32 bold predictions for the 2018 NFL season
Review-Journal NFL writer Gilbert Manzano makes a bold prediction for each NFL team:
Arizona Cardinals: Quarterback Sam Bradford stays healthy for all 16 games and plays well enough to keep rookie Josh Rosen on the bench.
Atlanta Falcons: After catching a total of just nine touchdowns over the past two seasons, Julio Jones finds the end zone 15 times.
Baltimore Ravens: A motivated Joe Flacco throws for more than 4,000 yards with 25-plus passing touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills: The Bills won’t end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft. They’ll manage at least four wins.
Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, C.J. Anderson and Cam Newton will give the Panthers the top rushing team.
Chicago Bears: Rookie middle linebacker Roquan Smith records 100 tackles to guide a talented Bears front seven.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals’ 2017 draft class (John Ross, Joe Mixon, etc.) will be major reasons they will win at least nine games.
Cleveland Browns: Josh Gordon records more than 1,000 receiving yards and makes the Pro Bowl.
Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott flirts with 2,000 rushing yards to lead the league in rushing.
Denver Broncos: Quarterback Case Keenum and the Broncos will rank in the top five in points per game.
Detroit Lions: The Lions will have a 1,000-yard rusher.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers wins the MVP award, but the Packers miss the playoffs.
Houston Texans: The Texans go from last to first in the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback Andrew Luck plays in every game despite a poor offensive line.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars start the season 0-3 against the Giants, Patriots and Titans.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs will score the most points and allow the most.
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers won’t lose one game because a kicker missed a field goal in the final seconds.
Los Angeles Rams: The star-studded Rams struggle early and finish with 10 wins.
Miami Dolphins: Miami benches quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the final month.
Minnesota Vikings: Wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs each go over 1,200 receiving yards.
New England Patriots: The Patriots will rank in the top 10 in total defense.
New Orleans Saints: Cameron Jordan wins Defensive Player of the Year.
New York Giants: Saquon Barkley does not win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
New York Jets: Sam Darnold and the Jets win more than eight games to make a playoff push.
Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper will have fewer than five drops and score at least 10 receiving touchdowns.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles defense will finish with at least 60 sacks.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers start the season 8-0 and finish with the top seed in the AFC.
San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo’s undefeated streak ends in 2018. Very bold.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson takes fewer than 35 sacks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans leads the league in receiving yards.
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota records 30-plus touchdown passes.
Washington Redskins: Adrian Peterson starts at least 10 games and flirts with 1,000 rushing yards.
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Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GManzano24 on Twitter.
