#25 Kansas City Chiefs
2020 record: 14-2-0
2021 record prediction: 15-2-0
The Kansas City Chiefs have had a dynamic offense ever since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback. They were the best offense in the entire league last season, and I expect more of the same from them this season. Not only do they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Mahomes, but they also have numerous weapons for him to use: running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, wide receiver Mecole Hardman, and tight end Travis Kelce. All of these players are capable of having a clutch play at any moment during a game, and Mahomes is able to put the ball where it needs to be on almost every throw. Their defense was ranked directly in the middle of the pack at 16th during the 2020 season, and I think they will be around that same area for the 2021 year. If they are able to stay in the middle of the pack, then there is a high probability they acquire the top seed in the AFC when the playoffs roll around. With key players like safety Tyrann Mathieu and defensive end Chris Jones, the Chiefs should be able to perform the same or even better than they did last season. It honestly looks like the Chiefs are becoming the New England Patriots, as they have been to back to back super bowls and won one. They are likely the favorites in the AFC heading into week 1 of the regular season, and I highly doubt they will disappoint.
#26 New York Jets
2020 record: 2-14-0
2021 record prediction: 4-13-0
The New York Jets were the second worst team in the NFL last year, as they were only one game better than the Jacksonville Jaguars. By winning one more game than the Jaguars, they missed out on the first overall draft pick, Trevor Lawrence, so they ended up taking quarterback Zach Wilson out of BYU. The Jets also acquired wide receiver Corey Davis from free agency. He was a good #2 wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans and worked well alongside A.J. Brown. So, Wilson will have a fairly reliable receiver to go to in crunch time, but the Jets still have a long way to go before they are ready to compete at an elite level. There are still gaping holes scattered throughout their roster, and it might take them a couple more drafts and free agency signings before they are ready to be in playoff conversations. Although they still have a long way to go, I think the Jets improved a decent bit with their free agency acquisitions and draft picks. I think they will win a couple more games than last season due to their improvements and because of their schedule having a few winnable games on it.
#27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020 record: 11-5
2021 record prediction: 13-4
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the 2nd best odds to win the Super Bowl this season, right behind the Kansas City Chiefs. Like the Chiefs, the Buccaneers have a loaded roster on both offense and defense that will be hard for anyone to stop. On the offensive side of the ball, Tom Brady has numerous weapons: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski. Not to mention their backup running back, Ronald Jones, averaged over five yards per carry on 192 rushes. The offense had a few tough games where they could not get the ball moving, but they have had over a year to gel as a unit. They were ranked 7th in the league in total offense last season, and they should be even better this season. The Buccaneers ended on a hot streak by winning their last four regular season games and went on to win the Super Bowl as a wild card team, meaning they have won their last eight games. Their defense was one of the best in the league at 8th overall, and they have numerous playmakers on that side of the ball: Devin White, Ndamukong Suh, Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis, and Jason Pierre-Paul. Their defense created 25 turnovers last season, which was 6th best in the league, which helped out their offense when they were struggling. Their division is really a two headed race between themselves and the New Orleans Saints, since the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons are both in rebuilding mode. I expect the Buccaneers to finish 13-4 and be one of the best teams in the NFC heading into the playoffs.
#28 New Orleans Saints
2020 record: 12-4-0
2021 record prediction: 12-5-0
The New Orleans Saints lost their long time starting quarterback, Drew Brees, coming into this season because he chose to retire. This decision put the Saints in a tough position because they had to name a starter between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Ultimately, Winston won the starting job for week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, which I believe will be their only loss until week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. Brees had a decent season with the Saints last year, as he went 9-3 as the starter and threw for 24 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. However, the Saints went 3-1 without Drew Brees in 2020, so losing him does not seem to be a major issue heading into the 2021 season. Not to mention the Saints still have a star running back in Alvin Kamara that can run and catch the football better than almost any running back in the league. They had an above average offense last season, as they ranked 12th in the league, and I think they will be at about the same ranking for the 2021 season. They might be 14th or 15th, but they should be able to maintain a relatively efficient offense. Their defense kept them in a lot of games last year, as their defense was ranked 6th overall in the 2020 season. Additionally, they allowed just 20.8 points per game, which kept them in the top 6 in that category. They should be about the same team they were last season, and their schedule is fairly difficult for the 2021 season, so I think the will be 2nd in the division to the Buccaneers and finish half a game worse than they were in 2020.
#29 Los Angeles Rams
2020 record: 10-6-0
2021 record prediction: 12-5-0
The Los Angeles Rams traded their starting quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions to acquire Matthew Stafford. This trade makes the Rams a very dangerous team entering into the 2021 season. They have one of the most difficult divisions in the NFC, as every team in that division will likely have a winning record. In my opinion, Matthew Stafford is a much better quarterback than Jared Goff, and this trade was a massive win for the Rams. There are a few weapons that Stafford can rely on, including Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Tyler Higbee. They were ranked 11th overall in team offense last season, but Stafford will likely take them a few ranks higher for the 2021 season. He has a nice running back combo with him in the backfield that includes Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson. The mainstay for the Rams has been their defense over the past few years, and they were ranked 2nd in overall defense for the 2020 season. Their defense was one of the best at stopping the run, as they allowed just over 90 rushing yards per game. If they had an easier division, they would probably have the best record in the NFC. However, they have to play the 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals two games each, so they will be improved from last year, but they will not attain a bye week for the playoffs. The Rams are a definite sleeper pick to go to the Super Bowl this season, and it would not surprise me if they could go all the way.
#30 San Francisco 49ers
2020 record: 6-10-0
2021 record prediction: 11-6-0
The San Francisco 49ers were one of the unluckier teams last season, as their starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, was injured and out for the season before the halfway point. They were just 3-3 with him as the starter, but I think he will come back and play a little bit better than he did in 2020. He struggled last year, as he threw just 7 touchdowns to 5 interceptions through his six starts. They were average on both sides of the ball last season, but they lost their starting quarterback and their best defender, Nick Bosa, to injuries. In Bosa’s case, he was injured during their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. With Bosa back, the 49ers should be close to the top 10 in total defense for the upcoming season. With Garoppolo back, the 49er offense should be closer to the top 10 as well. They went to the Super Bowl two years ago and almost defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. I believe they will have a major bounce back season, and they will definitely be in the running for one of the three wild card spots in the NFC. Not to mention, if Garoppolo got injured again, they have a solid backup in their 2021 first round pick, Trey Lance.
#31 Seattle Seahawks
2020 record: 12-4-0
2021 record prediction: 11-6-0
The Seattle Seahawks had a pretty good season last year, despite losing three out of four games during the midway point in the season. Russell Wilson continues to play at an elite level, as he threw for 40 touchdowns to 13 interceptions last season. The Seahawks offense ranked just 17th in the league last year, but that was partially because their starting running back, Chris Carson, missed a month of the season due to injury. The passing offense should still be lethal with two major weapons in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Metcalf is the best receiver on the team, and he is going into the 3rd year of his career. I expect him to have an even better season than last year, and he might attain 1,500 receiving yards this season.Their defense struggled for a majority of the season, but they started playing extremely well during the final 8 games of the regular season, as they allowed an average of just 16 points per game over that stretch. If the defense can play like they did for the last half of the season last year, then the Seahawks have a high chance of having another crack at a Super Bowl run for the 2021 season. This division is the most competitive in the NFC, so I see them doing a little bit worse than last year. However, I still see them likely making the playoffs as a wild card team, and they are always a tough outing in the postseason.
#32 Philadelphia Eagles
2020 record: 4-11-1
2021 record prediction: 6-11-0
Although the Philadelphia Eagles have the easiest schedule in the NFL this season, I think they have a long way to go before they are ready to be a playoff contender. Since they have the easiest schedule in the league, I believe they will win a couple more games than they did last year. Jalen Hurts had a 1-3 record during his rookie season in 2020, but he showed some signs of life during his opportunities. One major problem was his completion percentage, which was a lowly 52% with 148 pass attempts. He was able to throw for 6 touchdowns to 4 interceptions, which are average numbers at best. The Eagles will need him to step up if they plan on winning more than four games this year. I believe that he will improve upon his rookie year and perform better due to him acquiring an extra year of experience in the system. I expect his completion percentage to be closer to 60% for the 2021 season, and he can lead them to about six wins this year. He also has running back Miles Sanders alongside him in the backfield, who ran for over 800 yards and averaged over 5 yards per carry last season. Not to mention the Eagles acquired former Alabama wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, with their 2021 first round draft pick. With Smith added to the receiving corps, I believe the passing attack will be much improved and complement the running game that Miles Sanders provides. The Eagles defense was not the worst, as they ranked 21st in the league last year. If they can crack the top 20 on that side of the ball, then I believe the Eagles have a good chance to win about 6 games this year.
AFC: #1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) NFC: #1 Green Bay Packers (14-3)
#2 Buffalo Bills (14-3) #2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
#3 Cleveland Browns (13-4) #3 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
#4 Tennessee Titans (12-5) #4 Dallas Cowboys (8-9)
#5 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) #5 New Orleans Saints (12-5)
#6 Pittsburgh Steelers (11-6) #6 Seattle Seahawks (11-6)
#7 Indianapolis Colts (11-6) #7 San Francisco 49ers (11-6)