NFL 2020 Season Predictions

Yeah it might be foolish to even try predicting what's going to happen in this season like no other. COVID will hang over the whole season even if the league avoids having the issues MLB has had. I do think they will have minimal delays or postponements.

But an even bigger wrench is the lack of fans, and thus probably the lack of any home field advantage. Some teams really rely on that a lot (like the Vikings). Some teams will have some fans from the start, some will start with empty stadiums, and who knows what the situation will be by December. Will more fans be allowed in by then, and thus favor teams with more late season home games?

And how will the lack of a real offseason, or any preseason games effect play? Nobody has seen any game action since last year. Will that favor older, more veteran teams? Will it doom any teams with new coaching staffs? Will it lead to more injuries?

Point being I could be even more wrong with my predictions than usual. But here goes nothing.

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (11-5)

I am in the surreal position of almost....ALMOST kinda sorta rooting FOR the Patriots. Why? Well I want Belichick to win more games this year than Brady, which I think he will. This team was carried by defense last year (as it was in every Brady title year), and even though some opt-outs weaken that side it will still be strong. And Cam Newton has a big time chip on his shoulder after being run out of Carolina and getting almost no free agent interest.  

2. Buffalo Bills (10-6)

I'm not on the hype train fully, because I am not a believer in Josh Allen. But we've seen teams with mediocre young QBs make the playoffs because of the men around them (see Ponder, Christian 2012). And the Bills do have an excellent roster. Stefon Diggs will be worth watching all year, perhaps moreso if Allen stinks. 

3. New York Jets (6-10)

I bet on Sam Darnold as the breakout young QB of the year last year and he burned me. So I'm back in wait and see mode. Not a lot there to indicate they are a playoff contender. 

4. Miami Dolphins (5-11)

Fitzmagic will hold off Tua for a while and get a few wins, but they'll be battling for 3rd place not 1st. 

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

As the Steelers fell back the last couple years with QB issues and diva players they rebuilt their defense into the best unit they've had since they were still playing in super bowls. Now they have Big Ben back healthy, and are ready to climb back into the discussion for best AFC squad not in KC. 

2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)

I'm not sure they were truly 14-2 good last year and the playoff loss proved that. And it's just hard to maintain that sort of record back to back. They'll still be a playoff team and dangerous as one. 

3. Cleveland Browns (8-8)

Kevin Stefanski is the latest sacrificial lamb to try to resurrect this franchise. It can't hurt them to have way less hype than they did last year. The schedule isn't THAT tough, so if they contended for a wild card it would not be a shock. 

4  Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)

They got a long road ahead. If Joe Burrow looks like a worthy #1 pick that will be their measure of success for the season. Cause they sure won't win much. 

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston Texans (9-7)

I couldn't decide who to pick to win the south, which might be the NFL's weakest division this year. So go with the best player, who is still clearly Deshaun Watson. 

2. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)

Philip Rivers still has some gas in the tank. Not a lot, but enough to help elevate a team that has had no QB, um, luck in recent years back into the playoffs. 

3. Tennessee Titans (7-9)

I don't buy the hype. They got hot, pulled a few upsets, and even led the Chiefs in Arrowhead. But they also were led by a castoff QB and a power back. When was the last time a big power back led a team to consistent winning? In a weak decision it wouldn't shock me if they won it, but they feel primed to take a big step back. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)

The Tank For Trevor mission is afoot. 

AFC WEST

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

The defending champs seem like the most likely repeat champs in years. Mahomes is the ultimate cheat code. It didn't even matter in the playoffs when the defense faltered and put them in a hole. Yeah, eventually if you get in double digit holes someone will hold on to one of them, but as long as Mahomes is healthy the Chiefs have to be overwhelming favorites to win it all again. 

2. Denver Broncos (9-7)

The post-Peyton QB carousel may finally stop with Drew Lock, and we have seen what a good OC Pat Shurmur is. The Broncos defense has really never stopped being good, so they should definitely be in the mix for a wild card. (Fyi I did this part before Von Miller was lost for the season, so probably knock a win or 2 off now)

3. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)

I'm tired of the Gruden 2.0 hype. They need to show me they are good before I just believe it. Derek Carr is running out of chances. 

4. Los Angeles Chargers (6-10)

Well, we know the lack of fans won't be too unusual for them. Probably the only real interest will be how long it takes til they hand Justin Herbert the reins. 

Wild Cards: Ravens, Bills, Colts 

AFC Championship Game: Chiefs over Steelers

NFC EAST

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

Every year Dallas gets hyped. This year it might be a little more legit as they have finally moved on to a new coach. And I'm almost...ALMOST kinda sorta rooting FOR Mike McCarthy, just cause of how much him succeeding in Dallas would piss off the Packtards. 

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

If they can have a healthy Wentz all season they should be a playoff team again. Still seems like they are a step short of super bowl contention. 

3. New York Giants (5-11)

The first full year of Daniel Jones will fall well short of the playoffs. Joe Judge will probably just be the latest Belichick disciple to flop as a HC. 

4. Washington (2-14)

Well, at least they aren't named after a racist slur anymore. 

NFC NORTH

1. Chicago Bears (10-6)

I don't believe for one second that Trubisky will be the starter for 16 games. Nick Foles will take over within weeks, and offer enough genuine QB stability to make the difference for that still scary defense. 

2. Minnesota Vikings (9-7)

I'll have a lengthier blog about them later. Suffice to say it will be a battle between some of the very valid factors against them, and the immense amount of talent we still have, that will determine their fate. Do not underestimate what a full 16 games of a healthy Dalvin Cook could mean. (Although fyi I did THIS part before I knew Danielle Hunter had a neck injury)

3. Green Bay Packers (8-8)

The worst 13 win team in NFL history did almost nothing to improve in the offseason. And they cannot possibly have the same lethal combination of luck and referee help again....right? 

4. Detroit Lions (7-9)

Not sure signing All Day will matter much. Matt Patricia is just a bad coach. But the other Matt under center will as usual keep them somewhat competitive. 

NFC SOUTH

1. New Orleans Saints (12-4)

They remain snakebit in the playoffs due to the Bountygate curse, but until January they are still the most loaded offensive team in the NFC. 

2. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

May be finally the last gasp for the Dan Quinn era. Fittingly they will be pretty good but not good enough. 

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Fact: Tom Brady looked absolutely washed up at the end of last season. Fact: Brady has never played in a division with top to bottom competition (even Carolina is way better than the vast majority of the AFC East scrubs he fattened up on for 20 years). Fact: Brady never won a super bowl without an elite defense, which Tampa does not have. Fact: The perceived winners of free agency almost always flop.

4. Carolina Panthers (6-10)

I'll be rooting for Teddy, and I think he will do well, but this franchise lost the heart of its defense in Kuechly and is being led by a 1st time coach from college. 

NFC WEST

1. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Yep, I'm getting crazy in here. I'm pushing all my chips in on Kyler Murray. He's going to have a Lamar Jackson type of season, only without quite as much team success. 

2. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

I dare say I admire Russell Wilson after seeing how much he alone carried Seattle last year. He'll have to do it again since they are still a long way from rebuilding that defense.

3. San Francisco 49ers (9-7)

The Super Bowl loser curse hits every team not named New England. Excluding them, none have repeated as conference champs since the 93 Bills. The last time an NFC team did it? The 74 Vikings! Many miss the playoffs entirely. 

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-8)

The Rams went from trendy team of the future to kind of an afterthought in a blink. They still have a lot of talent, but the division has caught up to them. 

Wild Cards: Eagles, Seahawks, Vikings

NFC Championship Game: Saints over Seahawks

SUPER BOWL LV:

Chiefs over Saints (Bountygate curse will allow nothing else)