2021 NFL Predictions
AFC East
Buffalo Bills 12-5 *
New England Patriots 11-6 *
Miami Dolphins 9-8
New York Jets 4-13
Mac Jones and a much improved roster leads the Patriots back to the playoffs but the Bills are still the class of the AFC East, for now.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns 12-5 *
Baltimore Ravens 10-7 *
Pittsburgh Steelers 9-8
Cincinnati Bengals 5-12
Ravens injuries have made the Browns the clear cut favorite in this division. I still have the Ravens making the playoffs but they could easily be this year’s biggest disappointment and miss the playoffs.
AFC South
Tennessee Titans 13-4 *
Indianapolis Colts 10-7
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-12
Houston Texans 2-15
Titans got better on offense, Derrick Henry might be the best player in the NFL and while they have some deficiencies on defense, they’re improving. I don’t trust the QB in Indy but other than that they have a good roster across the board.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 12-5 *
Los Angeles Chargers 11-6 *
Las Vegas Raiders 8-9
Denver Broncos 6-11
Kansas City will take a step back this year, Super Bowl losers usually do but the Chargers aren’t quite ready to take over the division, yet.
AFC Playoffs
Titans
Bills
Browns
Chiefs
Patriots
Chargers
Ravens
AFC Wildcard Playoffs
Bills over Ravens
Browns over Chargers
Chiefs over Patriots
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Titans over Chiefs
Bills over Browns
AFC Championship
Titans over Bills
Chiefs will not be heading to their 4th straight AFC championship game. Titans put it all together, host throughout the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys 10-7 *
New York Giants 9-8 *
Washington Football Team 8-9
Philadelphia Eagles 7-10
I could make a case for every team in the NFC East to win the division but with Dak back and presumably healthy, the Cowboys are the class of this division.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 13-4 *
Minnesota Vikings 10-7 *
Chicago Bears 8-9
Detroit Lions 3-14
Packers have won 13 games each of the last two seasons and they will do it again. Now, can they finally win in the playoffs?
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12-5 *
Carolina Panthers 9-8
Atlanta Falcons 8-9
New Orleans Saints 7-10
Tampa Bay will struggle at times in the regular season, just like last season but will ultimately still make the playoffs.
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams 14-3 *
San Francisco 49ers 12-5 *
Seattle Seahawks 10-7
Arizona Cardinals 8-9
Rams might be the best team in the NFL on paper. How Matthew Stafford plays will determine how great the Rams can be, they will cruise in this division. 49ers are healthy and will be back in the playoffs.
NFC Playoffs
Rams
Packers
Buccaneers
Cowboys
49ers
Vikings
Giants
NFC Wildcard Playoffs
Packers over Giants
Buccaneers over Vikings
49ers over Cowboys
NFC Divisional Playoffs
Rams over 49ers
Packers over Buccaneers
NFC Championship
Rams over Packers
It’s hard repeating in the NFL and the Buccaneers will find that out this year, Packers get revenge. Rams vs. 49ers playoff game could be the game of the year. Packers once again come up short in the NFC Championship game, this time to the Rams.
Super Bowl LVI
Los Angeles Rams 31 over Tennessee Titans 20
Super Bowl MVP: Matthew Stafford
A rematch of Super Bowl XXXIV. For the second year in a row, the NFC Super Bowl representative will be playing in their home stadium and once again the home team will hoist the Lombardi trophy.
Season Awards:
MVP: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee
OPOY: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles
DPOY: Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland
OROY: Mac Jones, QB, New England
DROY: Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas
CPOY: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina
COY: Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers