Peeking again at your preseason predictions may be like footage of your self from junior excessive: completely horrifying. However as skilled journalists we’re up for the problem of peeling the onion and studying from previous errors. Strap in: we struck gold in a few classes … however others weren’t so fairly (you may learn them right here earlier than we go).
Greatest workforce that gained’t make the playoffs
What we stated earlier than the season: Two of us predicted the Broncos would crash (“it can doubtless take the Broncos a while to determine the Russell Wilson-Nathaniel Hackett dynamic”) though not as spectacularly as they did, and we overestimated how sturdy the AFC West can be general. We additionally stated the Pats would flop: “Jones hitting his head on his low ceiling after a strong rookie marketing campaign, alongside a training workers coping with a number of departures will mix to make this a transitional yr for the Pats.” The much less stated about the potential of the Chiefs lacking the postseason the higher.
What truly occurred: The Broncos had been even worse than anticipated and the Patriots solely averted a last-place end within the AFC East due to the New York Jets’ spectacular late season collapse. You might have heard that the Chiefs ended up doing fairly properly …
MVP
What we stated earlier than the season: Amongst our candidates was Tom Brady who we stated, “is contemporary as a daisy after that 11-day vacation, and the evaluations from coaching camp have been raving concerning the 45-year-old throwing it higher than ever.” One in all us chosen Justin Herbert based mostly on an improved offensive line, “his safety received even higher when the Chargers took polished guard Zion Johnson at seventeenth general.” We additionally threw Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson within the combine. Patrick Mahomes? Jalen Hurts? Nope.
What truly occurred: Brady lastly appeared nearer to his age. Herbert spent an excellent chunk of the season on the bottom after dropping left deal with Rashawn Slater in Week 3. Allen had 14 interceptions, typically in key moments. And Jackson was within the combine for some time till he was injured. At the very least Jackson’s substitute, Tyler Huntley, earned a spot within the Professional Bowl. The precise MVP, Mahomes, gained nearly unanimously.
Rookie of the yr
What we stated earlier than the season: We mixed offensive and defensive gamers for this class. One in all us picked Falcons WR Drake London based mostly on the logic that the Atlanta Falcons would have an fascinating offense: “They are going to be certifiably frisky … They fight issues!” We additionally had one vote for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett. However – ding ding ding – two of us predicted that the eventual Defensive Rookie of the 12 months, Sauce Gardner, would excel.
What truly occurred: London was strong, with 4 touchdowns and 866 yards. Pickett emerged because the Steelers’ beginning quarterback, although it’s a bit early to name him the subsequent, properly, anybody. That isn’t the case with Gardner, who appeared like the subsequent Darrelle Revis. He shut down the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Stefon Diggs, and is arguably already one of the best nook within the league. With Gardner and Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Garrett Wilson at receiver, the Jets future is vivid … in the event that they ever work out what to do underneath heart.
AFC East champions
What we stated earlier than the season: Like at the least 99.9% (and presumably 100%) of NFL pundits, we had been all in on the Buffalo Payments. We known as them, “one of the best all-around workforce within the NFL” and had been sure “they’ve the division locked down.” Although we did query “how far Miami can push the Payments” underneath first-year head coach Mike McDaniel.
What truly occurred: The Payments finally gained the AFC East by a wholesome margin, however the hole is closing. The Jets surprised the Payments in November and had been solely half a sport again earlier than their meltdown. The Dolphins completed above .500 for the third straight season and nearly toppled Buffalo within the Wild Card spherical. The Pats completed with a decent 8-9 file, however their days of dominating the division are over for the foreseeable future.
AFC North Champions
What we stated earlier than the season: Three of us picked the Baltimore Ravens to take the division, largely as a result of three of us predicted a Cincinnati Bengals’ Tremendous Bowl hangover. “Cincinnati are liable to fall again to Earth after a unprecedented 2021. Defenses will gameplan to cease Ja’Marr Chase, depriving them of their greatest receiving menace.” One in all us was much less enamored of the Ravens (“I don’t have religion they will keep wholesome”) and as a substitute, accurately, chosen the Bengals.
What truly occurred: As considered one of us predicted, the Ravens struggled with harm as Jackson missed the top of the season. The Bengals took the North, thanks largely to an eight-game win streak to shut the season. Chase missed 5 video games and nonetheless topped 1,000 yards receiving and elevated his reception whole from 2021.
AFC South champions
What we stated earlier than the season: We unanimously thought the Indianapolis Colts had been poised to take the AFC South after enhancing their quarterback scenario – “Matt Ryan will assist to stabilize a Colts aspect that has loved highs and lows at quarterback ever since Andrew Luck walked out the door” – and we additionally believed the remainder of the division would stink.
What truly occurred: Doug Pederson occurred. And Trevor Lawrence confirmed large progress because the Jacksonville Jaguars had been topped division champs. In the meantime, the Colts had been a sizzling mess. Ryan was ineffective. Frank Reich was fired in early November and changed with a TV analyst with no NFL teaching expertise. Indy completed 4-12.
AFC West champions
What we stated earlier than the season: All of us believed this could be one of many NFL’s hardest divisions and had been break up on predicting the winner. Two of us picked the Los Angeles Chargers, considered one of us picked the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and considered one of us simply couldn’t resist the Denver Broncos and their new savior, Russell Wilson.
What truly occurred: The Chiefs had been the category of the division with a 14-3 file. The Chargers did pose an admirable problem, ending 10-7. However the true runners-up had been the Seattle Seahawks after Wilson had a horrible yr, marked by an absence of accuracy. The Broncos completed 5-12, and gifted Seattle the No 5 general choose within the 2023 draft as a part of the blockbuster commerce that despatched Wilson to Denver.
NFC East champions
What we stated earlier than the season: All of us thought the Philadelphia Eagles had been able to fly because of their full roster. Whereas we didn’t gush over Hurts, we did acknowledge that “he might have a big bump in his second yr whereas working with Nick Sirianni.” We additionally had no love for the remainder of the division: “Groups led by Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz are going nowhere and Dallas simply can’t be trusted.”
What truly occurred: The Eagles dominated and ended up with one of the best file within the NFC, and Hurts was the most effective quarterbacks within the league. The division previously often known as NFC Least flipped the script. No workforce completed under .500. Brian Daboll’s 9-7-1 New York Giants had been the shock of the division.
NFC North champions
What we stated earlier than the season: All of us thought of the Inexperienced Bay Packers a foregone conclusion to win the division, because of Aaron Rodgers: “Again-to-back MVP awards say all of it, he nonetheless owns all of you.” None of us talked about the Minnesota Vikings.
What truly occurred: With out a top-tier wideout to switch Davante Adams, Rodgers struggled for many of the season. The Pack missed the playoffs at 8-9 and solely outperformed the Chicago Bears. Rodgers is now heading on a trip in a cave to mull his future. The Detroit Lions completed second as Jared Goff had a renaissance underneath Dan Campbell. However it was the Vikings who ran away with the North, because of Justin Jefferson’s dominance. Going 11-0 in one-score video games additionally helped.
NFC South champions
What we stated earlier than the season: All of us picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers however not with quite a lot of gusto. We simply didn’t consider in the remainder of the division: “There are too many holes among the many remainder of the South for anybody to get shut.” Although we did warn to “by no means ever wager in opposition to the workforce Brady is helming.”
What truly occurred: We had been largely proper. The 8-9 Bucs gained the division by default. Most of thought Brady would have slightly extra within the tank than he confirmed. Whereas the NFC South was not precisely a masterclass in soccer domination, at the least it was shut. The Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints all completed at 7-10.
NFC West champions
What we stated earlier than the season: Three of us picked the defending Tremendous Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams. In spite of everything they’d “as a lot high-end expertise as they did a yr in the past.” Whereas Trey Lance and the San Francisco 49ers had been talked about as a potential challenger, solely considered one of us picked them as division champions.
What truly occurred: The Rams struggled in nearly each space and began the season 3-8. Matthew Stafford’s season ended early with harm. With their menacing protection and assortment of offensive stars, the 49ers gained the division and challenged Philly for the NFC’s high seed. As everybody predicted, Jimmy Garoppolo was not traded and as a substitute changed an injured Lance earlier than being changed for the remainder of the season by Mr Irrelevant. Brock Purdy would be part of Geno Smith as one of many division’s high two quarterbacks, finishing one of many season’s finest storylines.
AFC Championship Sport
Who we picked earlier than the season: Three of us predicted the Payments to win, and considered one of us thought the Ravens would prevail over Buffalo. All of us thought the Chiefs and Bengals can be watching from residence.
What truly occurred: The Bengals checked out our predictions and laughed in our faces. They took out the Ravens and the Payments earlier than touchdown again within the AFC Championship. The Chiefs had been challenged by the Jags within the divisional spherical sport and bested the Bengals in one other traditional to take the AFC title.
NFC Championship Sport
Who we picked earlier than the season: One in all us at the least predicted one of many individuals, pondering the 49ers would high the Rams. The remainder of us, properly, let’s simply say we had slightly an excessive amount of religion in Brady, Rodgers, and McVay.
What truly occurred: The 49ers and Eagles confronted off in Philadelphia. The ultimate rating was 31-7 however the this one was successfully over within the first quarter when Purdy turned a one-armed quarterback.
Tremendous Bowl winners
Who we picked earlier than the season: Properly, that is embarrassing. Two of us picked the Payments. One voted for the Ravens, and one went for the Packers.
What truly occurred: None of us will doubt the Chiefs’ Mahomes-Andy Reid axis any time quickly. Talking of the long run, the thought of Mahomes accumulating extra Tremendous Bowl rings than Brady now doesn’t appear implausible.
