It has finally arrived. The NFL is back in our lives. And to celebrate we use the NFL to inspire this week's Top 5 Thursday: Top 5 Biggest Boldest NFL predictions.
Now before we get to the craziness, just having the NFL back on time would've been considered a bold prediction just a month ago. But here we are. All of 2020 in fact has been one crazy bold prediction come true for some weirdo.
So this year's Top 5 list of bold predictions for the NFL is particularly satisfying. As always, these predictions are actual things I believe could happen, just hopped up on some sports radio steroids. Last year's Top 5 List had a few wild misses and a few wild hits.You can read them here.
Without further ado, here is this year's Top5Thurs: Biggest, Boldest NFL Predictions.
5.Marlon Mack will win the NFL rushing title and Christian Kirk will win the NFL's receiving title
- Mack had over 1,000 yards rushing last year and plays behind the best offensive line in football. The Colts were one of the best rushing offenses in the league last yer and yet everyone seems to believe Jonathan Taylor is just going to waltz in and take over the top job. Not me. For WR's, DeAndre Hopkins is going to have a huge impact on the Cardinals offense but I don't think he'll be the most statistically successful WR in Phoenix. Kirk should benefit from the attention Hopkins receives and chemistry he's developed with Kyler
- BOLD METER RATING (1-5): 4.6
4.The Houston Texans win the AFC South
- The Houston Texans have won their division four out of the last five years. Yet, after blowing a 20 point lead against the Chiefs and dumping DeAndre Hopkins, the narrative has shifted to the Texans are the least competent franchise in the league. There have been so many people dumping on the Texans that OBJ wants to be traded there. But the Texans have Deshaun Watson. And I'd rather bet on Watson than Ryan Tannehill, no matter what the rest of the rosters look like.
- BOLD METER: 3.4
3.Mike McCarthy only lasts one year in Dallas before Jerry Jones hires Lincoln Riley
- Every year I offer a ridiculous Dallas Cowboys Head Coaching prediction because I'm always confident in Jerry Jones being an agent of chaos. McCarthy got a five year deal but with Dak Prescott's contract status hanging in the air and a group of skill position players that are the best in the league with an improved defense, I don't think McCarthy has much time. Factor into college footballs increasingly uncertain financial future for a myriad of reasons and I think Riley is a Cowboy this time next year.
- BOLD METER: 4.7
2.The Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl and Ben Roethlisberger wins MVP
- I get sick of seeing the same predictions every year. Groupthink is a real thing and every year we see how wrong it is. This time last year, no one had the Ravens and Lamar winning 14 games or Tennessee ending the Patriots dynasty or a terrible 49ers team dominating the NFC. So why do we just assume the pre-season consensus is the right path? Everyone believes the AFC belongs to either the Chiefs or the Ravens and deservedly so. Those teams aren't overrated but our belief in the norm is. I think the Steelers combination of offensive and defensive weaponry led by the always impressive Mike Tomlin is the spoiler in the AFC. Big Ben lost a few pounds, has a few more weapons including fantasy sleeper Dionte Johnson and the defense is stacked all over. Give me the Steel City to outmuscle KC and Baltimore.
- BOLD METER: 4.8
1.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will miss the playoffs and the Atlanta Falcons will win the NFC South
- I got greedy. Listen, speaking of groupthink, the idea the Bucs are going to waltz into the playoffs because a 43 year old Tom Brady, a broken down Gronk and a way past his prime but lovable Bruce Arians joined forces is crazy to me. Could they? Sure, but no one seems to be considering the possibility that Brady's a physical shell of himself, Arians offense can be predictable and prone to luring QB's into mistakes and the NFC is stacked. A 9-7 season could cost you a playoff spot in the NFC, even with the additional Wild Card spot. Like you, I'm fascinated by Tompa Bay this year, I just don't believe their success is a foregone conclusion. As for the greed, I should've just stopped with the Bucs missing the playoffs but instead I had to tack on the Falcons winning the division over the Saints. A few years ago, they were a Super Bowl team, then they were chopped liver and this year they are back from the dead.
- BOLD METER: BROKEN, 5.0