Before we start the predictions, I want to take a moment and talk about the longevity and success of this league. 20 years ago, I was a 21 year old kid with an idea to create an online madden league, but really had no idea how it worked. With the help of Dolan (Lhu27) we created the MOF. We had some bumps and bruises in our first few seasons, but now 70 seasons later (nice) here we are. One of the most prestigious leagues out there. As we enter our unprecedented 71st season, a number that not many leagues have seen, I want to thank every single one of you for making this league what it is. I say this all the time, but this is a wonderful hobby for all of us. Something to get our minds off the everyday grind and have a place to escape for a few hours a week. I take pride and pleasure in providing that for you guys, so again, thank you for making the MOF great!
Welcome to the Season 71 Predictions! So last season's numbers, I was 6 for 7 in the AFC, with 0 teams correct in the AFC title game. In the NFC I was 5 for 7, with a 1 team correct in the title game. I did not pick Healy to make the Super Bowl let alone win it, and i picked Pettigrew to get knocked out in the 1st round, shows how much I know. It was nice to see some old time MOF veterans have playoff success though. We finally saw MackDaddy break his 3 season playoff drought and get to the AFC title game. We also finally saw the Raiders and Giants lose before the Super Bowl. We might have seen one of the greatest divisions in recent memory, only send 1 team to the playoffs in the NFC East and we saw a new juggernaut division in the NFC North. So what gives this season? Will we see Witness break his playoff drought? Can we see Commish win a playoff game? Maybe Krayzie takes the next step? Can anyone stop that rushing attack of the Colts and Seahawks? SMaybe we will see a new champion again? How about Jfon, can he bounce back? All that and more will be answered as we go through our Season 71 season predictions.
*Remember all these predictions are very in depth. We go game by game with the current schedule and predict games 1 by 1 and that's how we come up with our algorithms. Remember this is all in good fun and for some, some bulletin board material! Enjoy
by Commissioner Jeff
March 7, 2023
Biggest Off-Season Addition: WR Jameel Underwood - MIA (90 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: QB Dak Prescott - NYJ (87 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: LB Quincy Ward - NYJ (79 ovr)
FINALLY Coach MackDaddy broke his 3 season playoff drought. We have been predicting it for a while, but last season was it. The Jets wound up just missing the post-season finishing 9-8 with all their QB troubles. The Patriots had some coach issues so they wound up finishing 6-11, and the Miami Dolphins were the 2nd team in MOF history to go 0-17. We begin with the Buffalo Bills, the defending AFC East champs. The Bills made it all the way to the AFC title game eventually falling to the Colts, but it looks like MackDaddy is back. What's interesting is the Bills defense did not finish in the top 5 for the first time all edition. The core of the team is still here led by Josh Allen, who had a better TD than INT ratio for the first time this edition. Buffalo's defense is still very strong, although like we said above, they did not finish in the top 5 but they are still a top 5 defense. I believe Buffalo will have a nice season, I expect them to win the division and come up strong in the playoffs as well. The New York Jets come into this season with a clear cut QB1 in Ryland Wakefield. The Jets admitted they made a mistake by signing Dak Prescott last season, and traded him this off-season to the Chargers. Wakefield had a fantastic season with 26 TD and 14 INT and earned his starting spot. HB Breece Hall proved to be the superstar back that the Jets wanted, as he caught 99 balls last season in addition to rushing for 1,381 yards. Hall is the key to the offense, as he goes, the Jets goes. That will push them to challenge for the division and wild-card spot. The Jets drafting ability continued as they picked LB Quincy Ward who was rated the top player in the draft. They also developed Javante Nolan into a Superstar last season. DoubleD just knows how to develop, period. The New England Patriots seem to be that one team this edition that has a lot of turnover. Last season the Patriots lost their coach after going 6-5 and we had trouble finding a replacement so they had 6 straight sim losses. The good thing is the slate has been wiped and new coach ImHim has taken over for the Patriots. The Pats offense is very nice, led by Mac Jones and Alvin Kamara. Look out for WR Jaron Rogers who has 97 speed. The defense is led by Roquan Smith, 95 overall x-factor development. He led the MOF in tackles last season and looks to be just as strong this season. I'm loving the draft pick of CB Devin Campbell who looks to be a spark to the secondary as well. As we always say, it's tough to predict a coach who hasn't played a single game in the league yet, but attesting to the roster and the schedule we believe the Pats could win 7 or 8 games. That's actually pretty good for being a rookie coming in, we wish him the best of luck! The Miami Dolphins went winless last season, the 2nd team to do it and the 3rd time it happened since we moved to a 17 game season. It looks like Leo Washington will be the starting QB once again for Miami, as Tua sits on the bench. Kyle McLaughlin is entering his 2nd season after rushing for 945 yards and 4 TDs last season. The Dolphins also went out and traded for WR Jameel Underwood from the Chiefs and now they have two receivers with 98 speed in Hill and Underwood, wow. That will make this offense pretty explosive. The Dolphins defense is solid, not great, but solid. The secondary is the strongest part led by FS Jevon Holland (91 ovr, 93 spd). Listen, Miami has the talent to win games, they made a big trade and now the fans are expecting some wins. Unfortunately I think Miami is set up for another disappointment. I think they can win maybe 1 or 2 games, to be honest, but will they?
Biggest Off-Season Addition: CB Denzel Ward - CLE (96 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: DT Aaron Donald - PIT (99 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: LB Clifton Baskerville - CLE (79 ovr)
The AFC North was once again won by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Commish Jeff. That makes 3 out of the 4 seasons won by the Steelers. The Bengals were also a playoff team, going 11-6 and neck and neck with those Steelers. The Ravens played a bit better football last season, but still finished 6-11 and the Browns had a tough one going 4-13. We begin with the Cincinnati Bengals, our pick to win the division this season. The Bengals had themselves a very nice season, going 11-2 against teams not named the Steelers or Ravens. We saw Danielle Hunter shatter the record for TFL in one season, and we expect the same amount of pressure this season as Hunter is the odds on favorite to win the defensive MVP. Burrow is one of the top QBs in the game and coupled with a great rushing attack in Kirkpatrick, and great weapons in Higgins, Williams, Favors, and Harrington. The Bengals have it all. We didn't even talk about that defense yet. Not only were they one of the top defenses in the MOF, they were the top defense in the MOF! And they added LB Shaquille Leonard to the mix. These guys are going to be tough to beat, it seems like they got better in the off-season and thats why they are our favorites. The Steelers come into this season in a panic, they lost DT Aaron Donald to retirement and Commish has been trying to replace him ever since. They went out and signed Michael Pierce, Phidarian Mathis, and Travis Jones to all play DT. We believe Pierce will get the starting nod, but it's nice to have depth. Other than that, the rest of the team stayed in tact. They went out and signed HB Ty Johnson away from the Eagles to be a spell speed back, but Najee Harris is one of the top backs in the league. They also have arguably the best LB tandem in the MOF with Watt, Simmons, Jack, and Bush. The Steelers will be a playoff contender, and will obviously fight for that division, we're just giving the edge to Cincy because of the loss of Aaron Donald. The Baltimore Ravens made some noise last season, sweeping the Bengals and honestly giving pretty much every opponent a tough game. Unfortunately most of the time, the game did not fall in their favor and that's why they were 6-11. However, the Ravens started running Lamar a little more and were having success. The Ravens have a nice squad, they are tough, and they find their playmakers. The only issue is that they are in a tough division with Cincy and Pittsburgh. I think they could win 1 or 2 against them, as they usually do, but their schedule looks to be a little tougher this season. I really like the draft pick of Ed Morgan, he looks to be a stud LB right out of the gate and we all know about that secondary led by Marlon Humphrey. I believe the Ravens could surprise some people but odds are they will be right around what they did last season. The Browns come into this season coming off a 4-13 season in where we predicted them go to 5-12. So right around there. This season the Browns come in without X-factor HB Nick Chubb who was traded to the Panthers for CB Denzel Ward. Tough move, but Kareem Hunt looks to be the starter now. Watson is back as the starter, and their number 1 target TE David Njoku looks to continue his strong career. The addition of Chase Claypool was a very nice one last season as he proved to be a strong target in the red zone. The problem now though, is the run game will suffer without Chubb so defenses will key on that pass. The defense of the Browns is top notch. Myles Garrett, JOK, Denzel Ward, and the pick of LB Clifton Baskerville, they are going to be fun to watch. I expect the Browns to give teams some fits, but I still think their offense will be the death of them. Now without Chubb, its going to be even tougher.
Biggest Off-Season Addition: LT Trevor Penning - JAC (81 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: CB Desmond King III - HOU (81 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: FS Kendrick Atkins - HOU (75 ovr)
The AFC South is as strong as it gets. The reigning, defending champion Colts finished with a 14-3 record and plowed through the playoffs with ease as Coach Healy won his 4th SB title. The Titans were just as good as we expected, well not as quite but they finished 11-6 and made it to the divisional round. The Texans snuck into the playoffs at 9-8 and the Jaguars had a tough season with Dre's absence finishing 6-11. We begin with the defending champion Colts. What is there not to like about this team? The offense is just strong enough with Jonathan Taylor, Jake Bowen, Ramon Rich, and the speedy George DeLoach at WR, along with Michael Pittman, Will McGriff and the newly drafted 96 speed Marion McKee. Their offensive line is probably the best in the league with 3 guys in the 90s, Quenton Nelson (98), Penei Sewell (91), & Braden Smith (90). Their defensive line is absolutely incredible led by Micah Parsons who nearly won the AFC Defensive MVP, Rashan Gary, and Dexter Lawrence II. Their linebackers are fast led by Bobby Okereke, and their secondary is great too led by CB Kelvin Joseph. These Colts have zero holes, they are solid everywhere and it's very hard to pick against them. Which is why we are expecting them to win this division once again, and make a deep run into the playoffs and possible winning it all again. The Titans had a tough ending to their season, after going 6-0 they finished 5-6 and lost in the divisional round to the Colts. They are a year older, but they are still rated extremely high with Malik Willis turning into an x-factor. Derrick Henry is 32 yrs old now, but still rated 96. The player to watch out for is WR William Kelley who has developed into arguably the best WR in the game. With his 98 speed and 99 accel. Don't forget about that TE Chigoziem Okonkwo who has also turned into an absolute beast. Coach Roc also has a very nice defense with Jeffery Simmons, Chance Campbell, Khalan Tolson, and 4 x-factors in the secondary. The Titans have what it takes to win the entire thing, they just have to limit their turnovers and beat the team in their division, the Colts. If they can get by them, the sky is the limit. I expect them to be right in the hunt for the division and absolutely the wild-card. The Houston Texans were predicted to have a quiet sold season and miss the playoffs, well they did have a quiet season but they made the playoffs! They were knocked out in the wild-card round but the more important note is that they made the playoffs. Coach Boobie is working with less, but he has the coaching skills to win games and that matters more than talent sometimes. They went out and signed QB Justin Fields away from the Bears, so I expect that to instantly give them an upgrade. I expect Fields to rush for a lot of yards as Boobie will use him as the weapon he is meant to be. Their offense is really lacking that big time play maker but some think Mick Oakley can be that guy with his 99 speed at WR. Tony Pollard and Dameon Pierce will be back in the backfield with Nick Brolyes spelling them once in a while. I really like the Texans defense. Led by RE Nick Bosa, these guys have some solid pieces. Especially with LB Christian Harris who has 91 speed at MLB. Boobie always seems to get a lot out of his secondary as well, led by Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans will be right in the mix for a wild-card spot, and they could surprise some people and really make a run for the division if the Fields thing works out. The Jacksonville Jaguars had themselves one of the worst seasons under BigDre that we've seen. 6-11 is just not something Dre is used to, and i think he will make a big return this season. They went out and signed LT Trevor Penning, which was the best signing of the division. They have a hungry QB in Trevor Lawrence, speed in WR Cam Boston and a truck in HB James Robinson. I really like TE Evan Engram, as does Dre. I think the offense has enough to compete. The defense is led by LB Josh Allen and Travon Walker who are both x-factor dev. I expect the Jaguars to fight for a spot, but this division is going to be rough. All teams here have made the playoffs at least once this edition, and more than once mostly. So the Jags have their hands full, can they do it?
Biggest Off-Season Addition: SS Budda Baker - KC (95 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: QB Patrick Mahomes - KC (99 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: LB Romeo Reeves - KC (79 ovr)
The Raiders won the AFC west for the 4th straight season as they went 13-4. They did lose twice to the Chiefs, and once to the Broncos so that has to say something right? The Raiders didn't go as far in the playoffs last season though. The Chiefs really struggled to start the season but then turned it completely around and just missed the playoffs at 9-8. The Chargers played okay at times but finished with a 7-10 record and the Broncos who beat the Raiders once, finished at a disappointing 6-11. We start with the Raiders, who we are predicting to win their 5th straight AFC West title this season. The emergence of QB David Short has been incredible, some questioned the move to cut Derek Carr but the move worked out perfectly as David Short is turning into a star right before our eyes. Of course the Raiders still pummel their opponents with HB Josh Jacobs. They signed WR Amari Cooper to go along with Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins. Oh and don't forget Darren Waller who is one of the top tight ends in the MOF. Enough about this offense though, the defense is where it's at for the Raiders. The ageless wonder Chandler Jones still out there wreaking havoc along side Maxx Crosby who continues to dominate at LB or DE. The rest of the defense is just solid everywhere with the most recent signing of Micah Hyde, the Raiders look to be a tough team to beat once again entering this season. The real question is, can they win the big one? So far the trophy has eluded Coach BigReub so let's see if this is the year. So the Chiefs got all the headlines in the off-season when they traded Patrick Mahomes, I can't even believe I just typed that. Somehow though, these guys might have gotten better! They received QB Kyler Murray and SS Budda Baker in return. Of course losing Mahomes is a loss, no matter what. Murray is not Mahomes and Bubba gonna find out quick. The Chiefs also traded WR Jameel Underwood, thinking they didn't need him with the emergence of WR Dion Henson. The Chiefs have 2 WRs at 99 speed and one at 94. That's just unfair. Speed is the name of their game though and it doesn't stop on defense either. They drafted LB Romeo Reeves, and he looks to be a stud at 84 speed and 82 accel. Budda Baker is the addition that they needed in the secondary that is filled with superstars and x-factors. The Chiefs have a great team, they have solid players everywhere. I do think Bubba is going to struggle a bit because going from Mahomes to Murray is going to be a huge learning curve and that alone might keep him out of the playoffs entirely. The Chargers were 5-2 last season at one point and then they spiraled out of control and finished 2-8. They went out and addressed their biggest need, a quarterback. They went out and traded for Dak Prescott who did not work out with the Jets, and he will immediately be the starter as Coach BuffaloBill put QB Jeff Monroe on the trade block. HB Austin Ekeler is 1 year older but still an x-factor 92 overall with 91 speed. We love TE Jonathan Dalton who should be a big target for Prescott. Also, the Chargers receivers aren't too shabby. Quincy Hendrix, Rondale Moore, and Anthony Schwartz lead the pack. The Chargers finished with the 2nd best defense in the MOF last season, and that is extremely impressive. They are fantastic against the run and it starts with DT Joey Bosa. He might be a little light in the ass to play DT, but he's doing it well. They also have Chase Young and Khalil Mack, which makes up one of the best defensive lines in all of football. Their secondary is just as great with Derwin James, JC Jackson, Darnell Savage, Nate Hobbs, and Asante Samuel Jr. Don't forget they just traded for CB Desmond King II as well. The Chargers have the defense, they just need the offense. They did what they needed to do, now let's see them execute on the field. They could definitely jump the Chiefs and overtake 2nd place but we are leaning more towards the same finish last season, we'll see. The Denver Broncos come into this season off a 6-11 record and one of the worst rated teams in the game. It starts with QB, their top rated QB is Matthew Stafford 76 overall at 38 yrs old. They drafted QB Chris Parker, and we hope he starts immediately. The Callum Harrison experiment seems to be over. HB Javonte Williams is on the trade block and we're not really sure why, he's a bruising back with good accel and could really carry this offense if he had the opportunity. WR James Fisher came into his own last season and earned the x-factor dev, coupled with KJ Hamler and Chris Hamm the Broncos have some nice weapons at WR. TE could use an upgrade but Okwuegbunam should be serviceable. Denver has some issues on defense, only 2 superstars and no x-factors on the d-line or secondary makes this defense not too good. This is the biggest problem they have, if they want to win games they are going to have to stop people, especially the Chiefs and Raiders. They did beat Las Vegas last season, but that was last season. We expect some struggles out of Denver this season.
Biggest Off-Season Addition: SS Jonathan Abram - DAL (86 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: CB Darius Slay Jr. - PHI (88 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: HB Jeff Irving - DAL (77 ovr)
The NFC Beast is what I like to call it, what happened? Last season we saw the G-men finish 14-3 as we expected, but that was the only team to make the playoffs in the division! The Commanders went 10-7, the Eagles 10-7, and Dallas went 8-9 all missing the playoffs. Shocking! We begin with the two-time division champs, the Giants and Coach Mack. Coach Mack is 1 season removed from winning the title, and let's not forget about that, how quickly he can easily jump right back on top. The Giants fell short in the NFC Championship to the Seahawks 19-13 and missed a chance to repeat. So with that being said, the Giants didn't make any eye opening changes because they didn't have to. They have their franchise QB in Dorian Jennings. Saquon Barkley is still a beast, TE Tyler Conklin gets it done, and WR Elijah Moore is a true number 1 WR. The Giants did go out and sign Cam Jordan to play some LE but the star of that line is Kwity Paye. The linebackers and secondary are also very solid as the Giants have an all around great squad. I expect Coach Mack to win the division again, he's probably one of the best passers we've ever seen and he just knows how to win. If he didn't win this division, i would be surprised. The Washington Commanders had what we call a collapse last season. They started 5-0 and then finished 5-7 and that is just not Betts-like. Justin Herbert had himself another MVP season, incredible numbers in a passing system that is very hard, he continues to throw 2x as many TDs as INTs. I think Betts will turn it around this season and have a strong campaign. They still have x-factor Antonio Gibson who is putting up historic numbers, season in and season out. They have TE Larry Harrison, another x-factor. Two more X-factors at WR too in Jahan Dotson and Keenan Allen. Their offense is on fire, and i don't see anyone able to slow them down. Their offensive line is the lone weak spot on the offensive side, with their best lineman being a 79 overall. Defensively they are solid in the front 7. Led by Jonathan Allen, Da'Ron Payne, and Cole Holcomb they are strong at DL and LB. Their secondary is a little weak with Derek Stump being the fastest CB but everyone else being high 80s. I think Washington has some holes to fill but Betts' skills make up for any holes his teams have, we know this. I would be shocked if they missed the playoffs again, so I think Betts returns with a chip on his shoulder, and fights hard for that division and earning a wild-card spot. The Philadelphia Eagles and Coach MrWitness missed the playoffs for the 2nd straight season after winning the first two super bowls of the edition. You can't make this stuff up. Last season did not start off very well for the Eagles either, as they came out of the gates slow, starting 1-5. They turned it on in the 2nd half of the season though finishing 9-2 and beating teams like Dallas, Washington, and KC. The Eagles got hot at the right time but just narrowly missed the playoffs. It all changed when they benched QB Jalen Hurts for QB Darrelle Wright. Wright came in and posted a 99.1 QB Rating, throwing for 3,165 yards, 28 TDs and 23 INTs and put a spark in the offense leading WR Quez Watkins to a WR of the year award. The rest of the offense is very solid, Miles Sanders 92 overall with 93 speed, Dallas Goedert is 6'4 256 with 83 speed. Then you have Watkins, AJ Brown, and the newly acquired Laviska Shenault Jr. at WR. The Eagles have the offense to put it together. The defense is led by Nakobe Dean, Haason Reddick, and Jordan Davis all x-factors. The Eagles have the team and we know Witness has the talent. I think he will put it together this season and break that cold streak. I think we will see the Eagles possibly battle Washington for 2nd place and I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles made a run in the post-season. The Dallas Cowboys and Coach Estrada had a down season, we expected them to miss the playoffs but we didn't expect them to be under 500. The Cowboys finished with the 4th best offense in the MOF but still missed the playoffs, thats how good this division is. The decision to part ways with Dak Prescott was a brilliant one, as Carey Barber has proven to be the real deal as he enters his 3rd season as an x-factor QB. The Cowboys went and drafted HB Jamaal Stallworth last season and they went and drafted HB Jeff Irving this season to have a great 1/2 punch in the backfield. That means the days of Ezekiel Elliott are very numbered. TE Joey Harbor is another strong player that has turned x-factor for Estrada who continues to develop players just as good as any coach here. WR is where they have a bit of a hole, after CeeDee Lamb they are struggling a bit. Their offensive line is still very strong, even though they are all on the block for some reason. The d-line is led by DeForest Buckner and DeMarcus Lawrence who combine for a devastating 1/2 punch that actually broke the single game record for least rushing yards allowed in a game. They also went out and traded for SS Jonathan Abram to go along with Martin Rose in the secondary. Dallas has a great team, and a great coach. There's no reason they should miss the playoffs, however, in this division it's going to be hard. If i had to pick 1 team to be in last, it would be Dallas unfortunately. However, they could all make the playoffs to be honest.
Biggest Off-Season Addition: DT Damarr Rivers - DET (85 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: LB Shaquille Leonard - DET (90 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: FS Kevin Denton - GB (76 ovr)
The NFC North turned into the NFC East last season! Three teams making the post-season, all with 11-6 records. The Lions were the creme of the crop winning the division by beating the other teams more! The Packers came on strong towards the end, and the Vikings surprised some people and also finished 11-6. Poor Trigrdan had a tough season with those stinky Bears at 3-14. We start with the defending division champions, the Lions. Coach Q has been around the block a few times and it shows as he just knows how to win. He's getting the edge in this division because it looks like he has the Packers number, and he's beaten the Vikings as well. The Lions have one of the better rosters in the game, with QB Will Robbins who turned x-factor a few seasons ago, Joe Mixon who is at a SS dev, which is odd to me, but anyway, they also have Ja'Marr Chase at a 99 overall x-factor. Don't forget TE TJ Hockenson, 94 overall. The offense is sweet, and Q likes to toss it around the field. The defense could use some upgrades, but George Karlaftis and the newly acquired Damarr Rivers at DL will prove otherwise. Sure the LB team is in need some a jolt, and the secondary could use some help too but i still think the Lions have the better squad and coach than other teams in this division. The Green Bay Packers and Coach Victor has posted back to back 11-6 seasons in his first two here in the MOF. We thought the Packers were in trouble to start the season with a 2-4 record but they immediately turned it around finishing 9-2 and reaching the divisional round in the playoffs. They pretty much beat everyone they played except the Lions. The Packers have a nice offense, led by QB Zach Wilson who was traded for by then Coach Enzo, they have RB Aaron Jones back again, at 31 yrs old but still x-factor. They also have TE Brock Bowers, who at 89 speed is a problem at 6'3" 244. WR Christian Watson had a great season 70, and is now an x-factor. They also have Chris Olave and Ronnie May at WR. The offensive line is also solid with David Bakhtiari back for his age 34 season. The defensive line is very nice for Green Bay, led by DT Kenny Clark (92 ovr) and DT Chris Jones (90 ovr). We love LB Quay Walker (85 ovr) and Ethan McQueen who is entering an x-factor season. Obviously the secondary is led by CB Jaire Alexander who was welcomed to the 99 club, and CB Eric Stokes who is an interception machine. The Packers are solid everywhere, no glaring holes. Coach Victory knows how to play, and he wins games. I expect Green Bay to battle for the division and to be right there when the wild-card positions are being fought for. The Vikings had what some call a surprising season 70, winning 11 games and getting into the playoffs. We didn't expect that, but nevertheless here we are. The Vikings are still struggling to find a QB as they let go of Stafford, Goff, and signed Jameis Winston. They drafted Juan Harper and he looks to possibly be the starter going in. The offensive weapons of this team are off the charts. HB Dalvin Cook, TE Travis Kelce, WR Justin Jefferson, and WR Deebo Samuel all x-factor and all dynamic. However, it doesn't help when you don't know who is going to actually throw them the ball. Anyway, the strong part on defense is that secondary. CB Vonn Smith (94 ovr, x-factor dev) leads the charge with Jabrill Peppers, Lewis Cine, and Paulson Adebo. The defensive line is led by Denario Alexander and Harrison Phillips. The linebackers need some upgrading, the top LB is Brian Asamoah II (75 ovr). I think the Vikings have a good shot at getting back to the playoffs, i have them just missing it and i think the problem will be at QB. If they can find lightning in a bottle with Juan Harper, then they could make some noise. So here we are, season 5 of the edition and the Bears still do not have a superstar or x-factor player. However, with the 2nd pick in the draft they went and got Joe Pemberton out of New Mexico State and he's a hidden dev! Justin Fields was let go, and it is now Pemberton's team. I am hoping he's an x-factor for Trig's sake. Anyway, you can see how not having any players with abilities does to your chances. Trig is a hall of fame coach and he continues to struggle to win games, 3-14 last season. He has the skills to win games, as you can see he does get in there and get a win here and there but the players on the team are lacking. HB Will Rhodes is very nice , 95 speed and 76 overall. WR Bryan Edwards is also a solid WR, 82 ovr, but he's the highest rated player on offense. Defense is not much better. The highest rated player is CB Jaylon Johnson at 88 overall. They have two more players 82 and that's it. The Bears are rated as a team 77 and that's the worst rating in the game. I expect the Bears to have another tough season, but I'm hoping he has the QB to compete.
Biggest Off-Season Addition: HB Nick Chubb - CAR (97 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: HB Christian McCaffrey - NO (97 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: RE Lorenzo Briscoe - CAR (76 ovr)
The NFC South had a team with a winning record last season *golf clap* the Falcons went a whopping 12-5, while the rest of the division had double digit losses. The Bucs 7-10, Saints 7-10, and Panthers 4-13. We start with the reigning defending division champions, the Falcons. It's been quite a while since BigReg won the NFC South, but last season was a resurgence for him as they earned the 2 seed in the NFC. Of course they were ousted in the wild-card round by the Packers but they had a very nice season nonetheless. It all starts with HB Eli Barrett for the Falcons. Eli had a breakout season as he rushed for 2,218 yards and 22 touchdowns. Desmond Ridder and Kyle Pitts proved to be a dangerous combination in the passing attack. Mack Garner proved to be a dual threat as he returned kicks, punts, and was a deep threat WR. The Falcons have the tools on offense to repeat as division champions. They have two x-factors on defense. LE Aidan Hutchinson, and CB A.J. Terrell. Deion Jones still can run with his 90 speed at age 31 at MLB. They have Arnold Ebiketie at OLB who has turned into a superstar as well. The Falcons are the favorites to win this division, i think it will be closer than last season because of the tough schedule but I still have the Falcons sneaking out the title. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come into this season off a 7-10 record, and sort of a disappointing season. We thought they'd be much better and challenge for the division, and we were wrong. They are trusting in QB Joe Redman this season to be the starter but he doesn't have to throw much as Rachaad White proved to be a workhorse as he carried the football 405 times! But if they want to pass, Redman has the weapons. Jaren Duggan at TE, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin still are great at their older age. They still got WR Scotty Miller and Treylon Burks. So they have weapons, no doubt about it. On defense we all know how great Jfon is at usering that safety, and it shows on the field as Antoine Winfield has himself up to a 91 overall. On the d-line they have Vita Vea who is a 95 rated x-factor hog in the middle. I love their linebackers with Devin White, Tryon-Shoyinka, and Matthew Judon. The secondary as we mentioned, is also strong with Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean. The Bucs have a good team, we know Jfon can win. These divisional games are going to be what makes or breaks these guys this season. I expect Tampa to be there fighting, but I'm giving the edge to Atlanta. The New Orleans Saints and Coach MMX are 1 season removed from winning this division, three times in a row. However they come into this season with a huge loss. Christian McCaffrey decided to sign with the Cardinals and leave the big eazy. Which left a huge hole which they are trying to fill with Leonard Fournette. Not a bad back, but he's not McCaffrey. The Saints had massive success in Season 69 with WR Jaylen Waddle's return game. It seemed to calm down last season and that could be why the Saints finished 7-10, those kick returns definitely won them a couple of games in Season 69. The Saints defense has two x-factors in the secondary with Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu. They have Pete Werner at superstar LB, but the defensive line is where they are struggling. Outside of DE Trey Hendrickson, they are throwing out some high 70s. I think the Saints are going to miss McCaffrey, badly. I believe we're looking at another 7-10 season, maybe 8-9 if some things fall their way, but they cant rely just on the kick return TD to win them games. The Carolina Panthers made the 2nd biggest splash in free-agency when they acquired HB Nick Chubb from the Browns. Last season they traded for WR Cooper Kupp. Now they have an incredible 1/2/3 punch including DJ Moore. This offense is incredible. If they had any issues, it would be at QB but Steven Drew seems to be on the right track. On defense they have Brian Burns, David Williams on the d-line. TJ Tomlinson who is 2-time NFC OLB of the year, speedy Brandon Smith, and Shaq Thompson. In the secondary, CB Trevon Diggs leads the way. They did trade Denzel Ward to the Browns, but it doesn't seem like it's going to hurt. Listen, the Panthers have a tough team, very good actually. They will upset some teams, but i just think the QB play is going to be their downfall. If they can run the ball 450 times, they might win 10 games but that's tough to do.
Biggest Off-Season Addition: QB Patrick Mahomes - ARI (99 ovr)
Biggest Off-Season Subtraction: SS Budda Baker - ARI (95 ovr)
Best Draft Selection: WR Devontae Fitzsimmons - ARI (76 ovr)
The NFC West was won by the Seahawks last season, and that's exactly what we predicted, suck it. We also predicted the 49ers to miss the playoffs, but we were wrong. They finished 11-6. We also saw Coach Tex win a game!! Then promptly booted. Then we saw Alex with those Rams still finishing 3-14. We start with the NFC champs the Seahawks. Not only did Seattle steal the division from San Francisco, they also marched their way all the way to the Super Bowl where they were embarrassed by the Colts 51-14. Either way, a SB appearance is very impressive. Daniel Melvin seemed to take the next step at QB for Seattle as Noah Fant had himself a great season. Kenneth Walker III is showing the other 2 Kenneth Walker's before him that he should prob be THEE Kenneth Walker with his incredible endurance, he probably has about 1600 carries in 4 seasons including the playoffs, and that's not exaggerating. The Seahawks also have WR D.K. Metcalf, oh yeah? Forgot about him? They went out and signed Danny Gray too, who has 94 speed. The defensive line is solid with Marcus Davenport (X-factor). 2-time NFC Defensive MVP Jordyn Brooks who continues to dominate the tackle and force fumble department. Don't forget about Harold Landry and Patrick Queen at linebacker as well. Jamal Adams, who feels like he should be 40 yrs old is only 30 and continues to lay the lumber as he force 8 fumbles last season. I'm ready to say that Jamal Adams is the best fumble forcer in MOF history, period. I love Kenny Malone and Tariq Woolen in the secondary as well. I predict the Seattle will win this division once again. He seems to have figured out the 49ers, and i think the Cardinals are good but not good enough to beat Seattle. Speaking of the 49ers, they will be featured next here in the NFC West. They are coming off a season where they saw some low points. They were 4-4 through 8 games, and that is a low point for Betroit. They then finished the season 7-2 and made their way into the playoffs. They lost in the divisional round to Seattle. The 49ers have a very strong team. They traded Deebo last season, which was questionable, but they still have Aiyuk and the emerging Ricardo Torrence at WR. Of course don't forget George Kittle and Tyrion Davis-Price who are both x-factors as well. The 49ers went out and signed LT Ronnie Stanley to go along with Trent Williams and Orlando Brown. These guys are some of the best tackles in the game. Their defensive line has 3 x-factors all at age 25 yrs old. Wow. Talk about building your team. Oh and they have two more 25 year old x-factors in the secondary in Kamryn Lowry and Braxton Durant. We're not sure how he does it, but he develops these guys at a rapid rate. I think Coach Betroit is one of the top coaches in the MOF, i also think other coaches are starting to figure him out. I think this season is going to be a big test for him, tough schedule, tougher division we'll see if he can overcome all of that and still make the post-season. The Arizona Cardinals had one of the best off-seasons in recent memory. Coach Tex was given the illustrious boot after going 1-9 last season, enter Coach SpaniardStallion, first off great name, second he went 4-3 to finish the season 5-12. Then promptly went out and traded for f***ng Patrick Mahomes! Oh and if that wasn't enough, they went and signed HB Christian McCaffrey. The existing receivers are still there, Marquise Brown boasts his 97 speed and will be a problem with Mahomes. Bottom line, this offense turned a 180 on us and will be a scoring machine. The defense needs help. They traded SS Budda Baker, and they really had no choice you trade whatever it takes for Mahomes. That leaves a big hole though, they also got Eric Callaway from the Chiefs who will probably fill Baker's spot. They also still have Byron Murphy Jr. and Murphy-Bunting. They have Zaven Collins an x-factor LB, but other than that they are lacking on the defensive side of the ball. But who cares, if you can score 50 a game you can give up 49 and still win. I think the Cardinals will surprise some people this season, I don't think they're quite a playoff team, but who knows with Mahomes at QB. The LA Rams come into this season off another 3-14 finish and we knew coming in that the Rams would be in trouble after Season 1 and thats exactly what has happened here. Their overall team rating is 79 which is 2nd worst only to the Bears. They are stuck with QB Paul Falk who threw 61 interceptions, after throwing 45 the season before. Damien Harris had a decent season to be honest, but they also have Cam Akers on the bench. They were able to get Brandin Cooks who still has 93 speed and for some reason they still have Tyquan Thornton who needs to be on the Patriots. Anyway, the offensive line is dookie with the top lineman rated at a 79. The defensive line was helped out by the signing of Emmanuel Ogbah but other than that, they really don't have much. Their best linebacker is a 75 overall. Their secondary isn't bad with Kristian Fulton and Roger McCreary. The Rams are in a bind. They are in a tougher division now, the Cardinals are no longer coached by Tex so 2 wins are erased right there. I think the Rams have a shot at going winless! They wont, but they have a shot.
