{"id":4042,"date":"2021-09-08T20:19:37","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T00:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/?p=4042"},"modified":"2021-09-09T04:26:44","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T08:26:44","slug":"2021-nfl-standings-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/08\/2021-nfl-standings-predictions\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 NFL STANDINGS PREDICTIONS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The preseason is finally over and the regular season official starts tomorrow with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Now that the dust is settled on injuries, rosters and practice squads it\u2019s time to predict the standings for each division and playoff teams for each conference.<\/p>\n

AFC North <\/strong>\u2013 this is the best division in the AFC<\/p>\n

Cleveland <\/strong>\u2013 The Browns seem like a boom or bust team and I\u2019m going with boom because they are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and Kevin Stefanski proved last year he can coach.  The Browns not only have the best roster top to bottom in the division, but one of the best rosters in the NFL and  PFF ranks the Browns offensive line #1 in the NFL.  The Browns will break in some new talent on defense so they may go through some growing pains early in the season starting with the first game against the Chiefs.  I said last year the Browns would make the playoffs, this year I have them winning the division.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh <\/strong>\u2013 Steelers fans are looking for Najee Harris to save their running game but the main issue with the Steelers isn\u2019t running back, it\u2019s the offensive line. PFF ranks the Steelers offensive line the second worst in the NFL coming into this season. The Steelers are thinking Super Bowl and I don\u2019t know how you can be successful in the playoffs with a bad o-line.<\/p>\n

Baltimore <\/strong>\u2013 It seems like the Ravens are content with a throwback offense emphasizing running as much as possible instead of a more modern offense.  The Ravens lose games when Lamar Jackson has to throw for the team to be successful.   The Steelers beat them twice last season and didn\u2019t look good in either game, in fact they should\u2019ve lost both but they forced Lamar Jackson to make completions to keep the chains moving and he didn\u2019t get it done. The best thing for Baltimore to do is open up the offense like Buffalo did with Josh Allen and see if Lamar can handle it.  I believe the Ravens will break the bank and pay Lamar in the off-season because he saved a lot of jobs included coach John Harbaugh but I would have reservations paying a QB top dollar that can\u2019t consistently make timing throws or doesn\u2019t look comfortable in the pocket.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati <\/strong>\u2013 Bad coaching staff, bad owner, bad offensive line and has to play the defenses of Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice this year.  They also see the Packers and 49ers defenses as well.  A lot of people like Joe Burrow but I don\u2019t trust his offensive line to keep him upright nor any QB for that matter playing for the worst coaching staff in football in an incompetent organization like the Cincinnati Bengals.<\/p>\n

AFC East <\/strong>\u2013 this is Buffalo\u2019s division to lose<\/p>\n

Buffalo <\/strong>\u2013 Easily the class of this division.  Sean McDermott should be a favorite in the Coach of the Year race.  All eyes will be on Josh Allen to see if he can take that next step in the QB maturation process.<\/p>\n

New England \u2013 <\/strong>A lot of people were shocked when Cam Newton was released but it didn\u2019t surprise me.  Cam always seemed like a 1-year rental for the Patriots as they planned to draft his successor the following season which they did in Mac Jones.  The Patriots offense for 2 decades is based on rhythmic, timing, precision ball placement throws which Cam was never good at in his career so the shock of his release is mind-boggling.  The Patriots defense, running game and timely throws to move the chains will carry the Patriots this season.<\/p>\n

Miami <\/strong>\u2013 Very good coach, talent on both sides of the ball and more talent was brought in this season but the success of this team is on Tua Tagovailoa. In the NFL it doesn\u2019t matter what your roster looks like, if you don\u2019t have a capable QB it means nothing.  I expanded on my thoughts on Tua in my last article.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/24\/did-the-49ers-make-the-right-decision-by-selecting-trey-lance-over-the-other-quarterbacks\/<\/a><\/p>\n

New York Jets <\/strong>\u2013 Too many question marks and roster holes. I expanded on my thoughts on Zach Wilson in my last article.<\/p>\n

AFC West <\/strong>\u2013 this division got more interesting<\/p>\n

Kansas City <\/strong>\u2013 The Chiefs had 1 issue last season, offensive line.  They fixed it and are still the class of the AFC.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Chargers <\/strong>\u2013 Justin Herbert broke just about every rookie record from the QB position but they still went 7-9 last season.  Though you might want to root for the Chargers, there\u2019s always something with them that makes you not want to be all-in but they should be better this year with ex-Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley taking over as head coach<\/p>\n

Denver <\/strong>\u2013 Teddy Bridgewater will take over as starting QB for the Broncos replacing Drew Lock. Teddy will put up pedestrian stats and not lose games but he also won\u2019t win games for the Broncos either.  The Broncos have talent all over the field but this still feels like a .500 team give or take a game.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas <\/strong>\u2013 If people were honest with themselves it would be easy to admit the Jon Gruden experiment grade is an F especially on the defensive side of the ball.  Players like Rodney Hudson and Nelson Agholor couldn\u2019t wait to get away from this team and Derek Carr seems to be the scapegoat for Raider fans when the blame should be on Mark Davis for giving the worst contract in sports to Jon Gruden.  This team\u2019s draft strategy is all over the map if they have a strategy at all and the Raiders have no clear direction on offense or defense.   Also, Derek Carr is the most underrated QB in the NFL.  He has the tools to get the job done and played well under former head coach Jack Del Rio, the wheels fell off when Jon Gruden arrived.<\/p>\n

AFC South <\/strong>\u2013 the most uninteresting and boring division in football<\/p>\n

Indianapolis <\/strong>\u2013 This season hasn\u2019t started and they already have injury issues including Carson Wentz, T.Y. Hilton and Quenton Nelson.  The Colts will rely on defense and RB Jonathan Taylor to start the season but should still win this division.  If head coach Frank Reich can fix Carson Wentz, he gets my vote for Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n

Tennessee <\/strong>\u2013 The Titans defense is below average and I don\u2019t know how long you can keep running Derrick Henry 300 times per season which is why I don\u2019t have the Titans winning the division. Julio Jones to the Titans has the same hype as DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals a couple of seasons ago but trading for a big-name WR doesn’t guarantee team success.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville <\/strong>\u2013 Not much to work with on offense or defense.  Trevor Lawrence is the only reason to watch this team and to be honest there isn\u2019t much separation between the Jaguars and the next team below.  Only reason I don\u2019t have them in last place is because of head coach Urban Meyer.  I’m giving Urban the benefit of the doubt right now based on his success in college at the University of Utah, University of Florida and Ohio State University.<\/p>\n

Houston <\/strong>\u2013 I can\u2019t lie I don\u2019t know who the head coach is for this team, I think it\u2019s someone from the Baltimore Ravens but in all honesty it doesn\u2019t matter.  This team and organization is a mess.  Deshaun Watson will never play another down for the Texans and I\u2019ll be shocked if this team gets to 4 wins.<\/p>\n

AFC PLAYOFF TEAMS<\/strong>:  Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Buffalo, New England, Kansas City, Indianapolis<\/p>\n

NFC North <\/strong>\u2013 not a good division but it\u2019s interesting<\/p>\n

Green Bay <\/strong>\u2013 As long as Aaron Rodgers is manning the controls and Devante Adams is on the team, the Packers should roll to another division title.<\/p>\n

Minnesota <\/strong>\u2013 This isn\u2019t a great team overall but I trust the Vikings head coach and offense over the rest of the teams below them in this division.<\/p>\n

Detroit <\/strong>\u2013 I\u2019m not a fan of the culture of the Lions and I\u2019m very surprised Dan Campbell got another coaching opportunity because he doesn\u2019t seem like a head coach to me but more like a career assistant. I don\u2019t have the Lions in last place because I don\u2019t trust the team below them.<\/p>\n

Chicago <\/strong>\u2013 The Bears have QB issues, were 1-7 last season against teams that were better than .500 and went to the playoffs last season, and their GM Ryan Pace is not good at his job. I expanded on my thoughts on Justin Fields in my last article.<\/p>\n

NFC East <\/strong>\u2013 this used to be a really good division<\/p>\n

Washington <\/strong>\u2013 Who is the only coach in this division I trust, Ron Rivera.  Which team has the only defense I trust, The Football Team.  Which team has the offense I trust, none of them.  Therefore I\u2019m going with the Football Team to be the first NFC East repeat division winner since 2004 though I know Ryan Fitzpatrick will be inconsistent.   There\u2019s more to trust and less questions with this team than the others teams in this division.<\/p>\n

Dallas <\/strong>\u2013 Dak Prescott has a big shoulder issue and the Cowboys are acting like it\u2019s not a big deal though it really is.  A lot of people are saying the Cowboys defense should be better which isn\u2019t saying much compared to last year\u2019s defense.  A lot of people think Dak Prescott is an upper level QB, he\u2019s not. Since the start of 2019 Dak has 1 win over a playoff team, the Philadelphia Eagles.  He played them again at the end of the season when everybody on the Eagles was hurt except Wentz and not only did the Cowboys lose, Dak performed terribly. A lot of people have the Cowboys winning this division, they won\u2019t. I didn’t have the Cowboys in the playoffs last year and don’t have them in the playoffs this year.<\/p>\n

New York Giants <\/strong>\u2013 I never bought into the Daniel Jones hype despite his cool nickname \u201cDanny Dimes\u201d.  Saquon Barkley isn’t enough to get this team to be respectable.  The Giants offensive line couldn’t block 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> string players in preseason, that’s a problem.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia <\/strong>\u2013 Only thing interesting about this team is to see how Jalen Hurts progresses as a QB.   It will be easy to tell if he’s the long-term solution at QB when this season is over or at least worth bringing back the following season as starting QB.<\/p>\n

NFC West <\/strong>\u2013 best division in football<\/p>\n

Initial NFC West rankings in my article below on 8\/13\/21.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/are-the-los-angeles-rams-better-than-the-49ers-per-the-oddsmakers-2\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Seattle <\/strong>\u2013 Brought in some nice additions and re-signed some key players. The Seahawks are flying way under the radar for a team that went 12-4 last season.<\/p>\n

San Francisco <\/strong>\u2013 A possible QB switch mid-season may cause the 49ers a loss or two.  The schedule outside of the division is very manageable and the only position unit with a question mark is the secondary.  If the secondary holds up and Trey Lance improves throughout the season, this could be a team no one wants to play in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams <\/strong>\u2013 Matt Stafford is an upgrade over Jared Goff talent wise but I don\u2019t think this translates to more than 1 extra win if that.  It’s laughable Matt Stafford doesn’t get any blame for not having success during his 12-year career with the Detroit Lions though he played with Calvin Johnson, Kenny Golladay, Marvin James and Golden Tate.  Stafford couldn\u2019t win 1 playoff game and his record against teams with winning records…..8-68.  Let that sink in, 76 games, 68 of those were losses.  Knowing this information I’m not on the bandwagon that Matt Stafford will transform the Rams into an almost unstoppable juggernaut not do I believe Stafford will be a top MVP candidate.  The Rams brought in Sony Michel from the Patriots to help with the running game since Cam Akers is out for the season and they have a new defensive coordinator.  The running game and defense will determine how far this team can go this season.<\/p>\n

Arizona <\/strong>\u2013 The Cardinals brought in DeAndre Hopkins last season and didn\u2019t make the playoffs.  This season they brought in J.J. Watt and A. J. Green and still won\u2019t make the playoffs.<\/p>\n

NFC South <\/strong>\u2013 3 teams fighting for 2nd<\/sup> place<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay <\/strong>\u2013 Brought every starter back from last year\u2019s Super Bowl team and will win this division easily.<\/p>\n

Carolina <\/strong>\u2013 The young players on defense should improve in year 2 and I believe in the coaching staff Carolina has put together.  The offense should be better as well because Sam Darnold is willing to throw the ball downfield whereas Teddy Bridgewater wasn’t.  The Panthers offensive line scares me though and 3 of their last 4 games of the season are against the Buccaneers twice and the Buffalo Bills.  The rest of the schedule is manageable for Carolina to be a surprise team.<\/p>\n

Atlanta <\/strong>\u2013 I\u2019ve learned years ago when you think you can trust the Falcons, you can\u2019t.  Some people have this team in the playoffs, I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

New Orleans <\/strong>\u2013 I never thought this team had good depth because they put themselves in salary cap hell going all in to win a Super Bowl and it didn\u2019t work.  In addition I’m not sure how the Saints generate offense in the passing game with their best WR Michael Thomas out at least the first 5 games of the season with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS<\/strong>:  Green Bay, Washington, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n

My San Francisco 49er content is exclusively for 49erscap.com.  Follow me on Twitter @peerless1sports and feel free to leave a comment, question, or DM me for specials Peerless 1 Sports has including apparel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The preseason is finally over and the regular season official starts tomorrow with the Dallas…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2414,"featured_media":3325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4,6,3],"tags":[28,25,26,27,39,62,35,55,63,59,36,33,44,49,54,53,60,57,65,67,66,50,56,52,51,37,41,58,40,32,29,30,31,46,43,45,34,20,38,61,68,47,48],"class_list":["post-4042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","category-exclusive","category-prediction","category-roster","tag-afceast","tag-afcnorth","tag-afcsouth","tag-afcwest","tag-arizona","tag-atlanta","tag-baltimore","tag-broncoscountry","tag-carolina","tag-chicago","tag-cincinnati","tag-cleveland","tag-dallas","tag-dallascowboys","tag-denver","tag-denverbroncos","tag-detroit","tag-greenbay","tag-houston","tag-indianapolis","tag-jacksonville","tag-kansascity","tag-lachargers","tag-lasvegas","tag-lasvegasraiders","tag-losangelesrams","tag-miami","tag-minnesota","tag-newengland","tag-nfceast","tag-nfcnorth","tag-nfcsouth","tag-nfcwest","tag-nygiants","tag-nyjets","tag-philadelphia","tag-pittsburgh","tag-sanfrancisco","tag-seattle","tag-tampabay","tag-tennessee","tag-washington","tag-washingtonfootballteam"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":236,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2414"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/49erscap.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}