Five bold predictions before the NFL season starts

(Photo by Terrance Williams, Associated Press via bleacherreport)

Rejoice football fans, we are less than one week away from the triumphant return of the NFL regular season! There is a lot to look forward to this year, unless you’re a Houston Texans fan, woof. It’s time to throw out some bold predictions that could (maybe) happen. I have drawn up 5 bold predictions for you to think about and look out for in the next 4 months.

1) The 49ers Will Win The NFC West

(Photo by Jed Jacobson, Associated Press via bleacherreport)

Why It’s BOLD – The Niners Finished Last in the NFC West Last Season

The last place team from the Bay looks to change the rankings in the NFC West this season, and there is only one way to do it, win (duh). The Niners finished 6-10 last season, dead last in the NFC West rankings, a gross season. Now, the team lost key players to injury last season, and I should say most of the team to be honest. Mostert, Kittle, Bosa, Austin, Garoppolo, Reed, Sherman, Samuel.. get the idea? Those players make their return this season, and it should make a hell of a difference. 

Add in Trey Lance (who will miss week 1), but after that he will be back. If they don’t name him the starter over Jimmy G by week 5, and I feel like they will, they’re definitely going to be rotating him in and out over offensive series to throw a monkey wrench in the opposing defenses. They did it in preseason, and the opponent didn’t have an answer. He’s electric, and he WILL be their starter, and make a gigantic difference for them.

I truthfully believe that if they can stay healthy, there is no reason why they can’t win the NFC West. It won’t be a cake walk, but they have the team to go in and dethrone Seattle as the King of the West.

2) Julio Jones Will Be The #1 WR in Tennessee

(Photo by George Walker IV via the tennesean)

Why It’s BOLD – Search A.J. Brown

The off season move that everyone talked about, long time Atlanta Falcon Julio Jones heads to Tennessee to pair up with young stud receiver A.J. Brown. We knew his time in Atlanta was up, and we weren’t sure where he would end up, and after he landed in Tennessee, fans and Ryan Tannehill salivated at the thought of the future pass attack. A.J. Brown is what will make this a challenge for Julio to end the year as the number 1 receiver on the team. In two seasons Brown has totaled 2,126 yards and 19 touchdowns on 190 targets, the obvious number 1 on the teams, because his competition was minimal. 

Bring in Julio. This is where stats are fun. 10 years in Atlanta, 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns on 1,320 targets. That’s an average of 132 targets per season, PER SEASON. Brown averages 95 a season. That’s a large difference. Julio is the kind of presence on the field Tannehill won’t be able to ignore, and he shouldn’t, they’ll be a better team with him catching the ball. Julio will demand targets, not verbally, but because he gets open regularly, and as a quarterback you throw to the open receiver. It’s going to be fun to watch this new pass attack in Tennessee, but I fully believe you’re looking at a big year from Julio Jones and their new no. 1 receiver.

3) Melvin Gordon Will Out Run Javonte Williams

(Photo by Jack Dempsey, Associated Press via thedenverchannel)

Why It’s BOLD – Gordon’s Shelf Life Is Close To Expiration

“Now what kind of bold prediction is this James? You’re supposed to make a logical prediction, not just say stupid things.” Ok, hear me out, then yell at me later, but only if Javonte Williams out runs Gordon.

Melvin Gordon enters his second year in Denver as the starting running back, a year where the Broncos went out and drafted rookie sensation Javonte Williams out of North Carolina. Williams played 3 years there and rushed for 2,297 yards and 29 touchdowns. One of those years splitting carries with now Jets rookie running back Michael Carter. This shows me that maybe Denver is ok with them sharing the backfield for a while, and most likely leaning on the veteran to protect their investment for the future.

Gordon is in a contract year. POUND THE ROCK. I think they’re going to run Gordon hard until the wheels fall off and he goes to another team next year. He will get more carries, more touches, more opportunities, and Gordon will do his best to make the most of it to show the rest of the NFL he isn’t washed. Feed him until he’s full.

This doesn’t mean I don’t think Williams won’t play a factor. I most certainly believe he will, and a good one. But I don’t think you’re going to see a hell of a lot of him until later in the season, and that’s why I think Gordon finishes with more production than Williams in 2021.

4) Matthew Stafford Returns To Gun Slinging Form

(Photo by Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports via USAtoday)

Why It’s BOLD – Stafford Has Been Injury Ridden

 There is a solid argument that Stafford has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL since he arrived in 2009. With the Lions he threw for 45,109 yards in 12 years, along with 282 touchdowns. Not to mention he has surpassed 4,000 yards in a season for 8 of those 12 years. That's crazy consistent. But don’t forget that magical 5,000 yard season in 2011 when him and Calvin Johnson decided to explode.

Then the injuries, he has had his fair share. From separated shoulders, to fractured hands, dislocated knees, and fracturing his tailbone. He gets hurt, there’s no question. But my point why it doesn’t matter is the stats. He was still able to compile all of these stats in Detroit, and a lot of times with no name receivers after Calvin Johnson retired. Names including Quintez Cephus, Marvin Hall, Andre Roberts, Corey Fuller, Kevin Ogletree, Titus Young, and many more. 

He’s now in L.A. with a receiver corp that has been incredibly consistent the past 3-5 years, and people don’t give Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp the credit they deserve. Stafford plus those two seems like the perfect recipe for a pass attack that could throw him back into that Gun Slinger tier that he was for years in Detroit. If Jared Goff can throw for almost 4,000 yards with those two, imagine what Stafford can do.

5) The Ravens Lead The NFL In Rushing For The 3rd Consecutive Year

(Photo by Terrance Williams, Associated Press via bleacherreport)

Why It’s BOLD  - J.K. Dobbins Season Ending Injury

The Baltimore Ravens have led the NFL the last 2 years in total rushing yards and that will not end this year. “But, but James, J.K. Dobbins isn’t playing this year because of injury.” IT DOESN’T MATTER. When you have Lamar Jackson as your quarterback, you’re running the ball, whether it’s him or the running back it doesn’t matter. Not to mention John Harbaugh, the Head Coach that sticks to his guns, and his guns specialize in running the football by any means necessary. 

ALL ABOARD THE GUS BUS! I hate to say J.K. Dobbins injury doesn’t matter, because he is a crazy talented running back, but so is his backup turned starter Gus Edwards. The Gus Bus is set up for success and could have an incredible year running the ball. He is going to get all the volume, and he doesn’t even need that much to produce. In 3 years of being the backup running back in Baltimore, Gus Edwards has averaged 5.02 yards per carry, on 414 carries. Putting his 3 year total, of not even playing every game, at 2,152 yards. Now he has the reins, and it’ll be fun to see what he can do. 

Do I even have to talk about Lamar Jackson? He’s good, like stupid good. He runs the ball smoother than a lot of starting running backs in the league, and I shouldn’t have to pull out the numbers. I will say this though, the last two seasons of them leading the NFL in rushing yards, they have run for at least 3,000 per season. You know that wasn’t all Lamar either, and it won’t be this season, but the team rushing title will continue.

Get your beer cold, your meat smoked, and your best fan gear washed, because next week we start up.

Strap in NFL fans, it’s going to be a fun season.

SKOL

- JD