What to Expect in The Upcoming NFL Season
Everyone has longed for the energy, the fans, and the action that the NFL brings to the sporting world. The wait is finally over! The 2021/2022 NFL season will officially begin in the upcoming days.
The big question that everyone is wondering is can Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers repeat their Super Bowl victory?
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers will kick off the season on September 9th, playing against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys.
Based on the strength of the schedule, which is decided by the team's record from the previous year, the Eagles, Cowboys, and Falcons have by far the easiest schedule in the entire league. Due to their very poor performance last season. On the other hand, the Steelers, Ravens, and Bears have the toughest schedule. Due to their spectacular season last year.
The NFL will make changes to the schedule for the first time in 44 years, so while watching this season, you will witness big changes. The biggest change being implemented is increasing the season by one game. Now, this might not sound like a big deal, but one game in an NFL season can make the difference in a team making the playoffs.
Now, it’s time for me to share my personal opinion of the top three teams that have the best chance at making it deep into the playoffs or possibly to the Super Bowl.
It would be a crime if I didn’t start my team analysis and predictions off with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs might have only won 11 regular-season games last season, but as I mentioned before, the season is 17 games, so they will have that working to their advantage. You can’t forget that they are deadly in a long season. They won eight consecutive games and finished the 2020 campaign off with a Super Bowl victory. That is nothing to sleep on for sure.
Now, with all of their crucial players returning, and with Drew Brees out of the picture as their division rivals, the Bucs should have no problem coasting through their division.
Yes, I know everyone is on the edge of their seats to see if Father Time will finally catch up with the GOAT himself, Tom Brady, and it is possible at any time, but that doesn’t seem likely after the stellar season and playoff performance he put up last season. It doesn’t hurt that he is surrounded by some of the best talents in the league. If everything goes as planned, the Bucs are one of the deadliest teams in the league.
My prediction is that they go 14-3 this upcoming season.
Next, the Kansas City Chiefs. This young stud-filled team is always the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I can’t blame the media. They have Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce all on one offense. What is there not to love?
I would say as long as the key parts of the team stay healthy, this might be the best version of the Chiefs we have seen yet. It was evident throughout the season, parts of the postseason, and especially in the Super Bowl that there were huge issues with their offensive line. In true Chiefs fashion, they fixed it up by buying some shiny new parts. They added to their roster Joe Thuney, Austin Blythe, along with Kyle Long. With those additions, one of the very few problems that the team had was fixed.
They also have quite literally the best quarterback in the league right now and he goes by the name Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs finished the regular season with 14 wins last season, despite having injury problems throughout the whole season.
With a healthy squad, 17 games up for grabs, and some Patrick Mahomes magic, I think they can walk away with 15 regular-season wins.
Now, this last position for my top three teams most likely to win the Super Bowl was close. It came down to three incredibly strong teams. It came down to the Ravens, Bills, and Seahawks.
I am going to take the Seahawks in this case, and I’ll tell you why. The Seahawks have made a name for themselves by putting up double-digit wins in each of their last three seasons. DK Metcalf has without a doubt lived up to the hype and has proved himself to be a deadly wide receiver number one. I can’t picture anything scarier than the 6’4” monster teaming up and being Russell Wilson's number one target to throw to. I would expect much of the same damage to be done between the duo this year as they did last year.
There has been quite a bit of moving pieces throughout this offseason with the recent departure of Shaquill Griffin, Quintin Dunbar, and David Moore, but DK Metcalf is becoming one of the best receivers in the league, and Russell Wilson has more support than ever with his offensive lineman Gabe Jackson and tight end Gerald Everett.
There is a ton of young talent waiting to be unleashed within this team. I can’t wait to see what they do in the new season. There is the perfect mix of talent, experience, and leadership on this team, and I don’t see why they can’t get a good 13 wins.
I expect us to have an exceptional season ahead of us full of powerhouse teams, huge upsets, and historic moments. Remember, anything can happen.
By Avner Belsky