So clearly, I waited until the last minute to even
write this. There will be very little proofing or resting on these picks, and
my research level is a bit lower than it would be. This is the last year I am
in school for a while at least, and I will be excited to embrace the NFL season
a bit more extensively next year. However, due to popular demand, and the
positive benefits writing each week on something other than my dissertation has
on me, here we go again. Year 10 of SportsWorldBliss.
2018 NFL Playoff Predictions and
Awards
Division
Winners
AFC East
– Patriots – Bills have Josh Allen and Peterman, Dolphins have a Tannehill, and
the Jets are starting the youngest rookie in league history. Thanks for the
double digit wins and playoff berth before we even start the season.
AFC North
– Bengals – They got better on the lines, got healthier on defense, and
generally have more talent than most think. Something strikes me as weird about
the Steelers too. Just a feeling.
AFC South
– Titans – I like the changes here, believe in Mariota, and think people are
forgetting this team is young, good, have already been successful, is now
healthy, and added several impact players.
AFC West
– Chargers – Hate to bandwagon, but this one makes sense to me. Hopefully Bosa
is healthy long term, but in general they are balanced and if healthy better
than anyone else in this division on paper.
AFC Wild
Cards – Steelers based on pure talent and Ravens based on coaching and a lack
of good options elsewhere.
AFC Championship
– Patriots over Titans (which is what I had last year).
NFC East
– Eagles – Not loving this but the Giants are relying on an aging Eli,
Washington continues to lose its best coaches and players rapidly, and the
Cowboys could throw 3 guys off the street at receiver and produce about the
same results.
NFC North
– Packers – Aaron Rodgers is involved and is the best football player on the
planet. I’ve written this for many years now, and not had to change a word.
NFC South
– Saints – There is a Patriots-South vibe here (well, okay, that’s the Titans
too, but this is FURTHER South and in the NFC). Established elite passer,
innovative offensive play calling, sustained winning, and some young dynamic
offensive players. Falcons worry me, Panthers still don’t scare me because of
their offensive weapons (and left tackle situation), and Bucs well…there is a
reason Dirk is the odds on favorite for first coach fired.
NFC West
– Rams – Talent wise, the best team in football. If Goff can go from manager to
point producer, forget it, it’s all over.
NFC Wild
Cards – Vikings, who might be the second most talented team in football but
have to play in a division with Aaron Rodgers, and Bears, who sneak in. Yes, I
picked three teams to make the playoffs from each conference. Don’t do the math
and check me on it, I don’t want to know if it’s possible. Seriously, don’t do
the math, I want to live in my bubble.
NFC
Championship – Packers over Rams.
Superbowl:
Packers over Patriots – I keep picking Packers over Patriots,
essentially the most accomplished QB of all time versus the most talented QB of
all time, for years. It’ll happen at some point, you would hope. This would be
like how we never got a Kobe-Lebron Finals, which is a travesty.
Awards
MVP: Aaron
Rodgers
-Feels like
a comeback tour is happening.
OPY: Gurley
-There is
just going to be so much funneled through him.
DPY:
Aaron Donald
-People
don’t understand how good he is.
ORY:
Darnold
-He’s
starting from day 1 and plays in NY.
DRY: Bradley
Chubb
-Opportunity
based to make an impact on a still well thought of defense (even if it has
fallen off more than people realize).
COY:
Belichick
-I mean,
it’s like Popovich. They should win every year. But they rarely do.
Week 1
Predictions
Let’s
review last year, shall we?
Record in
2017:
Straight
Up: 165-95
By
Spread: 133-125
Lifetime
record:
Straight Up: 1262-684
By Spread: 1037-913
I’ll
take it, especially since that record was terrible as of about week 5. I’d like
to push the percentage for picks against the spread though, too close to .500
for two seasons in a row.
Onto
the Week 1 lines:
Browns
+3.5 over Steelers, 14-13
-Start
of my predicted weird season for the Steelers, who are traveling to Cleveland
in a terrible storm without Bell and with a ton of distractions.
Vikings
-6.5 over Niners, 30-23
-Jimmy
G finally loses a game. Niners will be better and show progress, but Vikings
are a really good and solid football team at home.
Bengals
+3 over Colts, 23-20
-Oh,
I’m so excited to take advantage of suppressed lines for the Bengals this year.
Colts have terrible depth, questionable third choice coaching, and a QB that
may or may not be able to throw over 20 yards. I’ll take AJ Green and Geno
Atkins any day over that.
Ravens
-7.5 over Bills, 20-6
-That
tease is just screaming for someone to take. With Saints….?
Saints
-9.5 over Bucs, 34-17
-Oh
Bucs, that’s just a brutal draw for week 1 without Jameis and a mess on the
roster right now. Good luck. Here’s your eliminator pick for the week friends.
Jags
-3 over Giants, 22-16
-I
almost feel bad for Eli. Almost.
Pats
-6.5 over Texans, 31-17
-Pats
under a TD? Always.
Titans
-1.5 over Dolphins, 23-10
-Add
the Titans to the Bengals for me as teams that seemingly are undervalued all
over the place.
Chargers
-3.5 over Chiefs, 27-23
-Ugh,
I guess. Am I the last person who doesn’t trust Mahomes?
Broncos
-3 over Seahawks, 20-16
-I
have no idea. None. Don’t like either team. Taking the home team by default.
Panthers
-3 over Cowboys, 20-10
-To
be clear, I have the Cowboys being BAD this year. Like really bad.
Cards
-1 over Washington Professional Football Team, 17-13
-I
don’t know. I guess get a few wins correct before Bradford suffers the
unfortunate next accident? I just don’t trust Washington to be able to score.
Packers
-7.5 over Bears, 34-17
-I
like the Bears this year. But Truthbisky on the road at Lambeau on primetime TV
in an opener? Yeah, good luck.
Lions
-6.5 over Jets, 24-13
-Darnold’s
first start isn’t in a hornets’ next, but it is versus a competent team and professional
players. Likely this is the result.
Rams
-4 over Raiders, 30-13
-What
is Jon Gruden doing?
