Looking at other playoff teams from a year ago, I expect the New England Patriots to take a step or two down from their spectacular 14-3 season that saw them reach the Super Bowl. They won’t be nearly as successful this year on offense.
I think the Seattle Seahawks are still a stingy defense that has a viable offense to make another deep run with the running back room being the question mark. Jadarian Price, a rookie, is currently looking to be the lead guy there. But when Zach Charbonnet gets healthy, it could be him. It’s hard to repeat as Super Bowl champs, but this team could at least get back there I think.
Of the other AFC playoff teams, I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only one I’d truly doubt on returning to the postseason. I like the Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Chargers to have a shot again.
In the NFC, I truly doubt the Carolina Panthers. I think the Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, 49ers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers could all get back as well.
Pick 'em
Now that we’re talking about the NFL being so close, I guess that means it’s time to think about something else as well.
I can act like I know what I’m talking about with these games every week and you can try to outperform me in weekly picks.
Last year, Audie Dennis, Charlie Schmidt and myself had a good time predicting each and every NFL game of the season. Audie showed us up with a final record of 196-88-1. I finished 184-100-1, while Charlie posted a 170-114-1 record.
I’ll set out this year to defeat Audie, and if you think you can beat us all, then join us and have some fun. Or even if you aren’t sure how you’d do, but you think this sounds like fun, send me an email and let me know you’d like to compete this season.
I can be reached at tvaughan@joplinglobe.com.
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