{"id":81479,"date":"2018-08-20T18:33:13","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T18:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=81479"},"modified":"2023-02-14T21:05:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:05:15","slug":"pro-football-prediction-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/pro-football-prediction-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro Football Prediction – #2"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/em>\u00a0those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
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The NFC looks to be much stronger overall than the AFC in the NFL<\/a>.\u00a0 For Eagles<\/a>\u2019 fans, that is not good news.\u00a0 Add to that, even though there have been\u00a0 seven repeat winners in the history of the Super Bowl<\/a>, no team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since New England<\/a> did it in \u201904 and \u201905.<\/p>\n

Last week, I took a look at how I saw the AFC shaking out in their divisions. \u00a0This week, I will focus on the NFC.<\/p>\n

NFC West<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. San Francisco 49ers<\/a>\u2013 For me, they have gone from worst to first.\u00a0 The 49ers did not make the playoffs last year, but they should this year with Jimmy Garopolo.\u00a0 He was 5-0 as a starter last year and three of those wins were against teams in the playoffs.\u00a0 Game one is against Minnesota<\/a> so I will know early if I am dreaming that the 49ers make the playoffs for the first time in six years.<\/li>\n
  2. Los Angeles Rams<\/a>\u2013 I should pick this team to win the division. They did it in 2017. Their defense is outstanding.\u00a0 Jared Goff looks to be a future star; the offense added more weapons; their defense got stronger (Ndamukong Suh now on the team); their young coach, Sean McVay, appears to be a potential genius.\u00a0 So will they win their division again?\u00a0 Probably \u2013 I don\u2019t know why I picked the 49ers (but I did).<\/li>\n
  3. Seattle Seahawks<\/a> \u2013 Oh, remember when this was the team and the venue no other team wanted to face? No more.\u00a0 Russell Wilson remains their greatest threat, but he has little around him and the historically great Seattle defense is no more.<\/li>\n
  4. Arizona Cardinals<\/a> \u2013 Steve Wilks is the new head coach. Sam Bradford will be at quarterback until Josh Rosen is ready.\u00a0 The emphasis and strength should be on the defense.\u00a0 This will not be their year.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    NFC South<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Atlanta Falcons<\/a> \u2013 Their Super Bowl loss two years ago (a game they should have won) appeared to have carried over to last year when they were 10-6 and finished third in their division. They should be over it now.\u00a0 Their offense looks to be unstoppable with talent at all of the skill positions.\u00a0 The defense looks good enough.\u00a0 I\u2019m betting on this team again.<\/li>\n
    2. New Orleans Saints<\/a>\u2013 If the defense is good, this team wins. Drew Brees is still one of the elite QBs in the league and even with a decent defense, he usually will get you enough points to win.\u00a0 And this year, the defense looks quite capable of getting the job done.\u00a0 They will battle the Falcons for the title.<\/li>\n
    3. Carolina Panthers<\/a> \u2013 Remember that the Falcons, Saints, AND the Panthers all made the playoffs last year and could do it again. This is a good, solid all-around football team.\u00a0 Cam Newton may still have his best years ahead of him.\u00a0 The defensive secondary is somewhat suspect and may be their downfall.<\/li>\n
    4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> \u2013 They were 5-11 last year and finished last in their division. It was supposed to be much better than that. Their defense improved in the off-season, but the big improvement needs to come from QB Jameis Winston.\u00a0 We\u2019ll know right away as they open with the Saints, the Eagles, and the Steelers<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      NFC North<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Green Bay Packers<\/a> \u2013 This pick is completely based on the healthy return of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers were 7-9 last year and the primary reason was the broken collarbone suffered by Rodgers.\u00a0 They added tight end Jimmy Rodgers, a real asset, and the defense looks better.\u00a0 So, keep Rodgers healthy and they are my favorite to win the North.<\/li>\n
      2. Minnesota Vikings<\/a>\u2013Watch out for the Vikings coming off a 13-3 season. Much of that success centered on the defense and Case Keenum.\u00a0 Well, the defense is better, but Case Keenum is gone.\u00a0 Veteran Kirk Cousins takes over and he can be very good with the right team.\u00a0 They have won the division two of the last three years \u2013 could certainly do it again.<\/li>\n
      3. Detroit Lions<\/a>\u2013 I like Matt Stafford at quarterback. I also like the Lions (three winning seasons the last four years).\u00a0 Head coach Matt Patricia is a defensive guru and that is really where they need to improve.\u00a0\u00a0 Can they beat the Packers and the Vikings in the four games they play against them?\u00a0 If yes, then maybe…<\/li>\n
      4. Chicago Bears<\/a> \u2013 They have been the North\u2019s last-place team four years in a row and this year should be no exception.\u00a0 Matt Trubisky starts his second year at QB.\u00a0 They added some nice pieces, but there aren\u2019t enough to get out of the cellar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        NFC East<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Philadelphia Eagles \u2013 The Eagles won back-to-back East titles in 2004. They won the Super Bowl last year!\u00a0 Can they repeat in both categories?\u00a0 It looks like they are even better this year.\u00a0 They have two solid starters at QB in Wentz and Foles; an outstanding running game; offensive line; defensive group, etc., etc.E-A-G-L-E-S!!!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Dallas Cowboys<\/a> \u2013 Speaking of QBs, Dak Prescott was not as good last year as he was the previous year and the Ezekial Elliot six-game suspension did not help either. They did not, however, improve their receiving corps.\u00a0 Jason Witten went to ESPN and they lost Dez Bryant.\u00a0 That\u2019s their weakness.<\/li>\n
          2. New York Giants<\/a> \u2013 I so much wanted to pick the Giants ahead of the Cowboys. But they were 3-13 last year.\u00a0 And their defense was awful \u2013 particularly in the secondary where they had some of the worst numbers in the league.\u00a0 My hope is that Whitehall\u2019s Saquon Barkley finds a way to electrify Eli Manning and the offense and it carries over to the defense.\u00a0 Go Giants \u2013 beat Dallas!!<\/li>\n
          3. Washington Redskins<\/a> \u2013 They had two consecutive winning seasons before their 7-9 year in 2018. Kirk Cousins was their best player and he is gone.\u00a0 Alex Smith takes over coming from Kansas City.\u00a0 He is good, but Cousins was sacked 41 times last year.\u00a0 Can Smith survive that?\u00a0 My guess here is \u201cNo\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Since this seems to be prediction time, before actual games are played, let me suggest to you my choices for the high school football season. Even though it appears that Emmaus<\/a> should have the best skill position people this year, it is difficult to pick against six-time District champion Parkland<\/a>.\u00a0 I also like Beca<\/a> to be in the mix for the EPC South title.\u00a0 There are plenty of other teams in this extremely tough division to create upsets almost every weekend.\u00a0 Until someone else proves they can do it, I like Parkland again.\u00a0 Ho-hum!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. The Colonial league<\/a> should be just as competitive with four teams with enough talent to win it all \u2013 Saucon Valley<\/a>, Southern Lehigh<\/a>, Palisades<\/a>, and Notre Dame<\/a>. Our opening high school game \u2013 Saucon Valley at Southern Lehigh – may answer some early questions.\u00a0 I like the creativity of Phil Stambaugh\u2019s Notre Dame offense and the throwing ability of record-setting QB Cole DeFranco.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                1. Northampton<\/a> moves to the EPC North Division under first-year head coach Kyle Haas. This move is good for the Konkrete Kids and maybe not so good for the North.\u00a0 Stroudsburg<\/a> will battle for the title.\u00a0 I\u2019ll stay local and pick Northampton.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  1. I know the Eagles did not look very good against the Patriots on Thursday night. It was their second lackluster showing in the NFL exhibition season.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry \u2013 except to shake off rust and complacency, these games mean absolutely nothing!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                      \n
                    1. The Astros<\/a> looked like they were going to run away with their division in the American league much like the Red Sox<\/a> were doing in the AL East. The Astros were ten games up over the Oakland Athletics<\/a> back on July 10.\u00a0 As I am writing this, the A\u2019s are now tied with Houston for first place in the AL West.\u00a0 The Phillies<\/a> continue to hang in there, too, in the NL East and one can hope that they will battle the Braves<\/a> and Nationals<\/a> to the end.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      The views expressed in this blog are\u00a0those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. The NFC looks to be much stronger overall than the AFC in the NFL.\u00a0 For Eagles\u2019 fans, that is not good news.\u00a0 Add to that,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-mic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPro Football Prediction - #2 - ATVN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pro Football Prediction - #2 - ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The views expressed in this blog are\u00a0those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 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