Here’s how the sports writers at the Telegraph Herald see the National Football League playing out this season:
JIM LEITNER
(American Football Conference)
East — New England Patriots
North — Pittsburgh Steelers
South — Jacksonville Jaguars
West — Kansas City Chiefs
Wild cards — Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans
Championship – Jaguars over Steelers
(National Football Conference)
East — Dallas Cowboys
North — Minnesota Vikings
South — Atlanta Falcons
West — Los Angeles Rams
Wild cards — Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints
Championship — Falcons over Vikings
Super Bowl — Falcons over Jaguars
MVP — Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Bold prediction for 2018 — This just might be the year we finally figure out what is and isn’t a catch.
TIM O’NEILL
(AFC)
East — New England Patriots
North — Pittsburgh Steelers
South — Houston Texans
West — Kansas City Chiefs
Wild cards — Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts
Championship — Steelers over Patriots
(NFC)
East — Philadelphia Eagles
North — Green Bay Packers
South — Atlanta Falcons
West — Los Angeles Rams
Wild cards — Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints
Championship — Falcons over Eagles
Super Bowl — Falcons over Steelers
MVP — Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Bold prediction — Andrew Luck returns to form after a year off and leads the Colts back to the playoffs. But perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.
STEVE ORTMAN
(AFC)
East — New England Patriots
North — Pittsburgh Steelers
South — Jacksonville Jaguars
West — Los Angeles Chargers
Wild cards — Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens
Championship — Patriots over Chargers
(NFC)
East — Philadelphia Eagles
North — Minnesota Vikings
South — New Orleans Saints
West — Los Angeles Rams
Wild cards — San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers
Championship — Rams over Eagles
Super Bowl — Patriots over Rams
MVP — Todd Gurley, Rams
Bold prediction for 2018 — Former Dubuque Wahlert and University of Iowa standout Riley McCarron will be called up from the practice squad and see game action this season for New England, which has a messy situation when it comes to its receivers. McCarron will catch a pass in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory.
BRENDEN WEST
(AFC)
East — New England Patriots
North — Pittsburgh Steelers
South — Houston Texans
West — Denver Broncos
Wild cards — Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs
Championship — Patriots over Texans
(NFC)
East — Philadelphia Eagles
North — Green Bay Packers
South — Atlanta Falcons
West — San Francisco 49ers
Wild cards — Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants
Championship — Eagles over 49ers
Super Bowl — Eagles over Patriots
MVP — Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
Bold prediction for 2018 — Before the Khalil Mack trade, I would’ve said this was a six-win Chicago Bears team at best. With Mack? I still think they’re a year or two away. The Bears will flirt with .500 but miss the postseason.
