By Tim Byrnes
With the 2025 NFL season upon us, questions and predictions dominate the minds of fans and media talking-heads alike.
Will Philly go back-to-back or will the Chiefs retake the Lombardi Trophy? Will either team even make it that far?
Every fan is convincing themselves, at this moment, that their team has a shot; rationalizing how everyone is gonna have a career year and they can get to the playoffs.
With those thoughts some topics pondered:
What should we expect from Saquon Barkley this season?
After rushing for 2,005 yards on 345 carries, experts wonder will Barkley have a typical follow-up season most 2000-yard rushers have and continue to produce 1,000-yard seasons.
Will he be like Derrick Henry and have another near 2000 yard year, four years from now, or will it be like the career path of Broncos great Terrell Davis?
In 1998, Davis ran for 2,008 yards on 392 carries, similar to Barkley, but never sniffed 1,000 yards again.
The wear and tear of historic seasons can alter career paths, and Davis had just 211 yards the following season, when he blew out his knee in week 4.
Prediction:
-260 carries-1300 yards-9 TD’s
-45 rec-250 yards-2 TD’s
How long will future Hall-of-Famer Russell Wilson be the starting qb for the New York Giants?
Wilson signed a 1 yr-$10.5m contract to lead the New York Giants but he comes with recent baggage.
The Seahawks traded him to Denver after he demanded the firing of coach Pete Carroll in 2022.
Injuries and below average play plagued his time in Colorado and he was released two seasons later.
Last season he signed a one year contract with Pittsburgh Steelers and injuries kept him from starting until week 7. He lost the last five games of the year, including a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart preseason stats: 32/47 372 yards, 3 TDs passing.
6 rushes-52 yards-1 TD
Prediction:
-The Giants will be the Giants, lose games early, and Wilson will be replaced by week 8 by Dart.
Who is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year?
The Las Vegas Raiders are putting pieces in place to return the franchise to its glory years.
A new GM, in former Tampa Bay Bucs assistant GM John Spytek, Super Bowl winning coach in Pete Carroll, and the wisdom of minority owner Tom Brady.
That said according the Draft Sharks, starting qb Geno Smith has a 33% chance to miss games due to injury.
StatMuse ranks the Raiders overall blocking 18th in the NFL and last years unit gave up the 8th most sacks (50) so Smith missing time seems likely.
Backup Aidan O’Connell is out at least six weeks with a broken wrist and Cam Miller is far from ready so I expect the Raiders are gonna run; a lot.
Prediction:
-Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty will go 260 carries-1300 yards-9 TD’s on the ground and 30 receptions-250 yards-2 TD’ss receiving.
He will be a Rookie of the Year!
Will Seahawks QB Sam Darnold make the Vikings regret letting him walk away?
Darnold had about as good a season as a quarterback could have, going 14-3 and leading his team to a wild card playoff game against the LA Rams, which they lost 27-9.
Completing over 66% of his passes, Darnold threw for 4319 yards 35 TD’s/12 int’s and rushed 67 times for 212 yards and a td, to have a career year.
He made the Pro Bowl and garnered 10th in MVP voting but was shown the door for Michigan alumnus JJ McCarthy.
He goes from stud receivers Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison to former Super Bowl MVP and Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp/Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
Note: Colorado State star wide receiver Tory Horton beat out Marquez Valdes-Scantling the WR3 slot and he is likely gonna get 700+ yards as the 3rd and 4th option.
Prediction:
-While Darnold’s stats will likely dip some, he will prove last year wasn’t a fluke, and lead his Seattle team to a 10-7 record and a wild card slot.
Week 1 picks:
-Philly over Dal
-KC over LAC
-Wash over NYG
-TBay over Atl
-Jax over Car
-Mia over Indy
-NE over LV
-Pitt over NYJ
-Cin over Cle
-Ari over NO
-Sea over SF
-Den over Ten
-Det over GBay
-LAR over Hou
-Balt over Buf
-Chi over Minn
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