Last year ended with the Los Angeles Rams winning their second Super Bowl. Will they repeat their victory? Will Tom Brady win his eighth ring? Or, will there be a new team that goes on a magical run, much like the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals. With the 2022 NFL season right around the corner, this is how I think the season will play out.
NFC NORTH
- Green Bay Packers (11-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (10-7)
- Detroit Lions (7-10)
- Chicago Bears (5-12)
Aaron Rodgers will do just enough to carry Green Bay to first place, but not without resistance from the Vikings and their new pass-friendly offense. Detroit will show improvement under second year head coach, Dan Campbell. The Bears will attempt to claw their way to victory, but regardless, there’s always next year.
NFC EAST
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-9)
- New York Giants (7-10)
- Washington Commanders (6-11)
The division that was maligned for its performance in 2020 will strike again. The Eagles will attempt to get to nine wins, enough to be crowned the division champs. The Cowboys, Giants and Commanders aren’t historically the most successful teams, however, the Giants will show major improvement under first year head coach Brain Daboll.
NFC SOUTH
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-3)
- New Orleans Saints (7-10)
- Carolina Panthers (7-10)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-13)
Tampa Bay may be the No. 1 seed in the entire NFC — Brady didn’t come back just to sit around, and now it has added Julio Jones too! Baker Mayfield might have a moment or two.
NFC WEST
- Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-6)
- Arizona Cardinals (9-8)
- Seattle Seahawks (5-12)
The Rams will bounce back off their Super Bowl win with another strong regular season. Trey Lance will heighten aspirations for the future within the San Francisco front office and fan base. The Cardinals remain a big unknown, and Seattle is rolling with Geno Smith or Drew Lock — can’t get much worse than that. But, the underdog story is never one to underestimate.
AFC NORTH
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
- Cincinnati Bengals (11-6)
- Cleveland Browns (10-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Now that the Baltimore Ravens have a healthy squad, they once again may be the team to beat in this division. The Bengals will do well, just well enough to squeeze into the playoffs in a loaded AFC. The Browns will struggle to open the season. Mike Tomlin will continue his streak of never enduring a losing season as head coach of the Steelers.
AFC EAST
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- New England Patriots (10-7)
- Miami Dolphins (9-8)
- New York Jets (5-12)
I’m banking on the Bills bouncing back from the most heartbreaking loss I’ve seen in a playoff game. I felt like that was their chance. In a much more loaded AFC conference, they will have to be even better than they were last year. New England will still be a force. Miami’s offense should be explosive. The Jets will come down to Zach Wilson.
AFC SOUTH
- Indianapolis Colts (10-7)
- Tennessee Titans (9-8)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-11)
- Houston Texans (3-14)
The weakest division in the AFC is in the South, and it will be a battle between the Titans and Colts. Indianapolis should reign supreme as long as Jonathan Taylor is what he was last year.
AFC WEST
- Los Angeles Chargers (13-4)
- Denver Broncos (12-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (10-6)
Possibly the greatest division I can remember. I just believe in Justin Herbert and that Los Angeles roster, a roster that is second to none. Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos are a match made in heaven, with both a talented roster and an offense catered to him. Kansas City will still be Kansas City, but without Tyreek Hill, how much will its explosive offense suffer? The Raiders will be the best fourth-place team in the entire NFL, however, it won’t be enough to get them into the playoffs.
