Hi, today I am doing a post on my picks to win each division early. I will also write my predicted record for the team and I did the predicted records by looking at the teams schedules. Here it is:
NFC North: Green Bay Packers (12-4):
The Packers will repeat as division winners. Aaron Rodgers and his team have almost no competition in their division and it seems that the Packers have only gotten better. Last year Aaron Rodgers lead his team on a crazy late season run to get the Packers all the way to the NFC championship. If Rodgers' run had started a bit earlier, he would have won MVP over Matt Ryan. The Packers defense looks better with the addition of Kevin King from the draft. He will be a great corner and is just what the Packers D needed. The signing of Martellus Bennett was also a big one. A big target for Aaron Rodgers to get downfield with will help this offense a lot. Green Bay will repeat as winners this season.
NFC East: New York Giants (13-3):
There are a few reasons the Giants will win this division over the favorite Cowboys. First I looked at the Giants schedule, they will easily win 13 games with an easier schedule than last year. 13-3 is a really insane record for football and that should most of the time win you a division. Next the Cowboys bottom line will just be a lot worse. Dak Prescott was a surprise last year but now teams have a whole off-season to watch his tape and study how to shut the youngster down. Sophmore Slump is coming for him. The Cowboys D is not good enough to complement the offense plus there is talks that Zeke Elliott could be suspended the first 2 games of next season for domestic violence. That can only make things worse. The Giants offense has now the best receiving corps in the league. A top 3 receiver in the league in Odell Beckham, now the addition of pro bowl receiver Brandon Marshall and a versatile tight end in Evan Engram through the draft. Also new starting RB Paul Perkins looks promising with a good O-line. The D is monsterous. They have one of the best defenses in the league lead by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, and Olivier Vernon. The Giants whole team looks really good and they will win the division.
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks (13-3):
The Seahawks will win the division yet another time. With one of the easiest divisions in the league, the power team will kill this season with their talented team. Their offense will be better this season even though they still may have the worst O-line in the league. Russell Wilson will be fully healed from his ankle injuries and he will be able to be mobile again which he needs. Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls will be a great one two punch for the Hawks and give them a dangerous aspect to their run game along with CJ Prosise. Their receiving corps are good as usual with Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and big tight end Jimmy Graham who was awesome last year. Their defense is still the Legion of Boom and they will be great with Earl Thomas back and the addition of Malik McDowell in the draft. I'm excited for another Seahawks run this year.
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons (14-2):
I have the Falcons as my top seed in the NFC this season. I have the Bucs having a great year this year making an insane 13-3 run but the Falcons will win the division by a game because I can't see the Bucs winning the division one year after not even making the playoffs. Matt Ryan will not be near as good as his MVP self this past year but he will still be great enough to lead the Falcons back to the top. Julio Jones will be the best receiver in football for the second straight year. Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman will be the best one two punch in football again and Taylor Gabriel will still be a dangerous weapon for this offense. The good O-line also helps lead by center Alex Mack. The D needs help but Desmond Trufant will be back and the first round addition of Takkarist McKinley will prove to help this pass rush. Last years out of nowhere sack leader Vic Beasley will be set up for another great season and possibly lead the league in sacks once again. After Desmond Trufant the Falcons still could use some help at corner but Robert Alford will do for a little. The Falcons may be even better this next season.
AFC North: Steelers (11-5):
I think this AFC North division will be one of the worst this next season and the Steelers will be the 4th seed in the playoffs and not as powerful of a team then they were last year. Big Ben is aging but I don't think he will be much worse this year even though his injury concerns keep going up and up. Antonio Brown will be elite again and he will continue to be Big Ben's favorite target. Lets talk about Le'Veon Bell. He had one of the best RB seasons that I've seen in awhile last year and I don't expect him to slow down unless an injury or suspension comes up. The Steelers have such a great o-line it would be hard for him to stink. Juju Smith-Schuster was a nice draft pick-up but he will struggle to get a role behind fresh off suspension star Martavis Bryant. The defense looks like it will be improved this season. Late first round pick TJ Watt was a great pick and has a chance to be good (but maybe not as good as his brother JJ). The cornerbacks look good and the D-line does too. The Steelers will easily win the division but I don't know if they'll do much in the playoffs.
AFC East: Patriots (14-2):
I think the Pats will secure another 1st seed :( unless Tom Brady gets caught up to by his age finally this year. The Pats are only better which should scare people. The addition of Brandin Cooks will end up being one of the Pats best moves in a very long time. Brady hasn't played with someone so fast and explosive in awhile. Cooks could end up becoming an MVP candidate on the Patriots if Brady can turn him into the season where Randy Moss was amazing. Gronk will be back and if he doesn't get hurt he will be the best tight end in the league again, easily. The run game will be interesting with all of their running backs. Mike Gillislee will be their guy and he could produce LeGarrette Blount 2016-like numbers. Their defense never seems amazing but it will be great this year. Malcolm Butler will now have a great duo with huge free agent signing Stephon Gillmore who is a top corner in the league. The D-line is really good along with their 2nd ranked O-line. The Pats will be a top if not THE top team in the league again this year. They won't have any competition with-in the division.
AFC West: Raiders (14-2):
The Raiders will win the Super Bowl this year. If Derek Carr jumps back from his injury like I expect he will, he could win MVP. He is so good now. Marshawn Lynch could just be old and washed up but I think he will actually be good. He is such a bruising player and behind the best O-line he has ever seen, he should be in good shape. The Raiders receiving core is GOOODDD Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Cordarelle Patterson, Jared Cook. I named their top receiving targets and everyone of them is someone I would want on my team. Cordarelle Patterson will not just be an explosive receiver but he will be a great return man just like last season when he made the Pro Bowl as a returner. The defense does need some work but they will be good enough. Rookie safety Obi Melifonwu is going to be a really interesting star to watch. Did I forget to mention the Raiders have this past years Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack who is a threat all over the defense. He could get you at any time. Bruce Irvin is a great linebacker and Sean Smith will lead the cornerback room along with a great draft pick in Gareon Conley who was considered by some as the best corner in the draft. I had him 2nd. The Raiders team is so young and good and they will win the Super Bowl.
AFC South: Titans (13-3):
The race for the division will be tight, but I have the Titans barely edging out the Jaguars to win the division but in the end the Jags also make it to the playoffs. The Titans look set for a run this year. Marcus Mariota is coming off a late season injury but he was ELITE in his second year. He was the best QB in the red zone according to the stats and he played like Russ Wilson with his run pass option which is rare for a QB. The Titans receiving core has also gotten A LOT better this off-season. They spent the 5th overall pick on receiver Corey Davis who will make an instant impact at WR1. The Titans also signed Eric Decker who will likely be a huge great redzone target for Mariota. Delanie Walker was good again last year and Mariota has become good with him. DeMarco Murray had a comeback year and burst for 1000+ yards and was super important to the Titans success. Derrick Henry was the perfect two punch to DeMarco's one and eventually will be the prime ball carrier in Tennessee. The defense also looks better. The Titans used a mid first round pick to nab stud corner Adoree' Jackson who can also make a special teams impact. The Titans also made a big signing in former Pat Logan Ryan. Jackson and Ryan have turned the Titans cornerback room into a hopeful future. The Titans have some other defensive stars. Brian Orakpo made the pro bowl last season as a linebacker. He should produce again for the Titans. Jurrell Casey is one of the best young d-lineman in the league and he should also PRODUCE for the future division winners. Kevin Dodd looks like he will be good in year 2 and could make an impact on the pass rush. Jonathan Cyprien was a great free agent signing and may be what the safety room needs. The Titans young team looks very promising and will the division!
Thanks for reading!
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