2019 NFL Season Predictions: AFC Edition
It’s been a long offseason and now we’re finally getting back to football! Just like last year I’ll be analyzing how I think all 32 teams will be doing this season. And I’ll be predicting the playoffs as well. Just a warning don’t expect this to be accurate at all. Last year I predicted the Jaguars and Vikings in the Super Bowl 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 (no I’m not kidding) neither of those teams made the playoffs. I’ll start by stating the team’s record as well as some reasons why I think they will have that record. In fact I’ll even take things a step further and show their schedule. (Yeah I’m also predicting all 256 regular season games.) here’s hoping I get over 128 right. 🤞🏻 Let’s start in the AFC EastNew England Patriots 11-5
Vs Pittsburgh ✅
@Miami✅
Vs NYJ✅
@Buffalo✅
@Washington✅
Vs NYG✅
@ NYJ✅
Vs Cleveland ❌
@ Baltimore ❌
BYE
@ Philadelphia ❌
Vs Dallas ❌
@ Houston ✅
Vs KC❌
@ Cincinnati ✅
Vs Buffalo ✅
Vs Miami ✅
As much as I hate to say it we cannot count the Patriots out until somebody in the AFC steps up and proves otherwise. This was a team that was supposed to be dead last year and instead they win Super Bowl #6. Gronk did retire so there will be a massive void in their offense however they have an underrated defense and guys on offense like Julian Edelman, Damien Harris, N’Keal Harry, Sony Michel, and Demaryius Thomas. Guys who are either veterans or younger players who have potential. As always they play in an absolute cakewalk of a division. Expect to see these guys in the playoffs again and possibly with a bye. I can’t see them with less than 10 wins or more than 13 wins. They do have a tough mid season stretch but with an easy first 7 weeks it’s very likely we could see them 7-0 and then struggle and still finish 12-4.
Buffalo Bills 8-8
@NYJ ✅
@ NYG ✅
Vs Cincinnati ✅
Vs New England ❌
@ Tennessee ❌
BYE
Vs Miami ✅
Vs Philadelphia ❌
Vs Washington ❌
@ Cleveland ✅
@ Miami✅
Vs Denver ❌
@ Dallas ✅
Vs Baltimore ❌
@ Pittsburgh ✅
@ New England ❌
Vs NYJ ❌
Buffalo is a team that I really don’t know what to think. It all kinda depends on how Josh Allen does. They did get Ed Oliver in the draft so I expect their defense to be a top 5 unit in the league after steadily improving last year. The thing about this team is consistency. How consistent can Josh Allen be? Last year it seemed like they were horrible until showing flashes of potential late in the season. I can’t see them making the playoffs unless they just happen to get lucky and steal a win against Baltimore, Philadelphia,New England or Dallas and don’t blow a game to a team like the Jets. That’s going to be the difference between a 6-10 season and a 10-6 season. To me they could go either way
New York Jets 5-11
Vs Buffalo ❌
Vs Cleveland ❌
@ New England ❌
BYE
@ Philadelphia ✅
Vs Dallas ❌
Vs New England ❌
@ Jacksonville ✅
@ Miami ❌
Vs NYG ❌
@ Washington ❌
Vs Oakland ❌
@ Cincinnati ✅
Vs Miami ✅
@ Baltimore ❌
Vs Pittsburgh ❌
@ Buffalo ✅
The Jets have potential but I don’t know if I can trust Sam Darnold. Even with Le’Veon Bell I don’t think it will be enough for playoffs. I feel like Darnold has potential but he needs to develop. Even with a new coach in Adam Gase I’m not buying this team. This guy didn’t really prove himself in Miami and now I think they will Likely still struggle. They have a brutal first half of their season. Honestly I think the first game of the year against Buffalo will really set the tone for their season. I could also see them getting better as the season progresses but anything above 8-8 is being really optimistic.
Miami Dolphins: 2-14
Vs Baltimore ❌
Vs New England ❌
@ Dallas ❌
Vs LAC ❌
BYE
Vs Washington ❌
@ Buffalo ❌
@ Pittsburgh ❌
Vs NYJ ✅
@ Indianapolis❌
Vs Buffalo ❌
@ Cleveland ❌
Vs Philadelphia ❌
@ NYJ ❌
@ NYG ❌
Vs Cincinnati ✅
@ New England ❌
The Dolphins are tanking there’s no denying it. When you have a battle between Josh Rosen who could be okay and Ryan Fitzpatrick you know you’re not gonna be good. This is at best a 5 win team but even that’s pushing it. They will not join the 0-16 club but they will be borderline close. They have 7 games against playoff teams from a year ago and about 4 others against teams who just missed. When you’re as talent deprived as the Dolphins are tanking isn’t a bad idea ever if it is a long season. #TankforTua right?
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AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
@ LAC ❌
@ Tennessee ✅
Vs Atlanta ✅
Vs Oakland ✅
@ KC ✅
BYE
Vs Houston ✅
Vs Denver ✅
@ Pittsburgh ❌
Vs Miami ✅
Vs Jacksonville ✅
@ Houston ❌
Vs Tennessee ❌
@ Tampa Bay ✅
@ New Orleans ❌
Vs Carolina ✅
@ Jacksonville ✅
The Colts look to be the favorites to win this division and rightfully so. Indy has completely reformed with Andrew Luck back and weapons on offense including TY Hilton, Parris Campbell, and Devin Funchess. The Colts also have a decent O line that looks to be even better. All in all I expect Indy to finish around 11-5. They won’t just be the class of the division but potentially the AFC in general
Houston Texans 9-7
@ New Orleans ❌
Vs Jacksonville ✅
@ LAC ❌
Vs Carolina ✅
Vs Atlanta ❌
@ KC❌
@ Indy❌
Vs Oakland ✅
@ Jacksonville ✅
BYE
@ Baltimore ✅
Vs Indy ✅
Vs New England ❌
Vs Denver ❌
@ Tennessee ✅
@ Tampa Bay ✅
Vs Tennessee ✅
Houston looks to rebound after losing in the Wild card game to Indianapolis. Despite winning the division. Repeating as division champions will be no easy task. Deshaun Watson is a decent quarterback but he needs better protection. I cannot see them making the playoffs until they fix their O line which gave up the most sacks. They cannot afford to have Watson go down with another injury as we all saw what happened to this team without him. They filled the void of Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson with Tashaun Gipson and Bradley Roby and they still have JJ Watt but in my opinion they need more. Especially at O line
Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9
Vs KC ❌
@ Houston ❌
Vs Tennessee ✅
@ Denver ✅
@ Carolina ❌
Vs New Orleans ❌
@ Cincinnati ✅
Vs NYJ❌
Vs Houston ❌
BYE
@ Indianapolis❌
@ Tennessee ❌
Vs Tampa Bay ✅
Vs LAC✅
@ Oakland ✅
@ Atlanta✅
Vs Indianapolis ❌
Well we’ll find out how well Big D*ck Nick Foles works out for the Jaguars real quick. Right off the bat they have KC and Houston. They’ll play a game in London against Houston right before their bye week which could really set the tone for the second half of the schedule which is a bit more manageable. I expect them to have a top 10 defense once again yet it all depends on how well the offense does.
Tennessee Titans 6-10
@ Cleveland ❌
Vs Indianapolis ❌
@ Jacksonville ❌
@ Atlanta❌
Vs Buffalo ✅
@ Denver ✅
Vs LAC❌
Vs Tampa Bay ✅
@ Carolina ✅
Vs KC❌
BYE
Vs Jacksonville ✅
@ Indianapolis ✅
@ Oakland ❌
Vs Houston ❌
Vs New Orleans ❌
@ Houston ❌
The Titans are a team that is really tough to get a good gauge of. They have potential but only in bursts. This team is too inconsistent for my liking. At least they have better backup Incase Marcus Mariota goes Down again but at this point if he does go down and they go with Ryan Tannehill do they move on from him? I don’t know but really this is a team that could go 5-11 or 11-5. I always have a tough time on where they should go. They’re good enough to beat teams like Cleveland, Oakland, Houston. But could also fall flat against teams like Buffalo, Denver, or Jacksonville
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AFC North
Baltimore Ravens 11-5
@ Miami ✅
Vs Arizona ✅
@ KC ✅
Vs Cleveland ❌
@ Pittsburgh ✅
Vs Cincinnati ✅
@ Seattle❌
BYE
Vs New England ✅
@ Cincinnati ✅
Vs Houston❌
@ LAR❌
Vs San Francisco✅
@ Buffalo ✅
Vs NYJ ✅
@ Cleveland✅
Vs Pittsburgh❌
The Ravens fate will fall on the shoulders of Lamar Jackson. The Ravens won the division after a 4-5 Start but getting back to the playoff promised land won’t be easy especially when they have tough games against Pittsburgh, Cleveland, KC, New England, and LA. I could see them finishing anywhere between 7-12 wins.
Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
@ New England ❌
Vs Seattle❌
@ San Francisco ✅
Vs Cincinnati ✅
Vs Baltimore ❌
@ LAC ❌
BYE
Vs Miami✅
Vs Indianapolis ✅
Vs LAR ❌
@ Cleveland✅
@ Cincinnati ✅
Vs Cleveland ❌
@ Arizona ✅
Vs Buffalo ❌
@NYJ✅
@ Baltimore ✅
After the toxic situation with Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown the Steelers are left to deal with the nuclear fallout. They must learn to adapt to life without their two big playmakers on offense. Granted there is still talent here with Ben Roethlisberger, Juju Smith- Schuster , and James Connor. However inside linebacker and cornerback are potentially areas of concern on the defense and overall I just don’t see them as a playoff team
Cleveland Browns: 10-6
Vs Tennessee✅
Vs NYJ✅
Vs LAR❌
@ Baltimore ✅
@ San Francisco ✅
Vs Seattle❌
BYE
@ New England ✅
@ Denver ✅
Vs Buffalo ❌
Vs Pittsburgh❌
Vs Miami ✅
@ Pittsburgh ✅
Vs Cincinnati ❌
@ Arizona✅
Vs Baltimore ❌
@ Cincinnati ✅
After going 7-8-1 last year the Browns made some big time off season moves most notably bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. Baker Mayfield lit up the NFL world last year and the hype surrounding this team is real. The schedule has a fair share of winnable games and chances to prove themselves. This is the year playoffs should be reality. If they fail to make the playoffs this season will be a colossal disappointment. Don’t let us down Cleveland.
Cincinnati Bengals 4-12
Vs Seattle❌
Vs San Francisco ❌
@ Buffalo ❌
@ Pittsburgh ❌
Vs Arizona ✅
@ Baltimore❌
Vs Jacksonville❌
@ LAR❌
BYE
Vs Baltimore❌
@ Oakland ✅
Vs Pittsburgh❌
Vs NJY✅
@ Cleveland✅
Vs New England❌
@ Miami❌
Vs Cleveland❌
I don’t like the Bengals to win many games at all in fact I think they will be a candidate for the first overall pick. Zac Taylor will have a tough task ahead of him AJ Green will miss some time, Andy Dalton has regressed heavily, the defense is one of the worst in the league. Who do they even have a Offense? Tyler Boyd? Joe Mixon? It’s gonna be a long year for Cincinnati. Have fun in the basement.
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AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 11-5
@ Jacksonville✅
@ Oakland✅
Vs Baltimore❌
@ Detroit✅
Vs Indianapolis ❌
Vs Houston✅
@ Denver✅
Vs Green Bay✅
Vs Minnesota ❌
@ Tennessee✅
@ LAC❌
BYE
Vs Oakland✅
@ New England ✅
Vs Denver✅
@ Chicago❌
Vs LAC✅
Last year the Chiefs were a fun team to watch on offense and with Tyreek Hill *controversially back it should be fun to watch again in 2019. The defense was atrocious last year which led to their demise in the AFC championship game. They did bring in Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu but at the cost of Dee Ford,Justin Houston and Eric Berry. Even with the defense still being a potential weakness Patrick Mahomes is still an amazing MVP caliber quarterback. Assuming the Madden Curse doesn’t hit too hard 11-5 isn’t too unreasonable.
Denver Broncos 5-11
@ Oakland ❌
Vs Chicago ❌
@ Green Bay ❌
Vs Jacksonville❌
@LAC❌
Vs Tennessee✅
Vs KC❌
@Indianapolis❌
Vs Cleveland❌
BYE
@ Minnesota ✅
@ Buffalo ✅
Vs LAC ❌
@ Houston✅
@KC❌
Vs Detroit✅
Vs Oakland❌
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Denver struggled with another quarterback so Elway had to search for yet another quarterback. This time he got Joe Flacco and picked up Drew Lock in the draft while he was at it. Denver has some talent on defense with guys like Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, and Chris Harris. as well as some guys who can make plays on offense like Emanuel Sanders, Phillip Lindsay, and potentially Noah Fant but the AFC west will be no easy division. Anything above 9 wins will be surprising. Joe Flacco might not be the answer as he was benched for rookie Lamar Jackson. Drew Lock has yet to play an NFL down. Elway might be 0-2 on Quarterbacks this year
Los Angeles Chargers 13-3
Vs Indianapolis✅
@ Detroit✅
Vs Houston ✅
@ Miami✅
Vs Denver✅
Vs Pittsburgh✅
@ Tennessee✅
@ Chicago❌
Vs Green Bay✅
@ Oakland✅
Vs KC✅
BYE
@ Denver✅
@ Jacksonville❌
Vs Minnesota✅
Vs Oakland✅
@KC❌
The Chargers have one of the most talented teams in the league. They are balanced on both sides. This might be one of their best chances to win a Super Bowl. If they’re ever gonna get a ring for Phillip Rivers this is as good as it’s gonna get. That defense is loaded. Only concern is that Melvin Gordon contract holdout. Better get that fixed fast. This team isn’t just a threat in the division but the AFC in general. Playoffs should be an expectation. Just hope they don’t run into Brady or Phillip Rivers can get a win against him for once
Oakland Raiders 5-11
Vs Denver✅
Vs KC❌
@ Minnesota❌
@ Indianapolis❌
Vs Chicago❌
BYE
@ Green Bay ❌
@ Houston❌
Vs Detroit✅
Vs LAC❌
Vs Cincinnati❌
@ NYJ✅
@KC❌
Vs Tennessee✅
Vs Jacksonville❌
@LAC❌
@ Denver✅
The Raiders made some interesting moves this offseason including bringing in Antonio Brown and Vontaze Burfict. Even with the guys they have brought in I don’t think it will be enough to make them good. If anything they will at least be a more interesting team but anything above 7 wins would be surprising.
AFC Playoff Picture :
1 Los Angeles Chargers (bye)
2 New England Patriots (bye)
3 Indianapolis Colts
4 Baltimore Ravens
5 Kansas City Chiefs (Wild Card)
6 Cleveland Browns (Wild Card)
Well that’s half the Teams done. Stay tuned for the NFC edition where I’ll also talk about the playoffs and my early Super Bowl predictions.
Until next time ✌🏻