I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long for the second part of this series. After writing Part 1 last week, I ran out of predictions and needed to think of more. I sat down, watched week three of the season, saw my Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the CHICAGO BEARS (!) and thought of some things to throw at you guys. Here is The Top 10 Predictions for the NFL Season Part 2! Let’s get right into it.
4. The New England Patriots will not get a first-round bye. You guys saw the Houston Texans game. They just beat a team in the Texans with a terrible quarterback situation and just terrible offense overall by a mere three points! The Patriots aren’t looking the greatest. It isn’t the same as last year. I know they got a lot better in free agency. Good for them. But they don’t seem like the team that won the Super Bowl. The “Super Bowl Hangover” is going to get them, and it’s gonna hit them HARD.
3. An AFC player will win the league’s MVP this year. Look at the MVP’s from 2010-2016 real quick. You may notice that the AFC has only won the honor of boasting an MVP twice in seven years. And both of them were Peyton Manning. The AFC has a lot of MVP caliber players. To name some defensive players capable of winning, check out Oakland Raider Khalil Mack, Houston’s J.J. Watt, and possibly Denver Bronco Von Miller.
On offense? They’re loaded there. Three MVP candidates could come from the Steelers with WR Antonio Brown, RB Le’Veon Bell, and possibly QB Ben Roethlisberger. There’s also quarterbacks Derek Carr from Oakland and New England’s Tom Brady. There are more players that I bet you guys know that could win MVP for the AFC than I can think of. The AFC is stacked this year, and have a small chance of winning MVP.
2. A defensive player will win MVP. So, I was just talking about how the AFC will own their first MVP in years. So, basically with this we’d be left to Mack and Watt to win it or Kansas City’s Eric Berry who is a beast in his own right. But there are other EXTREMELY good defensive players in the NFC, too. For example, there’s Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas lll, Kam Chancellor, just from the Seattle Seahawks alone! Not many defensive player have won MVP, but this year will change that.
1. The one we’ve all been waiting for. This one is the one that will stun most of you. The Detroit Lions will make the Super Bowl. “WHAT?? THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!” Ok, Cornelius, let me break it down for you. First of all, it’s the boldest prediction of all, that’s why I saved it for last. Secondly, the team has a great pass offense. It also has a all-around good running back core. Their wide receivers give Matthew Stafford, a debatable top 10 quarterback, great options to throw to. I feel people would be more with this idea if Megatron didn’t retire, but you know, what happens happens. As for their defense, I feel that side of the ball is underestimated. They have a great cornerback in Glover Quin and a great DE in Ezekiel Ansah. The defense is good, and has solid pieces around the two superstars, but they aren’t why I’m saying they’ll make the Super Bowl. It’s their offense. If the defense can make a few turnovers, stop teams in late game situations, then they would be golden because that offense can PRODUCE. Not to mention they got an amazing kicker in Matt Prater. So, overall, it’s a slim chance, but I feel the Lions will defeat the odds and make the Super Bowl. Notice I didn’t say WIN at all.
I hope you guys enjoyed this two-parter. It is amazing that you guys actually read my articles. It kinda blows my mind, honestly. But, if you enjoyed, like the article. I’ll try to release another list within a week. I hope you guys had fun reading!