Projections: A Spin Around the N.F.L.

Projections: A Spin Around the N.F.L. – “That’s why they play the game,” is a maxim I employ frequently. That said, there may be plenty enough games played already by mid-season, to predict and project the most likely outcomes of this season. So, let’s take a peek into my, a priori knowledge acquired strictly, by thoroughly embracing the N.F.L. (Nostradamus For Losers). As my daughter’s middle school friends used to say, “I’m a loser, and losers rule!”

The 7-and-0 perfect Steelers would appear to be the main obstacle to the Chiefs repeating as AFC Champions and serving as the Lamar Hunt Trophy representative in the Super Bowl… at this point. Let’s take a look at both the Chiefs and the Steelers remaining games:

While it appears the Chiefs have three difficult games, let’s not forget that Andy Reid will have extra time to prepare for the Raiders game and we all know he rips it up in most all of those games. The Steelers next game vs the Ravens is a Home game, but I would not take that for granted. Buffalo, Indy and Cleveland offer formidable opponents in 3 of their last 4 games as well.

Bye-Bye to the Bye?

With Covid-19 lingering like Thanatos (Greek God of Death) over all sports leagues this year, the NFL’s competition committee is preparing a proposal to the owners for a 16-team playoff, should this disease cause games to be lost. If that happens, it may not matter that the Chiefs win the Playoff Bye week, because it’s highly likely that it won’t matter anyway. The Sporting News reports:

“The league’s competition committee is expected to present a resolution to owners that includes a 16-team playoff scenario…. The 16-team arrangement would only come into play if games are lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic, per the report. Currently, the NFL is slated to have a 14-team postseason that includes seven teams from each conference.”

In his recent piece called, “What the Chiefs Need to Improve, in Prepping For the Playoffs,” Alan Haupt pointed out that,

“The remaining schedule shows that the Chiefs have multiple opponents that could be overlooked and that is a serious problem that the team needs to correct. They need to change the pattern of playing down to the lesser teams and only upscaled play against the quality teams.”

While I believe that you can never count a Patrick Mahomes led team out of any game — Home or Road — the Chiefs need to make sure they embrace a winning mindset in every game. That’s what will mean the most heading into the playoffs.

A winning mindset, may be what Bill Belichick will be monkeying with in New England the rest of this season. With a record of 2-and-5 so far, it’s questionable which way the Pats will be leaning now: towards a playoff berth… or… towards a high pick in the draft. Now, with Bill Belichick as their coach, it’s hard to think he’d ever lead his team to a loss for the sake of a draft pick. However, we’ve seen him do stranger things, right? He usually teaches: the way you play, is the way you stay. Meaning: if you want your team to be competitive in the future, make sure they’re doing all they can to win today.

Having said that, it’s also hard to imagine BB NOT manipulating his position in the upcoming draft so he could land the best QB possible. There’s some reason his best CB was on the trading block before the trading deadline (referring to Stephon Gilmore). While Belichick is known for cutting lose of players who are at the top of their game (including Tom Brady) in order to move on and and save a buck, he may have reached the end of his rope of dominance (especially since Tom Brady is gone) and so any moves he makes may be worth little in the way of helping his team… this season. Much like Green Bay for Aaron Rodgers, BB has a reputation of not selecting a top WR high in the draft for his GOAT QB.

Losing to the Chiefs and the Steelers is no shame. That makes the Baltimore Ravens a dangerous team, right? Maybe. What seems to be a truism as much as any adage in the NFL is: the team who gets hot at the end of the year can go all the way. That’s the Chiefs 2019 story, or at least a part of it. Raven’s HC John Harbaugh has, been there and done that, in terms of winning a Super Bowl so, I have as much respect for the Ravens this year as I do for the Steelers, maybe more.

Why some pundits are still projecting the Colts as an AFC representative in the Super Bowl, is beyond me.

At 5-and-2 with losses to the 1-and-6 Jags, and the 5-and-3 Browns, the Colts are tied for the AFC South lead but still have to play the Titans twice this month. Also, 3 of the Colts wins were over teams (Vikes, Jets, and Bengals) who have a combined 4-and-18 record. I predict this Indy (Indie) Film doesn’t even get nominated for an Oscar.

The Buffalo Bills are now 6-and-2 and 1.5 games ahead of the Miami Dolphins. Maybe I should repeat that… because, it’s been a few blue moons ago since the Patriots haven’t dominated that division. While I expect to see the Bills continue their upward trajectory, I don’t see them giving the Chiefs any problems if they do make it to the playoffs. If they achieve nothing else this season, I’m sure that Bills fans are satisfied that they beat the Patriots at Home. Now, should the Bills whip the Pats in Foxborough, their season will be a success.

The NFC’s Best

While the Bucs still have to face the Saints, Rams, and Chiefs, at least they get to do that at Home. I see the signing of WR Antonio Brown as more, appalling than appealing.

The NFC EAST (LEAST)

The Eagles, Cowboys, Giants and… that Washington Team… aren’t worthy of consideration.

No. They’re not.

Any team with a QB as proficient as Russell Wilson must be respected. I still can’t understand why Pete Carrol would call a quick slant at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX denying his team a second consecutive Lombardi. However, Carrol has restocked that team, they appear headed to another NFC Championship game and I’ll be shocked if they aren’t playing for the chance to represent that Conference in the Super Bowl. Their trade for Carlos Dunlap should help their defensive line significantly while they were also able to restructure his contract to keep him in under the cap. Even though Dunlap turns 32 years old in February, he should help them right away. Dunlap says of his move to Seattle:

“I feel like it’s a great fit. I mean these guys fly around. I’ve been an edge defender my whole career. Been left end, been right end, been in the 4-3 style and this is what we’re doing here. I’m being asked to do what I’ve done my best football doing, so it’s a win-win situation for me.”

It’s unimaginable to me that the higher ups in Green Bay have never drafted a WR or a RB in the first round in the past eleven years to help Aaron Rodgers at the skill positions (they took WR Jordy Nelson in the 1st round in the 2008 draft). So, when a draft that was stocked with quality WRs in 2020 came and went with no help for the NFC GOAT, it makes one wonder what the “F” (as in, Fruitcake) is going on there? Still, I’d place the Packers near the top of the list of teams who can come out of the NFC and that has everything to do with Aaron Rodgers.

With Mitch Trubisky benched, and Nick Foles inserted, the Bears have been a much better team, right? Kind of. With a 5-and-3 record, the Bears are legitimate contenders in their division. With losses to the Colts, Rams, and Saints, there’s no reason to think they can’t widdle out a spot in the playoffs, and then anything can happen from there. With Nick Foles at QB and Matt Nagy (who I like a lot) at the helm, the Bears could use their strong defense (top 5) to makes waves once they make it to the postseason too. We’ll know more about… Da-Bearz… after they face the Titans and Derrick Henry this weekend.

The New Orleans Saints have lost to the Raiders and the Packers. I’ve no contempt for that. After all, the Chiefs lost to the Raiders too. With Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas returning (the 2nd best WR in the league… after Tyreek Hill, of course) and HC Sean Payton, the Saints should be taken seriously. Their defense has been average this year and that may be their Achilles heel and while Brees is not the force he once was, it’s hard to count the Saints out, when it comes right down to it.

Both CB L’Jarius Sneed and FB Anthony Sherman made their way back to the Chiefs practice field on Wednesday:

Summary: Around the NFL

I still see the Chiefs as the team to beat in the NFL. The best roster? Based on coaching… I’d say yes. What do you think? How do you see the league at the midway point?

Laddie Morse. — ArrowheadOne

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