The calendar says it’s summer and the weather is finally warm, and that can only mean that football is right around the corner. In fairness, it’s probably a little too early to start making any serious predictions about the 2019 season, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying.
When making predictions with the start of the season a couple of months away, it’s usually best to make them as bold as possible. After all, there haven’t been any injuries or preseason games to change your mind. With that in mind, here’s one bold prediction for all 32 NFL teams ahead of the 2019 season.
Dallas Cowboys: Team Finishes Last in NFC East
The Cowboys are surely feeling good heading into the 2019 season. The addition of Amari Cooper transformed the offense last season, making the trio of Cooper, Dak Prescott, and Ezekiel Elliott a formidable one. But it’s still fair to question Prescott’s abilities as a passer.
It’s also fair to remain skeptical of Jason Garrett, who’s made the playoffs three times in eight full seasons as Dallas head coach and never in back-to-back years. Remember, the Cowboys went from first to worst in the NFC East from 2014 to 2015, and it’s not impossible that it’ll happen again.
Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz Lives Up to His New Contract
There’s a great deal of pressure on Wentz after getting a guaranteed $107 million on his new deal. One could actually argue that he’s done little to deserve such a deal with Nick Foles finishing the season as Philadelphia’s quarterback the last two years. Wentz was also just 5-6 as a starter last season.
However, Wentz wasn’t exactly in the best position to succeed last year coming off the serious knee injury that ended his 2017 season. With more time to recover and get his body right, look for Wentz to pick up where he left off in 2017 when he looked like the league’s MVP before getting hurt.
New York Giants: Daniel Jones Starts 0 Games
Much has been made of New York’s quarterback situation and their controversial selection of Jones with the 6th overall pick in the draft. However, Eli Manning has not been the problem with the Giants in recent years. His numbers may be ugly, but the offensive line in front of him has been a disaster, making it difficult for Manning to perform.
Even if Manning and the Giants struggle this season, head coach Pat Shurmur is smart enough to know that making Jones the starter isn’t going to do anything, so all of the talk about the rookie taking over for Manning before the season is over will all be for naught.
Washington Redskins: Dwayne Haskins Starts Week 1
With Alex Smith’s status up in the air, the Redskins are set for a three-way competition at quarterback during the preseason involving Haskins, Case Keenum, and Colt McCoy. The thought is that Keenum should win the job with McCoy there just in case.
But Keenum had a dreadful season last year in Denver and his 2017 fantasy season with the Vikings looks like nothing more than an aberration. Meanwhile, Haskins looks the part of a starter in the NFL and has far better arm talent than both Keenum and McCoy. The team will see that during the preseason and Haskins will end up starting for Washington in Week 1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers Flip 5-11 Record, Going 11-5
The Bucs have been akin to a dumpster fire the past couple of seasons. But it’s impossible to discount the importance of a good head coach. Bruce Arians knows how to win games in the NFL, and he will be a huge upgrade over Dirk Koetter.
If he can get the best out of Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay has a lot of room for improvement. Bringing in Todd Bowles as the new defensive coordinator after he got some experience as a head coach should also make a big difference for the Bucs as they try to turn things around.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan Throws for 5,000 Yards
Even in his MVP season in 2016, Ryan didn’t reach the 5,000-yard plateau, which isn’t easy for any quarterback. However, he was less than 100 yards short of that mark last season and he might be capable of getting to 5,000 yards passing in 2019.
Julio Jones is still in the prime of his career and will continue to be his primary target, but look for Calvin Ridley to emerge as a big-time playmaker as well. Ridley showed glimpses last season and should be more consistent in his sophomore campaign. With two home run threats at his disposal, Ryan could rack up yards in a hurry in 2019.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton’s Decline Continues
Newton hasn’t been the same quarterback since his MVP season in 2015. His 2018 campaign was particularly troubling. In his defense, he was battling a shoulder problem that ultimately led the Panthers to sit him down for the final two games of the season.
During the offseason, Newton says things are feeling good after he underwent surgery in January. But now that he’s in his 30’s, Newton may find that he doesn’t bounce back from things so easily. He’s also not going to be able to make as many plays with his legs as he’s accustomed to doing. Add it all up, and Newton is destined for another poor season in 2019.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees Retired After Winning Super Bowl
Admittedly, this is a rather sentimental prediction. But if there’s anybody who deserves a little good fortune in what could be his last season, it’s Brees. Two seasons ago, a miracle play deprived Brees a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
Last year, a controversial call in the NFC Championship Game cost him the chance to play in another Super Bowl. It’s also worth mentioning that the now 40-year-old Brees has had some of his best seasons late in his career. If you’re a true football fan, you’ll be rooting for Brees to walk off into the sunset after winning his second Super Bowl ring.
Chicago Bears: David Montgomery is Leading Rusher Among Rookies
Montgomery was actually Chicago’s top draft pick this year, even if they didn’t get him until the 3rd round. With Jordan Howard being traded to the Eagles, the opportunity is there for Montgomery to become the starter.
We still haven’t seen enough from Mitchell Trubisky to know that he can survive without a good running game, so Montgomery should have no problem getting carries. He was also a vastly underrated running back while at Iowa State. If he stays healthy, he’s someone who can have a big rookie season for the Bears.
Detroit Lions: Matt Patricia is Fired Midseason
Patricia deserves a little slack after going 6-10 in his first season as a head coach. However, there’s not much to indicate that his second season with the Lions will go any better. If you only count Nick Saban’s time in the NFL and not his success in college, Bill Belichick’s coaching tree isn’t all that impressive, so success in New England doesn’t always translate elsewhere.
Patricia’s longtime colleague with the Patriots Josh McDaniels got the boot in Denver midway through his second season as head coach. In the name of symmetry, don’t be surprised if the same thing happens with Patricia.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur wins Coach of the Year
Is Matt LaFleur a great head coach? Nobody really knows just yet. However, unlike most new head coaches, he’s walking into a good situation and doesn’t have a ton of rebuilding to do, mainly because he has Aaron Rodgers.
With the Packers finally moving on from Mike McCarthy, Rodgers should be reinvigorated. With a little more support around him and some better play calling, Rodgers is capable of leading the Packers to double-digit wins and a division title, which will then make LaFleur a great candidate for Coach of the Year honors.
Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins Throws More Interceptions Than Touchdowns
Cousins posted great numbers in his first season in Minnesota last season, including 30 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. But the pressure is mounting on him to prove that he’s a winner.
The Minnesota defense could also take another step back from the unit that dominated in 2017, putting a little more pressure on Cousins, ultimately leading to him making bad choices and ending the season with more picks than touchdown passes.
San Francisco 49ers: 49ers Win NFC West
We didn’t get to see what Jimmy Garoppolo could do as a full-time starter last year, but there’s still this strongly held belief that he’s the real deal. Not only is Garoppolo healthy this year, but he’ll have a good running game to back him up with Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman, and Matt Breida all in the mix.
The San Francisco defense will also get a boost after drafting Nick Bosa. In the end, it’s all about Kyle Shanahan finally having a quarterback he can work with. He and Garoppolo will take the NFC West by storm and win a division that sent two teams to the playoffs last year.
Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson Leads NFL in All-Purpose Yards
Somehow, people have forgotten what a beast Johnson was in 2016. After missing most of 2017 with an injury, 2018 wasn’t his year either, as nothing good happened in Arizona. But Johnson should be ready to remind everyone how good he is this season.
The Cardinals aren’t going to put it all on Kyler Murray, so they’ll lean on Johnson and the running game a little bit. Also, keep in mind that Johnson had 80 catches for nearly 900 yards in 2016. That ability as a pass catcher makes him the perfect candidate to lead the NFL in all-purpose yards this year.
Los Angeles Rams: Rams Miss the Playoffs
It’s a little cliche to say the Rams will have a hangover from their Super Bowl loss and miss the playoffs this year, but it’s not that crazy. Even with a star like Aaron Donald leading the way, the team’s defense was unreliable for long stretches last season.
There’s also the lingering question over Todd Gurley’s health, as he clearly wasn’t the same player at the end of last season despite insisting that his knee was fine.
If Gurley is no longer himself, it’s a game-changer for the Rams, and with the 49ers and Cardinals poised to improve and the NFC wild-card race as competitive as ever, even a solid 8-10 win season could result in the Rams missing the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks Have Bottom-5 Defense
It’s time to admit that the Seattle defense just isn’t the same that it was when they won the Super Bowl. The team traded away Frank Clark and his 14 sacks from a year ago and no one else on the roster aside from Jarran Reed had more than three sacks last year.
Odds are, the additions of Barkevious Mingo and Ziggy Ansah aren’t going to make up for Clark’s absence. Without a pass rusher like Clark, things become a lot more difficult for the back-7, and that will inevitably lead to problems for the Seattle defense.
Buffalo Bills: Bills Win 10 Games
Admittedly, the Bills weren’t set up for success last season, but they still managed to win six games, which was probably more than expected. Keep in mind that Sean McDermott took the Bills to the playoffs two seasons ago with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback.
It may not seem like it based on his rookie season, but Josh Allen has some potential. Buffalo’s offensive line was dreadful last season and their receivers left a lot to be desired.
The Bills have brought in a couple of veteran receivers and made improvements to the offensive line, which should help Allen show improvement in his second season and lead Buffalo to a 10-win season.
Miami Dolphins: Josh Rosen Plays Like a Top-10 Quarterback
The Cardinals are going to have egg on their face when they see Rosen play this season. Rosen should not have been playing as a rookie with such a terrible offensive line in front of him and so few receiving options. Things will be different for him in Miami, as he’ll have a lot more help around him.
First, Rosen will have to beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick for the starting job, but that shouldn’t be too difficult, and once he gets settled with the Dolphins, Rosen will have a strong sophomore season and start to look like a top-10 quarterback.
New York Jets: Le’Veon Bell Doesn’t Improve Jets Offense
The Jets had a busy offseason and are expecting several key additions to make a big difference. Bell is no doubt at the top of the list for players the Jets plan on making an immediate impact. He’s certainly an upgrade over the team’s running backs from a season ago. But how much rust will he have to shake off after sitting out last season?
More importantly, whether or not the Jets improve offensively will have a lot more to do with quarterback Sam Darnold than the addition of Bell. Even if Bell has a big year, the Jets won’t be better unless Darnold takes a step forward.
New England Patriots: Patriots Don’t Win Super Bowl
In today’s NFL, it doesn’t get any bolder than predicting the Patriots to not win the Super Bowl. Obviously, Tom Brady is just as good in his 40s as he was in his 30s. But the AFC should have some teams that can challenge the Patriots for supremacy.
Also, New England’s 11 wins last season were their fewest since 2009, so they may be slipping just a little. Finally, the Patriots haven’t won back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Even for a dynasty like New England, winning back-to-back titles is difficult.
Indianapolis Colts: Colts Beat Patriots in Playoffs
Look for the Colts to be the team that unseats the Patriots in the playoffs this season. After sitting out a full season, Andrew Luck appeared to get his groove back last season, which is huge for Indy. The Colts also had one of the best offensive lines in football last year and figure to be just as good up front this season.
Indy also added Devin Funchess in free agency and Parris Campbell in the draft to give Luck two more weapons and signed Justin Houston to give their defense a quality pass rusher. Things are looking up for the Colts and with Luck back to normal, they look like a team that could dethrone the Patriots.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Nick Foles Experiment Flops
Yes, Foles will be an upgrade over Blake Bortles, but that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. While Foles has stepped up in big moments, that’s not the same as leading a team over a 16-game season, and he’s never started more than 10 games in any season.
In Jacksonville, he’ll be throwing to a relatively young group of receivers while relying on Leonard Fournette to stay healthy and hoping the Jacksonville defense can return to being the 2017 version. If everything doesn’t break perfectly for the Jaguars, there’s only so much Foles can do. He’s not the kind of quarterback who can carry a team on his back, which is why things may not work out as planned in Jacksonville.
Houston Texans: J.J. Watt leads NFL with 20-plus sacks
Admittedly, this isn’t the boldest of predictions after Watt racked up 16 sacks last season, finishing second to only Aaron Donald. But Watt is also on the wrong side of 30 and has spent a lot of time the last few years being hampered by injuries.
Last season, Watt proved that he’s still capable of being an elite pass rusher, and that was with two years worth of rust on him. With the injuries behind him, Watt should have at least one more 20-sack season in him.
Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill Ends Season as Undisputed Starter
This is less about Tannehill and more about Marcus Mariota. In four seasons in the league, Mariota is yet to start all 16 games, and even when he hasn’t missed time, he’s fought through some injuries and his play has suffered. Perhaps more importantly, the Titans aren’t yet sold on him as their quarterback of the future.
Given Tannehill’s experience level, the Titans won’t hesitate to give him a chance if Mariota continues to underwhelm with his performance. Between that and Mariota’s injury history, there’s a good chance that Tannehill overtakes the starter’s job by season’s end.
Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals Win AFC North
The end of the Marvin Lewis is going to feel like a breath of fresh air in Cincinnati. There were some good years, but things clearly got stale toward the end. Meanwhile, Zac Taylor is a young and exciting head coach with a keen offensive mind.
He should be able to do good things with Andy Dalton, especially with the likes of A.J. Green and the emerging Tyler Boyd at his disposal. Despite their poor record the last few seasons, the Bengals have quietly had one of the more talented rosters in football. A new coach could make a big difference for them and help them win a division title.
Cleveland Browns: Browns Lose At Least 10 Games
Everyone looks at the Browns as the new “It” team in the NFL heading into the 2019 season, and for good reason. But isn’t everyone overreacting just a little bit? This is still a franchise that needs to learn how to win. They also have a head coach in Freddie Kitchens with no previous experience in that role.
It was one thing to come out of nowhere and win a few games last season, but now Cleveland has to deal with expectations with so many people picking them to be a playoff contender. After taking a big step forward last year, it seems natural for the Browns to take a step back in 2019 and suffer through another 10-loss season.
Baltimore Ravens: Robert Griffin III Gets a Chance to Start and Makes the Most of It
The Ravens may want Lamar Jackson to do less running and more throwing, but that’s not really his game. Jackson needs to use his legs to be at his best. Naturally, that opens him up to lost fumbles and the risk of injury.
Jackson only started seven games last season and doesn’t appear to have the frame to start 16 if he’s always running and taking hits. Sooner or later, he’ll go down, opening the door for Robert Griffin III, who was once a lot like Jackson. Griffin has worked hard to earn a spot on an NFL roster as a backup, and he’s someone who will make the most of his chance.
Pittsburgh Steelers: James Conner Reaches 1,200 Yards Rushing & JuJu Smith-Schuster Reaches 1,500 Yards Receiving
It’s a new era in Pittsburgh with Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown finding new homes during the offseason. But the Steelers should be just fine with their replacements, at least as long as Ben Roethlisberger is still their quarterback.
Smith-Schuster has had two impressive seasons in his young career and should have no problem becoming the top target in the passing game and racking up Brown-esque numbers.
Conner, to be fair, had some ups and downs last season. But for the kid who beat cancer when he was in college, stepping out of Bell’s shadow and forging his own path in the NFL should be no problem. He’s also more than talented enough to become a feature back and gain 1,200-plus yards this season.
Denver Broncos: The Joe Flacco Trade Blows Up in Their Face
It was a no-brainer for the Broncos to trade for Flacco as an upgrade over Case Keenum. But that doesn’t guarantee the move will be a success. Outside of the aging and injury-plagued Emmanuel Sanders, the Broncos are young and inexperienced at wide receiver.
Denver’s offensive line has also had some issues over the past couple of seasons, which could spell doom for an immobile quarterback like Flacco. There’s a lot that will have to fall into place for the Flacco trade to pay off for the Broncos, and the odds are not in their favor.
Los Angeles Chargers: Chargers Have NFL’s Best Defense
The Chargers had a top-10 defense last season, and they are poised to be even better in 2019. The team used five of their seven draft picks on that side of the ball, including their 1st and 2nd round selections. They also added veteran linebacker Thomas Davis, who will bring both experience and leadership to that side of the ball.
Most importantly, Jose Bosa will be healthy after playing just seven games in 2018. Bosa managed to accumulate 5.5 sacks in those seven games, so he was productive when healthy. If the Chargers can unleash Bosa and pass-rushing partner Melvin Ingram on teams for 16 games this year, they have a legitimate chance to have the best defense in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes Throws 20 Interceptions and Only 30 Touchdown Passes
To be fair, most quarterbacks would love to throw 30 touchdowns, but after Mahomes threw 50 last season, only throwing 30 would be a huge drop-off for Mahomes, especially if they are negated by 20 interceptions.
Obviously, most people expect Mahomes to continue to shine and become the NFL’s next great star. But the rest of the league, especially Kansas City’s AFC foes, have spent all offseason poring over tape of him. Opposing teams will be far more prepared to face the young gunslinger in 2019 than they were a year ago, and that will lead to a few more bad outings for Mahomes.
Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr Makes the Pro Bowl
Carr’s streak of three straight Pro Bowl appearances came to an end last season. However, it wasn’t necessarily his fault that the Raiders were terrible. In fact, Carr’s numbers were solid considering his supporting cast. But Carr is poised to bounce back in 2019 and remind us why he’s one of the elite young quarterbacks in the game.
Obviously, having Antonio Brown will make a big difference. But adding Tyrell Williams will also help, while rookie Hunter Renfrow could make a huge impact in the slot. Carr will also be a lot more familiar with Jon Gruden’s offense in his second season, which should help him make a Pro Bowler once again and make the Raiders not quite as terrible.