Here we go, the long awaited start of the 2022 NFL season. The off-season for the NFL feels like an eternity, but tonight is the night it all kicks off with a potential Super Bowl preview in the Bills at the Rams.
I’m not going to go into game by game predictions, but this post is going to be my picks across the divisions for who will make the playoffs, and who will meet in the Super Bowl in Arizona in February 2023. Let’s get started with the Divisions:
NFC East
Cowboys
Eagles
Giants
Commanders
I hate the Cowboys with every fiber of my being, but I just get that feeling Dak Prescott will lead them to 10 or 11 wins which I think will be as good as the Eagles, especially with Dallas winning the tie breaker.
NFC North
Packers
Vikings
Lions
Bears
Aaron Rodgers…that’s all I really need to say to be honest. I can’t bet anything on the Vikings with a first-time head coach and Kirk Cousins at QB.
NFC South
Tampa
Saints
Panthers
Falcons
As pissed off as I was when Tom Brady came back after 40 days of retirement, he did come back, and I fully expect him to drag the Tampa Bay Bucs to the division win this year.
NFC West
Rams
49ers
Cardinals
Seahawks
The 2021 season Super Bowl winners have only gotten better this off-season. I see them leading the NFL with 12/13 wins and having a deep playoff run.
Wildcard teams will be 49ers, Eagles and Vikings.
NFC Champion – Rams
AFC East
Bills
Dolphins
Patriots
Jets
The Bills are a dangerous team. I do think the hype they are getting is a little over the top at this stage, but they have the chance to be dominant this year.
AFC North
Bengals
Ravens
Steelers
Browns
I think there will be a large gap between the top two teams and the bottom two teams in this division. I really think I am trusting Joe Burrows’ durability more than I’m trusting Lamar Jackson, and that’s why I have them leading the division.
AFC South
Colts
Titans
Jaguars
Texans
I do think the Jags are going to show some dramatic improvement this year, but that would be up to 8 wins, and I think the Titans will safely get to 9. The Colts are a very good franchise with a good QB in Matt Ryan, so they will likely lead this division.
AFC West
Chiefs
Chargers
Broncos
Raiders
This division is by far the best in football, and I think the top three teams will all make the playoffs. I like the Chiefs and Andy Reid so much though that I put them ahead of the Chargers. I fully anticipate a strong season for Mahomes.
Wildcard teams will be Dolphins, Chargers and Broncos.
AFC Champion will be the Chiefs.
Super Bowl MVP will be Patrick Mahomes after he leads the Chiefs to his second Super Bowl.
Now on to the individual awards. I’m not going to predict all of them, but these are some of the main ones:
League MVP – Josh Allen
Offensive Player of the Year – Ja’Marr Chase
Defensive Player of the Year – Nick Bosa
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Chris Olave
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Aiden Hutchinson
Coach of the Year – Doug Peterson
Comeback Player of the Year – Saquon Barkley
There we have it, a long list of predictions. Let’s see how they pan out. Enjoy the 2022 season everybody, and Giants fans, prepare for more disappointment.