Houston Texans

The obvious choice is the Texans, they made it to the Divisional Round with a rookie quarterback. C.J. Stroud is now heading into his second year. The acquisition of Stefon Diggs certainly boosts the offensive firepower. If Stroud continues on this track I certainly expect Super Bowl contention.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns have had an elite defense for a couple years now. The problem has been offensive production, with Deshaun Watson struggling a bit and the injury to Nick Chubb it wasn’t very good last year. This year Watson can deliver and make this team a Super Bowl caliber one. Kevin Stefanski will find a way to bring some sort of production out of Watson.

Chicago Bears

By no means is Chicago a sure-fire Super Bowl contender. I do think they have the pieces to be a serious playoff contender and even in a weak NFC conference anything can happen. Caleb Williams has all the tools needed to perform in Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, D’Andre Swift and two stud tackles. Regarding the defensive the Bears locked down cornerback Jaylon Johnson earlier this year. 

The post Which Team is Ready to Become a Contender? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns have spent a fortune to go get their guy in Deshaun Watson, and so far it hasn’t worked out. For now there is still hope, Watson has no better chance than now to rekindle the 2018 flame he had when he led the Texans to the divisional round.

The pressure is on for Watson but with that 1st ranked defense (270.2 YPG) and a healthy Nick Chubb, the turnaround in Cleveland could definitely happen.

New Orleans Saints

Maybe the most likely scenario listed, the Saints have all the pieces to make a run. After firing OC Pete Carmichael Jr. and making a complete overhaul of their offensive staff firing multiple position group coaches and even some advisors the message seems to have been made clear in New Orleans. Not enough offense.

The hiring of former 49ers passing game specialist, Klint Kubiak could provide the spark the Saints have needed badly for the past few years. In terms of the defense, Marshon Lattimore’s potential departure could be something to keep an eye on. If all goes right New Orleans could seriously make a run.

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis has been a very under the radar team the past few years. But for a few weeks at the start of last year, everyone was paying attention. Anthony Richardson was shocking the world with his insane running ability and absolute cannon of an arm. Cam Newton comparisons were circulating and everything seemed trending upwards.

Then Richardson had season-ending shoulder surgery and just as fast as Indianapolis’ spark came, it left. With the draft coming up in a few weeks a new WR to pair with Michael Pittman Jr. would be a luxury for Richardson and potentially a deciding factor in the Colts’ season.

The post Which NFL Team Could Shock the World? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Last Weeks Record 11-4

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland had the worse possible thing happen last week in losing their star RB in Nick Chubb. To replace him, they picked up Kareem Hunt who has familiarity with this offense. Look for the Titans defense to shut down Deshaun Watson and Hunt at home.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 24 Cleveland 17

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions

Detroit will have no David Montgomery in this game, and are coming off a tough loss to the Seahawks. Look for them to bounce back in this game although Atlanta is playing well at 2-0. I think Detroit’s D will be too much for Atlanta in this game, as they will force a few turnovers.

PREDICTION: Detroit 27 Atlanta 23

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

These teams are pretty even with the Saints undefeated so far. Green Bay is a tough place to play and if they can get Aaron Jones going they’ll win this game. Jordan Love needs to minimize any mistakes and the defense needs to step up.

PREDICTION: Green Bay 24 Saints 20

Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins

Denver is coming off a tough loss to the Commanders after being in control the first half. Russell Wilson has played well at times but is also still struggling. These two teams are trending in opposite directions and Miami looks awfully tough to beat. They have too many weapons and Tua Tagovailoa is playing exceptional. Denver falls to 0-3 after a dominant win by the Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 31 Broncos 17

Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings

I don’t think the Vikings are going to the Super Bowl, but I also think there better than their record. This is why I see them bouncing back in this game. They can’t just rely on Justin Jefferson, they need to get the run game going which will help set up the pass.

PREDICTION: Vikings 30 Rams 23

New England Patriots at New York Jets

New England will bounce back in this game and get their first win on the road. Zach Wilson is clearly not the answer at QB and unless the Jets defense scores 21 points, they will not win this game.

PREDICTION: Patriots 23 Jets 13

Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders

Washington is coming off an impressive come from behind road win against the Russell Wilson led Broncos. Their defense has struggled at time especially with giving up the big play. Washington will try and take away that big play threat against Buffalo and most likely force them to run and keep things in front of them. Eric Bieniemy has experience against the Bills which should help them with play calling. I’m gonna take Washington at home by a field goal.

PREDICTION: Washington 23 Bills 20

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville bounces back this week against a young Texans team. Houston is rebuilding and trying to figure out how good CJ Stroud is.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 28 Texans 10

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is on a roll and Lamar Jackson appears to be playing at a high level two games in. Gus Edwards has stepped up in JK Dobbins’ absence and hasn’t skipped a beat. Baltimore’s D will be too much for the Colts and so the Ravens will remain undefeated.

PREDICTION: Ravens 23 Colts 10

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

Similar to the Texans/Jaguars game, Seattle is playing a young inexperienced QB who they will try to make life difficult for. Seattle is a tough place to play for an offense. Look for the Seahawks to create turnovers and hold the Panthers to around 10 points.

PREDICTION: Seattle 24 Panthers 10

Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs haven’t looked like themselves the last few weeks and stand at 1-1. Folks are wondering if there offense is so different after their OC left this year. I think they’ll start running on all cylinders in a few games, especially when you have Patrick Mahomes at QB.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 31 Bears 13

Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals

This game could be really, really bad for the Cards who will go up against the #1 ranked defense. Even with Trevon Diggs out for the season, the pass rush is way too good. Cards need to run the ball to have any success, but even that will be tough. The Cowboys win big in this one.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 38 Cards 7

Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders

When will Najee Harris break out? Will their offense take a step foward this week? These are the questions I’m asking coming into week 3 with the Raiders playing against the Steelers. The Steelers D will keep them in this game the question will be can their offense score at least two TD’s. I like the Steelers in a close one.

PREDICTION: Steelers 24 Raiders 21

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Bucanneers

The Eagles are 2-0 but if you dig deeper they haven’t played their best football. Tampa is playing well with Baker Mayfield but he could struggle in this game. The Eagles D-line is too good and will make Baker’s life miserable. I’ll take Eagles in a close one.

PREDICTION: Eagles 30 Tampa 27

LA Rams at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are struggling but as a team where too good to go to 0-3. Especially at home they should win this game. Pay attention to Joe Burrow‘s ankle as he’s battling through that. The Bengals need to get Ja’Marr Chase involved more and mix in more Joe Mixon.

PREDICTION: Bengals 28 Rams 24

The post 2023 Week 3 NFL Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

What do we take of the Browns who took care of business in Cincinnati, led by Deshaun Watson. I think they looked good, but will have a hard time competing with the Ravens and Bengals.

What else did we learn? We learned that the Packers could be for real, or is that an anomaly. I think it’s easy to overact to one game but they seemed to not skip a beat. We learned that the Cowboys D is very, very, good, led by the Penn State alum Micah Parsons. I struggle a little with this one deciding if the Cowboys D is that good or the Giants are that bad. I think it’s a combination of both. I do expect the Cowboys D to keep them in most games.

The Buffalo Bills struggled this weekend, but this is deja vu for Bills fans. Last year Allen had a similar game and did just fine the rest of the season. He might have to just dust some of the rust off.

Brock Purdy did purdy darn good this week and answered any critics he had entering year 2. I believe he is the real deal and with that tough D, they could be an NFC favorite along side the Philadelphia Eagles.

Finally, the Lions who continued the momentum from last year and beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead, something that is very hard to do. Granted, they didn’t have Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, they still played tough. Look for the Lions to compete all year led by Dan Campbell. What an exciting and unexpected first week! What does Week 2 have in store, grab your popcorn and let’s watch.

The post What We Learned from Week 1 of 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

It’s hard to believe the running back Nick Chubb is still often overlooked as one of the league’s best. It may be due to his quiet personality and business-like work ethic. You don’t hear much from Chubb off the field but on it, he is wrecking ball terrorizing defenses. Chubb is coming off his best year in Cleveland where he ran for 1,525 yards and 13 total touchdowns. Even with Watson back, Chubb is the focal point of the Browns offense and he keeps improving every year. In a year where the running back position is front in center, Chubb has shown he is worth every penny of his $36.6 million dollar contract.

The Bad

Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper was brought in by Cleveland last year to be their #1. For the most part, Cooper impressed and was able to play in all 17 games for the Browns. Cooper needed more help this offseason and the Browns decided to take a flyer on Elijah Moore. Moore flamed out of New York after two disappointing seasons with the Jets. He will now be expected to produce in a large role for Cleveland but there a plenty of question marks on if he can.

Outside of Cooper and Moore the Browns will hope for more improvement from Donovan Peoples-Jones next season. Peoples-Jones had a career-high 839 receiving yards last year for the Browns. Still, I would’ve liked to see the Browns address the wide receiver position more last offseason. As a whole, this group is still below average and will need big years from Moore and Peoples-Jones to be competitive.

The Prediction

This is a make-or-break year for head coach Kevin Stefanski. He was recently listed on our coaches on the hot seat feature going into next season. It really all comes down to how Deshaun Watson performs in year 2. If he can recapture his old form the Browns will be competitive. I just don’t think we will see that version of Watson going forward.

2023 Record: 5-12 (4th in the Division)

The post Cleveland Browns Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Cincinnati Bengals: Is Their Defense Super Bowl Worthy?

The Cincinnati Bengals were a field goal away from consecutive Super Bowl appearances. One of the biggest reasons for their success has been the defense, especially in the second half of the season. After the bye in Week 10, they had six games where opponents failed to score 20 points. In the Championship game, they only allowed 23 points to the Chiefs. The offense is one of the league’s best so a lot of blame goes on their defense. The Bengals lost some pieces in Jessie Bates III, Vonn Bell, and Eli Apple. The secondary is now shorthanded and lost key pieces in their two playoff runs. In the draft, they went Myles Murphy, DJ Turner II, and Jordan Battle with the first three picks. Only time will tell if the rookies can overcome the losses on defense. If the defense is lacking, other teams in the AFC will pounce for their spot.

Baltimore Ravens: What’s The Ceiling Of This Team With The New Look Offense?

The Baltimore Ravens were on the news the most this offseason with all the Lamar Jackson drama with his extension. Before the draft day, they were able to secure the deal and Lamar got his bag. Other than this, they added OBJ, and Agholor, and drafted Zay Flowers. This looks like the fastest WR core in the league. Mark Andrews is always reliable and Lamar is dynamic. The Ravens will probably be the most-watched team because of the immediate results of the offseason. On paper, they look competitive and a Super Bowl contender. The main concern will be the health of Lamar from his injury last season and OBJ. Take one of them out and their ceiling drops significantly. Stats-wise, if all are healthy for the majority of the season, Lamar could have his second MVP. If not, they’ll be battling for the last Wild Card spot.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Which Player On Offense Will Take The Leap?

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a late run where they won seven out of their last nine games after the bye. In this run, we saw the growth of their young offensive core, especially Kenny Pickett who had game-winning drives. Currently, they have a lot of good young pieces, but none are sure-fire Pro Bowlers. They were always considered a favorite when they had the Killer B’s of Ben, Bell, and Brown. Now, someone will need to step up in order for the Steelers to reclaim their throne in the AFC North. Being able to make the postseason will be a big help to the growth of these young players.

Cleveland Browns: Was Deshaun Watson Worth The Trade?

Deshaun Watson finally made it back to an NFL field after all the drama over the past few years. With the restrictions on his suspension, he didn’t have much time to gel with his teammates on the field. So we’ll give him a pass for last season. Now this season will be interesting as he gets a full training camp and there will be no excuses for lack of time with teammates. The Browns are a talented team and have some elite pieces on both sides of the ball. Deshaun doesn’t have to do everything, unlike his days with the Texans. If he can lead the Browns to the playoffs, Cleveland will be fine with him. The noise will be very loud if they miss it.

The post AFC North: Biggest Question to be Answered Per Team appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

The most controversial player of the season, Deshaun Watson, had a chaotic offseason. After all the accusations brought about him, the NFL suspended him until Week 13 of the NFL Season. What made it even more daunting was that the Cleveland Browns decided to offer him a fully guaranteed contract. Time would tell if the Deshaun Watson contract was going to be worth it.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Even with everything, Deshaun’s ADP was 120.6, around the 10th-11th round. Owners would have to stash him and hope he’d be a steal for the last few weeks of the season.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

Deshaun looked terrible this season but it was expected as he missed the entire 2021 season and could barely train with the Browns when he was reinstated by Week 13. In six games, he threw for 1102 yards and seven TDs but had five interceptions. Next season, there will be no more excuses as he would have more time with the team and the system.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 13 vs Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson made his return to the NFL field against the Houston Texans in Week 13. Interesting choice by the NFL here. Rust was expected as he only returned to train with the team just a week before. It showed as the Browns defeated the Texans, primarily by the defense. Watson only threw for 131 yards and a pick. It wasn’t a good start to the Browns career for Deshaun Watson.

Week 17 vs Washington Commanders

As the season progressed, Watson started to get better and his best game was in Week 17. He threw for 169 yards and three TDs and ran for 31 yards. The three TDs were a season-high and he scored 21.86 FP this game. He threw a 13-yard TD to Donovan Peoples-Jones. His favorite target, Amari Cooper, was the recipient of a 46-yard and 33-yard TD.

Week 18 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

The season finale put the Browns against the Steelers. The Browns lost 28-14 but Deshaun was able to help himself with 18.6 FP. He threw for 230 yards and two TDs but also threw two picks. One thing that was getting more noticeable was Deshaun’s ability to get yards on the ground. He ran for 44 yards, a season-high. Deshaun hopefully boucnes back next season and could be a steal if people don’t draft him early.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Deshaun Watson appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jones’ Case for a Big Payday

Daniel Jones has had his ups and downs during his time with the Giants, but he has also shown flashes of potential that have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. In his rookie year, he threw for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also showed impressive mobility, rushing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Jones’ second year was marred by injuries, but he still managed to throw for 2,943 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in just 14 games. He also improved his completion percentage and passer rating, both of which are key metrics for evaluating quarterbacks.

Furthermore, Jones has been dealing with a less than ideal supporting cast. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst in the league until recently, and the team has struggled to find consistent weapons for Jones to throw to. Despite these challenges, Jones has managed to put up respectable numbers and has shown the potential to be a franchise quarterback. Jones took great strides forward this past season under the tutelage of Brian Daboll as he led the Giants to a playoff upset over the Vikings. His poise and mobility were on full display during the game and it’s something that cannot be ignored.

Another argument for paying Jones a big contract is the current state of the quarterback market. In recent years, quarterbacks have been signing massive deals, with players like Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson all signing contracts worth over $40 million per year. The salary cap is also expected to increase in the coming years, which means that quarterback salaries will likely continue to rise. With that in mind it may not be that far fetched to pay Jones in the 40 million range.

Against Paying Jones $45 Million Per Year

While Jones has shown potential, there are also several reasons why he may not be worth $45 million per year. For one, he has struggled with consistency, both in terms of his performance from game to game, and his ability to stay healthy. Jones missed significant time due to injuries in his first three seasons, and his turnover-prone play has also been a cause for concern. In fact, Jones has thrown many untimely interceptions and has had fumbling issues.

Another argument against paying Jones $45 million per year is the opportunity cost. The Giants have several other areas of need, including the offensive line, wide receiver, and of course free agent to be Saquon Barkley. If the team were to invest so much money in Jones, they may not be able to address these other needs, which could hurt the team in the long run.

At the end of the day it’s hard to justify paying Daniel Jones that much money if you’re the Giants. Ownership may well view Jones as the next Eli Manning and there are some similarities there but the price tag is just too high. If I am the Giants I am paying Barkley what he’s worth and letting Jones test the free agent market.

The post Is Daniel Jones Worth 45 Million Per Year? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Tennessee will be depleted in this game, meanwhile the Cowboys are playing for that #1 seed. Cowboys all the way in this one.

Dallas 27 Titans 10

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)

Colt McCoy appears to be back this week but with Arizona out of the playoff hunt, I like the Falcons in this game. They are fighting for the division. On a positive note, Tyler Allgeier is playing extremely well for Atlanta.

Atlanta 24 Arizona 21

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders (-2)

Cleveland has been eliminated from the playoffs while the Commanders are hanging on to the 7th spot in the NFC. Ron Rivera yesterday announced his new starting QB in Carson Wentz. In recent reports, Carson Wentz took time to reflect on what he needs to work on if he did come back. I think we see a different Wentz in this game. Someone that is confident, understands the offense and will be asked to continue the same game plan they had with Heinicke. The only difference is that he may be asked to make some deep throws. The defense needs to step up in this game and stop their two playmakers, Chubb and Cooper. I want to see the defensive line disrupt Deshaun Watson and reek havoc.

Commanders 27 Cleveland 21

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (-6)

This should be a good NFC North battle between the Bears and Lions. The Lions are still fighting for that 7th spot while the Bears have been eliminated. I think the Bears play well in this game and beat the Lions by a field goal.

Bears 20 Lions 17

Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5) at Houston Texans

Jacksonville is a hot team right now and seem to be clicking at the right time. They’ll need some work to get in the playoffs but should be able to handle the Texans with ease.

Jacksonville 30 Texans 17

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-13.5)

The Broncos are in turmoil coming off an embarrassing 51-17 loss to the Rams. At this point, they will be playing a lot of backups and the Chiefs are playing for the #1 seed. Take KC by a lot.

Chiefs 33 Broncos 10

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-3)

Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol and the reeling Dolphins have a tough matchup in New England. This will be a low scoring ugly kind of game with the Patriots winning.

Patriots 17 Dolphins 13

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants (-6)

Giants have a firm hold on the 6th seed in the NFC but still would like to win the last two games. They shouldn’t have a problem this week against a Nick Foles led Colts team.

Giants 24 Colts 14

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)

Philly will be short handed once again without Jalen Hurts. But that’s OK as Gardner Minshew looked pretty darn good last week. The Eagles are just too good on both sides of the ball even with Lane Johnson out. The Saints have a lot to play for but the Eagles are a complete team.

Eagles 31 Saints 17

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)

The Panthers are another team peaking at the right time while the Bucs look like they don’t even want to play in the playoffs. This should be another low scoring affair. My mind tells me take the Panthers but then I remember who the Bucs have at quarterback. Brady hasn’t been playing well but I think he does just enough to squeak out a victory in Tampa.

Bucs 20 Panthers 16

San Francisco 49ers (-7) at Las Vegas Raiders

Derek Carr was benched this week and the Raiders are out of the playoffs. At this point, they are evaluating players for next year. 49ers all the way.

49ers 28 Raiders 10

New York Jets (-1.5) at Seattle Seahawks

Mike White is back as the Jets starting quarterback but he’s playing in a tough city in Seattle. This is a do or die game for Seattle who is trying to get that #7 seed. I think Seattle plays their best game in a while and take care of the Jets in this one, even with Mike White.

Seattle 23 Jets 17

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3.5)

This should be a classic. Minnesota already clinching a playoff spot is just one game out for the #1 seed. The Packers have won three in a row and appear to be clicking. The fact that there in Green Bay has me swaying towards the Packers in this one. They are fighting for their playoff lives.

Packers 27 Vikings 23

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5)

The Rams came alive last week, but not against the Chargers D this week. The Chargers D will have at least two takeaways and control this game.

Chargers 24 Rams 13

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-3)

The Steelers are mathematically still alive in the AFC playoff race. The Ravens also need to play well to stay in the #5 spot. Huntley will once again be at the helm. Take the Ravens by a field goal.

Ravens 24 Steelers 21

Buffalo Bills (-1) at Cincinnati Bengals

Could this be a preview of the AFC Championship? Maybe, but the Chiefs might have something to say about that. Is this a statement game? The fact that the game is Cincinnati makes me think they have a slight advantage. In Buffalo, well that’s a different story. Take the Bengals in a close one.

Bengals 34 Bills 31

Last weeks record 10-6

The post Week 17 NFL Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Key Injuries to Quarterbacks: Tough week for Lamar Jackson and Jimmy Garoppolo, with Garoppolo taking the worse of his injury. He will be out for the year as Lamar is considered week to week. For SF a huge blow as then Super Bowl hopefuls are considered just playoff bound. I don’t think Brock can lead them to the Super bowl. That is why they went out and picked up Josh Johnson. Even though Brock stepped in and played well there still not 100% sure he can help them reach their goals this season.

Philly is Special: Philly continues to steamroll their opponents as they are talented on both sides of the ball. They’re pretty much a lock for the #1 seed and have a date with the Giants on Sunday.

Deshaun’s Return: The big headline this week was the return of Deshaun Watson. As expected he struggled, and had rust in his first start back in over 700 days. If it wasn’t for his defense this would of been a loss for the lowly Browns.

Cowboys Riding: Cowboys just like the Eagles continue to win, which starts with their Micah Parsons’s lead defense. They have found the formula for success which is play good defense and run the ball with the two headed monster of Pollard and Elliot.

Brady Magic: Brady is still Brady at 45 years old. He set the record for his 44th 4th quarter comeback. For most of the game against the Saints, he was inept, but when it counted he came through. This win was huge for Tampa Bay as they stay atop the NFC South.

Raiders Hot: Raiders led by Derek Carr won their 3rd straight game. The connection between Carr and Davante Adams is live and real. And it’s not just their offense that’s clicking, their defense has stepped up led by Maxx Crosby.

The post What We Learned in Week 13 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.