NFL Predictions
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??!!??
Believe it or not, the 2016-17 NFL season is right around the corner.
That said, I spotted some fantastic analysis/insight that I wanted to share here.
Enjoy the read, football fans.
Out for now......
Matt
http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/08/31/Best-Case-Scenarios-for-all-32-NFL-teams-in-2016/1701472621521/
Believe it or not, the 2016-17 NFL season is right around the corner.
That said, I spotted some fantastic analysis/insight that I wanted to share here.
Enjoy the read, football fans.
Out for now......
Matt
http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/08/31/Best-Case-Scenarios-for-all-32-NFL-teams-in-2016/1701472621521/
Here is a close look at some of the insight, analysis and
guesswork offered by TSX reporters with each team. (Teams listed alphabetically
within each conference, first the NFC, then the AFC with snarky remarks added
as deemed editorially appropriate):
NFC
ARIZONA CARDINALS
ARIZONA CARDINALS
--Super Bowl: All the pieces are in place for the Cardinals
to have another shot at returning to the NFC Championship Game and this time,
reaching the Super Bowl. Every single playmaker who touched the ball in 2015
for a unit that led the NFL in total offense is back, including veteran
quarterback Carson Palmer and stalwart wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, both of
whom are coming off career years. Another, running back David Johnson, is
expected to set the league on fire after a breakout rookie season.
On defense, Arizona remains a top-five unit as well with
returning stars such as cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Tyrann Mathieu,
defensive tackle Calais Campbell and two newcomers who should vastly help
improve the pass rush: outside linebacker Chandler Jones and rookie defensive
tackle Robert Nkemdiche. It would seem that only a significant injury to one or
two of the stars could derail things in 2016, although head coach Bruce Arians'
offense has looked sluggish throughout the preseason and the turnover ratio is
seen as a concern.
ATLANTA FALCONS
--Contend for NFC South title: The Falcons have a chance to
contend with the Panthers for the NFC South title, but will need the return of
the precise and accurate Matt Ryan and the quick development of what will be a
young defense. Ryan is trying to bounce back from a sub-par season in which he
contributed to 24 of the team's 30 turnovers with 16 interceptions and eight
fumbles. The hope is that center Alex Mack will help to stabilize the offensive
line, running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleamn can run the ball with
authority and that Ryan can get the ball to dynamic wide receiver Julio Jones.
If they can score 30 points a game, the defense won't be on the field much and
can develop at its own pace.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
--Super Bowl return: After a 15-1 season, the Panthers lost
the Super Bowl to a team many felt they should beat. So there's no reason they
can't get back. Well, there is the fact the last runner-up to return to the
Super Bowl was the 1993 Bills. Regardless of that history, the Panthers' roster
remains loaded with talent, including quarterback Cam Newton, the league's
reigning MVP.
CHICAGO BEARS
--Sub .500: An 8-8 record might be stretching it for a team
with such a talent deficit on the offensive line. A 7-9 record might be topping
out. Considering the team's two best players, guard Kyle Long and outside
linebacker Pernell McPhee, are injured and missed extensive time in preseason,
they're already facing a setback. An easy schedule doesn't mean much when the
offensive line has been completely rebuilt in the offseason, and then rebuilt
again in training camp due to injuries. With inexperienced players at running
back and Kevin White looking very raw at wide receiver, the offense seems
destined to struggle.
DALLAS COWBOYS
-- Another 8-8: The Cowboys averaged eight wins and eight
losses over the last five full seasons under head coach Jason Garrett. Three
straight 8-8 campaigns were followed by a 12-4 and a 4-12. This was the year
the Cowboys were supposed to get over the hump.
But that was before quarterback Tony Romo suffered a broken
bone in his back and will now probably miss the first six games at least. The
Cowboys were 1-11 without Romo last year. The defense is suspect and the
offense was expected to carry the team. The Cowboys will be lucky to get to 8-8
this year.
DETROIT LIONS
--NFC North title contender: The Lions haven't generated
much buzz this preseason and it's easy to understand why. When wide receiver
Calvin Johnson retired in March, they lost their only superstar-caliber player
and now have a roster dotted with talent but devoid of household names. That
doesn't necessarily doom them to failure, however.
The Lions have one player who could be a difference-maker on
every level of their defense. Ziggy Ansah quietly had 14.5 sacks last year,
linebacker DeAndre Levy appears healthy after missing most of last season with
a hip injury and Darius Slay is a rising star at cornerback. Those three, along
with veterans like defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and safety Glover Quin, form
the nucleus of a defense that should keep the Lions in every ballgame they
play.
If quarterback Matthew Stafford can recapture the magic he
had in the second half of last season, if the offensive line takes two steps
forward, if Marvin Jones can somehow replicate Johnson's production, and most
important, if they stay healthy, the Lions could be in the thick of the NFC
North race.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
--Serious Super Bowl LI contender: Not since 1987, when
Jordy Nelson was just two years old, had the Packers ranked as low as 25th in
the NFL for passing yards to end a season. They tied for 25th to close the 2015
season, an astonishing drop after 11 straight years in the top 10. The
decreased production of an average of nearly 50 net passing yards per game was
a byproduct of numerous factors, but none as pronounced as the conspicuous
absence of Nelson for the entire season.
Nelson needed almost a full year to get back on the field
after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in a preseason game last August
and then incurring an injury to his left knee while working out before the
start of training camp this summer. Nelson likely won't play a snap in the
preseason, but he anticipates being ready for the Week 1 road matchup with the Jacksonville
Jaguars on Sept. 11.
Getting the ninth-year playmaker and undeniable deep threat
back in the fold will allow head coach Mike McCarthy to open the playbook back
up and allow an Aaron Rodgers-led offense to try to reprise its explosiveness
of 2014, when Nelson had personal bests of 98 receptions, 1,519 receiving yards
and 13 touchdown catches and Rodgers earned his second NFL MVP award.
As usually is the case in Green Bay, the team's success is
predicated on the potency of its offense. A healthy Nelson to lead a deep
receiver corps for Rodgers, paired with a rededicated Eddie Lacy at running
back, makes the Packers not only the favorites to reclaim the NFC North title
that was abdicated to the Minnesota Vikings last season but also a serious
contender for a spot in Super Bowl LI. Not that Nelson is looking ahead that
far. "We'll see," he said. "Every year's different. That's what
we probably thought going into last year, and things happen. So, you can't ever
look too far down the road. Obviously, it's a very talented locker room, but
we've got to put in the work."
LOS ANGELES RAMS
--Compete for playoff spot: The Rams are determined to move
on from the 7-9 teams they've been recently to one that can compete for a
playoff spot. The organization's goal after spending the last four years
turning over the roster is to take a decisive step forward. There are pieces in
place to make that happen, but a lot has to happen right.
First and foremost, the Rams must get better play from their
quarterback -- looks like it will be Case Keenum to start the season -- and
just be a more functional efficient team offensively.
They won seven games last year averaging 17.9 points per
game, and to put that in perspective, the teams that averaged near that number
finished in the four-win or less category. With Keenum stabilizing quarterback,
and new weapons like tight end Tyler Higbee and wide receiver Pharoh Cooper
operating alongside wide receiver Tavon Austin and running back Todd Gurley,
the Rams believe they can be more efficient and effective, if not explosive. If
that happens, and the defense maintains or exceeds last year's level, you can
make a case they can win more than seven games.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
--Bridgewater loss reduces chances: Before quarterback Teddy
Bridgewater went down with a knee injury in Tuesday's practice, the Vikings had
the bold goal to defend their NFC North title successfully and contend for the
Super Bowl. But the siren on the ambulance that carried Bridgewater to the
hospital not only shattered the peaceful area around Eden Prairie, Minn., but
also the team's hopes of consistent success, let alone a Super Bowl.
A distraught coach Mike Zimmer confirmed that Bridgewater's
injury is "significant." The team's only option on the roster is
36-year old Shaun Hill, who stepped in for an injured Sam Bradford while with
the then St. Louis Rams. If the Vikings look for outside help, among those who
might be available are Mark Sanchez (Denver), Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay) or Colin
Kaepernick (San Francisco).
Only good news for Vikings is that their great running back,
Adrian Peterson, is healthy and the team strengthened its offensive line.
Left guard Alex Boone leads a new-look line that will be
better because it has more talent and a new, aggressive attitude and style of
blocking. Peterson appears primed to defend his league rushing title at age 31
and improved blocking will help.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
--Ain't saying: It's still hard to tell based on their three
losses to start the exhibition season. The Saints showed promise on the
defensive side of the ball in the first two games until taking a step backward
in a 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
shredded the secondary. A lack of a pass rush didn't help, either. On the other
side of the ball, the offensive line has been suspect throughout training camp,
which is another concern of head coach Sean Payton and his staff going into the
final preseason game and the regular season.
N.Y. GIANTS
--Better than 6-10: Although fans seem to be up in arms over
the state of the Giants' offense, what many people fail to realize is that the
Giants historically have never been a NFL powerhouse during the preseason, not
that it would matter if they were.
Also, for all the attention the offensive line is getting,
this is the very same line that helped propel the team into a top-10 offense
and a top-10 passing offense while at the same time allowing the fourth fewest
sacks in the league. This isn't to say that the Giants' offense doesn't have
more work to do in order to look like a well-oiled machine, but the addition of
rookie receiver Sterling Shepard and the anticipated return of Victor Cruz
should give the team a few more options on offense than it had in 2015.
On the other side of the ball, the first-team defense has
been everything people thought it would be and then some. If that unit can get
off the field and keep opponents buried deep in their own end zone, there is no
reason to believe that this Giants team won't be significantly better than last
year's injury-plagued 6-10 club.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
--Repeat 7-9: The Eagles have depth issues at a number of
positions, including safety, linebacker, running back and wide receiver. If
they can stay reasonably healthy, they have the capability to win nine games.
But that's a big if. A second straight 7-9 finish seems more likely.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
--If NFC West implodes, then: As the 49ers and Seattle
Seahawks slid down the NFL power rankings last season, the Cardinals took
advantage to seize the NFC West title. Were they really that good? Or did they
just take advantage of a division that was spiraling toward being one of the
weakest in the NFL?
It is now a division without a true power (says here,
anyway), which means sweeping the three home games within the division is
within everyone's reach. If head coach Chip Kelly works his magic with an
offense that ran pretty efficiently not all that long ago for Jim Harbaugh, the
club could take advantage of a reasonable home schedule that begins with the
Rams and a Cowboys team without Tony Romo.
You take care of business against the likes of the
Buccaneers, Saints and Jets ... maybe you're sitting at 8-7 and playing for the
division title on the final Sunday of the regular season against the Seahawks.
All without being very good.
(Editors note: The 49ers TSX insider is not on a mandatory
drug testing program, but his name and this prediction will be sent to the
commissioner.)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Super Bowl goal: The Seahawks have Super Bowl aspirations
again in 2016. A torrid second half of last season from Russell Wilson and
Seattle's offense has set expectations high for what the unit can accomplish
this year. The defense returns nine starters from a unit that has led the
league in points allowed for four straight seasons. While replacing Marshawn
Lynch will be a big task to accomplish, a seemingly improved offensive line and
a deep stable of young running backs appear up to the task. There's little
reason to believe Seattle isn't still among the league's best teams.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
--Ascends to wild-card spot: The Bucs have a chance to make
the biggest improvement in the NFC South and close the gap a bit on three-time
defending champion Carolina.
Quarterback Jameis Winston should thrive with continuity on
offense after the Bucs elected to name offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter head
coach. The offensive line is deep and versatile, they return the NFL's
second-leading rusher in Doug Martin, and while the receiving corps is thin,
starters Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson are proven play-makers.
Defensively is where the Bucs should show the biggest
improvement. Former Falcons head coach Mike Smith takes over a unit that has
added talent to a base of three stars -- defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, outside
linebacker Lavonte David and middle linebacker Kwon Alexander. Free-agent
defensive end Robert Ayers and second-round pick Noah Spence add two edge
rushers to help McCoy. The Bucs also have added a play-maker to the secondary
in first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves and Dolphins free agent Brent Grimes may
have another Pro Bowl year left in him.
A second-place finish in the NFC South, 9-7 record and
wild-card spot are all within reach.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
--Repeat as NFC East champs: Washington has weapons all over
the field on offense and firepower in reserve. Few tight ends in the league can
match Jordan Reed as a receiver. DeSean Jackson remains a pre-eminent deep
threat and Pierre Garcon is a reliable target for quarterback Kirk Cousins, who
set a franchise record for passing yards in 2015. Even second-year pro Jamison
Crowder had 59 catches a year ago -- second among all NFL rookies. Tight end
Derek Carrier will return from torn knee ligaments soon. Veteran Vernon Davis
has looked rejuvenated this preseason. And that's not even counting rookie wide
receiver Josh Doctson, the team's first-round pick in 2016 and a big target if
he can return from a sore left Achilles. The Redskins need to find some balance
with inexperience at running back and some questions on the offensive line.
Defensively, the cornerbacks have a chance to be among the
league's best with new addition Josh Norman pairing with Bashaud Breeland. This
isn't a perfect team. It's hard to see how it stops the run consistently and
there are questions at safety and inside linebacker. But the Redskins should be
considered the favorite to repeat as NFC East champs.
AFC
BALTIMORE RAVENS
--Wild card if healthy: If the Ravens can stay healthy, they
should make a push for a wild-card berth. The team had 20 players on injured
reserve last season and that played a key role in the 5-11 finish. The addition
of wide receiver Mike Wallace and a healthy receiver Breshad Perriman will
provide quarterback Joe Flacco with more downfield options and could change the
dynamic of the offense. Wide receiver Steve Smith (Achilles) and running back
Justin Forsett (arm) are also expected to make an impact after their 2015
seasons were cut short.
Finally, linebacker Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles in
last season's opener, should boost a pass rush that suffered without him in the
lineup. Head coach John Harbaugh has led Baltimore to the playoffs in six of
the past eight seasons. The Ravens should be back in the hunt this season.
BUFFALO BILLS
--Better passing, wild card: The Bills could be a wild-card
contender if quarterback Tyrod Taylor takes a big step forward in his second
season as a starter and provides a more consistent threat in the passing game.
The Bills led the NFL in rushing last season, but their passing game was hit or
miss.
The Bills had quick-strike ability as Taylor connected on
several deep passes, but they struggled in the intermediate areas and that
often killed drives. Also, the Bills defense, despite all the injuries it has
suffered, should be more in tune with head coach Rex Ryan's scheme and all
signs point to an improved performance at all three levels, particularly up
front where the Bills were not strong in 2015.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
--Depth earns playoff spot: The caveat for any prediction
involving the Bengals is their overall health. The depth of talent on the
roster, however, makes them a solid playoff contender, if not the AFC North
champions. Quarterback Andy Dalton is coming off a career season that was cut
short by a thumb injury. While there's been significant turnover among the wide
receivers, Dalton still has veterans A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell and talented
rookie Tyler Boyd.
The defense should be solid as well with dynamic pass
rushers Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. An injury-riddled preseason has cast a
shadow over this team, however. Pro-Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert isn't expected
back until at least the fourth week. The offensive line has taken an injury hit
as well.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
--Ninth consecutive losing season: All the evidence suggests
the Browns are headed to their ninth straight losing season. A 6-10 record,
dismal as it is, should be considered a success. The Browns have trouble
protecting their quarterback and have difficulty getting to the opposing
passer. That was reflected in eight sacks allowed and none recorded in the Week
3 preseason 30-13 loss to Tampa Bay. No Browns quarterback since Tim Couch in
2001 has played all 16 games. The chances of Robert Griffin III surviving all
season are slim. The Browns are not a good tackling team -- their linebackers
are too slow -- and they do not run well consistently.
DENVER BRONCOS
--Literally defending SB title: The Broncos won Super Bowl
50 despite Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler combining for a 19-to-23
touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 76.3 passer rating. So, to write them off
just because Trevor Siemian will be the Week-1 starter is shortsighted. They
can be back in Super Bowl LI. But to do so, much must go right. They will need
their defense to replicate its overwhelming 2015 performance, and for Siemian
to avoid costly mistakes. For the most part, the roster remains championship
worthy. At wide receiver, running back, outside linebacker, inside linebacker
and cornerback, the Broncos have starting-caliber players in reserve.
But the offensive line is a work in progress, and the
defensive line has been hindered by injuries and the free-agent departure of
defensive tackle Malik Jackson. The impact of the departure of quarterback
Osweiler will depend on how quickly Siemian settles in. Similar roster
situations were good enough for teams like the 1977 Broncos, 1979 Rams, 1982
Dolphins, 1990 Giants, 1995 Steelers and 2000 Ravens to make Super Bowls. But
can it work in 2016?
HOUSTON TEXANS
--Return to top of AFC South, y'all: The Texans have the
potential to repeat as AFC South division champions. They return the bulk of
the NFL's third-ranked defense and get defensive end J.J. Watt back in
September, potentially for the first game of the season.
The offense has been upgraded with the additions of
quarterback Brock Osweiler, running back Lamar Miller and wide receivers Will
Fuller and Braxton Miller. The Texans won nine games last season, but were
blown out in the playoffs. They could be significantly better this year.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
--Could make playoffs: The jury is still out on just how
good the 2016 Colts can be. Talent-wise, Indianapolis remains very much a work
in progress. Injuries during training camp and the preseason have put a big
dent in the team's overall depth at several key positions, including offensive
line, defensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback, and safety. General
manager Ryan Grigson continues to scan the NFL's waiver wire in an attempt to
fortify the roster.
If the Colts get healthy and the problem areas can be shored
up, there is still enough offensive skill talent with quarterback Andrew Luck,
running back Frank Gore and receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief to make a
playoff run.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
--7-9: Why? Because there are still too many unanswered
questions with the team. Keep in mind, 7-9, while disappointing for a lot of
teams, is a vast improvement for Jacksonville, which has won just 12 games in
the last three years. There are some who think this could be a .500 team and
possibly even a playoff contender.
But while the Jaguars have taken big steps to improve the
offense (last year) and the defense (this season), it has all yet to come
together. The offensive concern rests with the line. Kelvin Beachum will enter
the regular season with just 23 snaps in preseason games. How well he and Luke
Joeckel play on the left side of the line will be key to the offense's success.
Joeckel has been the starting left tackle for three years. He's now moving to
guard where he's never played a snap in a regular-season game. Brandon Linder
has never played a snap at center and sat out most of last year with an injury.
So there remain too many question marks along the line for this team to be much
better than 7-9.
Defensively, on paper, this is a much improved team. With
the free-agency additions of tackle Malik Jackson, safety Tashaun Gipson and
cornerback Prince Amukamara along with newcomers end Dante Fowler Jr., corner
Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack, the defense has to be improved over a
year ago when it ranked near the lower third in too many key categories. If the
veterans can blend with the rookies to make this an above average defense, it
will be a pleasant surprise. But things don't happen overnight. The future is
promising with this team, but for this season, 7-9 looks to be the best the
Jaguars can ask for or expect.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
--Return to playoffs: For the first time in more than 20
years, the Chiefs should be good enough to end the season with a second
consecutive trip to the playoffs. The last time Kansas City was able to reach
the playoffs in consecutive seasons was 1994 and 1995. In those two
appearances, the Chiefs were not able to win a game in the postseason. They've
already bettered that with their 1-1 record in last year's playoffs.
For the first time in 20 years, the Chiefs appear to have a
balanced team, with a consistent and productive offense led by quarterback Alex
Smith and a growing collection of weapons in running back Jamaal Charles, wide
receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce, and a solid line. Although
pass-rusher Justin Houston's contribution remains unclear after knee surgery,
the defense is the most talented unit on head coach Andy Reid's roster. Special
teams are solid, and sometimes explosive.
With Chiefs-killer Peyton Manning gone from the division,
there appears no clear preseason favorite in the AFC West. With a minimal level
of injuries, the Chiefs should be able to win 10 to 12 games. The high end of
that projection should give them a divisional title, their first since 2010;
Denver won the last five, averaging 11.6 victories in those seasons. A 10-win
season does not guarantee a trip to the tournament, as at least one 10-6 team
has missed the playoffs in the past four years.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
--Stars, moon align for 10-6: Miami could be as good as 10-6
and earn a wild-card spot. But it would require a lot of things going its way,
and health is atop the list because the Dolphins' depth is very thin.
Most likely, the Dolphins are staring at seven or eight wins
this season. However, if quarterback Ryan Tannehill forms a reliable
combination with wide receiver DeVante Parker, they could be lethal. Throw in
good health and productivity from running back Arian Foster, and good health
and a good performance by the offensive line, and you've got no worries there.
Defensively, if the front four of tackles Ndamukong Suh and
Jordan Phillips, and ends Cameron Wake and Mario Williams can lead the way, the
defense has a chance.
There's a small chance of all of those things happening this
season, however.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
--Tom, Bill, Super Bowl: Despite the fact that quarterback
Tom Brady will miss the first four weeks of the 2016 season to a league
suspension, the expectations in New England remain almost as high as ever. Las
Vegas has anointed the Patriots the favorite to head to Houston next February
and win Super Bowl LI. Theoretically, the Patriots have a very balanced team
that could produce both a top-five unit on both sides of the ball. Fill-in
starter Jimmy Garoppolo has a slew of weapons to work with, led by tight ends
Rob Gronkowski and newcomer Martellus Bennett as well as reliable slot option
Julian Edelman.
Defensively, New England has a core of young, versatile
playmakers led by the likes of linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins
as well as Pro-Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler. While there is concern that
Garoppolo could struggle out of the gate in his first four career starts (at
Houston, vs. Miami, vs. Houston and vs. Buffalo) and that a list of injuries
could derail New England's chances of advancing to a record sixth straight AFC
title game and beyond, the Patriots are a Super Bowl favorite until proven
otherwise.
N.Y. JETS
--Upstart AFC East titlist: The Jets could be good enough to
finally knock the New England Patriots out of the top spot in the AFC East.
Almost all the key pieces are back from last year's team that went 10-6 and
missed the playoffs on the final day of the season.
The big three on offense -- quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and
wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker -- have been joined by former
Chicago Bears star running back Matt Forte, while defensive end Muhammad
Wilkerson signed a long-term deal to ensure continuity within the Jets'
strongest unit.
But the schedule, which begins with the Jets playing five
2015 playoff teams in the first six weeks, is a monster. Fitzpatrick, Marshall
and Forte are all on the wrong side of 30, as is cornerback Darrelle Revis, who
showed serious signs of slippage last season. The first-team offense looked
sluggish during the little time it spent together on the field during the first
three preseason games. And Fitzpatrick, who had a career year at age 32, would
seem to be a prime candidate for regression. The AFC East might be there for
the taking with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suspended for the first four
games and the Patriots battling a spate of injuries, but it's not very likely
the Jets' best-case scenario ends up happening.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
--Just win (10-6), baby: A difficult road schedule with five
games in the eastern time zone will make things difficult, but the Raiders have
evolved over the past three drafts and free agency periods into a team without
a major weakness in any position group on their roster. Injuries to key players
-- quarterback Derek Carr or edge rusher Khalil Mack in particular -- could
change things, but the Raiders look poised to make their first playoff run
since 2002 and anything less than 10-6 will be a disappointment.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
--Improve on 10-6: The Steelers finished last season 10-6
and played in a divisional round playoff game, and there are plenty of reasons
to believe they should surpass both this season. For one, they were bitten by
the injury bug last season and overcame a slew of them to star players.
Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell form the
best quarterback-receiver-running back combination in the league. Bell missed
eight games due to injury, Roethlisberger four and Brown the divisional-round playoff
game in Denver. Unless they have terrible luck again, their stars should carry
them to greater heights.
The Steelers are dealing with injuries to tight end Ladarius
Green and cornerback Senquez Golson. Golson is out at least until the second
half of the season and Green's status is unknown, but as long as
Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell are healthy, the Steelers should be in
contention for the best record in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout
the playoffs.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
--Big Bordertown expectations: Joey Bosa finally signed his
contract and just maybe that gives the uneven defense a boost as it puts a cap
on the preseason on Thursday before the opener on Sept. 11. If Bosa can get
into football shape after missing 31 days of work, just maybe the Chargers'
tepid pass rush will become a strength rather than a liability.
But there's more to the Chargers' upside than an unproven
rookie defensive end.
The offensive line, which used 24 different combinations
because of injuries last year, added center Matt Slauson from the Bears. Also,
speedy wide receiver Travis Benjamin was added to stretch the field and take
the heat off Keenan Allen, an emerging star.
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane came over after being the
anchor of Seattle's tough unit. His work up front could pay dividends to inside
linebackers Manti Te'o and Denzel Perryman. It's great to have Bosa, but other
additions were made to potentially lift the Chargers. If running back Melvin
Gordon performs as he was expected in his rookie season, the Chargers could
compete for a playoff spot.
(Editor's note: While this intrepid TSX insider gets a plus
for guts with his optimistic prediction, he will get a note from the boss for
failing to mention that in the competitive AFC West, the Chargers have the best
quarterback -- Philip Rivers, proof he is perhaps the most overlooked QB in the
NFL).
TENNESSEE TITANS
--Postponing post-season until 2017 season: The Titans look
much improved thus far over the past couple of years. That much is evident with
only preseason games to go on. The offense, with quarterback Marcus Mariota a
year older and more experienced, plus the additions of running backs DeMarco
Murray and Derrick Henry, and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe has been upgraded. The
offensive line looks more cohesive as well with a new position coach in Russ
Grimm and a new smash-mouth attitude approach being instilled.
Defensively, the Titans still have major questions in the
secondary. Those issues might keep this group from taking a big step forward.
Still, the Titans could take advantage of a weak AFC South where all four teams
still have major question marks.
It sounds crazy, but a best-case scenario for Tennessee is
that everything comes together, the Colts, Texans and Jaguars don't fix their
weaknesses, and the Titans finish the season with about nine wins with a shot
at the playoffs. More realistic is that Tennessee makes a substantial leap and
wins about seven games with an eye on the postseason in 2017.