Way Too Early NFL Predictions: 2019 Edition

We’ve still got a few months until the season officially kicks off with Chicago taking on Green Bay for the league’s 100th season, but it’s still fun to speculate what team will please and what team will disappoint. So, why don’t we take a look and see our division winners and wild cards? Of course, this is likely gonna be wrong in a couple months.

AFC East: New England (11-5)

The retirement of Rob Gronkowski certainly hurt the team’s offense a bit, but the Patriots are still the Patriots and for as long as the Belichick-Brady tandem remains in New England, they’re going to continue winning. It helps that the New York Jets are really the only threat to New England’s dominance. Buffalo and Miami are still the walking mediocrity that they have been for most of this decade.

Rest of Division:

• New York Jets: 9-7
• Miami Dolphins: 6-10
• Buffalo Bills: 6-10

AFC North: Cleveland (12-4)

It’s amazing that just a few seasons ago, the Browns had joined the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only team in NFL history to go 0-16 and now, they look like Super Bowl contenders. Baker Mayfield is the savior this franchise has been searching for since Modell screwed the city over. Adding OBJ, Kareem Hunt, and Jarvis Landry only helped to make this offense even more terrifying, the defense is looking smooth as well. Pittsburgh is fading away fast, Baltimore is all defense, and as usual, Cincinnati is just bungling around. Cleveland will cruise their way to winning their first division title since 1989, back when they were in the AFC Central.

Rest of Division:

• Baltimore Ravens: 10-6
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
• Cincinnati Bengals: 4-12

AFC West: Kansas City (12-4)

Perhaps this is just bias on my part, since Kansas City is my team, but despite the improvements of Denver and the Chargers, I'm not seeing them dethroning the Chiefs anytime soon. Considering what the reigning NFL MVP did to opposing defenses last season, I fail to see a reason why he won't do that this season. The uncertainty of Tyreek Hill playing has put a damper on the team's ambitions, but Travis Kelce is still an elite tight end, Damien Williams is a strong playmaker, Sammy Watkins is back and ready to play at elite levels, and rookie Mecole Hardman is bound to make an impact. Additions in Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu will make great strides on a struggling defense, though the loss of Justin Houston, Dee Ford, and Eric Berry certainly hurt. The team's offense will do more than enough to keep them on the top of the division.

Rest of Division:

• Los Angeles Chargers: 11-5
• Denver Broncos: 8-8
• Oakland Raiders: 6-10

AFC South: Indianapolis (13-3)

In what could possibly be the toughest division in all of football, it's difficult choosing a favorite for the division crown. Marcus Mariota will do great things in Tennessee, Nick Foles and an amazing defense will help Jacksonville stay relevant, and you really can't count out J.J Watt and the Texans quite yet, though it's hard to vote against Andrew Luck, especially seeing how well he played last season. A strong offense will help Indianapolis cut through opposing defenses, though I'm imagining it'll be a very close race between the four teams. I'm excited to see what these teams will do in the season and I think it's safe to say all four teams are Super Bowl contenders at this point.

Rest of Division: 

Jacksonville Jaguars: 11-5

Tennessee Titans: 10-6

Houston Texans: 10-6

AFC Wild Cards:

Los Angeles Chargers:

I don't like putting a division rival here, but the Chargers are too good to ignore. Philip Rivers is a fantastic QB and the Chargers defense will put many opposing QBs through hell, but I don't believe they've got enough in them to dethrone Kansas City quite yet. Though, their defense and strong offense will be enough to get them the fifth seed.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jaguars have an elite defense and a good QB in Nick Foles, an elite running game and a strong passing game. With all of these qualities would make them a Super Bowl contender for sure, I'm just not too sure how Foles will fare with them. He's definitely an improvement over Bortles, but only time to tell how much damage he'll be able to do with them. Andrew Luck is arguably the best QB in the division and I don't believe the Jaguars defense will be able to stop him, but who knows?

NFC East: Dallas (12-4)

The Cowboys are a great team led by a great QB, defense, and elite playmakers in Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott. The only real threat to the team are the Eagles, and that's only if Carson Wentz stays healthy. The Giants will continue to be a sentient derp for as long as Eli Manning is at the helm and the Redskins are probably the most dysfunctional team in all of NFL at the moment. Dallas should have a fairly easy ride to the division crown, though the rest of the NFC is slowly getting stronger, keeping them from having a better record.

Rest of Division:

• Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5
• New York Giants: 6-10
• Washington Redskins: 3-13

NFC North: Chicago (12-4)

Though it's difficult to choose against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, the Bears defense will be more than enough to make opposing QBs shudder in fear, even the more elite QBs like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Philip Rivers will have their days turned into living nightmares thanks to elite pass rushers like Khalil Mack. It feels strange saying this, but Chicago will be the kings of the NFC North for years to come thanks to their young QB in Mitch Trubisky and an elite defense, this team will eventually morph into the 1985 Bears that bullied opposing offenses as they cruised to their first Super Bowl victory.

Rest of Division:

• Green Bay Packers: 11-5
• Minnesota Vikings: 9-7
• Detroit Lions: 6-10

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams (14-2)

The defending NFC champions aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Jared Goff is young and has plenty more years as an elite playmaker, as long as Todd Gurley remains healthy, their ground game will be hard to stop and will be fairly unpredictable, their defense is still one of the best in the game, though their division certainly improved. Seattle is still a difficult team to face thanks to Russell Wilson and San Francisco will be a team to watch for as long as Jimmy G. remains healthy. George Kittle will become the NFL's next Rob Gronkowski and will be a key playmaker for the 49ers, and though the Cardinals will likely miss the playoffs, they've improved slightly thanks to their first overall pick and Larry Fitzgerald is still a dangerous player to play against. Regardless, I fail to see any reason why the Rams won't take the division, and perhaps the conference, home again.

Rest of Division: 

• Seattle Seahawks: 11-5
• San Francisco 49ers: 10-6
• Arizona Cardinals: 5-11

NFC South: New Orleans (13-3)

Drew Brees is still an elite QB and the Saints still have one of the best offenses in the league, and for as long as the Super Bowl XLIV MVP is at the helm, they'll continue to bully opposing defenses. Their division rivals have done little to improve. If Cam Newton doesn't stay healthy, the Panthers will struggle mightily. Atlanta seems to be back to doing what they do best and as long as they stay mostly healthy, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will cause a few issues for the Saints, but their defense will let them down, and the Buccaneers are still the Buccaneers. The Saints will be the class of the NFC South until Brees retires and that likely won't happen for a long time.

Rest of Division: 

• Atlanta Falcons: 11-5
• Carolina Panthers: 7-9
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11

NFC Wild Cards

Atlanta Falcons:

Though the Falcons were severely held back by numerous injuries on both sides of the ball, they're back and ready to kick some tail. Matt Ryan is still an elite QB and Julio Jones is still the best receiver in the league, well, maybe alongside Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. Though their defense will likely hold them back from being able to topple New Orleans, they have the blessing of playing in a fairly weak division. Their offense should be enough to win them the fifth seed before they ultimately choke in January. 

Green Bay Packers:

Like I said earlier, it's difficult to choose against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but it's unclear how first time head coach Matt LaFleur will do. With Rodgers at the helm, the offense should do some damage, but it's unclear how he'll work with his new head coach. It'll be a hard fight against Philadelphia and Seattle to win the final seed, but in the end, Aaron Rodgers and company will be enough to fight off their opponents for the final seed.

And with all this in mind, this wraps up my way too early NFL predictions. So, do you agree with my predictions or do you have other ideas? Who do you think will surprise and who do you think will disappoint? Let me know your thoughts down below. Thanks for reading the ramblings of a random moth.