2022 NFL preview: Daring predictions, remaining file for every group, plus playoff picks and Tremendous Bowl LVII winner

September 7, 2022

With the beginning of the NFL season coming this week, which means it is time for everybody’s favourite factor: PREDICTIONS. 

Certain, most individuals solely love studying predictions in order that they will make enjoyable of the whole lot you bought improper on the finish of the season, however that is not an issue for me. I am a center baby, so I have been made enjoyable of my complete life. 

Earlier than we get to my predictions, let me clarify how issues are going to work right here: I will undergo every division and predict every group’s remaining file. After that, I will be making a daring prediction for every division. When you roll by the divisional portion of those predictions, you may see my playoff picks and ultimately, my Tremendous Bowl champion. In 4 of the previous seven years, I’ve appropriately picked the AFC group that ended up within the Tremendous Bowl, and in two of the previous seven years, my preseason Tremendous Bowl choose has ended up profitable all of it, so that you may wish to scroll down and take a look at my prediction for the Tremendous Bowl to see if I am choosing your favourite group. 

See also  Ultimate 2022 MLB Energy Rankings

Additionally, since everyone knows that making enjoyable of somebody’s predictions is half the enjoyable of studying predictions, you possibly can ship all of your hate tweets to me on Twitter by clicking here, and simply so you realize, Cardinals followers, I am already mentally making ready on your hate tweets. 

Lastly, in the event you’re questioning how I did final season, I predicted the precise win whole of 5 completely different groups. I additionally appropriately predicted all the NFC divisional spherical of the playoffs. Not solely did I predict that the Packers would play the 49ers, however I additionally predicted that the Rams would play the Buccaneers. Alternatively, I fully whiffed on Philadelphia. I had the Eagles going 5-12 and in the event you watched any soccer in 2021, then you definately already know the Eagles did not go 5-12. With a first-year coach, they ended up going 9-8 and making the playoffs. I really feel so unhealthy about whiffing on them final yr that I will make it as much as them by choosing them to win the division this yr…. or perhaps I will not. I do not know, I am unsure but. 

You do not care about final yr although, so let’s get to the 2022 predictions.

AFC East

1. *Payments: 13-4
2. Dolphins: 9-8
3. Patriots: 7-10
4. Jets: 5-12

AFC East daring prediction: Sauce Gardner wins Defensive Rookie of the 12 months  

I haven’t got excessive expectations for the Jets this yr, however I do have excessive expectations for Sauce Gardner, their rookie nook who was chosen with the fourth total choose within the NFL Draft. Gardner performs in a division the place a cornerback can thrive and that is as a result of the beginning quarterbacks he’ll be going through within the AFC East all love throwing interceptions. Josh Allen, Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa all completed with double-digit picks final season (Allen tied for the third-most interceptions within the NFL with 15 whereas Jones threw 13 and Tua threw 10). In fact, even when he would not win rookie of the yr, I do totally count on him to win coolest endorsement of the yr as a result of nobody goes to high “Sauce sauce.”

A Jets participant doing enterprise with an organization that has “Buffalo” within the title can solely imply that Gardner goes to torture the Payments this season…. or Buffalo goes to torture him. One or the opposite. 

AFC North

1. *Ravens: 12-5
2. *Bengals: 11-6
3. Steelers: 8-9
4. Browns: 6-11

AFC North daring prediction: Ravens go from worst-to-first 

Yearly, the NFL appears to provide not less than one group that goes from worst-to-first. Final yr, it was the Bengals, and this yr, I feel that group is as soon as once more going to return from the AFC North with Baltimore. Though the Ravens completed on the backside of the division final yr, their 8-9 file was arguably sort of spectacular when you think about what number of gamers they misplaced to harm. I may try to checklist all of them right here, however my keyboard may explode if I attempted to checklist that many names (There have been a number of them). Not solely did they lose Lamar Jackson for 5 video games, however in addition they misplaced key starters like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, together with operating backs J.Ok. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. So long as they will keep wholesome, I feel they will win the division.

AFC South

1. *Colts: 10-7
2. Titans 8-9 
3. Jaguars: 6-11
4. Texans: 5-12

AFC South daring prediction: Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor each high 1,900 speeding yards

The AFC South has arguably the 2 greatest operating backs within the NFL in Henry and Taylor, so I am placing them in a prediction collectively. The rationale this qualifies as a daring prediction is as a result of it is NEVER occurred in NFL historical past. There’s by no means been a season the place two operating backs each rushed for greater than 1,900 yards. The closest it got here to occurring was in 2003 when Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis (2,066 yards) and Inexperienced Bay’s Ahman Inexperienced (1,883) each ran for greater than 1,half a mile. Though Henry has been one of many NFL’s greatest operating backs all through his six-year profession, he is solely topped 1,900 yards as soon as. As for Taylor, his career-high got here final season when he led the NFL with 1,811 yards. This yr, I am going to predict they each high 1,900. 

AFC West

1. *Chargers: 12-5 
2. *Chiefs: 11-6
3. Broncos: 10-7
4. Raiders: 9-8

AFC West daring prediction: Each group within the division finishes above .500

The AFC West is so loaded this yr that all the division may find yourself making NFL historical past. Because the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, there has NEVER been a season the place each single group in a division completed with a profitable file. There have been a number of seasons the place the final place group completed 8-8 (most not too long ago in 2008 NFC East), however there’s by no means been an occasion the place each group completed ABOVE .500. With Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr at quarterback, it is exhausting to think about any group on this division ending the yr with a dropping file. 

NFC East

1. *Eagles: 11-6
2. *Cowboys: 10-7
3. Commanders: 6-11
4. Giants: 5-12

NFC East daring prediction: Micah Parsons wins Defensive Participant of the 12 months

I thought of choosing the Giants to win the division, simply kidding, no I did not. I simply needed Giants followers to be ok with one thing for a short second as a result of I am unsure there’s going to be a lot to be ok with this yr. Anyway, my daring prediction within the NFC East is that Micah Parsons finally ends up taking dwelling the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. Parsons had one of the electrifying rookie seasons of any defensive participant in NFL historical past and that is a giant cause why he was voted Defensive Rookie of the 12 months final season. The Defensive Participant of the 12 months award is normally reserved for Aaron Donald or somebody with the final identify of Watt, however this yr, I will say Parsons breaks by and wins it. 

NFC North

1. *Packers: 12-5
2. *Vikings: 10-7
3. Lions: 6-11
4. Bears: 4-13

NFC North daring prediction: Romeo Doubs wins Offensive Rookie of the 12 months

Throughout his MVP season final yr, Aaron Rodgers focused Davante Adams 169 instances and with Adams now not on the roster, these targets need to go elsewhere and I am guessing that a number of them will probably be going to Doubs. The rookie receiver had a powerful coaching camp and though he is struggled barely with drops, I am not too involved about that. I imply, there was a priority about drops with Ja’Marr Chase in the course of the preseason final yr and the whole lot appeared to work out simply tremendous for him. This can be a daring prediction as a result of Doubs is at the moment considerably of an extended shot to win the award. At 14-to-1, there are 4 gamers with higher odds. 

NFC South

1. *Buccaneers: 10-7
2. *Saints: 9-8
3. Panthers: 7-10
4. Falcons: 4-13

NFC South daring prediction: Tom Brady units single-season file for many passing yards

Tom Brady already holds almost each NFL passing file, so why not add another? The Buccaneers quarterback threw for five,316 yards final season, which was the third-highest single-season whole in NFL historical past. Though Brady was spectacular final yr, apparently he is perhaps even higher this yr. 

Not even an 11-day trip can sluggish him down. 

If Brady is throwing it higher than ever, then the NFL ought to simply cancel the season as a result of there is no means he will let Tampa Bay lose a single recreation. The one concern with this prediction is that Brady won’t survive the season taking part in behind Tampa Bay’s battered offensive line. If he does survive, I will not be stunned if he tops Peyton Manning’s file of 5,477 passing yards that was set in 2013. 

NFC West

1. *Rams: 11-6
2. *49ers: 10-7
3. Seahawks: 6-11 
4. Cardinals: 6-11

NFC West daring prediction: Cardinals end in final place

After watching the Cardinals make the playoffs final season, I am predicting that they completely collapse this yr. The 2 issues that fear me essentially the most are the lack of DeAndre Hopkins (who’s suspended for the primary six video games) and their depth at nook. On the Hopkins finish, since buying him in March 2020, the Cardinals offense has struggled each time he isn’t on the sector, which suggests they may battle to attain factors early within the season. Additionally, they’ll be short-handed at nook with Antonio Hamilton lacking not less than the primary 4 video games of the season. Not having the ability to rating and never having the ability to cease the move may imply hassle early within the season because the Playing cards open the yr with consecutive video games in opposition to three high-powered offenses within the Chiefs, Raiders and Rams. If the Cardinals begin 0-3, I may see them totally imploding from there. 

NFC Playoffs

Groups: 1. Packers 2. Rams 3. Eagles 4. Buccaneers 5. Cowboys 6. Vikings 7. 49ers

Wild Card

(7) 49ers 22-19 over (2) Rams

(6) Vikings 30-27 over (3) Eagles

(4) Buccaneers 34-31 over (5) Cowboys

Divisional

(1) Packers 20-17 over (7) 49ers

(4) Buccaneers 30-23 over (6) Vikings

NFC Championship

(1) Packers 27-24 over (4) Buccaneers

AFC Playoffs

Groups: 1. Payments 2. Chargers 3. Ravens 4. Colts 5. Chiefs 6. Bengals 7. Broncos

Wild Card

(7) Broncos 27-20 over (2) Chargers

(6) Bengals 34-27 over (3) Ravens

(5) Chiefs 31-23 over (4) Colts

Divisional 

(7) Broncos 26-23 over (1) Payments

(5) Chiefs 37-30 over (6) Bengals

AFC Championship

(7) Broncos 23-20 over (5) Chiefs

Tremendous Bowl LVII in Phoenix (Fox)

Broncos 31-24 over Packers

Playoffs daring prediction: Broncos shock everybody and win their fourth Tremendous Bowl 

The previous two Tremendous Bowls have each been gained by a quarterback who was in his first yr with a brand new group (Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford) and you realize what, I’ve determined I am simply going to trip that practice till it crashes, so I am going with Russell Wilson and the Broncos to win all of it this season. 

If I’ve discovered one factor from watching Wilson for the previous 10 years, it is that in the event you give him a great protection, a strong operating recreation and respectable receivers, there is a good likelihood he will get you to the Tremendous Bowl, and the Broncos have all of that. 

Throughout Tremendous Bowl week, we’ll be capable of spend seven straight days speaking about the truth that the Broncos are coached by a man (Nathaniel Hackett), who spent the previous three seasons in Inexperienced Bay as Matt LaFleur’s offensive coordinator. 

The prediction right here is that Wilson and Hackett the Broncos to a 31-24 win over the Packers, which will probably be considerably poetic because the win will come 25 years after the Broncos beat the Packers 31-24 in Tremendous Bowl XXXII. I totally count on this recreation to be a thriller as a result of that is principally what occurs any time Wilson and Aaron Rodgers face one another (See: Fail Mary and/or 2014 NFC title recreation). 

If the Packers lose, I am guessing Aaron Rodgers will spend all the offseason on a South American psychedelic drug bender, which might be the identical factor I’d do. 

Alternatively, if the Broncos find yourself profitable the Tremendous Bowl, Russell Wilson will nearly actually be spending his complete offseason turning one of many 12 loos in his new Denver home right into a Lombardi Trophy room.  

I imply, let’s be trustworthy, nobody wants 12 loos.

As a remaining observe, I’ll have you realize that I’ve solely picked the Broncos to win the Tremendous Bowl one different time since I have been working at CBS Sports activities and that got here in 2015. The excellent news is that I ended up being proper. The unhealthy information is that I did not find yourself shifting to Barbados. 

Lastly, if my season predictions all pan out — and I am positive they are going to — here is what the highest of the NFL Draft order will seem like subsequent April.

Order of first 5 picks for 2023 NFL Draft

1. Falcons
2. Texans
3. Giants
4. Bears
5. Jets