2014 NFL Preview: 32 Team-by-Team Predictions
By Michael Schneid
MotleySports makes bold predictions for each NFL team as the 2014 season begins. (Teams are in order by division.)
AFC Predictions
1. The Jets, with an improved offense, will make the playoffs as the NFC's final wild card team.
2. Tom Brady will break 5,000 yards and the Patriots will win 12 games.
3. Kyle Orton and another QB, not currently on Bills roster, will start more games at QB than EJ Manuel
4. Knowshon Moreno will lead the Dolphins in rushing and finish third on the team in receiving.
5. The Steelers not only return to the playoffs, but they will win the AFC North division.
6. The Ravens will miss the playoffs for the third straight season and part ways with Ray Rice at the end of 2014.
7. Bengals defense will finish top 5 in takeaways and Andy Dalton will have a Pro Bowl season
8. Johnny Manziel will be the Brown's starting QB beginning in Week 5 and will spark the Browns and lead them to 6 wins in 2014 (an improvement over 4 the last two years).
9. Andrew Luck will be the AFC MVP, as the Colts win the AFC South despite a bad defense and no running game.
10. The Jaguars will be one of the league's most improved team's - finishing in the top half of the league in defense and rushing.
11. The Titans will finish last in the AFC South and move on from Jake Locker in 2015
12. JJ Watt and Jadaveon Clowney dominate defensively and a rejuvenated Texans win 7 games.
13. The Broncos win the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning retires
14. Keenan Allen finishes in the top 5 in receiving yards in the NFL for the Chargers
15. The Chiefs take a major step back and only win 6 games
16. Derek Carr starts all 16 games for the Raiders and despite being the best rookie QB in 2014, head coach Dennis Allen will be fired at the end of the season
NFC Predictions
17. Lesean McCoy wins Offensive Player of the Year in the NFC as he leads the Eagles to record-breaking heights
18. Jason Garrett finally gets fired as the Cowboys, behind a historically horrible defense, fail to even finish .500.
19. The Redskins will struggle offensively, and Alfred Morris, specifically, will struggle without Mike Shanahan's system.
20. 2014 will be Tom Coughlin's final season as Giants' head coach
21. The Packers will finish in the top 2 of the NFC, despite a poor defense
22. The Bears finally get back to the playoffs with Jay Cutler throwing for over 5,000 yards
23. The Vikings are the NFC's surprise team. Matt Cassel starts all 16 games and leads the Vikings back to the playoffs.
24. The Lions struggle with consistency on offense as they still cannot find a second option to Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush begins to be phased out.
25. Saints defense is a big reason why they win the NFC South.
26. The Bucs are one of the league's most improved teams, behind a stout Lovie Smith defense, but QB play keeps them out of the playoffs.
27. Cam Newton will miss a game or two due to injury for the first time in his career and the Panthers will not replicate last season's success.
28. Mike Smith will be fired by the Falcons after the 2014 season as the defense continues to be a disaster, despite the offense being able to score lots of points
29. The Seahawks return to the Super Bowl and Percy Harvin plays 10 games, and has a major impact on the Seattle offense (and tons of fantasy football teams).
30. The 49ers miss the playoffs for the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era.
31. Despite losing Sam Bradford for the season, the Rams finish 8-8.
32. Carson Palmer takes a major step back and the Cardinals flop in Bruce Arians' second season as head coach.
Share your thoughts below.
MotleySports makes bold predictions for each NFL team as the 2014 season begins. (Teams are in order by division.)
AFC Predictions
1. The Jets, with an improved offense, will make the playoffs as the NFC's final wild card team.
2. Tom Brady will break 5,000 yards and the Patriots will win 12 games.
3. Kyle Orton and another QB, not currently on Bills roster, will start more games at QB than EJ Manuel
4. Knowshon Moreno will lead the Dolphins in rushing and finish third on the team in receiving.
5. The Steelers not only return to the playoffs, but they will win the AFC North division.
6. The Ravens will miss the playoffs for the third straight season and part ways with Ray Rice at the end of 2014.
7. Bengals defense will finish top 5 in takeaways and Andy Dalton will have a Pro Bowl season
8. Johnny Manziel will be the Brown's starting QB beginning in Week 5 and will spark the Browns and lead them to 6 wins in 2014 (an improvement over 4 the last two years).
9. Andrew Luck will be the AFC MVP, as the Colts win the AFC South despite a bad defense and no running game.
10. The Jaguars will be one of the league's most improved team's - finishing in the top half of the league in defense and rushing.
11. The Titans will finish last in the AFC South and move on from Jake Locker in 2015
12. JJ Watt and Jadaveon Clowney dominate defensively and a rejuvenated Texans win 7 games.
13. The Broncos win the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning retires
14. Keenan Allen finishes in the top 5 in receiving yards in the NFL for the Chargers
15. The Chiefs take a major step back and only win 6 games
16. Derek Carr starts all 16 games for the Raiders and despite being the best rookie QB in 2014, head coach Dennis Allen will be fired at the end of the season
NFC Predictions
17. Lesean McCoy wins Offensive Player of the Year in the NFC as he leads the Eagles to record-breaking heights
18. Jason Garrett finally gets fired as the Cowboys, behind a historically horrible defense, fail to even finish .500.
19. The Redskins will struggle offensively, and Alfred Morris, specifically, will struggle without Mike Shanahan's system.
20. 2014 will be Tom Coughlin's final season as Giants' head coach
21. The Packers will finish in the top 2 of the NFC, despite a poor defense
22. The Bears finally get back to the playoffs with Jay Cutler throwing for over 5,000 yards
23. The Vikings are the NFC's surprise team. Matt Cassel starts all 16 games and leads the Vikings back to the playoffs.
24. The Lions struggle with consistency on offense as they still cannot find a second option to Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush begins to be phased out.
25. Saints defense is a big reason why they win the NFC South.
26. The Bucs are one of the league's most improved teams, behind a stout Lovie Smith defense, but QB play keeps them out of the playoffs.
27. Cam Newton will miss a game or two due to injury for the first time in his career and the Panthers will not replicate last season's success.
28. Mike Smith will be fired by the Falcons after the 2014 season as the defense continues to be a disaster, despite the offense being able to score lots of points
29. The Seahawks return to the Super Bowl and Percy Harvin plays 10 games, and has a major impact on the Seattle offense (and tons of fantasy football teams).
30. The 49ers miss the playoffs for the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era.
31. Despite losing Sam Bradford for the season, the Rams finish 8-8.
32. Carson Palmer takes a major step back and the Cardinals flop in Bruce Arians' second season as head coach.
Share your thoughts below.
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