2017 NFL Season Predictions

10 Thoughts: Predictions on the 2017 NFL Season

The Patriots and Chiefs kick off the 2017 NFL season.

It feels like it’s been a while, football. And for this writer, living in New York has made the summer feel far too long. But whether we’re ready for it or not, the NFL season begins on Thursday, and with it comes a plethora of fascinating storylines, questions, and predictions.

We begin with this year’s defending champions: The New England Patriots.

The drive for five is over. Now begins the blitz for six (trademarked, probably).

New England made the most out of their offseason, attempting to give the aging Tom Brady the nuclear codes to at least three other countries. It’s a given that no other team in the AFC can touch the Patriots, but Bill Belichick is obviously concerned with winning another Super Bowl this year. The acquisitions of Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore, Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead and Phillip Dorsett allow New England to stretch the field on offense, and lock down opposing receivers with the one-two punch of Gilmore and Malcolm Butler. They were even able to re-sign LB Dont’a Hightower, securing the middle of the field on the defensive side. Even with the untimely injury of Julian Edelman, New England is still one of the best teams in the NFL. This load up seems similar to that of 2007 when the team added Randy Moss and followed it up with an undefeated regular season. The sports world will be watching to see what they can do with the weapons they’ve acquired this season.

Derek Carr leads a high-powered Raiders offense.

On the opposite coast, another interesting team to watch this year will be the Oakland Raiders, who are poised to make a deep playoff run after fizzling out at the end of last season. Derek Carr has established himself as one of the premiere quarterbacks in the league, and his two top receivers, Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, are coming off two great years. But the real story lies with 31-year-old Marshawn Lynch, who has come out of retirement to join his hometown team. Before the team moves to Las Vegas, I believe this squad has enough going for it to make the AFC playoff picture interesting come January.

Clemson's Deshaun Watson, Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, and North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky have sky-high expectations on them this season.

We’re also seeing an abundance of rookie quarterbacks in the NFL this year. From Deshaun Watson to DeShone Kizer, from Mitchel Trubisky to Patrick Mahomes, multiple teams are putting their faiths in first year players. Kizer has already earned his starting job in Cleveland, but will we see some other rookies lead their teams this year?

10 Predictions for the 2017 NFL Season

​1. The Atlanta Falcons will miss the playoffs.

A reminder that the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl.

As a Patriots fan, and especially as a fan for much of this millennium, I don’t really know what a Super Bowl hangover feels like. The Falcons, on the other hand, will continue to suffer, almost as if their Super Bowl collapse will carry over into this season. While nothing has changed too much for the team in terms of personnel, the Falcons have lost former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco. Now, as good as that offense is, and as good a coach as Dan Quinn, there are other factors contributing to Atlanta sitting at home this January. The NFC South is a really good division this year. Many (including me) predict that Tampa Bay will finally break through and win the division. Tough games against New England, Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, and even tough division opponents, including two of their last 3 on the road, (one of which being New Orleans that will be their second meeting in three weeks) could spell the difference between 10-6 and 9-7 this season. Or perhaps it could be their Chick Fil-A that’s not open when the games are happening. Who knows, really?
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2. The New York Jets will go 0-16.

This season, it won't even be fun to laugh at the Jets. It'll just be sad.

Josh McCown. Bryce Petty. Christian Hackenberg. That’s your QB core. This team is in full tank mode this year. Sure, they may have just traded for Jermain Kearse from Seattle, but they traded away Sheldon Richardson (their best defensive player) to do it. Pair that with all of the offseason departures: Darrelle Revis. Eric Decker. Nick Mangold. David Harris. Even their best receiver, Quincy Enunwa, went down with a neck injury, so it’s like even he knew the ship was sinking. It’s hard not to look at their upcoming schedule and say to yourself “loss… loss… loss…” In fact, this team will be SO BAD, I’m even predicting they will set a franchise record for fewest points scored in a season (the currently record is 220). Maybe the Jets will squeak out a late-season win against Buffalo, or end all doubts by beating Cleveland in week four! Regardless, one thing is certain. This team SUCKS.
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3. Some kind of stupid new kickoff rule will be added this year.

Why can't kickoffs just go back to normal? Get over yourselves, NFL.

There is a reason the NFL is jokingly referred to as the “No Fun League.” At the beginning of last season, the league opted to move the touchback line from the 20 to the 25 yard line, in an attempt to encourage players not to run the ball back. Teams got around this by simply pooch-kicking the ball short of the end zone, and coverage teams attempting to stop return teams before the 25 yard line. And so, since the NFL can’t accept teams slipping past their stupid rules, I predict they’ll come up with one more restriction to kick off rules. Maybe they’ll move the spot of the kickoff up five yards, or allow returners to take knees inside the 5 yard line. Or maybe they’ll just eliminate the kickoff altogether. You watch. It’s coming. Kickers are people too, you know.
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4. Deshaun Watson will be the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The rookie out of Clemson doesn't have the starting job just yet, but he will soon. And that's when shit will get REAL.

Okay, so Deshawn Watson isn’t technically the starting quarterback in Houston yet, so this one might be a bit of a stretch. But the hope is for Watson to eventually win the starting job for the Texans, taking over for Tom Savage, after the team sputters out of the gate. JJ Watt might carry Houston to a win or so, but Savage’s leading of the offense might be cause for the rookie from Clemson to take over. I predict Deandre Hopkins will have a bounce back year now that Brock Osweiler is finally out of the picture, and second year receiver Will Fuller will only continue to get better. Houston’s got a relatively mild schedule this year as well. In what will be a fascinating duel between Watson and Jaguars rookie RB Leonard Fournette, look for Watson to have the x-factor in the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year race, as he leads his team to the playoffs.
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5. DeShone Kizer will start all 16 games for the Cleveland Browns.

(crosses fingers) Please don't be another bust from Notre Dame. Please don't be another bust from Notre Dame. Please don't be another bust from Notre Dame.

As a Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, I am hesitant about making this prediction. But then again, the Browns had a really (really) good draft this year. On top of that, they got rid of Brock Osweiler (which is a major plus for any team), and named the aforementioned Kizer, the rookie from Notre Dame, as their starter. Expect and Kenny Britt will become a fun QB-WR duo to watch. Isaiah Crowell  have a 1,000-yard season on the ground. Miles Garrett will be the AFC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, despite all this, the Browns will finish with a losing record, and prove that they are still nowhere near ready for the playoffs. But they will win games they should, and suffer a great many close losses this year. But don’t let the losing record fool you. Something tells me that the Browns front office is doing something right for once, and when Deshone Kizer becomes the first Browns QB since Tim Couch in 2001 to start all 16 games, people may start to look at the Browns as one of the more underrated teams in football. Okay, now you can laugh at me.
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6. David Johnson will win the rushing title.

No Zeke, no problem.

I predicted this last year, and my dreams were crushed by one Ezekiel Elliott. However, with Elliott suspended for six games this season, Johnson once again becomes the favorite to win the rushing tittle. He seemingly only has to compete with Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell for the honor, and with the rest Cardinals offense on the decline, look for Johnson to get an increase in carries this year. Arizona might not have a winning record when this season is set and done, but Johnson will surpass the 1,500-yard mark, leading the league in rushing yards by the time January rolls around.
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7. Brock Osweiler will be the starting quarterback in Denver by the end of the season.

I think Alanis Morissette once asked: "Isn't it ironic, don't you think?"

The Broncos don’t have anywhere to go at the quarterback position. They have Trevor Siemien, who can’t throw a football, as their starter. They’ve got their second year experimental QB, Paxton Lynch, who also doesn’t know how to throw a football. And now, they’ve just signed Brock Osweiler, who is returning to the team on a one-year deal- and we now know that he’s not worth the $72 million he was being paid to terribly throw a football. The Broncos don’t have anywhere to go at the quarterback position.

Eventually, it will all fall back into the lap of Osweiler, who will feel comfortable enough to step into the role of starter after both Siemien and Lynch prove incapable of, well, doing anything resembling playing football. I think Osweiler will thrive once again in the Broncos offensive system, and won’t fizzle out at the end of the season. Of course, the latter will be because the team won’t be playing for anything at the end of the season.
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8. The NFC East's worst team will have a winning record.

Four solid starting quarterbacks. I'm about it.

So, yes, the Cowboys will be without Ezekiel Elliott for six games. But Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant will still be able to light up defenses and secure the team a winning record (albeit not as one-sided in the win column as last season). 2017 will also be the coming out party of Carson Wentz. With a solid work ethic and a stout defense, Philadelphia is on the upswing this season. Speaking of defense, look for the New York Giants to have one of the best in the league. I’m predicting them to win the NFC East this season. Washington might be the team with the biggest questions, but Kirk Cousins will put away all the doubts when he is able to pull a 9-7 record out of a team many are predicting will finish at the bottom of the division.
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9. The Patriots won't go undefeated... but they'll win the Super Bowl.

40 is the new 20: Tom Brady leads a high-powered New England offense.

With Julian Edelman out, so too are the Patriots’ hopes of an undefeated season. Ironically, it was Edelman that said that the possibility of a 19-0 season was “stupid,” and now that he’s on the shelf, the rest of the NFL no longer has to be on “undefeated” watch this season. The Patriots are stacked, there’s no doubt about it. But they’ll lose a shocker in New Orleans in week two, and might drop a game at the end of the season, should they have nothing else to play for. Additionally, look for the week 11 matchup with the Raiders in Mexico City to be a tough test, as well as the week five matchup in Tampa Bay to be one too. However, despite all this, the Patriots, as they tend to do, will destroy the rest of the conference, and win another Super Bowl grinder. And the best part about it: it just might be a third showdown with the New York Giants.
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10. Colin Kaepernick will find a home this season.

I have had an opinion on this for quite some time, and I feel that now is an appropriate time to share it.

In my opinion, the reason Colin Kaepernick still (as of writing) remains unsigned is not because he refuses to stand for the national anthem. It’s not (or, at least it no longer is) about his stats. In fact, while it’s true that Kaepernick had 16 touchdowns and only 4 picks last year, his last three seasons have been mediocre. Since the 49ers appeared in the Super Bowl in 2012-13, Kaep’s team has gone from 12-4 in 2013 (21 TDs, 8 INTs, QBR 69.7), to 8-8 in 2014 (19 TDs, 10 INTs, QBR 67.5), to a 5-11 record, with Kaep posting 2 wins and 6 losses (6 TDs, 5 INTs, QBR 47.0), to a 2-14 season, with Kaep finally being benched after going 1-11 (16 TDs, 4 INTs, QBR 55.2). Teams have figured Kaepernick out. Not just Kaepernick, but this entire team.

Ever since Jim Harbaugh left to coach the Michigan Wolverines, the franchise has been in shambles. Think of him almost like a new pitcher in baseball. If no one knows how to prepare for a new pitcher, even if he has a mid-90s fastball and a half decent breaking ball, then the new pitcher will look like a god. What is happening in San Francisco is this: Kaepernick being exposed as a mediocre quarterback. And, to be honest, Keep hasn’t done himself any favors in getting signed. He opted out of a contract that would have kept him on the 49ers roster. Then there was this whole thing with his sister tweeting something about the Baltimore Ravens organization while Kaepernick was in the office working out a deal.

But, as I said, this is no longer about the color of his skin or his work ethic or his stats. This issue has evolved into a full-blown media circus. Even if Kaepernick can truly play, what coach in their right mind- whose job it is (remember) to win football games, because there are no bonuses for being a humanitarian- would want to deal with all the media hassle that comes with signing Colin Kaepernick, especially if he isn’t the starter on his team?? If you were one win away from clinching a playoff spot, and you’re getting questions about the ethics of your team because you signed someone to back up your starter, how might that make you feel as a coach?

Now, yes, it is a disgusting thing the way this mole hill has been made into a mountain by the media. I believe Colin Kaepernick has every right to sit during the national anthem. If he wants to protest, or use his position as a platform, he has every right to do so. He’s not protesting the league, he’s protesting the injustice done to many African-Americans and other people of color throughout this country. Is there a rule in the NFL rulebook that you are required to stand for the national anthem? I doubt it. If I’m wrong, show me.

But I digress.

Some team is going to bite the bullet and sign Kaepernick this year. A team will realize that they have nowhere else to turn at quarterback, sign Kaepernick, and deal with the media circus. Hell, Kaepernick might not start (and while you know people will be up in arms about wanting him to start, at least he’ll be on a team), but he will be on a roster by the end of this year. I’ve wanted it to be the New York Jets for a long time (because they need HELP), but perhaps he might end up in Buffalo, or in Indianapolis, or even in Dallas (because Jerry Jones is crazy pants and will do it just to do it).

The free-agent quarterback pool is shallow this year. I think if a team has nowhere else to turn, or is struggling to fight for a playoff spot with an injured quarterback, Colin Kaepernick might be the answer these teams are looking for.

*End rant*

And, of course, as always, a full slate of division-by-division and playoff predictions for the upcoming year.

Predicted Season Standings:

AFC East

z- New England 13-3
Miami 7-9
Buffalo 4-12
New York Jets 0-16

There’s three suck-bag teams and then there’s New England. Miami doesn’t have a prayer even with Jay Cutler at quarterback, the Jets are on pace to be statistically one of the worst teams in NFL history, and the Bills are, as tradition tells us, going nowhere. Patriots again win the division, stomping each of their AFC East opponents twice on the way there.


AFC North
y- Pittsburgh 12-4
w- Baltimore 9-7
Cleveland 6-10
Cincinnati 5-11

The AFC North doesn’t have many surprises either. Pittsburgh is far and away the best team, with Baltimore bringing up second place. They’re an average team with a super old RB, a shell of what was once a great quarterback, and an average defense. Cleveland will trend up. They’ll still be waiting a long time for another winning season, but they’ll be trending up. Lots of close losses for them. Cincinnati falls off the rails this season. Vontaze Burfict, Adam Jones, and Joe Mixon on the same team? Yikes.


AFC South
x- Tennessee 10-6
w- Houston 10-6
Jacksonville 9-7
Indianapolis 5-11

Man, has this division been flipped on its head from a few years ago. Tennessee is one of the most underrated offensive units in football, and as long as Marcus Mariota can stay healthy, I think the Titans have the best chance to win the AFC South. Houston’s defense, paired with the emergence of Deshaun Watson, will be able to rebound after an abysmal start. Even Jacksonville’s defense has made some strides, and they received a major influx of talent in Leonard Fournette. All that leaves is Indianapolis, who still don’t have Andrew Luck back. Pair that with their bumbling head coach Chuck Pagano, and that means a trip to the bottom of the division. We may see a division that yields three playoff teams this year.


AFC West
x- Oakland 11-5
Los Angeles Chargers 9-7
Kansas City 8-8
Denver 7-9

Oakland has risen from the ashes of the Tuck Rule game, and with the move to Vegas pending, they’ll give it one or two more last gasses to change the owners minds as they finish at the top of the division. Perhaps a change of scenery will give the Chargers a bump from last season, but I can’t see them as a team contending for the playoffs. Kansas City’s going to find themselves in the middle of a QB controversy by mid-season, and Denver doesn’t have a quarterback on their roster who knows how to throw a football. Even with the Broncos’ “No Fly Zone” defense, they can’t rely on aging corners and safeties to score all their points. The Super Bowl winners from two years ago will be trying to resurrect the ghost of Peyton Manning by the time the year is over.


NFC East
y- New York Giants 12-4
w- Dallas 11-5
Philadelphia 9-7
Washington 9-7

Like I said before, the NFC East could be a division where no team has a losing record. With Washington and Philadelphia as the two worst teams (but not by much), the stage is set for another Dallas/New York showdown for the division title. However, I think the absence of Ezekiel Elliott will hurt the Cowboys just enough to put them in second place. They’ll earn a wild card spot, but the division title goes to the Giants. New York’s defense will be one of the league’s best, and the offense, with the addition of Brandon Marshall, will give Eli Manning more room to transform from regular season Eli to postseason Eli, hopefully by the time January comes around.


NFC North
z- Green Bay 13-3
w- Minnesota 10-6
Detroit 7-9
Chicago 4-12

I predict another wild card team in Minnesota this year. Could the Vikings be the first team in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl held in their own stadium? Sam Bradford entered the fold last year when Teddy Bridgewater went down, and put up some career numbers. Now that he’s had an entire offseason to immerse himself, the sky is the limit for the former number one pick. Not to mention, the defense started the season 5-0 last year before losing 8 of their last 11. The defense has something to prove. Also, add to that the arrival of Dalvin Cook, who some predict will put up more yards with the Vikings than AP will with the Saints. As for the other three teams in the division: Green Bay wins lots of games because Aaron Rodgers is their quarterback. Detroit is back to being a middle-of-the-road team, and Chicago is hopeless.


NFC South
x- Tampa Bay 11-5
Carolina 10-6
Atlanta 9-7
New Orleans 8-8

This division is good. Like, really, really good. And what’s great about the NFC South is that it’s always changing. Atlanta, while I have them at 9-7 and missing the playoffs, is coming off a record-setting season on offense, with the league’s reigning MVP in Matt Ryan. New Orleans may have lost Brandon Cooks, but they picked up Adrian Peterson, and have a really solid tandem of RBs along with Mark Ingram. Carolina added Christian McCaffrey this offseason, and while I’m still not sure how they’re going to fit him into the offense, I have a feeling that whatever they try is going to pay dividends, since Cam Newton’s offense has a lot to prove this season. The winner of this division is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While, yes, the other three QBs in the division have all been to the Super Bowl in the last ten years and James Winston has not, the stars point to Tampa Bay as the team with not much downside and a lot of upside. Especially now that Winston has receivers like DeSean Jackson to throw to, could Tampa Bay become the third straight NFC South team to make the Super Bowl?


NFC West
x- Seattle 11-5
Arizona 10-6
Los Angeles Rams 7-9
San Francisco 3-13

I need to stop lying to myself. No matter how much I despise the Seattle Seahawks, and no matter how much I adore the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle is the better team in this division. Sure, the offensive line is a mess, but Russell Wilson has a plethora of options to throw to (assuming he isn’t left out to dry by his linemen), including RB CJ Prosise, who I predict will have himself a breakout year this year. While Arizona has some decent offensive threats, including David Johnson, Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are not getting any younger. The window is closing fast on Bruce Arian’s Cardinals. As for the bottom half of the division, a new head coach won’t change much for the struggling Rams. As for San Francisco, isn’t it funny how far the mighty have fallen. Don’t forget, this was the franchise that made the Super Bowl four years ago.

Division Winners:
AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Steelers
AFC South: Titans
AFC West: Raiders
Wild Cards: Texans and Ravens

NFC East: Giants
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Buccaneers
NFC West: Seahawks
Wild Cards: Cowboys and Vikings



AFC Wild Card:
(3) Oakland vs. (6) Baltimore
OAK 31, BAL 17

(4) Tennessee vs. (5) Houston
TEN 23, HOU 20


NFC Wild Card:
(3) Tampa Bay vs. (6) Minnesota
MIN 20, TB 16

(4) Seattle vs. (5) Dallas
DAL 34, SEA 28


AFC Divisional Round:
(1) New England vs. (4) Tennessee
NE 31, TEN 14

(2) Pittsburgh vs (3) Oakland
OAK 27, PIT 25


NFC Divisional Round:
(1) Green Bay vs. (6) Minnesota
GB 24, MIN 7

(2) New York Giants vs. (4) Dallas
NYG 27, DAL 21 (OT)


AFC Championship:
(1) New England vs. (3) Oakland
NE 40, OAK 24


NFC Championship:
(1) Green Bay vs. (2) New York Giants
NYG 23, GB 20


Super Bowl LII
New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
NE 35, NYG 31

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What are your takes on this upcoming NFL season? Leave a comment down below.

The NFL Season kicks off with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the New England Patriots on Thursday, September 7 at 8:30pm on NBC.