For those of us who cover the NFL and make picks, the 2020 campaign gives us a unique opportunity … which further complicates our task of “fortune tellers”.
As everybody know, the new coronavirus pandemic did not stop the start of the season, but it did prevent people from returning to the stadiums.
How will the fact that most will have empty stadiums affect home teams, probably throughout the season? Will artificial noise from “the hobby” help them? How much will it affect the visiting teams?
In 2019, 52.3 percent of regular schedule games (134 of 256) were decided by eight points or less and 68% (174 of 256) entered the fourth quarter with a score difference of eight points or less.
Let no one be surprised if this year the NFL sets a record for most games decided by a touchdown or less.
And in a sui generis campaign, Which team will Vince Lombardi lift the night of February 7 in Tampa Bay? Will Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs repeat?
Let no one stress, that’s what they’re here forthe picks, team by team, from the 2020 season.
And the Super Bowl pick will surely surprise more than one:
AFC
EAST DIVISION
1. BUFFALO BILLS
Without Tom Brady in New England, this Division belongs to Josh Allen and the Bills.
Pick: 11-5
2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Cam Newton is a more than adequate quarterback for Bill Belichick, but this team will go as far as its defense takes it.
Pick: 10-6
3. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter in the second half of the season and the Dolphins will make their fans dream of the Playoffs… in 2021.
Pick: 9-7
4. NEW YORK JETS
Sam Darnold will have his best year as a professional, but it will not be enough and at the end of the season the CEO will fire coach Adam Gase.
Pick: 8-8
NORTH DIVISION
1. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Lamar Jackson won’t set a quarterback for rushing yards, but he will throw more than 30 touchdown passes and the Ravens will once again have the best record in the AFC.
Pick: 13-3
2. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Ben Roethlisberger will make the difference and the defense will do the rest.
Pick: 10-6
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Their running attack will be the best in the NFL, but they will lose some close games and stay on the shore.
Pick: 9-7
4. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Joe Burrow will suffer, like any rookie quarterback, but in the second half of the season these Bengals will deliver more than one surprise.
Pick: 6-10
SOUTH DIVISION
1. HOUSTON TEXANS
Yes, the Texans lost a lot of talent, but Deshaun Watson is still there.
Pick: 11-5
2. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Philip Rivers will make a good debut in Indianapolis, but it’s his running attack that wins games.
Pick: 10-6
3. TENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans will find that putting Ryan Tannehill behind the wheel has its risks.
Pick: 9-7
4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Reconstruction continues in Jacksonville and at the end of the campaign coach Doug Marrone will be one of the victims of the revolution.
Pick: 4-12
WEST DIVISION
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Patrick Mahomes will be named MVP and coach Andy Reid’s Chiefs will enter the Playoffs as favorites.
Pick: 12-4
2. DENVER BRONCOS
Drew Lock will show the world that John Elway is right, but Von Miller’s injury will affect more than just defense.
Pick: 9-7
3. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Derek Carr can never be the Derek Carr of 2016.
Pick: 9-7
4. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Rookie Justin Herbert will be the starter when the season ends, but the talent around him won’t be enough.
Pick: 5-11
NFC
EAST DIVISION
1. DALLAS COWBOYS
Dak Prescott will be under a lot of pressure all year, but coach Mike McCarthy won’t forget about Ezekiel Elliott.
Pick: 10-6
2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The brutal December calendar (Green Bay, New Orleans, Arizona and Dallas) will prevent them from repeating as division champions.
Pick: 8-8
3. NEW YORK GIANTS
Joe Judge will discover the vicissitudes of being a head coach in the NFL, even in the NFC East.
Pick: 6-10
4. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
Ron Rivera has very good intentions, but very little talent. Maybe the defense can save some games.
Pick: 5-11
NORTH DIVISION
1. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins and a solid defense are the recipe that coach Mike Zimmer has to dominate this Division.
Pick: 11-5
2. GREEN BAY PACKERS
It is very difficult that they can repeat in the Conference Championship, but Aaron Rodgers (and no one else) will take them back to the postseason.
Pick: 10-6
3. CHICAGO BEARS
Mitchell Trubisky won’t be able to handle the pressure of having Nick Foles on the bench. And not even Foles will be able to do the miracle of taking them to the Playoffs.
Pick: 8-8
4. DETROIT LIONS
Matt Patricia’s defense will have its moments, but the Lions are not yet ready to compete with the heavyweights.
Pick: 8-8
SOUTH DIVISION
1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
If coach Sean Payton can avoid another playoff debacle, this team has everything to be in the Super Bowl.
Pick: 12-4
2. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Tom Brady will capitalize on the best receiving corps in his illustrious career.
Pick: 11-5
3. ATLANTA FALCONS
The departure of coach Dan Quinn will be one of the collateral damage of Brady’s arrival in the Division.
Pick: 7-9
4. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Teddy Bridgewater and Christian McCaffrey will make a good pair, but Carolina is in clear reconstruction.
Pick: 5-11
WEST DIVISION
1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The defense will improve dramatically with Jamal Adams and Quinton Dunbar. Russell Wilson and coach Pete Carroll think about the Super Bowl.
Pick: 11-5
2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Niners and their great defense will be back in the playoffs, but coming back in the Super Bowl won’t be easy.
Pick: 10-6
3. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Do you remember when the Rams dominated this Division?
Pick: 9-7
4. ARIZONA CARDINALS
With DeAndre Hopkins this air attack will be the best in the NFC. But Arizona is still one step behind the contenders.
Pick: 9-7
THE AWARDS
MVP: Patrick mahomes
Offensive Player of the Year: Lamar Jackson
Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt
Coach of the Year: Mike room
Offensive Rookie: Joe Burrow
Defensive Rookie: Chase Young
Return of the Year: Rob Gronkowski
THE PLAYOFFS
AFC
1.- Baltimore
2.- Kansas City
3.- Buffalo
4.- Houston
5.- New England
6.- Pittsburgh
7.- Indianapolis
NFC
1.- New Orleans
2.- Minnesota
3.- Seattle
4.- Dallas
5.- Tampa Bay
6.- San Francisco
7.- Green Bay
WILD CARD
Kansas City sobre Indianapolis
Buffalo sobre Pittsburgh
New England sobre Houston
Minnesota over Green Bay
Seattle over San Francisco
Tampa Bay over Dallas
RONDA DIVISIONAL
Baltimore over New England
Kansas City sobre Buffalo
Tampa Bay over New Orleans
Minnesota sobre Seattle
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Baltimore sobre Kansas City
Minnesota over Tampa Bay
SUPER BOWL LV
Baltimore over Minnesota
MVP: Lamar Jackson
–
