons: Cardinals

AFC Divisional

#4 Baltimore Ravens at #1 New England Patriots: Patriots

#3 Denver Broncos at #2 Indianapolis Colts: Colts

NFC Divisional

#5 Arizona Cardinals at #1 Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks