NFL – 2019 PREDICTIONS

The time has come, my NFL friends.  We’re finally on the brink of a brand-new season.  And, I think it’s going to be a memorable one.  

Several long-languishing organizations finally have a legitimate chance to make it very deep into the post-season. (I’m looking at you: Chiefs, Jets, Jaguars and Browns.)

Meanwhile, consistently elite franchises like the Patriots, Saints, Steelers and Eagles will likely rise to the top once again this year.

In between, we have question-mark teams with great potential (Chargers, Texans, Vikings, Bears and Falcons). Each one could find themselves with a play-off berth.

But, I feel pretty confident about one thing:  I don’t like the Patriots to be the Super-Bowl champion of the NFL’s 100th season.  

While Tom Brady has been sprouting more gray hairs, another team (with a quarterback born the same year he graduated from high school) has been quickly moving up in my power rankings.  

That’s right.  I think the Chiefs could put an end to BeliBrady (or BradyChick), for good.

FORECASTED PLAYOFF PICTURE:

2019 AFC SEEDS

1.  Kansas City Chiefs

2.  New England Patriots

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars

4.  Pittsburgh Steelers

5.  Cleveland Browns

6.  Los Angeles Chargers

Wild Card Round – ³Jaguars vs. ⁶Chargers 

Wild Card Round – ⁴Steelers vs. ⁵Browns

Divisional Round – ¹Chiefs vs. ⁵Browns 

Divisional Round – ²Patriots vs. ³Jaguars 

Conference Championship – ¹CHIEFS vs. ²Patriots

2019 NFC SEEDS

1.  New Orleans Saints

2.  Los Angeles Rams

3.  Philadelphia Eagles

4.  Minnesota Vikings

5.  Atlanta Falcons

6.  Chicago Bears

Wild Card Round – ³Eagles vs. ⁶Bears 

Wild Card Round – ⁴Vikings vs. ⁵Falcons

Divisional Round – ¹Saints vs. ⁵Falcons

Divisional Round – ²Rams vs. ³Eagles

Conference Championship – ¹Saints vs. ²Eagles

SUPER BOWL LIV – CHIEFS vs. SAINTS

SUPER BOWL LIV WINNER – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

EXPLANATION

Regarding the AFC:   I really like how the Jets improved this off-season and I think that defense is going to be underrated.  In fact, I almost chose NY as a wild card pick over the Browns. Ultimately, I went with the team that I think is more talented and ready to win now… I did not include the Texans in my playoff picture primarily because the offensive line does not appear to have improved for Deshaun Watson.  The young quarterback was sacked 62 times in 2018.  As talented as he is, that is a major obstacle for his improvement. Houston also lost Jadeveon Clowney on defense.  This puts even more pressure J.J. Watt.  I just can’t see him staying healthy all season amidst those huge expectations. Cap it off with a really tough schedule for the Texans this year, I think it’ll be too tough for this crew to limp across the finish line ahead of other teams who have improved more…  As for the Chargers, I’m not totally buying them. But, I just can’t deny how balanced this team is in most areas and Philip Rivers’ will to win.  I also don’t like the situation unfolding with two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon who still has no contract extension while LA has dangled him out for a possible trade…  Originally, I did not have Pittsburgh making the playoffs.  I think the ship may have sailed on this team with Mike Tomlin at the helm.  All respect for Coach, but the last time the Steelers won a Super Bowl under his belt was ten years ago.  Heck, perhaps a change of pace would be helpful for the Steelers once in a while. (Pittsburgh has only had 3 head coaches since 1969...)  In the end, I’m bullish on the Chiefs because of what could be a historical offense.  Some experts are predicting KC could go 19-0 in 2019.  Others say they’ll be the first one in the Super Bowl era to score 65 points.  Either scenario would be amazing.  But, it’s scary to think that both are doable with the talent on that roster and Andy Reid still barking out the orders.  

The NFC is more jam-packed with talent than the AFC, in my opinion. Just look at the NFC South which has three legitimate playoff contenders (Saints, Falcons, Panthers). It’s a similar situation to the NFC North (Vikings, Bears, Packers).  At least three playoff teams (if not four) will come out of these two divisions.  And, what of the NFC West?  The Rams, Seahawks and 49ers all have rosters to compete at the highest level…  So, let’s talk now about the NFC East.  I did not pick the Cowboys to win the division or take a wild card.  I feel the Eagles are a better team and that quarterback Carson Wentz will finally come into his own.  The rest of this conference is absolutely stacked with powerful teams like the Falcons who should win a wild card and the Bears whose defense is well, ‘nuff said. Speaking of Atlanta… Last season the team had its woes due to devastating injuries on defense and a porous offensive line.  Word is both those issues should be non-relevant this season (we hope).  If so, look out for this team… Finally, I am not confident that the Packers will be good enough to go forward into the playoffs this season, even with a healthier Aaron Rodgers and a new coach for him to work with.  Of course, he is the wizard and nothing would surprise me.  Like I said, this NFC Conference is brimming with post-season choices…  The bottom-line is that the Saints offense wows me.  I am a bit concerned about the health of the defense.  The D-Line has some worrisome issues.  But, if this team manages to keep away from injuries like last year (and avoid a bad call or two), there’s no reason to think New Orleans can’t be a formidable foe moving forward.      

DETAILED DIVISION PREDICTIONS (FOR THE RECORD)

AFC EAST

New England Patriots ^Z

NY Jets

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers ^Z

Cleveland Browns ^Y

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

AFC SOUTH

Jacksonville Jaguars ^Z

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Tennessee Titans

AFC WEST

Kansas City Chiefs ^Z

Los Angeles Chargers ^Y

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles ^Z

Dallas Cowboys 

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

NFC NORTH

Minnesota Vikings ^Z

Chicago Bears ^Y

Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions

NFC SOUTH

New Orleans Saints ^Z

Atlanta Falcons ^Y

Carolina Panthers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC WEST

Los Angeles Rams ^Z

Seattle Seahawks

San Francisco 49ers

Arizona Cardinals

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://theladylovessports.com/contact.