On the morning of the rematch, Elite Sports NY brings to you its official 2016 NFL Preview. Who’ll take the Vince Lombardi Trophy this season?
The very moment Brandon McManus or Graham Gano strikes leather angled on a small black tee, we, the fans, will finally be able to breathe again.This will signal that the National Football League is back.
The defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos are hosting the defending NFC Champion Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, tonight, and we can hardly wait.
No more minicamp. No more training camp. No more NFL Draft. No more rookie combine. No more over-the-top Deflategate, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Johnny Manziel, or Roger Goodell talk.
RELATED: NFL Power Rankings Ahead Of Week 1
2016 is finally here.
Therefore, it’s appropriate to run through the typical gauntlet that is previewing the new season.
Here is Elite Sports NY’s official 2016 NFL Preview and Predictions:
NEXT: AFC East
AFC East
- New England Patriots – 11-5, 4-2
- New York Jets – 10-6, 4-2
- Miami Dolphins – 7-9, 2-4
- Buffalo Bills – 5-11, 2-4
It doesn’t matter that Tom Brady will be sitting out the first four weeks. These are the New England Patriots. This is Bill Belichick. These guys have won seven straight division titles and 13 of the last 15 total.
It’s been complete domination, and until they officially slip up it’d be rough to try to predict it beforehand. You can call out Brady and Belichick for their deceitful ways, but you simply cannot bet against them. It would be disrespectful based on history.
We’ve chronicled how loaded the Jets roster is. They do, indeed, have a golden opportunity with Brady’s misfortunes and Mike Maccagnan’s sparkling ways.
RELATED: No Excuses For Jets, Fitzpatrick In 2016
They simply have to prove it on the field first.
The Buffalo Bills will continue to disappoint under defensive coordinator head coach Rex Ryan while the Miami Dolphins will need a year under rookie coach Adam Gase before anything substantial occurs in South Beach.
NEXT: AFC North
AFC North
- Pittsburgh Steelers – 13-3, 5-1
- Baltimore Ravens – 9-7, 3-3
- Cincinnati Bengals – 8-8, 2-4
- Cleveland Browns – 4-12, 2-4
The likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’veon Bell will field one of the better, if not they best offense in the league. The question surrounding the Steelers will come when opposing QBs drop back and pass. If Mike Tomlin’s secondary doesn’t greatly disappoint, as they did in 2015, the Steelers will be BYE bound this year.
Never bet agins John Harbaugh and a great organization such as the Baltimore Ravens two years in a row. Last season’s 5-11 record simply shouldn’t be counted on again.
While the Cincinnati Bengals are still talented, the question of Hugh Jackson’s importance will be seriously tested in 2016. The Cleveland Browns may have some solid moments, but will fail to win more than four games.
NEXT: AFC South
AFC South
- Indianapolis Colts – 9-7, 4-2
- Houston Texans – 9-7, 2-4
- Jacksonville Jaguars – 8-8, 3-3
- Tennessee Titans – 3-13, 1-5
What most media members failed to realize a season ago, when the Indianapolis Colts were the preseason AFC favorites, was that the offensive line is still critical to a team’s success. Hopefully for Luck, and this health, general manager Ryan Grigson did enough to improve that putrid o-line.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will also be competitive all season long. Their defense is flat-out sick. Dante Fowler Jr., Malik Jackson and rookie Jalen Ramsey are just three names that’ll flourish all year long.
Although the win totals won’t be on the high side, this division will be competitive from start to finish.
The Colts aren’t even close to the best team in the AFC South. They simply have the best player at the most important and influential position.
NEXT: AFC West
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs – 12-4, 5-1
- Denver Broncos – 9-7, 4-2
- Oakland Raiders – 6-10, 2-4
- San Diego Chargers – 4-12, 1-5
Even if Smith fails the stretch the field this year, the Chiefs have plenty to run away with this thing. The big play topic will be the nagging question come tournament time.
Like Jacksonville, the Oakland Raiders have a golden opporunity to impress and improve. We’ll be against it for now as John Elway‘s Denver Broncos are still loaded on defense with the best defensive mind in the game (Wade Phillips).
As far as the San Diego Chargers are concerned, 2016 will be a long campaign, Joey Bossa or not.
NEXT: NFC East
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys – 10-6, 4-2
- New York Giants – 10-6, 3-3
- Washington Redskins – 7-9, 3-3
- Philadelphia Eagles – 5-11, 2-4
Can Dak Prescott prove to be the real deal? Can Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins duplicate their crazy 2015? Can Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. get enough from that extremely shaky offensive line?
We truly don’t know. What we do know is this: the Dallas Cowboys offensive line is still the single best unit in the NFL. This is why we’re taking them to win the division by a hair over the New York Giants.
With Damon Harrison, Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins, this Giants defense will be much improved. I mean, they have to be, “Right?” You can’t get much worse than dead last in the league (420.3 yards against per game).
Like previously mentioned, it’ll all come down to New York’s offensive line. That’s the wild card in this formula. If they pleasantly surprise, the G-Men could run away with this thing and boast the league’s most dangerous offense. If they fail miserably, Ben McAdoo’s rookie season can be a nightmare.
The Philadelphia Eagles season will come down to one thing: the development around rookie starter Carson Wentz.
NEXT: NFC North
NFC North
- Green Bay Packers – 13-3, 5-1
- Minnesota Vikings – 9-7, 3-3
- Detroit Lions – 5-11, 2-4
- Chicago Bears – 5-11, 2-4
It’s all thanks to the devastating injury suffered by Teddy Bridgewater. There’s no chance Sam Bradford revives his career in Minnesota. If he hasn’t done it up to this point in his career, he simply won’t do it. You also have to feel bad for the Vikings that they knew they were getting fleeced when trading for the oft-injured QB.
Even still, Minnesota will have a tournament shot thanks to Mike Zimmer’s special defense.
Don’t look for anything surprising from the Detroit Lions or Chicago Bears. While the Bears are expected to be bad, the Lions will fall far and feel the loss of Calvin Johnson even more than we could ever imagine.
Look for rookie fourth-rounder Blake Martinez to make an immeasurable impact as the leader of that Pack defense.
NEXT: NFC South
NFC South
- Carolina Panthers – 10-6, 4-2
- Atlanta Falcons – 8-8, 3-3
- New Orleans Saints – 7-9, 2-4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 6-10, 3-3
Cam Newton, the reigning NFL MVP, has the best roster in football at his disposal. Still, we only forecast a 10-win season for the NFL champs in anticipating something going wrong.
Dan Quinn’s hot 2015 start won’t happen in 2016 and the Atlanta Falcons will continue mediocrity. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers can finish anywhere from three wins to 11 apiece.
NEXT: NFC West
NFC West
- Seattle Seahawks – 12-4, 5-1
- Arizona Cardinals – 11-5, 4-2
- Los Angeles Rams – 8-8, 3-3
- San Francisco 49ers – 3-13, 0-6
Palmer’s dreadful showcase in the postseason (4 TD, 6 INT, 67.1 QB Rating) is the reason we’re jumping on the Seattle Seahawks here. Look for Russell Wilson to firmly breakout and help Jimmy Graham bounce back.
Jeff Fisher will add another 8-8 season to his ledger while the worst team in football, the San Francisco 49ers, will continue to curse the day they ever allowed Trent Baalke to win the highly publicized battle with Jim Harbaugh.
NEXT: AFC Playoffs
AFC Playoffs
Wild Card Round:
- #3 New England Patriots over #6 Denver Broncos
- #5 New York Jets over #4 Indianapolis Colts
Divisional Round:
- #5 New York Jets over #1 Pittsburgh Steelers
- #2 Kansas City Chiefs over #3 New England Patriots
AFC Championship Game:
- #2 Kansas City Chiefs over #5 New York Jets
Instead, the Kansas City Chiefs, who’ll boast a top-three defense all season long, will finally get enough big play magic out of Alex Smith to officially make their Super Bowl move.
If the New York Jets manage a way to sneak in, they’ll be as dangerous as anybody. A familiar foe in the Indianapolis Colts seems about right. A win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh would be tough, but definitely feasible considering Pitt’s weakness on the backend.
This isn’t your father’s NFL. A strong running game doesn’t win championships. While defenses still do (which the Jets can showcase each week), it’s the short, controlling passing game that gets it done. With Gang Green’s newfound depth at wide receiver, Fitzpatrick will finally be able to throw away his non-tournament demons. New York’s secondary is head and shoulders ahead of Pittsburgh’s.
Again, like every tournament opportunity for New York, their routine presence on the road as a wild card will doom them in Kansas City in the AFC title game.
NEXT: NFC Playoffs
NFC Playoffs
Wild Card Round:
- #4 Dallas Cowboys over #5 Arizona Cardinals
- #3 Carolina Panthers over #6 New York Giants
Divisional Round:
- #1 Green Bay Packers over #4 Dallas Cowboys
- #3 Carolina Panthers over #2 Seattle Seahawks
NFC Championship Game:
- #1 Green Bay Packers over #3 Carolina Panthers
Arizona will have to regroup after realizing Carson Palmer cannot get the job done when it matters most. Dallas will control the entire game on the ground and shock the world by making it to the Divisional Round with rookie Dak Prescott (yes, something else will happen to Tony Romo along the way).
The Round 2 matchup of the Panthers and Seattle Seahawks will be the game of the season. It’ll be an old-fashioned, hard-hitting slobberknocker.
NEXT: Super Bowl
Super Bowl
- Green Bay Packers over Kansas City Chiefs
- Super Bowl MVP: Randall Cobb
The difference will come down (as it naturally does these days) to quarterback play. Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy will collect their second Vince Lombardi Trophy while Randall Cobb busts out in the biggest game of the season.
The beauty about the Packers is both sides of the ball. With Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Julius Peppers, Bryan Bulaga, and a slimmer Eddie Lacy, talent is littered up and down the depth chart.
NEXT: NFL Awards
NFL Awards
- NFL MVP: Aaron Rodgers (QB-GB)
- OFF POY: Antonio Brown (WR-PIT)
- DEF POY: Khalil Mack (DE-OAK)
- OFF ROY: Ezekiel Elliot (RB-DAL)
- DEF ROY: Jalen Ramsey (CB-JAX)
- Coach of the Year: Andy Reid (KC)
- Comeback Player: Andrew Luck (QB-IND)
The Comeback Player of the year is an easy one. If rookie Ryan Kelly stays healthy, Andrew Luck’s offensive line should be improved enough for him to do serious damage.
Jalen Ramsey is a complete stud and Ezekiel Elliot is walking into the best situation in the history of the NFL (thanks to that offensive line).
When hedging your bets with Aaron Rodgers, Antonio Brown and Khalil Mack, you’re bets will usually turn out golden.
NEXT: ESNY Staff Picks
ESNY Staff Picks
Vincent Rapisardi:
AFC:
- AFC East: Patriots
- AFC North: Bengals
- AFC South: Colts
- AFC West: Chiefs
- Wildcards: Raiders, Steelers
- AFC Winner: Steelers over Colts
NFC:
- NFC East: Cowboys
- NFC North: Green Bay
- NFC South: Panthers
- NFC West: Seattle
- Wildcards: Cardinals, Vikings
- NFC Winner: Seahawks over Packers
Super Bowl:
- Seahawks over Steelers
- SB MVP: Russell Wilson
Awards:
- MVP: Aaron Rodgers
- OFF POY: Antonio Brown
- DEF POY: Aaron Donald
- OFF ROY: Zeke Elliot
- DEF ROY: Vernon Hargreaves
- SB MVP: Russell Wilson
- Coach: Pete Carroll
Justin Weiss:
AFC:
- AFC East Champs: Patriots
- AFC North Champs: Steelers
- AFC South Champs: Colts
- AFC West Champs: Broncos
- 1st Wild Card: Chiefs
- 2nd Wild Card: Jets
- AFC Title Game: Patriots over Steelers
NFC:
- NFC East Champ: Giants
- NFC North Champ: Packers
- NFC South Champ: Panthers
- NFC West Champ: Seahawks
- 1st Wild Card: Cardinals
- 2nd Wild Card: Vikings
- NFC Title Game Cardinals over Giants
Super Bowl:
- Super Bowl Champ: Cardinals
- Super Bowl MVP: Carson Palmer
Awards:
- NFL MVP: Russell Wilson
- OFF POY: Aaron Rodgers
- DEF POY: Aaron Donald
- OFF ROY: Devontae Booker
- DEF ROY: Jalen Ramsey
- Coach of Year: Bruce Arians
Chris Boccia:
AFC:
- AFC East Champ: New England Patriots
- AFC North Champ: Pittsburgh Steelers
- AFC South Champ: Indianapolis Colts
- AFC West Champ: Denver Broncos
- 1st Wild Card: Kansas City Chiefs
- 2nd Wild Card: Buffalo Bills
- AFC Title Game: Steelers over Bills
NFC:
- NFC East Champ: New York Giants
- NFC North Champ: Green Bay Packers
- NFC South Champ: Carolina Panthers
- NFC West Champ: Arizona Cardinals
- 1st Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks
- 2nd Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings
- NFC Title Game: Cardinals over Packers
Super Bowl:
- Super Bowl Champ: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Super Bowl MVP: Ben Roethlisberger
Awards:
- NFL MVP: Carson Palmer
- OFF POY: Carson Palmer
- DEF POY: Von Miller
- OFF ROY: Ezekiel Elliot
- DEF ROY: Shaq Lawson
- Coach of Year: Mike Tomlin