NFL 2018 predictions

I would not be surprised if this season the NFL had a season like the WNBA just did. Lots of parity. Lots of evenly matched teams. Wide open playoffs. Well, in the NFC anyway.

The NFC is loaded with teams that could be in the playoffs. In fact, other than Tampa Bay I would not be completely shocked if any team made it in.

The AFC looks to still be the Patriots bitch. A few teams look to be on the rise but as far as Super Bowl contenders I really only see the Steelers, and maybe the Chargers as threats.

In the NFC, I have the Vikings of course, but not for homerism. Even if they lose ALL those tough road games(they won't) they should still be able to get in that 11-5 range and win the north. The Packers are still nothing but Aaron but that non-playoff season gave em an easy schedule and they will be a wild card. Chicago and Detroit won't be cupcakes but aren't playoff teams.
The Eagles won't be as dominant. Defending champs never really are, but they're still the best in the east. If there's a spoiler I'd say the Giants.
The Saints should win the south again, with Atlanta close behind. Carolina will be Norv'd out of the playoffs, and Tampa is the NFC's worst team.
The Rams are being overhyped cause of the LA thing. Sure they're good, but this is still the team that tanked the end of last season to avoid the Vikings then forgot to win their playoff game. Seattle will benefit from cutting Blair Walsh loose. The 49ers will be solid but Jimmy G won't be a secret anymore. Teams will be ready. Arizona could contend if Slingin Sam's knees hold up.

Back in the AFC, the Hatriots will breeze past another season of mediocre AFC east rivals. If any of them pop up I suppose maybe the Jets if Darnold is a wunderkind.
Pittsburgh is vulnerable, but they too won't have much competition. I actually think the Browns might finish 2nd, though well short of the playoffs.
The Texans were going to easily win the south last year before Watson got hurt. His return will get them back to the playoffs. The Jags will sneak out a wild card cause of their defense. The Titans will be in the mix too, and if Andrew Luck is back and productive the Colts have a shot too.
Only the west will really be interesting in the AFC. I'm going with the Chargers, but it would not surprise me if Case got Denver over the hump. KC is an unknown with Mahomes. The Raiders could be in the mix or could be a catastrophe.

The Patriots will win the AFC. They just will. The NFC has a half dozen teams better than them, but it'll be the same old thing. Easy division leads to inflated record and HFA. Maybe another cupcake divisional round game, then a home AFC title game against a Pittsburgh or LA who we know can't beat em.

In the NFC, yes, I'm saying it. This is the year. The Vikings will finally get back to the Super Bowl. I've only predicted this twice in my adult life(2004, 2009) so it's not like I always go this way. But not since 2009 has it made this much sense. Just by process of elimination I can knock out Philly(teams don't repeat), Atlanta(teams don't play home Super Bowls), Green Bay(why would THIS be the team to do it), Seattle(won't be good enough to get HFA) and Carolina(not with Norv).

So it's the Vikings, Saints and Rams. And I just don't buy the Rams. So basically it comes down to a Minneapolis Miracle rematch. Same stadium, just one week later. And this time it won't take a miracle.

I already mentally prepared myself last January for the mental anguish that I would suffer from a 2 week leadup to a Vikings-Patriots Super Bowl. I hope to survive it, cause that Lombardi will be raised down in the ATL by Mike Zimmer.

Or Kirk Cousins will tear his knee up at Lambeau, Mike Zimmer will go fully blind, the US Bank Stadium roof shatters, and the Packers go 19-0. I'm prepared for it all. But we are SO due for our own curse-ending ride.