NFL 2018 Season Predictions

[Zzzptm]

Now to make sense of a world in which the Bears are on top of the NFC North...

That will be temporary.

DECEMBER 2018 UPDATE:

No, it is not.

Only took you 11 weeks to rebut.  Gutsy. 

Well, anything less would still be "temporary".

[Typhon]

Now to make sense of a world in which the Bears are on top of the NFC North...

That will be temporary.

DECEMBER 2018 UPDATE:

No, it is not.

Only took you 11 weeks to rebut.  Gutsy. 

Well, anything less would still be "temporary".

I'm talking about your lack of confidence in your own predictions.

[Zzzptm]

I'm talking about your lack of confidence in your own predictions.

Well, I had always planned to take a look at what I and others thought at the start of the season once the playoff picture started to shape up. 11 weeks ago, Bears on top of the NFC North was a fluke, sure to smooth out once McCarthy got the Packers righted and the Vikings got their machine going under Kirk Cousins.

Now, the Bears are still on top, all but clinched the division, McCarthy is out of a job and the Vikings are in a scramble for the other wildcard slot next to the Seahawks.

As for what I hoped for at the start of the year, the Rams delivered, but the 49ers melted away after Garappolo went out with an injury. Wentz is still fun to watch play, but Philly's having a rough go of it this year. The Giants pulled it together too late this year, but are producing some powerful contests with Barkley doing what he does best. Redskins looked great until they burned through their QB depth chart with injuries.

Oakland went nowhere fast, but I'm glad Cooper got the plane ticket to Dallas all right. That turned things around for the Cowboys and with their defense - even without Lee - they're looking like strong contenders.

Chicago and Houston beat my expectations, Cleveland exceeded them slightly, and the Dolphins also produced a little surprise. Tampa and Cincy, however, did not exceed expectations at all.

I like the surprises this year, overall. Especially whenever a team in the basement turns the corner and gets back to where people can do that crazy December math about how, if they win out and this other team loses all three and this other other team loses only 2 games, no more no less, then they got a shot at a wildcard slot. Cleveland fans are actually talking about a scenario in which the Steelers lose their next 3 and they win their next 3 to take the AFC North.

[Zzzptm]

OK, wild card round... my picks:

Houston over Indy
Dallas over Seattle
Chargers over Ravens
Bears over Eagles

[Jack the Stripper]

My picks for wild card weekend are

Colts
Cowboys 💙
Ravens
Bears

[discman69]

Texans
Cowboys
Ravens
Bears

I cannot have the Eagles win and the Cowboys lose. If that happens I will never hear the end of it over here. Let's go Boys!

[Typhon]

I'll take a stab at it. 
For Saturday:  Indi, Dall

[Zzzptm]

Right now, Indianapolis is DOMINATING the Texans. I thought there would be a close game, but the Texans are sleepwalking out there...

[Vyn]

Three and a half minutes left in that game. Indianapolis has it in the bag.

[Zzzptm]

Three and a half minutes left in that game. Indianapolis has it in the bag.

Yeah, KC will have a play date with Indy in a week.

[Vyn]

I'm just not too excited about KC right at the moment. We've been to the playoffs (usually as wildcards) regularly. And it has always been one and out. I don't know if that is the "curse of Reid" or what, but if KC manages to win next weekend, then I'll get stoked.

Our defense is as bad as our offense is good. We can't stop the run, and our o-line gives Mahomes about one second before he has to turn into a gymnast to avoid getting plowed.

One thing is a fact, though. We'll see in a week

[Zzzptm]

I'm just not too excited about KC right at the moment. We've been to the playoffs (usually as wildcards) regularly. And it has always been one and out. I don't know if that is the "curse of Reid" or what, but if KC manages to win next weekend, then I'll get stoked.

Our defense is as bad as our offense is good. We can't stop the run, and our o-line gives Mahomes about one second before he has to turn into a gymnast to avoid getting plowed.

One thing is a fact, though. We'll see in a week

Yeah, the KC defense is what I'm concerned about most with that team. And Indy's got a hot runner, so they best figure out what to do when the ball's not in the air... or they better be able to spin those numbers on the scoreboard so that it just doesn't matter.

[Zzzptm]

Cowboys-Seahawks game looks to be favoring the Cowboys right now.

That turnover in the end zone was scary, but Seattle had two critical penalties that stuffed their drive, followed by more defensive penalties that sustained Dallas' drive. We'll see if Dallas can keep it all together. Their defense has certainly been doing a great job, that's for sure!

EDIT: 

[Typhon]

I'll take a stab at it. 
For Saturday:  Indi, Dall

For Sunday:  S.D., Chic

[Zzzptm]

I'll take a stab at it. 
For Saturday:  Indi, Dall

For Sunday:  S.D., Chic

Chargers sure did bring it. That poor Jackson, though... Every Ravens fan is asking, "Why didn't Flacco go in?"