NFL Predictions 2018: Division/Wildcard Winners, Playoffs, Super Bowl, and Awards

NFL Predictions 2018: Division/Wildcard Winners, Playoffs, Super Bowl, and Awards
AFC Divisions
East Winner: Patriots- They may have the worst receiving core in the Belichick/Brady era but that still doesn't take away that they have 2017 MVP five time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady under center. Bill Belichick is still the coach and even without Brady the Patriots in years past have proven they can play without some key players and still win. The division is very weak with Miami, Buffalo, and the Jets being in it. Giving the Patriots another easy path to the division crown.
West Winner: Chargers- The AFC West seems to never be a toss up for who is going to take the crown home with them and but this year is different. Over the last eight seasons only the Chiefs and Broncos have won the division. However the division has always produced as six teams have made the playoffs out of the West division over the past four years. The Chargers have the most reliable quarterback in the division  with Philip Rivers who is making a run at maybe being one of the best quarterbacks to never win a Super Bowl. He however does have the roster this year to do so. The roster is a top five roster in the league with Rivers, a running game in Melvin Gordon, top 10 offensive line, and a top defense in the league. The Chargers ended the season on a 9-3 run if they can avoid injuries which have handicap them in the past which I think they will. The Chargers will bring home their first division title since 2009.

North Winner: Steelers- It seems that this division is filled with everyone trying to figure out their future except for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the moment. With a division filled with quarterbacks questions with Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor in Cleveland, Flacco who isn't what he used to be and the Ravens drafting Lamar Jackson first round, and the Bengals Andy Dalton who I am not at all confident in. The Steelers seem prone for a third straight division title. Even with Le’veon Bell holding out and questions going around his contract the Steelers roster is still much more talented than anyone else in the division with playoff experience.

South Winner: Jaguars- The trend in the AFC South over the last decade is for its champions to win their division titles back to back. Since 2009, the Colts, Texans, Colts again and Texans again have won division titles in back-to-back years. Don't expect that trend to change this season. The Jags did not lose anyone from that top five defense that almost beat Tom Brady last year and upset the Steelers the week before. Bortles has playoff experience under his belt, he proved in those games he can contend and not give over the ball. Expect a back to back division title for Jacksonville.
AFC Wildcard
  1. Texans- One crazy stat is that in In 15 of the 16 NFL seasons since 2003, there's been at least one team that's gone from worst-to-first. The Houston Texans are that team this season. Last season was filled with injuries to key players like Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt, and Whitney Mercilus. The team finished at 4-12 without those players and with them they have the potential to flip that record. The defense is still very good, Watson had another year to get better and learn the playbook. I see the Texans being a very powerful wildcard.
  2. Raiders- Most don’t believe in the Oakland Raiders but it’s more because they doubt Jon Gruden and the many roster changes. The NFL style of play does change often which is why many question Gruden can comeback to his old coaching ways. If anyone can it’s Gruden who has been watching film and helping quarterbacks study the game for the last decade he hasn’t been coaching. He has a very talented young quarterback in Derek Carr which here at Goat Talk made a mistake by not putting him in our Top 10 Young Quarterbacks list. The running game is not to bad either with Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin who both can produce and be big for the offense. They have returning offensive lineman in Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson. Those three have been true protectors of the backfield in the middle of the Raiders O-line over the years, and they’ll be joined by 2018 first-round selection Kolton Miller. The former UCLA Bruin will be featured at the left tackle position, and veteran Pro Bowler Donald Penn will rotate to right tackle. They lost Khalil Mack which is a huge loss obviously but hope for the defense is still there. The Raiders will surprise a lot of fans in their 2018 campaign.   
AFC Seeding
  1. Patriots (13-3)
  2. Steelers (12-4)
  3. Jaguars (11-5)
  4. Chargers (11-5)
  5. Texans (10-6)
  6. Raiders (9-7)

NFC Divisions
East Winner: Eagles- How could you not choose the defending Super Bowl champions to win their division? The biggest problem the Eagles will have is trying to catch that lighting they caught in the bottle last season. Nick Foles did lead them to the Super Bowl but up to point we are now after watching preseason Wentz is still the guy. Foles will start week 1 which gives the Cowboys a shot at taking over the division early. The Eagles have a top 5 roster and are reminding me of the Seahawks from a couple of years ago. The Eagles will have a close race for the division title but still pull it out. They will be the first back to back division champs in the NFC East since they did it back in 2003 and 2004.

West Winner: Rams- In my opinion the division crown for the Rams is not what they have  but what the Seahawks and the 49ers lack. The Seahawks lost many key players in Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Sheldon Richardson, Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham, and Paul Richardson all in one offseason. The Seahawks have not fixed that offensive line which will be a big problem especially with the Rams defensive line. The Rams have gotten more talent however with bringing back receiver Brandin Cooks, signing Ndamukong Suh to accompany Aaron Donald in the defensive trenches, and acquired corners Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields. They however lost key players such as WR Tavon Austin, WR Sammy Watkins, LB Alec Ogletree, DE Robert Quinn, CB Kayvon Webster, CB Trumaine Johnson this offseason which will hurt them. Young quarterback Jared Goff will command the ship and as he grows older the more the confident in and outside the Rams room grows. Finally they may have the best running back in the league with Todd Gurley making me think the
Rams will capture another division crown.

North Winner: Packers-  Aaron Rodgers is back which means the Packers got the core of their team and the best quarterback skill wise we have ever seen back. He will be without his number one receiver for years in Jordy Nelson but when does receivers really ever matter for Rodgers? The NFC North has four quarterbacks that could lead their teams to the playoffs. However the Packers have Rodgers, improved secondary, and offensive line putting them ahead of the rest.

South Winner: Falcons- Last year the Falcons were coming off maybe the worst Super Bowl lost maybe ever. Teams have been blowout of the Super Bowl but there's just something about being so close just for it to slip from your hands just like that. The Falcons are back now in my opinion. You could argue that the Saints do have a more talented roster but the Falcons have been doing this together for a good amount of time. The Falcons have Matt Ryan, one of the best receiving core in the league, they are fine at running back, and head coach’s Dan Quinn defense will show up. The Falcons are the team to run the South.

NFC Wildcard
  1. Saints- It’s not three man race in the South anymore as the Buccaneers can’t figure it out and the Panthers roster is going off the the rails. The Saints have among all the teams in their division have the easiest schedule with the best quarterback in Drew Brees. They have one of the best backfields with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. The Saints have gotten better but they will the race for the south but make a great wildcard.
  2. Vikings- The Vikings last year made the NFC Championship game with Case Keemun at quarterback. Which just goes to show how good their defense really is. That defense is still there and they now have a good quarterback in Kirk Cousins. The signing of Cousins puts them in the top class in the NFC. Only problem is that they have to play Aaron Rodgers in the same division. Who was out last season when they made that run. The Vikings are worthy of the wildcard.

NFC Seeding
  1. Falcons (13-3)
  2. Packers (12-4)
  3. Rams (11-5)
  4. Eagles (10-6)
  5. Saints (12-4)
  6. Vikings (10-6)

Playoffs
Wildcard Round
6. Vikings @ 3. Rams Final Score: 20-17 Rams
6. Raiders @ 3. Jaguars Final Score: 21-10 Jags
5. Saints @ 4. Eagles Final Score: 31-21 Saints
5. Texans @ 4. Chargers Final Score: 17-10 Chargers

Divisional Round
5. Saints @ 1. Falcons Final Score: 31-28 Saints
4. Chargers @ 1. Patriots Final Score: 24-21 Pats
3. Rams @ 2. Packers Final Score: 35-27 Packers
3. Jaguars @ 2. Steelers Final Score: 21-17 Steelers

Conference Championship Games

5. Saints @ 2. Packers Final Score: 38-35 Packers
2. Steelers @ 1. Patriots Final Score: 20-17 Steelers

Super Bowl
Steelers vs Packers
Final Score: 27-24 Packers
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Season Awards
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bradley Chubb
Breakout Player: JuJu Smith-Schuster
Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck

By Matthew Doherty

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