2021 NFL Season Kicks Off -- Crowe's Bold Predictions for Upcoming Year
John Crowe, GoLocal Sports Contributor
2021 NFL Season Kicks Off -- Crowe's Bold Predictions for Upcoming Year
Now, the pandemic is still with us and yes, it will affect the NFL this season, no doubt. In fact, the Cowboys missed starting offensive lineman Zack Martin Thursday night in the season opener against the Bucs.
But there are fans back in full capacity in stadiums across the NFL and that’s a good thing. As long as fans, players and team personnel continue to up the vaccination rates and stay safe with masks, the games will continue.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSo, with that, it’s time to look towards the field and start with our predictions for the season.
Now, will all these come true? Probably not! But, let’s aim high and be bold my friends!
Here are our great eight picks and we’ll also give you a little spoiler.
Tom Brady and the Bucs will NOT repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Despite TB12’s very cool hype video...the Browns will win the Super Bowl.
Are we crazy? Maybe. I mean, let’s be honest, the AFC North is loaded with the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals all with thoughts of getting better and staking claim to the black and blue division’s crown. One more season in Kevin Stefanski’s system has Baker Mayfield licking his chops. So does the return of Odell Beckham Jr.!
Plus, let’s not forget that the dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt rushed for over 2,300 yards last year and could be better in 2021. Add in a better-than-average defense and it will be a Hollywood ending as the Browns win their first-ever Super Bowl and first NFL Championship since 1964.
Josh Allen will be the NFL MVP
Josh Allen has improved greatly in each of his first three seasons in Buffalo and there’s no reason why he can’t continue to grow. Last season, he threw for 4544 yards, completing 69% of his passes en route to 37 TD’s and 10 INT’s. Did we mention that he ran for another 8 touchdowns? All this while leading the Bills to a 13-3 record and an AFC East Title. Dare we say a 40+ TD season, another deep playoff run and his first MVP is in the offing in Buffalo?
Aaron Rodgers last season in Green Bay
They may have made up for one last stand in Green Bay, but make no mistake about it, Aaron Rodgers, just like Tom Brady was with New England, is ready to move on. Now, Rodgers won’t go out with a whimper, but with a loud bang. The Packers, led by the Rodgers revenge tour, will get them to another NFC Championship Game. This time, the Pack will get over the hump, only to lose to the Browns in Los Angeles in the Super Bowl.
Saquon Barkley rushes for 2,000 yards
I know what you’re saying. Barkley is damaged goods coming off back-to-back seasons with knee and ankle injuries. But let’s go the other way. He’s had plenty of time to rest with 17 games missed. Barkley will be injury-free in 2021 and get back to the form that made him a fantasy football stud and an offensive juggernaut for the Giants.
Jameis Winston is a top 5 QB
In his first season taking over for the now-retired Drew Brees in New Orleans, Jameis Winston will up his game with Sean Payton as his head coach and mentor. We know that Winston has the talent. After all, he threw for over 5,000 yards in Tampa in 2019 before being replaced by you know who (Tom Brady). Payton will get Winston to be more careful with the ball, limiting his 30 interceptions in 2019 while improving on his then 33 touchdowns total.
Sure, this one’s not as bold as some of the others, but Bill Belichick and rookie quarterback Mac Jones will have the Patriots back in playoff contention with double-digit wins after a disastrous 7-win season in 2020. Having all-World tight ends Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, an above-average offensive line and running game will help the rookie QB. So too would be the return of Stephon Gilmore after week 6 due his start on the PUP list. 10 wins, a Wild Card playoff berth and one possible playoff victory sounds about right for the folks in Foxboro.
Sadness for the Steelers
Big Ben is back but it may not end well in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have one of the toughest schedules in 2021, with 10 games against 2020 playoff teams. Roethlisberger will be helped by rookie Najee Harris, but will it be enough to help one of the NFL’s worst running game in 2020? They’ll have to overcome the Browns, the Ravens and even the improving Bengals just to come out of the AFC North.
QB busts in Indy, Philly, LA and Detroit
The QB carousel that’s left Carson Wentz in Indianapolis, Jalen Hurts as the starter in Philadelphia while Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff swap places from Detroit to the Los Angeles Rams, won’t end well for anyone. Out of the four teams, only the Rams will make the playoffs and that will not end in hosting the Super Bowl in SoFi Stadium.
Bonus Bold Prediction
Tom Brady breaks the all-time passing yards record in Foxboro in week 4 against the Patriots. Brady, who trails Drew Brees by 1154 yards (80358 to 7920) needs to average 288.75 yards in those four games to claim the top spot. With games against the Cowboys, Falcons and Rams in weeks 1, 2 and 3, don’t think for the moment that it’s not on Brady’s radar to stick it to his old coach, Bill Belichick and do it in front of his former fans on national primetime television as well.