Earlier today, our boy Bryan Gibberman offered up his predictions for the 2015 season. Now it’s my turn.
Final standings
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
2. New England Patriots (10-6)*
3. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
4. New York Jets (5-11)
It’s just time. Even with Tom Brady “unsuspended,” other losses will hurt the Patriots and the sneaky-talented Bills will pounce.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)*
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Even with some early suspensions and injuries and a bad defense, the high-powered Steelers edge out the perennially disappointing Bengals and a Ravens team that I don’t trust.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
2. Houston Texans (7-9)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
4. Tennessee Titans (5-11)
This is the easiest division in football to call.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos (10-6)
2. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
4. Oakland Raiders (4-12)
I also don’t trust the Chargers, though I think they have the talent to make the playoffs and will do exactly that if Peyton Manning has too many hiccups.
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
2. New York Giants (11-5)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
4. Washington Redskins (2-14)
For the second straight year, the Eagles miss the playoffs despite a double-digit win total. I just can’t see Sam Bradford holding up and still don’t like that defense. Oh, and I think the Giants are flying under the radar with that jacked offense.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)*
3. Detroit Lions (8-8)
4. Chicago Bears (6-10)
Watch out for everyone’s sleeper, Minnesota. Expecting big things from Teddy Bridgewater now that he’s got Adrian Peterson in the backfield for Year 2.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
2. Carolina Panthers (8-8)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
4. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
Atlanta has the talent and finally should be rejuvenated with a new coaching staff. The Panthers and Saints have been gutted to various degrees and the Bucs will be better but aren’t ready just yet.
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
3. St. Louis Rams (4-12)
4. San Francisco 49ers (2-14)
You never know with Arizona, but I still think Seattle is the only contender in this division right now.
Playoffs
Wild card: Bills over Bengals, Broncos over Patriots; Seahawks over Vikings, Giants over Falcons
Divisional: Steelers over Broncos, Colts over Bills; Cowboys over Seahawks, Giants over Packers
Conference: Colts over Steelers; Giants over Cowboys
Super Bowl 50: Colts over Giants
I think Indy is building something special and it’s going to be wide open this year. The Giants will be a team of destiny in what might be Tom Coughlin’s final year, but this time they’ll come up short in a close Super Bowl. The Packers and Broncos have more talent than either of those teams, but I don’t trust either of them in January. The Cowboys are my third choice but I can’t see them beating those pesky Giants in the playoffs, and I don’t think Pittsburgh’s defense will be good enough. Seattle is bound to come back to earth, and the Bills, Vikings and Falcons aren’t ready.
Awards
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger — Admittedly a hunch, but I think that entire offense will take off in a major way and Big Ben seems to be getting better with age. He edges out Aaron Rodgers, who doesn’t have quite as much support.
Offensive player of the year: Odell Beckham Jr. — The man was just too dominant in the second half of his rookie season. Even if he takes a small step off of that pace with the return of Victor Cruz and opposing defenses wising up, Beckham could break records in that offense this season.
Defensive player of the year: J.J. Watt — Barring injury or some other dramatic turn of events, I just don’t see how it won’t happen.
Offensive rookie of the year: Marcus Mariota — It hasn’t been a good preseason for most rookie first-round picks and you don’t usually win this award unless you’re drafted in Round 1. I think Jameis Winston has more support but Mariota is simply better right now.
Defensive rookie of the year: Vic Beasley — He’s NFL ready and will start from the get-go in a perfect situation with the Falcons. With Dante Fowler out, this should be obvious.
Coach of the year: Rex Ryan — There’s just something about this guy in terms of his ability to rally young teams, and you get the feeling he’ll have the same effect here that he did on the Jets half a decade ago.
