Your NFL Predictions for 2017 please

[Motor City Sonics 1,029]

AFC

East -  New England (13-3),  Miami (6-10), Buffalo (6-10), NY Jets (2-14)         
North - Pittsburgh (11-5), Cincinnati (8-8), Baltimore (7-9), Cleveland (6-10)    
South - Houston (10-6), Tennessee (9-7), Indianapolis (8-8), Jacksonville (6-10)   
West -  Oakland (11-5), Kansas City (10-6), Denver (9-7), Los Angeles (5-11)   

WILD CARD  (3) Houston over (6) Tennessee,    (4) Pittsburgh over (5) Kansas City
DIVISIONAL  (1) New England over (4) Pittsburgh,   (2) Oakland over (3) Houston
AFC TITLE   (1) New England over (2) Oakland

 

NFC

East - NY Giants (10-6), Dallas (10-6), Washington (9-7), Philadelphia (7-9)     
North - Green Bay (11-5), Detroit (9-7), Minnesota (8-8), Chicago (3-13)     
South - Tampa Bay (10-6), Atlanta (10-6), Carolina (9-7), New Orleans (5-11)   
West - Seattle (10-6), Arizona (9-7), Los Angeles (5-11), San Francisco (2-14)  

WILD Card  (3) Tampa Bay over (6) Dallas,   (5) Atlanta over (4) Seattle
DIVISIONAL  (1) Green Bay over (5) Atlanta,   (3) Tampa Bay over (2) NY GIants
NFC TITLE  (3) Tampa Bay over (1) Green Bay

SUPER BOWL

NEW ENGLAND 31, TAMPA BAY 16

Lions fire Caldwell and hire Josh McDaniels as Head Coach

[Mr. Bigglesworth 3,745]

Super Bowl

[Who is the Drizzle? 588]

8-8

[Jason_R 175]

I would not at all be surprised by a 2-6 start. If they can beat Arizona in Week 1, they might be in a position to have Green Bay spoil their playoff hopes in Week 17.

[sagnam 62]

7-9

[Buddha 1,182]

initial thought: same team as last year but with a harder schedule.  6-10.

if they win 9 games this year, its because stafford really is an mvp candidate.

[djhutch 144]

I'll give it a shot.

AFC

East -  New England, Miami, Buffalo, NY Jets
North - Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland
South - Houston, Tennessee, Indy, Jax
West -  K-C, Oakland, Denver, L-A Chargers

WILD CARD  Oakland over Houston, K-C over Tennessee
DIVISIONAL  New England over Oakland, Pittsburgh over K-C
AFC TITLE   Pittsburgh over New England

NFC

East - Dallas, N-Y Giants, Washington, Philly
North - Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Chicago
South - Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New Orleans
West - Seattle, Arizona, L-A Rams, San Fran

WILD CARD  Atlanta over Green Bay, Detroit over Carolina
DIVISIONAL  Detroit over Dallas, Atlanta over Seattle
NFC TITLE  Atlanta over Detroit

SUPER BOWL

STEELERS  33, ATLANTA 31

 

[number20 83]

What I hope: 16-0

The Real World: 7-9

 

[Euphdude 1,116]

I'll go with a traditionally mediocre season for the Lions and predict a 7-9 record. 

[Jason_R 175]

For what it’s worth, the Lions would need to go 13-3 this year to put Stafford at .500 for his career. He is currently 51-61 (including playoffs).

 

But in reality they’ll be 8-8.

[Buddha 1,182]

AFC

East -  New England, Miami, Buffalo, NY Jets
North - Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland
South - Tennessee, Houston, Indy, Jax
West -  KC, Oakland, LA Chargers, Denver

WILD CARD  Oakland over Tennessee, Pittsburgh over Miami
DIVISIONAL  New England over Oakland, KC over Pittsburgh
AFC TITLE   New England over KC

NFC

East - NY Giants, Washington, Dallas, Philly
North - Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago
South - Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Orleans
West - Seattle, Arizona, LA Rams, San Fran

WILD CARD  Atlanta over Arizona, Carolina over NY Giants
DIVISIONAL  Carolina over Green Bay, Seattle over Atlanta
NFC TITLE  Seattle over Carolina

SUPER BOWL

New England 31 Seattle 17

[mickeyb105 431]

On 9/4/2017 at 3:18 PM, Buddha said:

initial thought: same team as last year but with a harder schedule.  6-10.

if they win 9 games this year, its because stafford really is an mvp candidate.

Even with improvements at LB and WR, you really think breaking .500 is a stretch?  They really needed to add a workhorse RB this year but didn't.  They have nice APB and 3rd down RB, but I don't see a feature back.

[Jason_R 175]

Even with improvements at LB and WR, you really think breaking .500 is a stretch?  They really needed to add a workhorse RB this year but didn't.  They have nice APB and 3rd down RB, but I don't see a feature back.

Who is going to sack the opposing QB? Yes, Ansah will suit up Week 1, but he may not be any better this year than Kerry Hyder was last year, when the Lions were second-worst in the league in sacks.

With injuries to Decker and Hyder, the team is going to start the season worse on both lines than it was last season. Maybe Greg Robinson proves he can hold down the fort at LT; maybe Ansah proves he is healthy, and more than a one-year wonder. Davis got roasted by Tom Brady, and will need time to adjust to the pro game. Their LB corps might be improved, but they need to prove it.

[Buddha 1,182]

1 hour ago, mickeyb105 said:

Even with improvements at LB and WR, you really think breaking .500 is a stretch?  They really needed to add a workhorse RB this year but didn't.  They have nice APB and 3rd down RB, but I don't see a feature back.

starting a rookie at linebacker probably wont be that big of an improvement.  wr?  what improvement at wr?  drafting a rookie in the third round?  historically, rookie receivers dont fare that well.  lots of times last year stafford was running around and holding the ball a ling time because the receivers werent getting open.  same thing will probably happen this year too.

the defensive line still lacks a pass rush.  the linebackers are young and/or bad.  the right side of the oline "should" be better as long as lang is actually healthy (which he may not be) and the left side will likely be bad (huge problems at left guard and a huge question mark at left tackle).

we have this discussion every year about the lions on this board.  those who chug the kool aod and those who dont.  last year was a great example of what a good qb can do for you in the nfl and the lions won some games against bad teams they had no business winning.  can they do it again this year?  sure.  but the odds are they wont win 8 games that theyre trailing with 60 seconds left.

its all about stafford.  they have a chance because of him.  a slim chance to have a winning season, no chance to win the super bowl.

[John_Brian_K 298]

11-5

[Buddha 1,182]

lions have gone from -3 to + 1 1/2 against arizona on sunday.

[mickeyb105 431]

44 minutes ago, Buddha said:

starting a rookie at linebacker probably wont be that big of an improvement.  wr?  what improvement at wr?  drafting a rookie in the third round?  historically, rookie receivers dont fare that well.  lots of times last year stafford was running around and holding the ball a ling time because the receivers werent getting open.  same thing will probably happen this year too.

the defensive line still lacks a pass rush.  the linebackers are young and/or bad.  the right side of the oline "should" be better as long as lang is actually healthy (which he may not be) and the left side will likely be bad (huge problems at left guard and a huge question mark at left tackle).

we have this discussion every year about the lions on this board.  those who chug the kool aod and those who dont.  last year was a great example of what a good qb can do for you in the nfl and the lions won some games against bad teams they had no business winning.  can they do it again this year?  sure.  but the odds are they wont win 8 games that theyre trailing with 60 seconds left.

its all about stafford.  they have a chance because of him.  a slim chance to have a winning season, no chance to win the super bowl.

It is tougher to say that Golladay will have an impact the way Davis will, but having a 6'4" WR that can climb the ladder for jump balls in the red zone is a quality weapon for Stafford to have.  

Davis, if he stays healthy, could have as much impact as any NFL rookie defender this season.  DL performance is the wildcard in his Y1 projections.

The left side of the line should improve this year, and the right side will be really good pending the health of Lang.

The secondary added a polarizing-but-talented kid in the draft, and overall the outlook is pretty good there IMO.

Abdullah is another polarizing guy, but he's healthy for now.

6-10 just seems like a very basement prediction, but if the injury bug hits hard again I can see it.

[Jason_R 175]

It is tougher to say that Golladay will have an impact the way Davis will, but having a 6'4" WR that can climb the ladder for jump balls in the red zone is a quality weapon for Stafford to have.  
Davis, if he stays healthy, could have as much impact as any NFL rookie defender this season.  DL performance is the wildcard in his Y1 projections.
The left side of the line should improve this year, and the right side will be really good pending the health of Lang.
The secondary added a polarizing-but-talented kid in the draft, and overall the outlook is pretty good there IMO.
Abdullah is another polarizing guy, but he's healthy for now.
6-10 just seems like a very basement prediction, but if the injury bug hits hard again I can see it.

They aren’t clearly better yet at any position. Even at RB their only improvement is health, and these small backs might fall apart again. Maybe Washington figures it out but that’s a big if.

They are playing a harder schedule this year, too.

[Mr.TaterSalad 452]

No pass rush plus a weak secondary means that the talented QB's they are facing this year (Ryan, Newton, Brees, Roethlisberger, Rodgers x2, Winston) will pick them apart. They won't win a single game against any of those QB's. They'll go out, especially offensively, and beat up on the bad to mediocre teams and struggle against the good opponents. In the end they'll finish 6-10 and Caldwell and company will be fired, Stafford will be on his fourth offensive coordinator and Quinn will be forced to re-evaluate the direction of this team in the off-season.

Week #1: Arizona Cardinals (Win)

Week #2: at New York Giants (Loss)

Week #3: Atlanta Falcons (Loss)

Week #4: at Minnesota Vikings (Win)

Week #5: Carolina Panthers (Loss)

Week #6: at New Orleans Saints (Loss)

Week #7: Bye Week

Week #8: Pittsburgh Steelers (Loss)

Week #9: at Green Bay Packers (Loss)

Week #10: Cleveland Browns (Win)

Week #11: at Chicago Bears (Win)

Week #12: Minnesota Vikings (Win)

Week #13: at Baltimore Ravens (Loss)

Week #14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Loss)

Week #15: Chicago Bears (Win)

Week #16: at Cincinnati Bengals (Loss)

Week #17: Green Bay Packers (Loss)

[Buddha 1,182]

tabor is talented?  i guess so, but he's not likely to see much of the field this year and if he does the lions are in big trouble.  the lions are ok at cb.  slay is really good and lawson isnt bad as a #2.  tabor shouldnt see the field much (thank god, rookie corners are usually terrible).

the left side of the line should improve after their left tackle was injured for half the season and glasgow spent the whole preseason being tossed like a salad?  i guess it cant get any worse than glasgow last season, so theres something.

"davis can have as much impact as any rookie this season".  ok.  still a rookie linebacker who is likely to be exposed frequently.  thr linebackers have more speed, which the lions desperately needed.  but are they going to be super effective?  most rookies arent so i have my doubts.  davis plays a position that gets lots of tackles, so im sure he'll have a lot if counting stats to make people thinkn he's better than he is.

rookie receivers usually suck.  calvin wasnt "calvin" and herman moore had drop issues as a rookie.  i suspect that kenny "first game preseason hall of famer" golladay will face similar growing pains.

hopefully robinson, decker, davis, golladay, and even tabor are the foundation of the future of the team.  but theyre not there yet.

lions receiving corps is below average.  the running backs are averagr to below average.   the oline should be decent if robinson is ok and they can hide left guard.  qb is excellent.  defensive line is bad.  linebackers are inexperienced.  secondary is pretty good.

i cant think of a position group where the lions are in the top 5 of the league.  stafford is a top 10 qb but none of their other groups are top 10.  this is a team that needs talent and playmakers, especially on defense.  theyre not there yet.

[Buddha 1,182]

2 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

No pass rush plus a weak secondary means that the talented QB's they are facing this year (Ryan, Newton, Brees, Roethlisberger, Rodgers x2, Winston) will pick them apart. They won't win a single game against any of those QB's. They'll go out, especially offensively, and beat up on the bad to mediocre teams and struggle against the good opponents. Ultimately. they'll finish 6-10 and Caldwell and company will be fired, Stafford will e on his fourth offensive coordinator and Quinn will be forced to re-evaluate the direction of this team in the off-season.

Week #1: Arizona Cardinals (Win)

Week #2: at New York Giants (Loss)

Week #3: Atlanta Falcons (Loss)

Week #4: at Minnesota Vikings (Win)

Week #5: Carolina Panthers (Loss)

Week #6: at New Orleans Saints (Loss)

Week #7: Bye Week

Week #8: Pittsburgh Steelers (Loss)

Week #9: at Green Bay Packers (Loss)

Week #10: Cleveland Browns (Win)

Week #11: at Chicago Bears (Win)

Week #12: Minnesota Vikings (Win)

Week #13: at Baltimore Ravens (Loss)

Week #14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Loss)

Week #15: Chicago Bears (Win)

Week #16: at Cincinnati Bengals (Loss)

Week #17: Green Bay Packers (Loss)

a 2-6, 1-7 or 0-8 start is a very real possibility.

[NYLion 230]

The roster just looks so uninspiring on paper especially on defense but the one area where they should see a big improvement is offensive line especially if Decker can come back reasonably early in the season so Stafford shouldn't be running for his life as much. 

If the running backs can stay healthy, I think the Lions can be a borderline top 10 offense but I don't see how they can stop the opposition from scoring so this has all the makings of a perfectly mediocre season so for what seems like the last 6-7 offseasons, I'll say somewhere between 6-10 and 10-6 but leaning towards the 6-10.  There really isn't a ton to get excited about outside of Stafford.

[Mr.TaterSalad 452]

Just now, Buddha said:

a 2-6, 1-7 or 0-8 start is a very real possibility.

Yep! When you can't put pressure on the QB it all avalanches downhill from there defensively. The good QB's they face will absolutely roast them and they face a lot of quality QB's this season. Mix those factors in with a lack of a running game, continued poor performances by the offense against defenses worth a damn, and Caldwell coaching blunders and you have what I believe to be their biggest trouble spots this season.

[MAROTH4MVP 129]

1 hour ago, Buddha said:

a 2-6, 1-7 or 0-8 start is a very real possibility.

Caldwell would likely be packing his bags with a 0-8 or 1-7 start. 

[Buddha 1,182]

9 minutes ago, MAROTH4MVP said:

Caldwell would likely be packing his bags with a 0-8 or 1-7 start. 

i think caldwell is gone after this year.

unless martha puts her foot down and goes all william clay ford and demands that he stay because she likes him.