September 6, 2016 at 4:49 p.m.
Arizona will be champs
Rays of Insight
“I’ll then take the Broncos for the win, giving Peyton Manning the opportunity to ride off into the sunset as a champion.”
That’s what I said last year at this time. I was right about that part, but wrong about the opponent I thought would meet Denver in the Super Bowl. Though the Arizona Cardinals had an excellent season, they could not overcome the Carolina Panthers in the NFC.
Can Denver even come close to making another Super Bowl run with Manning now spending his Sundays at home? Does his departure leave Cam Newton to walk to the title? Is some team going to shock us all and go from a losing record to the Super Bowl?
Here are my answers:
Repeat champs
Cincinnati Bengals — A lot of experts love Pittsburgh, but the Steelers have already lost Le’Veon Bell (three games) and Martavis Bryant (season) to suspensions. Meanwhile, Cincinnati gave up fewer points than any team in the AFC last season and its only big loss was offensive coordinator Hue Jackson leaving for Cleveland.
Carolina Panthers — Since opening the 2014 season at 3-8-1, they are 19-1 in their last 20 regular-season games. They get Kelvin Benjamin back. The NFC South is theirs to lose.
New England Patriots — Yes, Tom Brady will sit for four games. Yes, Dion Lewis is already hurt. Yes, their receiving corps is still a mess. But until the Patriots give me a reason to not believe in them, I will believe in them.
Back on top
Green Bay Packers — They just missed the NFC North title last year despite not having Jordy Nelson because of injury. With Teddy Bridgewater out for the Vikings, Green Bay will rise back to the top.
Seattle Seahawks — After stumbling out of the blocks last season, Seattle found its footing and made the playoffs before falling in Carolina. The Seahawks are a veteran squad in no danger of fading any time soon.
Indianapolis Colts — This is an unenthusiastic pick, not because I don’t like the Colts — I’m apathetic toward them — but because I don’t think any team in this division is very good. Whoever gets to nine wins first takes it.
Dallas Cowboys — If I could pick no one from the NFC East, I would. The Cowboys are nothing more than a roll of the dice among a group of mediocre teams. Their fate will fall heavily on the shoulders of rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott.
The new face
Kansas City Chiefs — The Broncos have won the last five AFC West championships — the first with Tim Tebow under center and the rest with Manning. An 11-win team last season, Kansas City is primed to step in and take control.
Wild cards
Arizona Cardinals — They won’t win the division again, but they’re an easy pick for the playoffs. They have a great coach (Bruce Arians), great receivers and a variety of talented runners. They’ll be playing football in January.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Even though the suspensions will hurt them, they’re still a playoff team. Pittsburgh will be fine as long as Ben Roethlisberger can stay reasonably healthy.
Denver Broncos — They made it to the playoffs with mediocre quarterback play (19 touchdowns, 23 interceptions) thanks to a great defense. They can do it again, right?
Detroit Lions — I’m not excited about any of the options for the final playoff spot, but Detroit got its act together late last season and nearly got to .500.
The playoffs
I don’t believe strongly in Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City or Denver, so let’s throw them out of the conversation.
That leaves four strong NFC teams — Carolina, Arizona, Green Bay and Seattle. It’s tough to repeat, so I’m taking Arizona and Seattle to meet in the championship game. And I’m back on the Cardinals’ bandwagon to make the big game in Houston.
I’m left with three teams — Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and New England — in the AFC. Cincinnati will dispose of Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but Tom Brady will be back in top form by January. This will be the seventh Super Bowl appearance for the Bill Belichick/Brady duo.
The Super Bowl
A fifth Super Bowl ring for coach and quarterback would be a historic accomplishment. But that’s not my pick.
For several seasons I’ve been all about Arizona. I love Arians, who should have gotten a head coaching job much sooner. I love the Carson Palmer career resurrection. I love that Larry Fitzgerald has been rejuvenated.
The Cardinals are my pick to win it all.
That’s what I said last year at this time. I was right about that part, but wrong about the opponent I thought would meet Denver in the Super Bowl. Though the Arizona Cardinals had an excellent season, they could not overcome the Carolina Panthers in the NFC.
Can Denver even come close to making another Super Bowl run with Manning now spending his Sundays at home? Does his departure leave Cam Newton to walk to the title? Is some team going to shock us all and go from a losing record to the Super Bowl?
Here are my answers:
Repeat champs
Cincinnati Bengals — A lot of experts love Pittsburgh, but the Steelers have already lost Le’Veon Bell (three games) and Martavis Bryant (season) to suspensions. Meanwhile, Cincinnati gave up fewer points than any team in the AFC last season and its only big loss was offensive coordinator Hue Jackson leaving for Cleveland.
Carolina Panthers — Since opening the 2014 season at 3-8-1, they are 19-1 in their last 20 regular-season games. They get Kelvin Benjamin back. The NFC South is theirs to lose.
New England Patriots — Yes, Tom Brady will sit for four games. Yes, Dion Lewis is already hurt. Yes, their receiving corps is still a mess. But until the Patriots give me a reason to not believe in them, I will believe in them.
Back on top
Green Bay Packers — They just missed the NFC North title last year despite not having Jordy Nelson because of injury. With Teddy Bridgewater out for the Vikings, Green Bay will rise back to the top.
Seattle Seahawks — After stumbling out of the blocks last season, Seattle found its footing and made the playoffs before falling in Carolina. The Seahawks are a veteran squad in no danger of fading any time soon.
Indianapolis Colts — This is an unenthusiastic pick, not because I don’t like the Colts — I’m apathetic toward them — but because I don’t think any team in this division is very good. Whoever gets to nine wins first takes it.
Dallas Cowboys — If I could pick no one from the NFC East, I would. The Cowboys are nothing more than a roll of the dice among a group of mediocre teams. Their fate will fall heavily on the shoulders of rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott.
The new face
Kansas City Chiefs — The Broncos have won the last five AFC West championships — the first with Tim Tebow under center and the rest with Manning. An 11-win team last season, Kansas City is primed to step in and take control.
Wild cards
Arizona Cardinals — They won’t win the division again, but they’re an easy pick for the playoffs. They have a great coach (Bruce Arians), great receivers and a variety of talented runners. They’ll be playing football in January.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Even though the suspensions will hurt them, they’re still a playoff team. Pittsburgh will be fine as long as Ben Roethlisberger can stay reasonably healthy.
Denver Broncos — They made it to the playoffs with mediocre quarterback play (19 touchdowns, 23 interceptions) thanks to a great defense. They can do it again, right?
Detroit Lions — I’m not excited about any of the options for the final playoff spot, but Detroit got its act together late last season and nearly got to .500.
The playoffs
I don’t believe strongly in Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City or Denver, so let’s throw them out of the conversation.
That leaves four strong NFC teams — Carolina, Arizona, Green Bay and Seattle. It’s tough to repeat, so I’m taking Arizona and Seattle to meet in the championship game. And I’m back on the Cardinals’ bandwagon to make the big game in Houston.
I’m left with three teams — Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and New England — in the AFC. Cincinnati will dispose of Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but Tom Brady will be back in top form by January. This will be the seventh Super Bowl appearance for the Bill Belichick/Brady duo.
The Super Bowl
A fifth Super Bowl ring for coach and quarterback would be a historic accomplishment. But that’s not my pick.
For several seasons I’ve been all about Arizona. I love Arians, who should have gotten a head coaching job much sooner. I love the Carson Palmer career resurrection. I love that Larry Fitzgerald has been rejuvenated.
The Cardinals are my pick to win it all.
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