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David Banks / Associated Press
It is often said that the NFL has no off-season. Everything and everything is an event. Scouting and the NFL draft have become multi-day media extravagances that attract thousands of fans and millions of eyes on television.
Even the release of the NFL program has become a television special in prime time. And Wednesday night, this schedule has dropped.
We already knew the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears would start the 100th NFL season at Soldier Field. But now we know a lot more.
We know that the first Sunday night affair will feature some old friends who can not stand because the Super Bowl champion, the New England Patriots, welcomes the Pittsburgh Steelers
We know the 50th season of Monday night football will almost start as the first. The Cleveland Browns travel to New York to face the Jets in the second week, following the MNF's first game.
And we know that the NFL will host a match in Mexico after last year 's attempt. The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers will face off in a clash between AFC West and Estadio Azteca on Nov. 18.
There is still a lot of off-season time, including the NFL draft in 2019, the OTAs and the training camp. A ton will change from here to this opening season in the windy city.
But that does not mean we can not anticipate the 2019 records of the 32 NFL teams, now that we know the clashes, the lanes and the exits.
No dead season, indeed.
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Steven Senne / Associated Press
Buffalo Bills
The good news for the Buffalo Bills after a pleasantly surprising 6-10 season and a dead season that allowed them to perfect smugglers' weapons in quarterback Josh Allen, is that the schedule features a number of games that can be won – two tilts against the modest Miami Dolphins, a trip to face the New York Giants and a home game with the Denver Broncos.
The bad news is that the Bills are still playing in the East AFC, which means two games with the ten-time defending division champions in New England. Add to that home games with the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as trips to Pittsburgh and Dallas. Any improvement in the Bills experience will likely be modest at best.
Prediction: 6-10
Miami dolphins
Let's be honest: it'll be a long season in South Florida.
Depending on your requests, this could be the plan: take off in 2019 in the hope of getting a high choice (and the accompanying quarterback). That does not mean that the Dolphins will not win a game here and there – say a home game against the Bills or the Jets or maybe a trip of the fifteenth week to face the Giants of New York. But they play seven games against last year's playoff teams and several others against teams that just missed out on.
The Dolphins can not join the 2008 Lions and the 2017 Browns in the annals of infamy from 0 to 16, but this club, which lacks talent, will be at the top of the pack for the # 1 choice in 2020 .
Prediction: 3-13
Patriots of New England
Some constants of life are inevitable. We all have to pay taxes. Finally, we will all sadly get rid of our deadly coils. And the New England Patriots will win the AFC East. Again.
The Patriots set a schedule in first place including home games with Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Dallas and a rematch for the AFC Championship of Week 14 with the Chiefs at Foxborough, as well as trips to Baltimore, Houston and Philadelphia. But with six games against AFC East and the second-easiest NFL schedule in 2019, the Patriots are not only going to win the division, but should be at the heart of the combination for home advantage at home. AFC playoffs.
Prediction: 12-4
New York Jets
The New York Jets are starting again. After finishing last in the East AFC at 4-12, the Jets replaced Todd Bowles, defensively, by Adam Gase, in the offensive mind, at the head of the head coach. It will be up to Gase to make the most of second-year quarterback Sam Darnold. Danold has new toys to play with halfback goalkeeper The Vein Bell and wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
But the defense of new coordinator Gregg Williams remains a major question mark, and the Jets play five games against playoff teams in 2018 and four against clubs with double-digit wins. The game of week 2 against the Browns rising Monday night and the trip against the Pats in Week 3 could set the tone for the entire New York season.
Prediction: 5-11
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Michael Ainsworth / Associate Press
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys bounced back from a 3 to 5 win last year to win the NFC East, posting a 7-2 record after spring break and wide receiver Amari Cooper integration. The Cowboys suffered no major losses in free attack and Demarcus Lawrence was relaunched in the long run.
However, the Cowboys' impressive 8-2 mark in games decided at seven points or less last year will be difficult to replicate in 2019. In addition, Dallas will face a number of legitimate contenders at the Super Bowl over the weekend. the last part of the regular season, the Rams. At home in the 15th week, the Bears on the road at the 14th week and the Patriots on the road at the 12th week.
Prediction: 9-7
New York Giants
The Giants are as misplaced as the franchise recently, and they will only get worse.
A year after placing second in the standings, Eli Manning thinks the team will write one this year. But more and more draftniks have reason to doubt that it will be at No. 6. The team has a young Transcendental U-side at Saquon Barkley, but Odell Beckham Jr. is gone, Manning is exhausted and the defense is a burning mess. If there is a plan in New York, it is almost impossible to discern. It's a bad football team – the worst of the division and probably the worst of the NFL.
Starting with defending champions NFC East in Dallas, Big Blue suffers 16 weeks of misery.
Prediction: 4-12
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have won a playoff game in the last two seasons – they won a little more than that two years ago – but this post-season success came with Nick Foles in the middle. When the Eagles open the season against the Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field, Carson Wentz will rise to the occasion.
If Wentz can stay healthy, the Eagles could be favorites for the NFC East. Philly is arguably the most balanced and experienced team in the division. But if he can not, the team is in trouble. He does not beat the Cowboys (twice), the Bears, the Patriots and the Seahawks at home, nor the Packers on the road without him.
And so begins Wentz Watch 2019, sponsored by Aspercreme.
Prediction: 11-5
Washington Redskins
Since the beginning of November, when quarterback Alex Smith has fallen to the ground against the Houston Texans, the Redskins have been moved. At least they managed to get a short-term Plan B by acquiring Case Keenum, but they moved fairly quickly from first place before the injury to the status of something else, with flagrant holes on both sides of the ball .
Playing in a division with a pair of legitimate contenders in the playoffs, and with opponents out of the division that include trips to Green Bay and Minnesota and a home game against the Super Bowl champions in the fifth week, these Redskins will have a hard time matching the last game. seven wins of the year.
Prediction: 6-10
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Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press
Ravens of Baltimore
After starting the 2018 4-5 season, the Ravens cashed rookie Lamar Jackson at quarterback, eliminated six wins in their last seven games and won AFC North. However, Baltimore's time in the playoffs has been short-lived and it will not be easy to go back.
In addition to two games against the Steelers and Browns, the Ravens will face five teams that have qualified for the playoffs in 2018, including the defending NFC champion, the Los Angeles Rams, on the road. The Ravens will be the host of the New England Patriots (Week 9) and Houston Texans (week 11) and move to face the Kansas City Chiefs (week 3), the Seattle Seahawks (week 7) and Rams (Week 12). It's a pretty daunting slate.
Prediction: 9-7
Bengals of Cincinnati
For the first time since 2003, the Bengals will enter the field with another coach than Marvin Lewis. New chef Zac Taylor will have his hands full during the 6-10 campaign last year.
While the Bengals have such talents as tailback Joe Mixon and wideouts AJ Green and Tyler Boyd, the O line was brittle in 2018. Meanwhile, the defense has ranked last in the NFL with 413 , 6 yards allowed per game.
This leaking defensive will be tested several times this year, as the Bengals will face the two teams in the Super Bowl last year. They will visit the Rams in the eighth week and welcome the Patriots in the fifteenth week.
Prediction: 6-10
Cleveland Browns
After being led 7-8-1 last year, the Browns made many moves in the off season.–including the addition of Odell Beckham Jr.–and enter the year as Vegas's favorite to win the AFC North. Cleveland fans will have at least four opportunities to watch the Browns in prime time, including consecutive weeks against the Jets (Week 2) and Rams (Week 2).
The Browns have a lot of talent on paper and their program is not in the top 20. But the games are not won on paper, and the overhaul of the Cleveland offseason will create immediate pressure.
Prediction: 10-6
Pittsburgh Steelers
After missing the playoffs for the first time in five years in 2018, the Steelers had a difficult season. The & # 39; Veon Bell left in free agency to sign with the New York Jets. Pittsburgh traded star receiver Antonio Brown to Oakland. And the linebacker and the inner cornerback remain potential problem areas in defense.
The planners did not do a lot of things to the Steelers either. Starting with a game against the Patriots in the first week, the Steelers have played seven games against qualifying playoff teams in 2018. Although Pittsburgh has a talented offensive barred by a future Hall of Fame member at Ben Roethlisberger, will not be a playoff team.
Prediction: 8-8
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Mike Roemer / Associate Press
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have won 12 games and North of the NFC in 2018, but their Super Bowl hopes were disappointed by a double-header kick in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. The kickoff can remain the biggest problem the team faces today. The loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was a blow, but in terms of key personnel, this team from Bears and the group last year are similar.
It will not be long before these bears are tested either. For the second year in a row, they will open the season against their most hated rivals (and the division's biggest threat) when they welcome the Packers on the first day of the season on Thursday night to launch the 100th NFL season. Then comes the pretty tough slate that includes three of the four teams that qualified for the conference league matches in 2018.
Prediction: 10-6
Detroit Lions
The first season of the Matt Patricia era in Detroit did not go as planned. Lions have a 6-10 record, which is their worst ever record from 4-12 in 2012. They are not expected to improve much in 2019. Lions have spent a lot of time on scorer Trey Flowers in attack, but they remain an imperfect team in attack and defense.
Detroit also earned a home slate final this year, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers in the second week. In addition to this confrontation with the Bolts, the Lions will also face two other teams Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4) and Dallas Cowboys (Week 11).
Prediction: 6-10
Green Bay Packers
It's a new day in Titletown. Mike McCarthy is the head coach, replaced by Matt LaFleur for the first time. The frugality of Ted Thompson's free agents has given way to Brian Gutekunst's free means of spending.
One thing, however, remained the same: the presence of Aaron Rodgers at the quarterback.
To bring Green Bay back to the playoffs, Rodgers will need a good start as the team opens the 2019 season on the road against the Bears. This is not the only tough Packers game in front of Lambeau Field. They will face three other playoff teams in 2018, including a trip Sunday night to Arrowhead in the eighth week to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. This should be quite the quarterback duel.
Prediction: 10-6
Minnesota Vikings
No team is under more pressure to improve than the Vikings, who participated in the Super Bowl in 2018 and finished the season with a record of 8-7-1. This improvement will not be particularly easy to find.
The Vikings are ranked 10th in terms of timing, with six competitions against teams that have won 10 or more games in 2018 and seven against teams that played in the playoffs. This includes trips to Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle, as well as two games against a Packers team that should be better this season.
Prediction: 9-7
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Eric Christian Smith / Associated Press
Houston Texans
The Texans won AFC South last year, but it will not be easy to repeat that feat. Houston tackled the loss of Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson by signing Tashaun Gipson and Bradley Roby, but did not significantly improve an offensive line that allowed 62 sacks of 1 in 2018.
Houston also has an ambitious schedule in 2019. Half of its games on the road are against last year's playoff teams, New Orleans Saints in Week 1 and Ravens in 11th. week.
Prediction: 9-7
Colts of Indianapolis
After becoming the third team in the history of the NFL to qualify for the playoffs after a 1 to 5 start of the game, the Colts went into the freestyle with over $ 100 million worth of cash. 39, salary space. However, they did not go to spend money. Indianapolis has signed short-term contracts with Justin Houston and receiver Devin Funchess, two outstanding players.
Again, the Colts do not have a lot of holes, so they do not need to do that much.
The time of 2019 did no favor to Indy. The list of players outside the division is heavy for road games against the 2018 series teams such as Saints, Chargers and Chiefs and also includes a trip to Pittsburgh during week 9. But on paper The Colts still look like the class of this division.
Prediction: 10-6
Jacksonville Jaguars
When the Jaguars open the season at home against top Kansas City leaders, they will do it with a new quarterback under center, after signing with Nick Foles this deal for the off season for a $ 88 million deal. It is up to Foles to take quick action after the 5-11 facial transplant last year.
This facial plant, however, brings a glimmer of hope: an arrival in last position means a last place calendar.
The Jaguars do not play a game outside the division against a team that had a winning record in 2018. A match in London on Nov. 3 against the Texans is a treat for the second half of Jacksonville.
Prediction: 8-8
Tennessee Titans
The Titans were in contention for a playoff spot until the 17th week of last year, but the 2019 season should be even tougher for Mike Vrabel's team.
Tennessee has better insurance against an injury to Marcus Mariota with the arrival of Ryan Tannehill, but also the possibility of controversy at the quarterback. There is also a significant question mark on the board after the retirement of Brian Orakpo and the departure of Derrick Morgan, although the arrival of veteran Cameron Wake should help.
In a tight division, the Titans will not have much margin of error. This is putting pressure on a home team that includes five games against teams that played in the playoffs in 2018.
Prediction: 7-9
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Butch Dill / Associated Press
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are a team in decline recently. After taking a 28-3 lead in the 2016 Super Bowl LI, the Falcons lost in the divisional round in 2017 and then missed the playoffs in a disappointing 2018 season. This upset the coaching staff in Atlanta: Dirk Koetter joined the team as offensive coordinator and head coach Dan Quinn took over the duties of DC.
The Atlanta home calendar in 2019 includes tough matches. In addition to their division opponents, the Falcons also host the Rams, Eagles and Seahawks at the Mercedes-Benz stadium. But trips to New Orleans, Indianapolis and Houston are the only Atlanta competitions against the 2018 series teams outside the state of Georgia.
Prediction: 8-8
Carolina Panthers
An off-season scenario dominated the conversation around the Carolina Panthers – and that has nothing to do with their schedule. After a shoulder injury that limited quarterback Cam Newton in the stretch last year, the most valuable former NFL player was operated on in January. To be honest, reports on Newton's recovery are mostly positive, but you'll have to apologize to the fans if they're a bit worried considering what the Colts experienced with Andrew Luck in 2017.
This prediction will make me toast by Panthers fans, and in all honesty, if 100% of Newton for Week 1, it's entirely possible that they can reverse the scenario and compete for a place in the playoffs. playoffs. But if Newton misses a little time in 2019, the Panthers are on their own.
Prediction: 7-9
Saints of New Orleans
After one of the most traumatic moments of the season that you will see in the NFL (a change that also resulted in a major change in the rules), the New Orleans Saints are back and seem ready for a new playoff race. On paper, the Saints are one of the most complete teams in the league. However, the level of concern raises some concerns, including the loss of Drew Brees at the end of the season last year and the loss of attacking midfielder Mark Ingram.
The success of last year's regular season also provided the Saints with some great divisionless games, including a home switch with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and a rematch for the NFC title in the second week. in Los Angeles. The Saints are still in the class of their division. they could take a small step back in 2019.
Prediction: 11-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In some respects, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were better than their 5-11 record in 2017; more than half of their games were decided by one touchdown or less. And while the Buccaneers were 3-6 in tight games under Dirk Koetter a year ago, Bill Barnwell (ESPN), new head coach Bruce Arians was 29-12-1 in such competitions while he was running the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals.
But the same problems as the Bucs last year are still there. Jameis Winston remains an extremely inconsistent quarterback, and a bad defense could actually be worse now without Kwon Alexander. Add to that a body of receivers that has lost more than it has won, and Tampa will again look like a fourth place in 2019.
Prediction: 6-10
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Ed Zurga / Associated Press
Denver Broncos
Stop me if you've ever heard this story: After a disappointing six-game win, Denver's Broncos General Manager, John Elway, gave the offensive to a quarter veteran in hopes of bringing back the Team to respectability. The problem with this story is that Joe Flacco is not a substantial improvement over Case Keenum and that the Broncos remain stuck in the same rut – not a terrible team, but that can not be taken seriously as a contender in the playoffs.
The Broncos are not going to be an easy game for their opponents in 2019, but with the league's second toughest schedule and seven games against teams of 10 wins in 2018, the Broncos season announces a bit like the last one and the one before.
Prediction: 6-10
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs were extremely entertaining to watch in 2018 – an extremely prolific offensive team led by a young magic quarterback to Patrick Mahomes. But even if the Chiefs were offensive, they were just as ugly in defense, and that defense ended up making the team defeat in the AFC championship game.
This defense (hard to believe) could be even worse in 2019 without its two best strikers in a year and the dark future of Tyrec Hill, wide receiver, remains a dark cloud above the organization. The Chiefs are going to be at the heart of the AFC West race this year, but the team seems a good bet to go back a bit on the 12 victories of last year. The Kansas City encounter on Nov. 18 in Mexico against the Chargers is one of the most important deals of the season in prime time.
Prediction: 11-5
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were the best NFL team no one knew in 2018, largely because the team played their home games in front of 17 people at Dignity Health Sports Center. This includes stadium employees, for what it's worth. However, after winning 12 regular season and one playoff games last year, the Bolts enter 2019 with a much higher profile and schedule that prepares the team for another successful year.
The Chargers are Africa's only African team in Africa to have a tight schedule outside the top 15, and only one LA match against 2018 qualifying teams is on the road (one match of the week 8 facing Chicago). With the division's most balanced lineup, the Chargers are ready to conquer not only West Africa, but also to compete for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Prediction: 12-4
Oakland Raiders
For much of the 2018 season, the Oakland Raiders looked like the worst team in the NFL. But they won their victories on Denver and Pittsburgh in December to save a season of four wins. The team's reward for that and an aggressive off-season that included an exchange against star receiver Antonio Brown and three first-round picks in the next draft?
The toughest program of the NFL, based on the 2018 records of the opponents. Nearly half of Oakland's games are against teams that have both played in the playoffs and won at least 10 games last year, including home-less Bears at the Bears (Week 5) and road trips. Houston (week 8) and Indianapolis (week 4). ). The Raiders will be better in 2019, but do not expect a big gain in wins.
Prediction: 5-11
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Alex Gallardo / Associated Press
Arizona Cardinals
If there is a team in the NFL who is best placed to position themselves between the Miami Dolphins and their collision course with the top pick in 2020, that is the team with the choice Number 1 in 2019. After a disastrous season of three wins, head coach Steve Wilks has had the door open in favor of Kliff Kingsbury, who has lost more than half of his matches against Texas Tech last year.
There are more and more rumors that the Cardinals will play the same way with quarterback Josh Rosen after a season in favor of Kyler Murray's selection of Oklahoma with this first choice. Murray is an intriguing and incredibly talented prospect in athletics, but when he finds himself in the Valley of the Sun, he will discover the hard way something that Rosen already knows: there is not much in his composition.
Prediction: 4-12
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have won 13 games and the NFC Championship game last year, but all of it is not sunny in La La Land for the off season. The last time we saw the Rams in action, the New England Patriots presented a detailed plan on how to end LA's offensive.The fragile knee of Todd Gurley became a subject of major concern for the team. And the Rams' oldest goalie, guard Rodger Saffold, was one of the many off-season starts.
The calendar has helped the team at least a little. In addition to the two Seahawks clashes, the Rams will face four more playoff teams in 2018 this season, including three at home. This sets up a 15th week trip to Dallas for a playoff matchup with the Cowboys, which could have significant consequences.
Prediction: 10-6
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have entered the 2018 season as one of the most excited teams in the NFL. They put an end to their fires in a dumpster 4 to 12, thanks to a series of injuries so complete and devastating that it could have been caused by an ancient Egyptian curse. Players like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and back-half Jerick McKinnon are now healthy (or on the road to success), and general manager John Lynch was aggressive again, adding linebacker Kwon Alexander's talent.
While these players can stay healthy, the 49ers are one of the best bettors to surpass expectations in 2019. A September list including three games against teams that missed the playoffs in 2018, followed by a spend the fourth week, will determine if this bet has any chance of paying.
Prediction: 8-8
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were a pleasant surprise in 2018, returning to the playoffs after an absence of one year. And in defensive play Frank Clark and making quarterback Russell Wilson the highest paid player in the NFL, Seattle spent a lot of money making sure his team would not lose any significant contributor to this playoff team.
Seattle's two games against the Rams will undoubtedly be important matches. The Seahawks will play three more games against playoff teams in 2018. But two of those games are at home and only four of Seattle's games in 2019 are against winning clubs, including the two games played with Rams in the weeks 5 and 14.
Prediction: 10-6
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