Gonzo’s NFL Prediction

By Alex Gonzalez
Well, it is finally that time of year, and without any outbreaks of COVID-19, the NFL season is here. It is starting on time, even though there are not going to be fans at some stadiums. Football is here, and we cannot wait. 

Come to think of it; football is America’s sport. Compared to the other three major sports: baseball, hockey, and basketball, football is the only sport that didn’t have any labor disagreements as the MLB did. They didn’t have to pack up their pads and helmets and move to a bubble like the NBA or take the sport to a different country like the NHL. 

Although the NFL is a money-making machine, they were able to use the money to test everyone who is part of the organization daily. With over 60,000 tests conducted, there was less than half a percent of positive cases. Whatever the NFL did as far as a protocol, it worked, and their season is starting on time. Let’s hope that there won’t be a stoppage in the middle of the season.

Since there isn’t high school football until the spring and limited college football across the country, I was able to see all the moves that were made during the offseason. It got me thinking about who will come out of each division and who will represent their conference in the Super Bowl. 

And no, I do not have the Chiefs repeating this year either like everyone else. There have been dozens of moves that all the teams made. Some, for example, was a smart decision by the Cardinals trading for DeAndre Hopkins. Others were head-scratchers, as in making Mitch Trubisky the starting quarterback for the Bears. 

This upcoming NFL season is the year that the Saints get over the hill and win Super Bowl LV. They have been knocking on the door for the last three seasons, and it is time that they finally break through. Drew Brees isn’t getting any younger, and only he knows how long he has left to contend for a championship. They will have to worry about Tom Brady and the Buccaneers with a loaded offense. However, the signing of him and Rob Gronkowski isn’t going to be enough to top New Orleans. 

The Green Bay Packers will win the NFC North and get a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in the NFC but will be bounced by the Cowboys in the Divisional. The Saints will host the Seahawks and MVP Russell Wilson and take care of them at the Super Dome. 

Over in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs will be the top seed in the conference and will be waiting for the winners of the Buffalo Bills versus Baltimore Ravens match up and the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting Cam Newton and the New England Patriots. Ultimately, the Chiefs will host the Ravens, and the Tennessee Titans will look to return to the AFC title game when the Patriots come into town. That won’t happen because both top seeds in the conference will be upset, and the Ravens will defeat the Patriots to claim the AFC crown. 

The Ravens playoff run will end at the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida when they run into a Saints team looking for its first championship since they defeated the Colts in 2010. Alvin Kamara will hoist the Vince Lombardy trophy as Super Bowl LV MVP as New Orleans beats Baltimore 42-28.  

2020 NFL Season  NFC AFC 
North Packers  13-3 (1)

Vikings 9-7 (6) 

Lions 7-9

Bears 6-10

Steelers 10-6 (4)

Ravens 10-6 (6)

Browns 5-11

Bengals 1-15

East  Cowboys 10-6 (4)

Eagles 9-7

Giants 7-9

Redskins 2-14

Bills 11-5 (3)

Patriots 10-6 (5) 

Jets 4-12

Dolphins 4-12

South  Saints 12-4 (2)

Buccaneers 9-7 (5)

Falcons 8-8

Panthers  3-13

Titans 13-3 (2)

Colts 10-6

Texans 8-8

Jaguars 4-12

West  Seahawks 12-4 (3)

49ers 10-6

Rams 9-7

Cardinals 7-9

Chiefs 14-2 (1)

Raiders 9-7

Broncos 6-10

Chargers 4-12

1 Comment to "Gonzo’s NFL Prediction"

  1. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    September 12, 2020 - 11:04 pm | Permalink

    Here’s to the NFL; I hope everything works out well.
    It’s a shame that the Rams and Chargers can’t allow fans in for their opening games at brand-new SoFi Stadium. Perhaps the public health situation will improve to the point that at least some fans can be admitted during the second half of the regular season.
    I enjoyed your NFL predictions, Gonzo. I’d like to provide some of my own takes:

    1. I like the Rams and the 49ers in the NFC West; I think both are playoff-caliber teams.
    The Rams will do well if Jared Goff can play like he did in 2017 and ’18, and if someone can step up to replace Todd Gurley as their primary running back. I believe the Rams’ defense will be all right as long as they can avoid a raft of injuries.
    The 49ers wisely built around their defense going into last season, and their offense got the job done most of the time. Look out for them again, especially if they can improve their offense.
    2. Don’t bet against the Kansas City Chiefs as long as a healthy Patrick Mahomes is running the show and has good receivers to throw to. Then, they should be right in it if they can play some defense.
    3. For whatever reasons, quarterback has long been a problematic position for teams like Chicago, Miami, Jacksonville, and the New York Jets. One might think that finding the answers as to why that is would lead to a solution in each of those places.
    4. I’m skeptical about whether the Raiders can finish above the .500 mark, let alone make the playoffs out of the AFC West. However, their move to Las Vegas, combined with consistently good performances from quarterback Derek Carr and an effective running game, could get them there.
    I believe the L.A. Chargers have the potential to be competitive, but they have to play good defense, avoid mistakes on offense, and run the ball well enough to take some of the pressure off new starting QB Tyrod Taylor.
    5. I’m optimistic that the Philadelphia Eagles can exceed the 9-7 record you forecast for them in the NFC East. They should be contenders if they can get good quarterback play.
    I think you have the New York Giants correctly pegged; they’ve been at or below the .500 mark most of the time for the last several years. I don’t see them making a quantum leap this season.

    I hope the athletes can all stay healthy and achieve a high level of play despite the scarcity or total lack of fans in the stadiums around the league.

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