With the training camp under our noses, here is the fourth installment of questionable record predictions:
Key:
* – Home Field Advantage
Z – Bye
Y – Division Winner
X – Wild Card
AFC East:
| New England Patriots | 13-3* |
| NY Jets | 8-8 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-10 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-12 |
AFC North:
| Baltimore Ravens | 11-5 Y |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 |
| Cleveland Browns | 9-7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-14 |
AFC South:
| Indianapolis Colts | 11-5 Y |
| Tennessee Titans | 9-7 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 8-8 |
| Houston Texans | 7-9 |
AFC West:
| Kansas City Chiefs | 11-5 Z |
| Denver Broncos | 10-6 X |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 10-6 X |
| Oakland Raiders | 2-14 |
NFC East:
| Philadelphia Eagles | 12-4 Z |
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-7 X |
| Washington Redskins | 7-9 |
| NY Giants | 3-13 |
NFC North:
| Chicago Bears | 11-5 Y |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9-7 |
| Green Bay Packers | 7-9 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-12 |
NFC South:
| Atlanta Falcons | 9-7 Y |
| Carolina Panthers | 9-7 X |
| New Orleans Saints | 8-8 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-11 |
NFC West:
| LA Rams | 13-3 * |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-7 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 9-7 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2-14 |
Tiebreakers:
AFC: Chiefs beat both Ravens and Colts.
AFC: Ravens had better conference record than Colts.
AFC: Broncos had better division and conference record than Chargers.
NFC: Falcons swept Panthers
NFC: Cowboys had the best conference record of all 9-7 teams
NFC: Panthers own strength of victory tiebreaker over Seahawks and Vikings.
Playoff Predictions:
Wild Card Round
#5 Broncos over #4 Colts
#3 Ravens over #6 Chargers
#4 Falcons over #5 Cowboys
#3 Bears over #6 Panthers
Divisional Round
#1 Patriots over #5 Broncos
#2 Chiefs over #3 Ravens
#4 Falcons over #1 Rams
#2 Eagles over #3 Bears
Conference Championship
#1 Patriots over #2 Chiefs
#2 Eagles over #4 Falcons
Patriots win Super Bowl LIV over Eagles
Final thoughts:
Nine out of 12 2018 playoff teams return in this prediction, while only the Texans, Saints, and Seahawks fall out. The Broncos, Falcons, and Panthers earn playoff bids, but most divisions look similar to their 2018 counterparts.
The two risers in this set of predictions are the Broncos and 49ers. The Broncos go from a 6-10 team to a 10-6 squad: securing the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs. The four-game difference stems from splitting with both the Chiefs and Chargers, adding two wins. The Broncos also nab home wins over the Texans and Browns.
The 49ers improve by three wins, taking wins from the Steelers, Browns, and splitting with the Seahawks. With a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo combining with George Kittle, the 49ers should improve dramatically.
Compared to June’s predictions, no team has a significant drop. The Steelers and Saints were replaced in the playoffs by the Broncos and Panthers. Seven of eight division winners stay the same with just the Chiefs reclaiming the AFC West.
As a whole, the set of predictions will be a monthly installment over the course of the off-season.
The Bengals, Cardinals, and Raiders tie with the worst record at 2-14. All three play in incredibly tough divisions, facing 0-6 records. In this set of predictions, the Bengals sweep the Cardinals and Raiders for their two wins while the Cardinals nab wins over the Lions and a split with the 49ers. The Raiders split with the Chargers and pull off a home victory over the Titans.
The Patriots win yet another Super Bowl in the series of prediction. The Pats are a lock to go to the Super Bowl for the 10th time in the Brady era.
Be sure to check back in January to reminiscence on how bad these predictions will be.
You can make your own predictions at NFL Playoff Predictors
