As we enter the doldrums and dead zone of the NFL offseason, we look towards the future. What better way to fill the gaps in the action than to start making predictions on the big questions facing teams this coming season. Who makes the playoffs? Who won't? MVP favorite? All predictions that can be done this time of year. It helps fill the void, so here we go! I asked the House Call Crew these questions and more to see what their thoughts and predictions were for this NFL season!
Which division winner from last year won't win it this year?
Gage - The easy answer here is the Tampa Bay Bucs. The loss of Brady and the lack luster replacements at the QB position make it hard to see them repeating, even with the rest of the division looking like garbage. I’d also like to mention the Bills as a dark horse to not repeating this year. Rodgers joining the fray in the AFC East along with a healthy Dolphins team and competent Offensive play calling in New England make the road a lot more difficult. Plus, if we are buying into the offseason noise surrounding the team, it sounds like disaster could be right around the corner.
Matt - I saw this question and was going to go look at the division winners from last year. Before I could even get to Google, Minnesota flashed in my head. They were so fraudulent last year. Winning all those 1 score games. Having a negative point differential despite winning 13 games. They aren’t a good football team and they got worse over the off-season. Kirk Cousins is the definition of Mid. The Lions and Bears will be much improved, Packers will also be solid. Vikings finish 3rd in the NFC North next year.
Nick - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not win the division. With the Bucs not having a real quarterback to man their team, it’s going to be a long bridge year but the Bucs organization and fans knew this when they signed up for a few years of Tom Brady.
Josh - I believe there are more new division winners than repeat titles this year. Allow me to explain: Tampa Bay is an obvious one, with their loss of Brady and their star LB seeing the writing on the wall and requesting a trade. This team goes nowhere with Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask leading the huddle. Another division to watch is the NFC North. You’ve never seen a worse points differential from a 13 win team in NFL history… That makes the Vikings a likely regression candidate while the Lions are making win now moves. Watch out for Detroit this year. The Eagles may have reloaded their defense this offseason, but it is a now a more inexperienced unit than last year. The Cowboys are a team that made moves to cover up weaknesses that the Eagles exposed last year, while the Eagles had to regroup their initial losses in free agency. The AFC East has a new power coming out of Florida, the Miami Dolphins. They look like a pro bowl squad similar to the Championship roster the LA Rams put together two seasons ago. Turmoil in Buffalo on a roster that doesn’t look any better than last season has them trending towards a wildcard finish, not a division title. The last one might shock you, but I think the AFC North will crown a new division champ. I’m just not sure which one to pick. The Bengals 1st place schedule combined with the rest of the division improving has me thinking 12 wins is just not possible this year. The Ravens are suddenly explosive, and the Browns are seemingly LOADED with a full off season of work ahead of Deshaun Watson. Mike Tomlin always competes, Cincinnati is in trouble but I think they also take a wildcard spot.
Rob - Buffalo Bills with the loss of Leslie Frazier , the division all getting better, and the turmoil between Josh Allen and Diggs I see a change within the ranks. This year its anybodys chance to claim it.
What playoff team from last year doesn't make it this year?
Gage - Again easy pick here us Tampa. Just look to the above answers and its easy to see why. As for the AFC, I don’t see the Chargers making it. Too many teams got better in the AFC for the Chargers to make it off of mediocrity again.
Matt - I mean… Read the answer above. Vikings not making the playoffs either. But I’ll be creative and give another answer. The Bucs would be an obvious one as well that I won’t give as my official answer. I’m going a little bit wild here. But this teams division has gotten a lot better, while this team has gotten worse, and has a lot of drama and questions surrounding their team right now. Buffalo misses the playoffs. They win 9 games this year. But in the stacked AFC East and AFC in general that’s only good for 3rd in the division and 8th in the conference. It sounds crazy, but it’s on the board. There’s been a lot of turnover (both with players and coaches and with Josh Allen literally turning the ball over) for the Bills lately and more could be coming with Stefon Diggs. Be careful Buffalo…
Nick - The New York Giants will not make the playoffs, with no real threat at WR, it’s going to be tough for Saquan Barkley to lead this team to wins. With the NFC East being such a tough division I expect them to compete for the last wild card spot but eventually fade away in the last few weeks.
Josh - The list isn’t long, One AFC team and two NFC teams. AFC: The LA Chargers just missed the mark this offseason. Staley will yet again come up short with a top 5 QB and finally will be removed from his head coaching duties. The Quentin Johnston pick was flashy but not a winning pick for a team in desperate need of defensive help. Look out for the Browns and Broncos to make a run at their spot in a conference that is way tougher than it’s NFC counterpart. NFC: The Buccaneers are yet again making the list for all the wrong reasons. Every team in this division has an opportunity to take over, and Tampa is sadly more likely to finish 4th than win the NFC South again. This one was tough, but I just don’t see the Seahawks taking another step forward in the 2023 season. The Lions are a dark horse to win it all, and the Rams are healthy again, and I barely have them with the edge over such a likable Seattle team.
Rob - Doesn't matter at this point who suits up at QB for Tampa. Trask, Baker, insert created character on Madden. The goat won 8 games with this team with the same set of skill players. I see a huge downfall for Tampa, and what has further reassured me of that has been Baker. He has been passed around from team to team and his recent play in the off-season workouts has looked uninspiring as he consistently misses his targets without there even being a corner in coverage.
Who wins OROY?
Gage - Bijan. He will be used and abused in that offense. Especially with Desmond ridder at the helm.
Matt - I think Bijan Robinson is a very worthy favorite, and he’s gonna put up really good numbers, but I love Bryce Young here. He’s got an underrated offensive group around him with a tough offensive line. New additions through free agency of Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst as weapons. As well as WR Johnathan Mingo out of Ole Miss who they got in the 2nd round of the draft. I think Young has all the requisite skills, intangibles, and IQ to be a good NFL QB even without a solid supporting cast, and the fact I believe that he has a solid supporting cast right now means I think he will ball out. I think the Panthers win that division and Bryce Young wins OROY.
Nick - Bijan Robinson will end up running away with OROY. This running back will command a lot of the workload. The young Falcons and I expect him to deliver big in his first year as he’s a 3 down back and will become a quick favorite for Desmond Ridder.
Josh - This one is definitely the low hanging fruit, but for good reason. Bijan Robinson will break records as a rookie running back in a heavy rushing Arthur Smith offense. The Falcons have spent a first rounder on a TE, WR, and a RB in the last three years. I think this is when it all comes together for them offensively.
Rob - What is it that Atlanta really has going for them other than having 1 of if not the best RB that came out the draft. Ridder gives me no confidence that he will be a focal point of this offense, so insert the bell cow from Texas. Bijan Robinson.
Who wins DROY?
Gage - I think I’m going to go back to back corners for this award and give it to Devin Witherspoon in Seattle. The Seahawks are known for having heavy hitting corners and this guy fits that bill. I am talking highlight reel hits people!
Matt- I think for the first time in his life, Jalen Carter, out of Georgia and now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, will be getting single team blocked. There’s too many other D-lineman and pass rushers up front for Philly right now. They are gonna allow for Carter to eat and dominate because he won’t be the focal point of offenses schemes anymore. Watch out for him to have double digit sacks and help lead Philly's defense to another top 5 finish.
Nick - Jalen Carter wins DROY. He went to the perfect team to utilize his strengths and with Carter bolstering the defensive line I don’t expect much of a drop off from the Eagles defense. Expect this defense to showcase their talent and Carter to have 10+sacks next year as he is a disruptive force.
Josh - This one is a toss up as there is just not a definitive option from this class. My guess is… Deonte Banks in the Big Apple. I had him as a top ten prospect this year and just behind Witherspoon at corner. Deonte will get more immediate attention because he plays in New York and he is going to be asked to play opposite of #1 wide receivers starting day one. I think he makes enough plays in the secondary to be considered for this award.
Rob - Hot take but with Jack Jones recent transgressions I think Christian Gonzalez will not only get even more playing time but will be a huge reason why the Patriots finish amongst the best replicating if not bettering what Sauce Gardner did last year.
Who is the front runner for MVP?
Gage - I have a top 3 for this being Pat Mahomes(of course) Joe Burrow & Jalen Hurts. Dark horse pick for me is Tua if he stays healthy.
Matt - Mahomes is the easy answer every year and that’s LAME so I’m not gonna say Mahomes. But this is a QB award whether you like it or not so the front runner has to be a QB. So I guess I’ll give the other obvious answer… Gimme Joe Burrow. All the weapons he needs and an improved offensive line. Plus last year he got off to a slow start, I think it’ll be better this year. I think voters will have some fatigue with Mahomes, I doubt Hurts has another elite season like last year, Josh Allen is too inconsistent, can Lamar put together another MVP caliber season with all his new weapons? Maybe. But I think Burrow is my favorite for the award.
Nick - Lamar Jackson is the front runner for MVP. After everyone ridiculed him and saying he’s not worth the money or a top 5 QB, I believe Lamar Jackson will have a fully healthy season and with the new weapons added on offense, the Ravens will finish with a top 3 offense overall. Lamar will be holding the MVP trophy by season end.
Josh - The consensus front runner? Either Mahomes or Hurts. My front runner for MVP? Lamar Jackson on a massively improved offense with a new offensive coordinator who is known for helping produce massive QB numbers. This will be a year where if Lamar can stay healthy (which I think he will with increased passing volume over rushing), he will be able to carry his team to a #1 seed in the AFC next year.
Rob - I believe Lamar Jackson is on demon time. The league has forgotten about him and I believe it's personal. With the additions of OBJ and Zay to pair with Mark Andrews, this offense can be dynamic propelling Jackson's game to career heights. Now I understand my pick is puzzling because injuries are apart of it but that's where it all boils down to if they stay healthy, Lamar is going to be special.