Well it’s finally here! Football is back and I — along with millions of other fans — can finally breathe again. As a guy who says he knows the NFL, I surely didn’t look it last year.
My Super Bowl pick last year was the Houston Texans beating the Atlanta Falcons. That hurt just to type.
My champs-to-be actually finished with the worst record in football, in fact – and my NFC champs finished with the 6th worst record. That’s actually remarkable. Before the season both teams were just about locks for the playoffs. Then they recklessly spiraled downward, and my prediction became the laughing stock of my house. Give me some credit: I did pick Luke Kuechly to win the defensive player of the year award, which he did. This was the only thing I did right at this time last year. However, it’s a new year and I can smell the glory when you look back on my picks 4 months from now. With that said, here we go:
MVP: Drew Brees
Drew Brees is the only QB to throw for 5000 yards in 3 straight seasons
I know what I should do. I should just play it safe and take Peyton. He’s too good and already has a record of 5 MVP awards. Unfortunately (or not) I don’t believe Peyton will have 6. The New Orleans Saints offense is primed for another big year, and could be aiming at some of the records set by the Broncos offense last year. Drew Brees is the only QB to throw for 5000 yards in 3 straight seasons. If the Saints can stay healthy and protect Brees he will be the only QB to do it in 4 straight seasons. Brees is a technician and has a high tempo offense filled with weapons. Rookie Brandin Cooks will give them an upgrade over Lance Moore. Colston, Meachem, and Stills are still there and rumors are going around are that the tight end in New Orleans is pretty good too. Add in pass catching running back Pierre Thomas and what do you get? You get the highest powered offensive attack of 2014 and a nightmare for defenses. Brees should be licking his chops week in and week out, and holding the MVP when it’s all over.
Other candidates: Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Lesean McCoy, Calvin Johnson, JJ Watt.
OPOY:Peyton Manning
After last year’s Super Bowl, it is almost scary to think how motivated Peyton Manning will be.
This award has to go to Peyton if he doesn’t win the MVP. He’s going to put up big numbers again, although I can’t see him hitting those records again. The Broncos are big favorites to go deep into the playoffs. After last year’s performance in the Super Bowl, it is almost scary to think how motivated Peyton Manning will be. Good luck to anyone standing in his way.
Other candidates: Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Lesean McCoy, Adrian Peterson, Jay Cutler.
DPOY: JJ Watt
The NFL’s highest-paid defensive end will be readily proving his worth.
This one is easy.
Will I be wrong? It’s possible. It’s not likely though. JJ Watt is a bad man. He is unblockable, not to mention Mr. Watt just got a 100 million dollar contract. He also got the most feared defensive player in college football last year next to him. This just seems too right. Thouhg Jadeveon Clowney will take some attention off Watt, if you ask one man to stop JJ he will eat your QB every play. Seriously, I think he breaks Strahan’s single season sack record this year. It’s a passing league, which means on defense it’s a pass rusher’s league. I won’t pick the Texans to win it all, but I have no problem betting on Watt winning this award.
Other candidates: Luke Kuechly, Earl Thomas, Robert Quinn, Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman.
OROY:Blake Bortles
The Jags confuse me. They intend on letting third overall pick watch Chad Henne lose a bunch of games “to help him grow”. I don’t buy it. Blake Bortles showed up in the preseason in a big way; by the time week 6 rolls around, Bortles will be in. Whether by injury or poor play from Henne, it just makes sense. Chad Henne is not exactly the superstar quarterback, so who’s to say Bortles isn’t already an upgrade? The Browns and Vikings seem to be taking the same approach with their rookie QB’s, but I believe all of them will be starters for their team before the season’s end. The reason I take Bortles over Bridgewater or Manziel is because I believe Bortles will be first to get named the starter. He might (I repeat, might) even put the Jags on the map as a respectable NFL team.
Other Candidates: Johnny Manziel, Brandin Cooks, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, Bishop Sankey, Sammy Watkins.
DROY: Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack is going to prove to be much more than just hype.
I want to take Clowney, but if my prediction about Watt is correct, Clowney won’t have the big numbers expected of him. The Raiders love Khalil Mack and they are going to line him up all over the field. He was a beast at Buffalo and he’s going to learn from vets like Justin Tuck, Lamaar Woodley, and Charles Woodson. Along with his rookie QB the Raiders future looks bright. Mack is a grown man and he’s going to show you he is a lot more than just hype.
Coach Caldwell is predicted to receive well-deserved credit with the Detroit Lions.
If Matthew Stafford can take the Lions to the next step, coach Jim Caldwell will get a lot of the credit he deserves. This award has a lot to do with the previous season (the league might say it doesn’t.. but it does). If the Broncos go 14-2 and the Lions go 11-5, it will be Caldwell over Fox. I don’t know why that is, but that’s how it usually goes. I do expect the Lions to take that next step and get a wild card. The only way this doesn’t happen is if Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler takes the next step and Marc Trestman wins the award. To be safe let’s just say the Coach of the Year will go to someone in the NFC North. McCarthy will be in the conversation in Green Bay as well. Queue the angry Viking fans and Mike Zimmer supporters.
Other Candidates: Marc Trestman, Sean Payton, Mike McCarthy, Mike Smith, Gus Bradley.
Fantasy Football MVP:LeSean McCoy
Lesean “Shady” McCoy seems poised to be this year’s Jamaal Charles.
For those of you who follow fantasy closely you know what Peyton did last year. Yet, he was not most fantasy experts season MVP. That’s because of Mr. Jamaal Charles. Yes Peyton had the most points, but fantasy football is about value. If you had Drew Brees you weren’t kicking yourself over not taking Manning. The running back position holds the most value because of the scarcity of the great ones. Lesean “Shady” McCoy seems poised to be this year’s Jamaal Charles. He’s the most elusive back in football, and he is the kingpin in Chip Kelly’s speedy offense. Shady has openly discussed his goal for 2000 yards this year. He will have a pretty decent chance to make it happen. If you throw in his ability to catch passes he seems like the guy who should be going number one in most leagues.
Other Candidates: Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte, Eddie Lacy, Dez Bryant.
And Finally.. My Super Bowl Prediction
I can literally guarantee that I will not pick the team who will pick first next year again. I’m willing to bet my house, car, and my right arm. Literally my right arm because if I do that bad again.. well, it’s unlikely I would write articles like this ever again.
Denver 38- New Orleans 31
I feel so much better about this prediction over last year’s. Just as Peyton and the Broncos can’t be that bad again in the Super Bowl, nobody prepares harder and you’ll be reminded of that once again. The Saints will be in the Super Bowl because they will lock up home field against Seattle and the Seahawks will get a taste of their own medicine. The Superdome is probably the closest thing to the Seahawks 12th man crowd. Brees and Manning will shoot it out, but the key additions on defense will help the Broncos, avenging last year’s disappointment.
I am 20 years old from Levittown, NY. Sports and Pop Culture enthusiast. I put my own spin on popular topics, while providing breaking news and sports updates.
