2015 NFL predictions: It's Denver over Philly in Super Bowl 50 – NOLA.com
Hard to believe, but we’re a little more than a week away from the opening kickoff of the 2015 NFL season. With that, just about everyone who thinks they know anything about football has made it clear who they think is going to win the Super Bowl.
Well, not only do I not want to be left out, but I am looking forward to the razzing I’ll take for picking Atlanta to win the NFC South. So, below are my predictions for each NFL team, their final record and league standings, along with playoff projections.
Also, beginning next week, I will once again write a weekly NFL picks column, offering my advice on who to pick in your Survivor Pool along with my choices against the spread for every game. We’ll also hold our second annual NFL Pick ‘Em Challenge. It’s a chance for you to compete against me and other readers and to get recognized if you know more about football than anyone else. (Well, at least anyone who’s playing in our contest.)
The rules are simple: Choose the winner of each NFL game each week, then move them around in the order you feel most confident. You then receive points based on how many wins you correctly predicted and the confidence level you placed on each one.
For example, if you predict the Saints to beat Atlanta and place the highest confidence on it, you’ll receive 16 points for the correct pick. Get it wrong, and you get zero for that one. Receive 15 points for a correct second choice, and so on down to one point for a correct pick you have the least confidence in.
To join and compete against us at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, you’ll need to have (or create) a CBSSports.com ID. It’s very easy to create one, and participate. IF YOU PARTICIPATED LAST SEASON and use the same CBS ID, you’re already entered. All you need to do is sign in and make your picks.
If you don’t remember your password, you must go through the instructions from CBS on how to reset it. We do not control that.
It’s free, and each weekly winner(s) will be mentioned here in the column on Tuesdays. The winner of the league will be featured at season’s end.
TO JOIN, CLICK HERE. The PASSWORD is NOLA. If you have any trouble, feel free to email me at [email protected].
And it won’t be a secret who I’ll be picking from week to week. That’s what this column is about. On a weekly basis, I’ll offer advice on the teams to pick from top to bottom. If you don’t agree – or even better if you do – please feel free to offer your comments below.
OK, let’s get to the predictions:
NFC SOUTH
1 ATLANTA – predicted record: 9-7 (fourth seed)
What has been the Falcons’ biggest problem the past few years? Mike Smith. He’s gone, and with a defensive-minded coach in Dan Quinn, this team will be much tougher. Tough enough to edge the Saints for the division title.
2 NEW ORLEANS – predicted record: 8-8
I hear Who Dats all over town screaming about how much better this team will be this season. What exactly did they do to make themselves them THAT much better? Their defensive line is in shambles, their defensive backfield is banged up, and while the offense should rebound a bit, it won’t be enough to top the .500 mark.
3 TAMPA BAY – predicted record: 6-10
Is Jameis Winston the solution? Maybe, but at the minimum he’s a marked improvement. Assuming Doug Martin and Mike Evans can stay healthy, they could be better than this projection. On defense, the Bucs also should take a step forward with an improved secondary.
4 CAROLINA – predicted record: 6-10
Sure, the Panthers have the top defense in the South, but that’s not saying much. Unless Cam Newton can work miracles, how in the heck are they going to score?
NFC NORTH
1 MINNESOTA – predicted record: 10-6 (third seed)
Most “experts” think the Vikings are a year away from making a division title possible. But why not now? An above-average defense is on the rise, and having a healthy, rested, ticked-off Adrian Peterson should make a world of difference.
2 GREEN BAY – predicted record: 10-6 (sixth seed)
The loss of Jordy Nelson was just the beginning of bad vibes coming from the gonna-be frozen tundra. Still with the best quarterback in the game, they should find a way to come on strong toward the end of the season and make a push.
3 DETROIT – predicted record: 8-8
Maybe the toughest team to predict in the NFC, the Lions have the talent to be a couple games better and make a run in the playoffs. However, they’re just as likely to fall apart. Their ceiling is 10 wins, and their floor is six. Let’s take the middle.
4 CHICAGO – predicted record: 5-11
Because the Bears have no choice with all the money they have invested in him, they’re going back to Jay Cutler, who was benched in Week 16 last year. They lost one of their top weapons in Brandon Marshall, and there isn’t much depth at receiver behind Alshon Jeffery. Oh that, and their defense isn’t very good, either.
NFC EAST
1 PHILADELPHIA – predicted record: 12-4 (top seed)
If the Eagles can get past Atlanta on the road in the opener, there’s a very good chance they’ll be 4-0 when the Saints travel to Philly in Week 5. If Sam Bradford remains healthy, there’s no reason to think this isn’t a championship-caliber team.
2 DALLAS – predicted record: 9-7
With an aging quarterback who has a bad back and without a running back who carried the ball nearly 400 times last season, it’s hard to think the Cowboys will be a playoff team. Especially with a defense that’s nothing more than mediocre.
3 NEW YORK – predicted record: 6-10
How much will the return of Steve Spagnuolo help a defense that was last against the run in 2014? Not enough to get past three teams that all run the ball fairly well. And having no running game on offense doesn’t help, either. Time for an overhaul here.
4 WASHINGTON – predicted record: 3-13
Speaking of overhauls … this team has one of the worst defensive units in the league, doesn’t know who its quarterback is and has average threats at its other skill positions. Yeah, they’re going places.
NFC WEST
1 ST. LOUIS – predicted record: 11-5 (second seed)
It’s way too easy to pick chalk throughout, and the Rams seem to be the most poised to take a giant leap forward. Although Nick Foles hasn’t looked fantastic in the preseason until this past week, the thinking is he’ll be enough to push a team on the brink of success with an outstanding coach into winners.
2 SEATTLE – predicted record: 10-6 (fifth seed)
One boneheaded call away from a second consecutive Super Bowl, it’s tough to imagine how much that play will have an effect going forward. One thing for certain is losing Max Unger at center will hurt. Opening on the road at St. Louis and Green Bay should tell us a bunch about whether this prediction is out of the box.
3 ARIZONA – predicted record: 8-8
Here’s a team that seems to have some sort of identity crisis. Although they have solid leadership, they have a brittle quarterback (Carson Palmer) with no proven running game and an aging superstar on offense in Larry Fitzgerald. Their defense is average, and, well, you get the picture.
4 SAN FRANCISCO – predicted record: 6-10
Let’s see, you all but ship out your coach who has brought the team back from the depths of mediocrity and lose a ton of talent from a defense that underachieved last season. You have an unpredictable quarterback with an over-the-hill No. 1 receiver and an unproven running back. Need I say more?
AFC SOUTH
1 INDIANAPOLIS – predicted record: 12-4 (top seed)
With more weapons on offense and an emerging superstar at quarterback in Andrew Luck, this could certainly be the year the Colts jump from a team on the cusp to a Super Bowl participant. I still think they’re one year away, as their former quarterback has one last moment of shining glory, but Luck most definitely could steal the spotlight.
2 HOUSTON – predicted record: 7-9
Already in a tough spot on offense with the lack of an above-average quarterback, the Texans could be without elite running back Arian Foster for a quarter of the season or more. Their defense is excellent, but it can’t win by itself.
3 JACKSONVILLE – predicted record: 5-11
Finally, it seems as if the Jaguars are moving in the right direction, as they get some of their youngsters a bit more experience. However, losing the No. 3 overall pick in the draft (Dante Fowler) doesn’t exactly foreshadow moments of greatness are on the immediate horizon.
4 TENNESSEE – predicted record: 4-12
No running game, no passing game and a bad defense. Not exactly a great situation for a rookie quarterback who has the potential to be an outstanding player some day. That day isn’t now.
AFC NORTH
1 PITTSBURGH – predicted record: 10-6 (fourth seed)
Who says they’re a team in turmoil headed south? Turmoil, shmurmoil. Although the Steelers are far removed from anything that resembles a steel curtain, they know how to put points on the board. And whether you win 35-31 or 17-13, a win is a win. They should have enough to take the division.
2 BALTIMORE – predicted record: 10-6 (sixth seed)
Although it’s hard to bet against a John Harbaugh-coached team with his gritty quarterback, there just isn’t enough on offense to think the Ravens will be a championship contender. Still, their defense will be enough for another playoff run.
3 CINCINNATI – predicted record: 8-8
For a team facing consistency issues, a tough schedule in the first half might just put the Bengals in a precarious spot. To once again be a serious competitor in this tough division, they’ll have to figure out a way to get more out of their defense that has steadily declined as of late.
4 CLEVELAND – predicted record: 6-10
With 21 interceptions last season, the Browns defense knows how to stop their opponents’ passing game. But they don’t fare as well against the run. That, and their stagnant offense is a recipe for remaining in the cellar.
AFC EAST
1 NEW ENGLAND – predicted record: 11-5 (third seed)
Tom Brady is out for four games (as I write this, anyway), and there seems to be nothing but disdain for this Super Bowl champion. Just the way they like it. With a stretch in the middle of the season that screams five-game winning streak, the Patriots will cook up enough momentum before back-to-back games against Denver and Philadelphia after Thanksgiving.
2 MIAMI DOLPHINS – predicted record: 10-6 (fifth seed)
After opening the season by defeating New England and winning four of five games during a stretch last season, it appeared the young Dolphins were ready to make a move. But they stuttered a bit and lost four of their last six. This could be the year they give the Patriots a run, having beaten them two out of their last three meetings (after a seven-game losing streak against them).
3 BUFFALO – predicted record: 8-8
Having just named Tyrod Taylor (who?) as starting quarterback, that surely is enough to make everyone think the Bills are ready for greatness. Along with that, there’s new coach Rex Ryan who did so many wonderful things in his last job. Not.
4 NEW YORK – predicted record: 3-13
When I think of this team, all I can think is “the poor Jets.” Patriots and Dolphins fans probably don’t think that, but they should be happy when it’s their turn to play them.
AFC WEST
1 DENVER – predicted record: 12-4 (second seed)
Is this the last hurrah for the almighty Peyton? Maybe, maybe not, but besides the fact he has plenty of weapons, he also is able to enjoy watching a formidable defense to back him up. It will be interesting to see how Manning and new coach Gary Kubiak get along, but it could be the combination that spurs Denver to its first Super Bowl title in almost 20 years.
2 OAKLAND – predicted record: 9-7
What? The Raiders? What? With Jack Del Rio in charge now and some young, scary talent on offense, there’s almost no question this will be one of the most improved teams in the NFL. And with a division that is down everywhere except the top, Oakland could be the biggest surprise of the season.
3 KANSAS CITY – predicted record: 8-8
Despite having one of the top running backs in the game in Jamaal Charles, there just isn’t anything else on offense that puts a scare into opponents. Defensively, they’re good, but they’re one of the worst when it comes to takeaways. Ho, hum.
4 SAN DIEGO – predicted record: 6-10
Even though he has a new contract in hand, quarterback Philip Rivers saw his completion percentage and yardage total go down and his interceptions go way up. Adding rookie running back Melvin Gordon will be a major boost, but other than he and Keenan Allen, there aren’t enough weapons to make the Chargers a contender.
PLAYOFFS
NFC
Wild-card round: Green Bay over Minnesota; Seattle over Atlanta
Divisional round: Philadelphia over Green Bay; Seattle over St. Louis
NFC championship: Philadelphia over Seattle
AFC
Wild-card round: New England over Baltimore; Pittsburgh over Miami
Divisional round: Indianapolis over Pittsburgh; Denver over New England
AFC championship: Denver over Indianapolis
SUPER BOWL 50
Denver over Philadelphia
*****************
Jim Derry can be reached at [email protected] or 504.232.9944. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JimDerryJr.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
