NFL Way-To-Early Predictions & Hot Takes

Author: Dawson Haywood

Tom Brady defeats the Patriots in Foxborough
If Brady pulls away with a win in New England, Bill Belichick's legacy is going to be in question. Many will settle the debate on if Brady needed Belichick and vice versa at the conclusion of this game. If Brady does lose, the debate still goes on because he does have a Super Bowl under his belt without Belichick. It's hard for me to picture a scenario which Cam Newton or Mac Jones can lead an offense to score more points than a Tom Brady driven offence. Though New England has been fighting tooth and nail this offseason to build a star studded roster, chemistry needs to be built, and 4 weeks into the season is not enough time for this team to figure it out just yet. If this game was played closer to the end of the season I may not have this take. 

Kansas City goes through a Super Bowl Hangover
We have seen it happen in the past. A team makes it to the big game, loses, and does not perform as well in the following season. I believe this year is Kansas City's turn to go through a Super Bowl hangover. For the Chiefs, a hangover is not having a losing season. I do not see a scenario in which the Chiefs lose more than four games. A hangover for the Chiefs means they do not make the Super Bowl. Unless your name is Tom Brady making three Super Bowls in a row is not an easy thing to do. I believe coming out of the AFC we will see either the Bills, Browns, or Ravens make it to the Super Bowl... which brings me to my next point.

The Cleveland Browns are real Super Bowl contenders
I can't believe we are actually talking about the Cleveland Browns making it to the Super Bowl but here we are. The Browns are easily a top-5 team in the AFC this year if not top-3. The Chiefs, Bills, and maybe the Ravens are the only teams in the conference I see giving Cleveland trouble. After finishing 11-5 last season there is now a standard that has been set for the organization. With Baker Mayfield leading the charge his competitiveness is going to keep the team honest for this long upcoming season. 

The NFC East Continues to Struggle
Last season for the division was obviously sorry and quite honestly nothing pleases me more than to see this division struggle except for the drama Green Bay is having to go through with Aaron Rodgers.  We may see one team from the division have a winning record and if I had to put money on it, the Washington Football Team would be the team to do it. Last year they were the only division to not have a team go above .500 and the other seven divisions had at least two teams to finish at or above .500. The division will still be competitive amongst one another but outside of the division, do not expect much success.

The NFC North is Wide Open
With Aaron Rodgers creating drama within the Green Bay organization whether he stays or goes this hurts the organization, but the Vikings have remained a step or two behind the Packers and the Bears and Lions have made significant changes this offseason to become contenders for the division title. This may be my own bias and optimism, but I believe the NFC North will be the biggest question mark this season.