The NFL Season is back! The time for speculation is over, as we are about to find out what all 32 teams are really made of. Several stars are wearing brand new helmets (Insert Antonio Brown helmet jab here) and the balance of power seems ready to shift, as long as the Patriots allow it. The NFL’s doormat of the last 20 years finally looks ready to compete for an AFC North Title for the first time since 1989, while other teams such as the Miami Dolphins are already looking towards 2020. In what looks to be the most wide open year in recent memory, teams can rise and fall faster and more unexpectedly than before. Keep in mind, there is always one team that goes from worst to first in their respective division. Actually, there has been at least one team every year since 2002 to make the playoffs after selecting in the top 10 of that year’s draft. I expect that trend to continue this year, however it is tough to imagine who goes where with all the tiebreakers. One hiccup changes the entire trajectory of the playoff format with the teams making it and the order they will make it in. Many analysts just throw out a record, but instead of opting that route, I went game by game predicting who will win. After doing this well over 10 times and including the up to minute news of this week, I have settled on what I believe will shake out today. Of course injuries will have an impact and every game will not be predicted correctly (yet), which is why I will update this in two months. Enough talking. Here is how I believe the 2019 NFL Season will shake out.

*Record in parentheses indicates record within the division*

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

2018 Record/Season Result: 10-6 / Lost Wild Card vs LAC

2019 Prediction: 8-8 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Mia, Ari, Cle, Cin, NE, Hou, SF, NYJ

Losses: @ KC, @ Pit, @ Sea, @ Cin, @ LAR, @ Buf, @ Cle, Pit

Pittsburgh Steelers

2018 Record/Season Result: 9-6-1 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 11-5 (5-1) / AFC North Champs / #3 Seed

Wins: @ NE, Sea, Cin, Bal, Mia, Ind, @ Cin, Buf, @ Bal

Losses: @ SF, @ LAC, LAR, @ Cle, @ Ari, @ NYJ

Cleveland Browns

2018 Record/Season Result: 7-8-1 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 10-6 (4-2) / Wild Card / #5 Seed

Wins: Ten, @ SF, Sea, Buf, Pit, Mia, Cin, @ Ari, Bal, @ Cin

Losses: @ NYJ, LAR, @ Bal, @ NE, @ Den, @ Pit,

Cincinnati Bengals

2018 Record/Season Result: 6-10 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 3-13 (1-5) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: SF, Jax, Bal

Losses: @ Sea, @ Buf, @ Pit, Ari, @ Bal, LAR (London), @ Oak, Pit, NYJ, @ Cle, NE, @ Mia, Cle

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

2018 Record/Season Result: 10-6 / Lost Wild Card vs Ind

2019 Prediction: 10-6 (5-1) / AFC South Champs / #4 Seed

Wins: Jax, Car, Atl, @ Ind, Oak, Jax (London), Ind, Den, @ TB, Ten

Losses: @ NO, @ LAC, @ KC, @ Bal, @ NE, @ Ten

Indianapolis Colts

2018 Record/Season Result: 10-6 / Lost Divisional Round @ KC

2019 Prediction: 5-11 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Ten, Oak, Den, Mia, Jax

Losses: @ LAC, Atl, @ KC, Hou, @ Pit, @ Hou, Ten, @ TB, @ NO, Car @ Jax

Tennessee Titans

2018 Record/Season Result: 9-7 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 8-8 (3-3) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Buf, @Den, LAC, TB, KC, Jax, @ Ind, Hou

Losses: @ Cle, Ind, Jax, Atl, Car, @ Oak, NO, @ Hou

Jacksonville Jaguars

2018 Record/Season Result: 5-11 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 7-9 (3-3) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: KC, @ Ten, NO, NYJ, TB, LAC, Ind

Losses: @ Hou, @ Den, @ Car, @ Cin, Hou (London), @ Ind, Ten, @ Oak, @Atl

AFC EAST

New England Patriots

2018 Record/Season Result: 11-5 / Won Super Bowl LIII vs LAR

2019 Prediction: 13-3 (6-0) / AFC East Champs / #1 Seed

Wins: @ Mia, NYJ, @ Buf, @ Was, NYG, @ NYJ, Cle, Dal, @ Hou, KC, @ Cin, Buf, Mia

Losses: Pit, @ Bal, Phi

Miami Dolphins

2018 Record/Season Result: 7-9 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 2-14 (1-5) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Buf, Cin

Losses: Bal, NE, @ Dal, LAC, Was, @ Buf, @ Pit, NYJ, @ Ind, Buf, @ Cle, Phi, @NYJ, @ NYG, NE

Buffalo Bills

2018 Record/Season Result: 6-10 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 6-10 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Cin, Mia, Was, Den, Bal, NYJ

Losses: @ NYJ, @ NYG, NE, @ Ten, Phi, @ Cle, @ Mia, @ Dal, @ Pit, @ NE

New York Jets

2018 Record/Season Result: 4-12 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (3-3) / Wild Card / #6 Seed

Wins: Buf, Cle, Dal, @ Mia, NYG, Oak, @ Cin, Mia, Pit

Losses: @ NE, @ Phi, NE, @ Jax, @ Was, @ Bal, @ Buf

AFC WEST

Kansas City Chiefs

2018 Record/Season Result: 12-4 / Lost AFC Championship vs NE

2019 Prediction: 11-5 (5-1) / AFC West Champs / #2 Seed

Wins: @ Oak, Bal, @ Det, Ind, Hou, GB, Min, Oak, Den, LAC

Losses: @ Jax, @ Ten, LAC (Mexico City), @ NE, @ Chi

Los Angeles Chargers

2018 Record/Season Result: 12-4 / Lost Divisional Round @ NE

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (3-3) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Ind, Hou, @ Mia, Den, Pit, GB, KC (Mexico City), Min, Oak

Losses: @ Det, @ Ten, @ Chi, @ Oak, @ Den, @ Jax, @ KC

Denver Broncos

2018 Record/Season Result: 6-10 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 7-9 (3-3) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Oak, Chi, Jax, Cle, LAC, Det, Oak

Losses: @ GB, @ LAC, Ten, KC, @ Ind, @ Min, @ Buf, @ Hou, @ KC

Oakland Raiders

2018 Record/Season Result: 4-12 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 5-11 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Det, LAC, Cin, Ten, Jax

Losses: Den, KC, @ Min, @ Ind, Chi (London), @ GB, @ Hou, @ NYJ, @ KC, @LA, @ Den

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

2018 Record/Season Result: 12-4 / Lost Wild Card vs Phi

2019 Prediction: 8-8 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Was, Min, Oak (London), LAC, Det, NYG, Dal, KC

Losses: GB, @ Den, NO, @ Phi, @ LAR, @ Det, @ GB, @ Min

Minnesota Vikings

2018 Record/Season Result: 8-7-1 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (3-3) / Wild Card / #6 Seed

Wins: Atl, Oak, @ NYG, Phi, @ Det, Was, Den, Det, GB, Chi

Losses: @ GB, @ Chi, @ KC, @ Dal, @ Sea, @ LAC

Green Bay Packers

2018 Record/Season Result: 6-9-1 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 10-6 (4-2) / NFC NORTH CHAMPS / #4 Seed

Wins: @ Chi, Min, Den, Phi, Det, Oak, Car, @ SF, Was, Chi

Losses: @ Dal, @ KC, @ LAC, @ NYG, @ Min, @ Det

Detroit Lions

2018 Record/Season Result: 6-10 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 6-10 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Ari, LAC, NYG, @ Was, Chi, GB

Losses: @ Phi, KC, @ GB, Min, @ Oak, @ Chi, Dal, @ Min, TB, @ Den

NFC SOUTH

New Orleans Saints

2018 Record/Season Result: 13-3 / Lost NFC Championship vs LAR

2019 Prediction: 11-5 (4-2) / NFC South Champs / #3 Seed

Wins: Hou, Dal, TB, @ Chi, Ari, Atl, Car, SF, Ind, @ Ten, Car

Losses: @ LAR, @ Sea, @ Jax, @ TB, @ Atl

Carolina Panthers

2018 Record/Season Result: 7-9 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (3-3) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: TB, @ Ari, Jax, TB (London), Ten, Atl, Was, Sea, @ Ind

Losses: LAR, @ Hou, @ SF, @ GB, @ NO, @ Atl, NO

Atlanta Falcons

2018 Record/Season Result: 7-9 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (4-2) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Phi, @ Ind, Ten, @ Ari, Sea, TB, NO, Car, Jax,

Losses: @ Min, @ Hou, LAR, @ NO, @ Car, @ SF, @ TB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2018 Record/Season Result: 5-11 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 6-10 (1-5) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: SF, NYG, Ari, NO, Ind, @ Det

Losses: @ Car, @ LAR, @ NO, Car (London), @ Ten, @ Sea, @ Atl, @ Jax, Hou, Atl

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

2018 Record/Season Result: 10-6 / Lost Divisional Round @ LAR

2019 Prediction: 11-5 (5-1) / Wild Card / #5 Seed

Wins: NYG, @ Was, Mia, GB, @ NYG, Min, @ Det, Buf, LAR, Phi, Was

Losses: @ NO, @ NYJ, Phi, @ NE, @ Chi

Philadelphia Eagles

2018 Record/Season Result: 9-7 / Lost Divisional Round @ NO

2019 Prediction: 12-4 (5-1) / NFC East Champs / #2 Seed

Wins: Was, Det, NYJ, @ Dal, @ Buf, Chi, NE, Sea, @ Mia, NYG, @ Was, @ NYG

Losses: @ Atl, @ GB, @ Min, Dal

Washington Redskins

2018 Record/Season Result: 7-9 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 3-13 (0-6) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Mia, SF, NYJ

Losses: @ Phi, Dal, Chi, @ NYG, NE, @ Min, @ Buf, Det, @ Car, @ GB, Phi, NYG, @ Dal

New York Giants

2018 Record/Season Result: 5-11 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 6-10 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Buf, Was, Ari, GB, Mia, @ Was

Losses: @ Dal, @ TB, Min, @ NE, @ Det, Dal, @ NYJ, @ Chi, @ Phi, Phi

NFC WEST

Los Angeles Rams

2018 Record/Season Result: 13-3 / Lost Super Bowl LIII vs NE

2019 Prediction: 12-4 (4-2) / NFC West Champs / #1 Seed

Wins: @ Car, NO, @ Cle, TB, SF, @ Atl, Cin, Chi, Bal, @ Ari, Sea, Ari

Losses: @ Sea, @ Pit, @ Dal, @ SF

Seattle Seahawks

2018 Record/Season Result: 10-6 / Lost Wild Card @ DAL

2019 Prediction: 9-7 (4-2) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: Cin, NO, @ Ari, LAR, Bal, TB, Min, Ari, SF

Losses: @ Pit, @ Cle, @ Atl, @ SF, @ Phi, @ LAR, @ Car

San Francisco 49ers

2018 Record/Season Result: 4-12 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 7-9 (2-4) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Cin, Pit, Car, Sea, Ari, Atl, LAR

Losses: @ TB, Cle, @ LAR, @ Was, @ Ari, GB, @ Bal, @ NO, @ Sea

Arizona Cardinals

2018 Record/Season Result: 3-13 / Missed Playoffs

2019 Prediction: 3-13 (1-5) / Miss Playoffs

Wins: @ Cin, SF, Pit

Losses: Det, @ Bal, Car, Sea, @ Cin, Atl, @ NYG, @ NO, @ TB, @ SF, LAR, Cle, @ Sea, @ LAR

2020 PLAYOFFS

*Bold team indicates victory*

Wild Card Round:

AFC

#6 New York Jets @ #3 Pittsburgh Steelers

#5 Cleveland Browns @ #4 Houston Texans

NFC

#6 Minnesota Vikings @ #3 New Orleans Saints

#5 Dallas Cowboys @ #4 Green Bay Packers

Divisional Round

AFC

#5 Cleveland Browns @ #1 New England Patriots

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers @ #2 Kansas City Chiefs

NFC

#5 Dallas Cowboys @ #1 Los Angeles Rams

#3 New Orleans Saints @ #2 Philadelphia Eagles

AFC Championship Game

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers @ #1 New England Patriots

NFC Championship Game

#5 Dallas Cowboys @ #3 New Orleans Saints

24 Pittsburgh Steelers vs New Orleans Saints 29