NFL Way Too Early Predictions

It’s the middle of April and it can only mean that NFL fans, analyst, and broadcasters are preparing their early NFL rankings and predictions for the upcoming season. Obviously, the NFL draft is still weeks away, but the planning has already been underway. A successful NFL draft can greatly alter the future of organizations. One selection can create a Super Bowl run as witnessed with the Kansas City Chiefs selecting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes and their eventual Super Bowl victory. But, what if the season started tomorrow? Are certain teams being hyped up too much? Today, I’m going to analyze whether some NFL franchises are Super Bowl contenders or pretenders.

First up is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys should be able to win a weak division in the NFC East. Even though the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants improved their rosters, Dak Prescott returning to the starting lineup should provide enough firepower to overcome their divisional rivals. I won’t even mention the dumpster fire that the Philadelphia Eagles have transformed into in recent years. The question is can the Dallas Cowboys beat a legitimate Super Bowl contending team? The answer is they can’t right now. Last season, their offense proved they can score against an opposing defense. We regularly saw Andy Dalton, the backup quarterback, score thirty points in a game. But, any Dallas Cowboys fan knows the issue is still the potential exposure on defense. The Cowboys could score thirty points but would also give up more than forty points in the same game. So far, the Cowboys have added no superstar free agents on their defense. That doesn’t give me much of a reason to think their defensive will improve from what was displayed last year. Sure, Dan Quinn replacing defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is a huge upgrade. Dan Quinn did in fact coach the Legion of Boom in Seattle. However, you need talent to perform on the field. The Cowboys must find one or two defensive starters in the draft to have a successful season.

Next, we turn our attention to the Cleveland Browns. After years of miserable seasons, the Browns were able to make the playoffs with an 11-5 season record. In addition, the Browns went on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card game. This year, the Browns are absolute Super Bowl contenders. They were able to sign two of the top defensive back free agents, John Johnson and Troy Hill. Like the Cowboys, the Browns defense was abysmal last year. The Browns could also look to add depth in this year’s draft, but they do not need to add many pieces to create a formidable team. Odell Beckham Jr. is set to return from his gruesome ACL injury and should add some instant explosive play making ability. On paper, the Browns have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. With a year of coaching under his belt, Kevin Stefanski looks to take his team on an even deeper run into the playoffs.