Joey P’s 2021 NFL Predictions

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It’s time to cast my lot and choose which teams will do what in the NFL’s 102nd season. 


AFC NORTH

1.  Baltimore (12-5) – Getting the edge because it knows how to win.
2. Cleveland (9-8) – Lots of talent, but little to no winning mentality or culture… yet.
3. Pittsburgh (7-10) – Rebuild shouldn’t take long, but for now, a step back.
4. Cincinnati (6-11) – A healthy Burrow means a few more wins.

AFC EAST

1.Buffalo (13-4) – A well-rounded team that came together nicely… and quickly.
2. Miami (10-7) – Brian Flores: most underrated head coach in the league.
3. New England (10-7) – Only one year down, but the league blew by New England.
4. NY Jets (4-13) – Wilson could fare quite well, but division got better.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis (11-6) – Wentz an upgrade over Rivers (if healthy); good line play on O and D.
2. Tennessee (10-7) – Henry shines again, but Tannehill comes back to earth.
3. Jacksonville (6-11) – New coach, new outlook, and a few more wins.
4. Houston (3-14) – The worst team in the league, and it fell quickly to get here.

AFC WEST

1. Kansas City (14-3) – New O-line; no reason not to expect another trip to the Bowl.
2. LA Chargers (11-6) – If healthy, a team can make a lot of noise.
3. Denver (8-9) – A very schizophrenic team; you never know which will appear.
4. Las Vegas (6-11) – Big plays on offense, but shoddy tackling doomed them in ’20.

AFC Playoffs

AFC seeds: 1. Kansas City 2. Buffalo 3. Baltimore 4. Indianapolis 5. LA Chargers 6. Miami 7. Tennessee
Wild Card Weekend: Buffalo over Tennessee, Baltimore over Miami, LA Chargers over Indianapolis
Divisional Round: Kansas City over LA Chargers, Baltimore over Buffalo
AFC Championship: Kansas City over Baltimore

NFC NORTH

1. Minnesota (11-6) – If healthy, an underrated, dangerous bunch.
2. Green Bay (10-7) – Window closing fast on prickly Rodgers and this team.
3. Chicago (6-11) – Last year, a playoff-berth mirage. In ’21, reality.
4. Detroit (5-12) – Combative rookie coach, below-par Goff mean… same old story.

NFC EAST

1. Dallas (11-6) – Healthy O, younger D in the division with no-repeat winner since 2004.
2. NY Giants (9-8) – Getting better in all the right places.
3. Washington (7-10) – Can’t deal with prosperity; offense not good enough yet.
4. Philadelphia (5-12) – Amazingly, a tough team fell quickly like Houston.

NFC SOUTH

1.Tampa Bay (13-4) – Every starter came back to a defending champ; rare, indeed.
2.Carolina (9-8) – New coach Ruhle could be the 2021 edition of Brian Flores.
3. New Orleans (8-9) – No Brees automatically means a huge drop-off.
4. Atlanta (6-11) – The defense has to be better, right?

NFC WEST

1. LA Rams (12-5) – A better all-around team than people think, but injury bug present.
2. Seattle (11-6) – ‘Hawks are the NFC’s Ravens, always in the mix.
3. San Francisco (9-8) – Trey Lance: a small-school QB who could surprise.
4. Arizona (8-9) – A respectable showing in a very tough division.

NFC Playoffs

NFC seeds: 1. Tampa Bay 2. LA Rams 3. Minnesota 4. Dallas 5. Seattle 6. Green Bay 7. New York Giants
Wild Card Weekend: LA Rams over New York Giants, Minnesota over Green Bay, Dallas over Seattle
Divisional Round: LA Rams over Minnesota, Tampa Bay over Dallas
NFC Championship: LA Rams over Tampa Bay

SUPER BOWL 56

Feb. 13, 2022; SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, California (NBC)

With another title in a three-year run (and counting?), the red-clad gang makes an early claim for “Team Of The Decade.”

Kansas City 41, Los Angeles Rams 33

About Joe Platania

Veteran Ravens correspondent Joe Platania is in his 45th year in sports media (including two CFL seasons when Batlimore had a CFL team) in a career that extends across parts of six decades. Platania covers sports with insight, humor, and a highly prescient eye, and that is why he has made his mark on television, radio, print, online, and in the podcast world. He can be heard frequently on WJZ-FM’s “Vinny And Haynie” show, alongside ex-Washington general manager Vinny Cerrato and Bob Haynie. A former longtime member in good standing of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the Pro Football Writers of America, Platania manned the CFL Stallions beat for The Avenue Newspaper Group of Essex (1994 and ’95) and the Ravens beat since the team’s inception — one of only three local writers to do so — for PressBox, The Avenue, and other local publications and radio stations. A sought-after contributor and host on talk radio and TV, he made numerous appearances on “Inside PressBox” (10:30 a.m. Sundays), and he was heard weekly for eight seasons on the “Purple Pride Report,” WQLL-AM (1370). He has also appeared on WMAR-TV’s “Good Morning Maryland” (2009), Comcast SportsNet’s “Washington Post Live” (2004-06), and WJZ-TV’s “Football Talk” postgame show — with legend Marty Bass (2002-04). Platania is the only sports journalist in Maryland history to have been a finalist for both the annual Sportscaster of the Year award (1998, which he won) and Sportswriter of the Year (2010). He is also a four-time Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association award winner. Platania is a graduate of St. Joseph’s (Cockeysville), Calvert Hall College High School, and Towson University, where he earned a degree in Mass Communications. He lives in Cockeysville, MD.



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