From worst to the best, here’s how I see things shaping up in NFL 2019.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)
New head coach, Zach Taylor will lead the Bengals. With Taylor’s offensive mindset, expect the Bengals to try more formations and different schemes. But with A.J. Green’s injury woes and Andy Dalton’s inconsistencies, the Bengals will have a hard time snatching up wins in the tough AFC North. Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd will be offensive focal points.
Miami Dolphins (4-12)
New head coach Brian Flores looks to make an impact, but it is going to take him time. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen are battling it out at QB, and I expect Rosen to win the job. That means the Dolphins are in for another long year.
New York Giants (4-12)
DANIEL JONES! After a wild off-season, the New York Giants are looking like a dysfunctional organization again. But with Barkley in the backfield, the Giants will put up points…14, and perhaps, 21 points a game. Not much. Still, he’s New York’s hope.
Buffalo Bills (5-11)
Josh Allen will break out! But I still think he’ll throw the most interceptions in the league. The hope is that the D will be there to bail out the O. But rather than be all negative, these Bills are getting better.
Detroit Lions (5-11)
Matthew Stafford will be the key once again, but the Lions don’t have an identity on either side of the ball. Detroit will manage only five wins.
Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
The Kyler Murray/Kliff Kingsbury Era is here! With Kingsbury as ‘a quarterback whisperer,’ look for Murray to have a crazy (statistical) season. That will be good for Kyler, but the Cardinals (as a whole) are a work in progress.
Washington Redskins (5-11)
Bring on Case Keenum! Well, at least for a while. By Week 5, you’ll see Dwayne Haskins at the helm. But will it make much of a difference? I think not.
Indianapolis Colts (6-10)
With Andrew Luck retiring, these Colts have gone from Super Bowl contender to a last-place finisher in the tough AFC South. Initially, I had the Colts winning ten games. I have it at six wins now.
Oakland Raiders (6-10)
This team is the NFL’s wackiest because of Antonio Brown. Oakland is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Ironically, this team could be good. We’ll have to see if Brown can take the top off of defenses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10)
New head coach Bruce Arians is looking to improve Jameis Winston’s quarterback play. This team has talent, but talent hasn’t been used well by coaches and players haven’t played up to their potential. This will be a ‘feeling out’ year for Arians and Co.
New York Jets (7-9)
What does Adam Gase have to work with?. The signing of All-Pro RB Le’ Veon Bell should help Sam Darnold in a variety of ways, and the defense should have a hell-of-a-year. I’ll go so far as to predict that the NYJ’s could be a dark horse club, even a playoff contender. But more than likely–with all the new faces–it will take a year for the Jets to find an identity.
Green Bay Packers (7-9)
New head coach Aaron Rodgers … I mean … Matt LeFleur faces challenges. The O will do just fine. D is the issue. In a twist from year’s past, as the D goes, so go the Packers.
Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
Russell Wilson is now one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’ll earn his pay this year. Although there is the buzz that D.K Metcalf could be a breakout star, that’s more speculation than probability. This is a team in transition. To where is the question.
San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
This is the year that Kyle Shanahan gets it right! With a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo and a top tight-end in George Kittle, this could be a Top 10 offense. The Niners also added Tevin Coleman in the off-season, and that will help, too.
Tennessee Titans (8-8)
Marcus Mariota needs to get better and stay healthy. That’s the beginning, middle, and end for the Titans.
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Vic Fangio, the new head coach, is a defensive mastermind. He did it with the Bears last year, and I predict he’ll do it this year in Denver.
Carolina Panthers (8-8)
These Panthers could go either way. Christian McCaffrey is the workhorse. That’s a given. If Cam Newton stays healthy and the defense come through, this can be a playoff team. If not….
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Talk about a Super Bowl hangover! It’s mystifying, too. The Falcons have some of the NFL’s best talent in players like Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, and Devonta Freeman. Why don’t they win more games? I could make a playoff case for Atlanta. But who knows with this crew?
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Brown and Bell were 70% of Pittsburgh’s offense and 100% of its headaches. Now that they’re gone, the Steelers and fans can focus on all the young talent this team has on the offensive side of the ball, players like JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Connor, and James Washington. The Steelers will be a force when the snow falls.
Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
The year of Lamar Jackson is here, and that should worry NFL defenses. Baltimore is primed for a season of possibilities.
Minnesota Vikings (9-7)
Will Dalvin Cook stay healthy? If Cook can, then Kirk Cousins will be unlocked. Cousins is on the hot seat, though. He came in with much hype but failed to lead this team to the playoffs. I look for Cousins to redeem himself.
Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
‘Old man Rivers’ is ready for 2019! Melvin Gordon is not. He wants a bigger contract and is holding out. That makes LAC a mild question mark.
Houston Texans (9-7)
DeShaun Watson needs his offensive line to step up. If the line can protect him, this team could make a deep run. Helping make that so is the best wideout in the NFL–DeAndre Hopkins.
Cleveland Browns (10-6)
The Browns are a real NFL contender! Yes, sir! With Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield, this is going to be an entertaining team, too. I think the sky is the limit for the new-look Cleveland Browns.
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
In Nick Foles, the Jags now have a capable QB. The defense is already one of the league’s best. With Foles and that ‘D,’ the Jags have what they needed in 2017 to make the Super Bowl. But without a Foles-type at the controls, it didn’t happen.
Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
After last season’s SB flop, the Rams are looking to build on its regular-season success. I think that’s in the cards, too. With Cooper Kupp back and healthy, the Rams should be back in the thick of things come December.
New England Patriots (10-6)
I think Tom Brady is now 100 years old. Naw! He’s 42 and still kicking ass! The Patriots will probably lose to the Dolphins in South Beach but, after that, they’ll reach the Super Bowl again.
Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
Zeke is holding out, but don’t worry. Tony Pollard is here to save the day. The Cowboys have a big year coming up. Yes, there are contracts disputes but, on the football side of things, I like what I see. The offense is complete. The defense is complete. And Dallas is hungry for a Super Bowl.
Chicago Bears (11-5)
It’s always a gamble picking the Bears this high, but Chicago deserves it. Khalil Mack leads a solid defense. IF Mitchell Trubisky can have a breakout year, then these Bears can win 11 games.
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Carson Wentz has the weapons to propel the Eagles to another Super Bowl. The defense is arguably the best on paper, but we’ll soon find out if the hype is for real.
New Orleans Saints (12-4)
The Saints were unlucky in last season’s NFC Championship game. Luck may not be needed this time. NO has an explosive offense with Alvin Kamara and Mike Thomas, so don’t be surprised if the Saints end up in the Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
If it weren’t for Dee Ford jumping offside last season, the Chiefs would have been Super Bowl champs. We’ll have to see how things turn out this year, but there is a lot of promise going into the season. Steve Spagnuolo now runs the defense, and the Chiefs have added Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark to improve the stop-troops. Those additions make the club more complete. I see a Super Bowl in the offing.
