Let's Review Those Predictions
Halfway Through the Season I Am Proving that when it comes to football none of us have any idea what we are talking about
Two months ago, I made my predictions for the 2021 NFL Season. You won’t be surprised to learn that here, 61 days later, the prediction and the reality are in separate worlds.
NFC EAST Prediction: WAS, DAL, PHI, NYG
NFC EAST at the Halfway: DAL, PHI, NYG, WAS
I had absolutely no faith in any time in this division. I certainly did not peg the Dallas to be 6-2 at this point in the season. Nor did I suspect that Washington would once again self-destruct after winning the division title last year. Outside of Dallas, the entire NFC still really sucks though, like most of us assumed it would in total. No 7-9 division champ this year, at least.
NFC NORTH Prediction: GB, CHI, MIN, DET
NFC NORTH at the Halfway: GB, MIN, CHI, DET
Been an interesting year in Wisconsin, hasn’t it. Aaron Rodgers continues to be a colossal distraction for the team in any number of ways. And yet, the Packers are still 7-2 and have a comfortable lead over the rest of the division.
The Vikings are now 10-14 since I predicted them as a Super Bowl team last year…
NFC SOUTH Prediction: TB, NO, ATL, CAR
NFC SOUTH at the Halfway: TB, NO, ATL, CAR
Nailed this one, at least. It shows you, though, how top heavy the NFC is right now that Atlanta is 4-4 and still would be the 7th and last team in the NFC playoffs.
NFC WEST Prediction: LAR, SEA, ARI, SF
NFC WEST at the Halfway: ARI, LAR, SEA, SF
I gotta tell you, nobody thought that the Seahawks or the 49ers would be this bad. I mean, I predicted that the entire division would make the playoffs. The Rams and Cardinals are holding serve as two of the best teams in the NFL. The Seahawks have had injuries, and the 49ers look absolutely lost.
AFC EAST Prediction: BUF, MIA, NE, NYJ
AFC EAST at the Halfway: BUF, NE, NYJ, MIA
Speaking of teams that have self destructed, I assumed that Tua was going to lead the Dolphins to a playoffs spot. Instead, the Dolphins look like they are trying to turn themselves into the Jets of the south through bad coaching and bizarre front office management.
We also live in a world where Mac Jones beat our Cam Newton to be the starter and has the Patriots in a position to legitimately challenge the reeling Bills for the AFC East.
AFC NORTH Prediction: CLE, BAL, PIT, CIN
AFC NORTH at the Halfway: BAL, PIT, CLE, CIN
The entire division is over .500 and still in the race. But this is reverting to the Ravens in first, which is where I thought the Ravens would finish before half the team got injured. As Father Keanu pointed out, they still may kill me before season’s end. The Bengals are a year ahead of where I thought they would be. And the Steelers, assisted by the officials, are continuing to stay alive until Roethlisberger finally can’t be held together with duct tape.
AFC SOUTH Prediction: TEN, IND, JAX, HOU
AFC SOUTH at the Halfway: TEN, IND, JAX, HOU
Somehow, I nailed this one. Somehow the Titans have the best record in the AFC. Somehow the Jaguars have two wins. Somehow Urban Meyer still has a job. Somehow the Texans are even worse without Watson and Watt than anybody thought possible.
AFC WEST Prediction: KC, LAC, LV, DEN
AFC WEST at the Halfway: LAC, LV, KC, DEN
The Chiefs have been figured out. That is the most important thing to say about the AFC West. Yes, they are 5-4. Yes, they have won two in a row. But they are not fooling anybody right now. The Chargers are good but not great. The Raiders……….yeesh. I can’t see them finishing .500. How the Broncos keep it together as a 5-4 team after management gave up on the season by trading Von Miller will be interesting to watch. It’s reminiscent of the White Sox White Flag trade.
Playoff Seeds :
NFC Prediction: TB, LAR, GB, WAS, SEA, ARI, SF
NFC at the Halfway: ARI, GB, TB, DAL, LAR, NO, ATL
The top of the conference is virtually in-line, even swapping out the Rams for the Cardinals. The back half of the playoffs…..who knows what that will look like. Detroit is really the only team out of the playoff hunt.
AFC Prediction: KC, BUF, CLE, TEN, LAC, MIA, BAL
AFC at the Halfway: TEN, BAL, LAC, BUF, LV, PIT, NE
As far as this prediction goes? Ouch. But what’s wild is the fact that there are FIVE teams tied at 5-4. Along with New England, there’s Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, and Kansas City. They’re all half-a-game behind the 5-3 Bills, Chargers, Raiders and Steelers. That’s NINE teams within half-a-game of each other, plus 4-5 Indianapolis on their heels.
The NFL is certainly getting the parity they desire.
And yet, my Super Bowl prediction of Rams over Browns is still a possibility.