Official JKFOOTBALL 2022 NFL Season Predictions: Who Wins Super Bowl 57? MVP?
The NFL is back! With the TNF Bills/Rams kickoff game in mere hours, it's time to predict the playoffs and major awards once and for all to look back on once the season is over! Using a playoff predictor site, I picked the winners of each game for all 17 weeks to get my 7 NFC playoff teams and my 7 AFC playoff teams. Here's how I see it shaking out!
NFC
1st Seed Prediction (first round BYE): Philadelphia Eagles (12-5)
The Eagles are BACK after a few down years since winning the Super Bowl. Obviously they snuck into the post-season last season as well, but that is besides the point here. This Eagles team is wildly improved and all of the core pieces of this club seem to be young and only getting better. This defense is going to be legit, adding double digit sacker Haason Reddick along with polarizing rookie DT Jordan Davis and lockdown CB James Bradberry as well. Last week they upgraded even further with young stud safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson from New Orleans. The run heavy offense will be amongst the league's best on the ground, and a lot of promise is there with up and coming QB Jalen Hurts who now also has AJ Brown to throw to. The Eagles are going to take the first round bye in the NFC!
Losses: vs Jaguars, vs Steelers, vs Commanders, @ Colts, @ Cowboys
Tom Brady is back, and that is all you need to know. These Bucs have a Super Bowl victory under their belts two years ago with mostly the same roster that they have now (minus Rob Gronkowski). While the offensive line projects to be at least slightly worse due to injury and loss of multiple starters in the off-season, I don't expect much of a fallout. With Brady running this offense, surrounded by Pro Bowl talent (Godwin, Evans, Fournette, Wirfs, etc.) these Bucs are not going anywhere. Their defense is potentially even better than the O as well, and they added Akiem Hicks to the stout DL they already had. This is another top seed in the NFC.
Losses: @ Saints, vs Chiefs, vs Ravens, vs Rams, @ 49ers
3rd Seed Prediction: Green Bay Packers (11-6)
So many are expecting the downfall of the Green Bay Packers as we know them this year. I just simply am not in that boat. Sure, they lost All-World WR Davante Adams via trade, but this team should be just as good if not better in every other spot that isn't WR. Losing OC Nathaniel Hackett is tough too, but that is another loss this team will be able to recover from. After all, back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers is still at the helm here. Rodgers may be getting close to 40, but he's playing the best football of his storied career. Allen Lazard, Christian Watson, Sammy Watkins, Romeo Doubs, and Robert Tonyan will have to do their best to replace Adams' production, but Rodgers can make anyone look good. This defense is the best it may have ever been in the Rodgers era. This is a special group that can go toe-to-toe with anyone, and I see them as the easy 3 seed in the NFC.
Losses: @ Vikings, @ Buccaneers, vs Jets, @ Bills, @ Lions, @ Eagles
4th Seed Prediction: Los Angeles Rams (11-6)
Here is where I see the defending champs landing. If you read this site, you know I'm not the biggest believer in the Rams. While I commend them from winning the Super Bowl this past season, I believe they got as lucky as can be along the way en route to doing so. Nonetheless, this is a great football team. They didn't really lose anyone they only seemed to gain. Bobby Wagner, the future Hall of Fame LB will come in and solve their LB weakness right away while Pro Bowl WR Allen Robinson now slots in right behind Cooper Kupp for Stafford to air it out to. This team is one of the most stacked groups in the sport and could very well finish even higher than this. I don't see much of a Super Bowl hangover here.
Losses: vs Bills, @ 49ers, @ Chiefs, @ Packers, vs Broncos, @ Chargers
Now the Packers don't have the North to themselves anymore. The Vikings have been on the cusp for awhile, but this is the year I see them re-emerging as a really good team that will find their way into the post-season and give some division winners a run for their money. Kevin O'Connell looks like the perfect hire for this team. They boast some of the best offensive firepower in the sport but had a dated defensive coach in Mike Zimmer for years. O'Connell should only help continue to ascent of superstar youngster Justin Jefferson who looks primed to show the world he's the top receiver in the sport. Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins will also be major beneficiaries to O'Connell's arrival. While the back end of their D still worries me a little, their front 7 is vicious and will beat you up. The Vikings return to the post-season this year!
Losses: @ Eagles, vs Lions, @ Dolphins, vs Cardinals, vs Patriots, vs Colts, @ Packers
6th Seed Prediction: New Orleans Saints (10-7)
This is MY team of the season. I just love the Saints right now heading into 2022. They are my dark horse team. This front office has done an amazing job of building up a roster to contend right after the retirement of Drew Brees. Jameis Winston is healthy again and looks ready to build off his stellar start to last season before the ACL tear. He will now have Michael Thomas back to throw to along with first round rookie speedster Chris Olave. Superstar RB Alvin Kamara also does not look like he will be suspended by the NFL like some previously thought, making this offense even better. The exciting part for this team is that their defense is even better. This D added Tyrann Mathieu to the stellar group they already had and with former DC Dennis Allen moving to HC, they will be schemed around even better. The Saints could finish the year as the 1 seed in my opinion, I'm that high on them going into this year.
Losses: vs Vikings, @ Cardinals, vs Raiders, vs Rams, @ Buccaneers, @ Browns, @ Eagles
Narrowly over 4-5 other teams right on the bubble, the Niners (who were in the NFC title game last season) sneak their way in. I've gone back and forth on this team, but I think they are ultimately too talented not to make the playoffs. Trey Lance is going to be under a ton of pressure instantly. With how young QBs have been elite right out of the gate in the past, Lance will face similar expectations. I think there is a good chance he will be able to temper those expectations and show star potential this year. He will have the aid of the best offensive mind in football with Kyle Shanahan on the sidelines along with the most versatile weapon in the game in Deebo Samuel. George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Elijah Mitchell are three other studs on this offense that will contribute to a lot of wins. We all know this defense is elite, with Nick Bosa leading the way. I'm not sure if a highly seeded 49er team makes another unlikely NFC championship game appearance this year, but making the playoffs in year 1 of Trey Lance would be a success for this team.
The rest of the NFC (outside the playoffs):
8. Dallas Cowboys (9-8)
9. Washington Commanders (9-8)
10. Detroit Lions (9-8)
11. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
12. Seattle Seahawks (5-12)
13. Carolina Panthers (2-15)
14. New York Giants (2-15)
15. Chicago Bears (1-16)
16. Atlanta Falcons (1-16)
AFC
1st Seed Prediction: Buffalo Bills (14-3)
To the surprise of few, the Bills come in as my top AFC team and my top team in the NFL. They seem to be the consensus best team after how well they played last season and the additions they made this off-season. QB Josh Allen will look to continue his meteoric rise to the top of NFL signal callers. The big armed freak will throw a lot of TDs to both proven star Stefon Diggs and breakout candidate Gabriel Davis. Von Miller also enters the fold on the best and most well rounded defense in the NFL. While the run game is nearly non-existent right now for this team, they don't need it to be. This team will cruise through the regular season and will really get interesting when the playoffs come.
Losses: vs Titans, vs Vikings, @ Bengals
Everyone has been talking about the Chargers breaking out for years now, but this is truly the year I see them doing it. Their roster is simply too good around superstar QB Justin Herbert for them not to. It may in fact be the best roster in the NFL. They've got the weapons in Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen. They have the OL (including exciting rookie G Zion Johnson). They have the most star studded defense in the NFL, headlined by top tier CB JC Jackson who was a massive FA splash addition, added to Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Khalil Mack, and more. The Chargers can outscore anyone while playing some of the best defense you will find. Their run D killed them last year, but with all of the moves and additions made in the off-season, it won't be easy to run ANYTHING on them this season. I have the Bolts taking the competitive AFC West.
Losses: vs Broncos, @ 49ers, vs Chiefs, @ Raiders
3rd Seed Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals (12-5)
No Super Bowl hangover for the Bengals here. While some teams peak by reaching (but losing) a Super Bowl, I don't believe the same will happen to these Bengals. In fact, they reached the Super Bowl with some glaring weaknesses on their team which makes it all the more impressive. Their offensive line may have been the league's worst, yet this team lived and died through a big play, air raid offense. Now they have a revamped OL that may be one of the BEST in the league (added Alex Cappa, La'El Collins, Ted Karras). Joe Burrow will finally get to have some time to air it out, instead of doing it in half the time (which he was amazing at). Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins should only continue to get better under Burrow, and these Bengals should be one of the best teams in the NFL once again this regular season.
Losses: @ Ravens, @ Saints, @ Steelers, vs Browns, @ Buccaneers
Aside from MY Saints, I think the Colts might be my other favorite sleeping giant. They are so good. This team plays old school football, and with that they can take down anyone. They will wear you out with a stout run game with the best RB in the league, Jonathan Taylor, and then play gritty, no short yardage defense on the other side. Darius Leonard is the best LB in the NFL and paired with some other major talent on that side of the ball, should be one of the best units in the sport. This team also got a major upgrade at QB, with former MVP Matt Ryan coming over to replace Wentz. With so much new stability and a roster built to win, the Colts could beat anyone in January with their style of play. Don't sleep on this team.
Losses: @ Jaguars, @ Titans, @ Patriots, @ Raiders, @ Cowboys, vs Chargers
5th Seed Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
Just like the Packers, no need to overthink. These are still our classic Chiefs that we know and love. Patrick Mahomes is such a good QB that this team is going nowhere bad anytime soon. Just because they lost Tyreek Hill does not mean they don't have talent, especially offensively. The best TE in the NFL in Travis Kelce still remains on the offense and the front office made sure to get a bunch of quality weapons for Mahomes to throw to in Juju Smith, Skyy Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. On defense, this group replaced Tyrann Mathieu with Justin Reid along with adding a great rookie egde rusher in George Karlaftis and a potential future CB1 in first rounder Trent McDuffie. This is still a Super Bowl contender, easily.
Losses: vs Chargers, @ Colts, vs Bills, vs Jaguars, @ Bengals, vs Broncos
6th Seed Prediction: Denver Broncos (11-6)
More AFC West. Russell Wilson and his new team are primed for an elite season for the first time since the Peyton Manning days. Not only is Wilson a new promising leader for this team, but there is seemingly unlimited young pieces around here to get excited about. New HC Nathaniel Hackett brings in a completely different vibe and culture to this team and I expect major success to come from it. This defense is top tier as well, with Randy Gregory and DJ Jones two MASSIVE additions this off-season to pair with core pieces like Bradley Chubb, Justin Simmons, and Patrick Surtain II. Let's ride!
Losses: @ Seahawks, vs Colts, @ Titans, vs Raiders, vs Chiefs, vs Chargers
And in the loaded AFC, all three wildcard spots go to AFC West teams! The Raiders, Chiefs, and Broncos all go 11-6 in my predictions and are separated by a hair it would seem. The Raiders showed the NFL world they were for real to end last season, with Derek Carr leading this team against all odds into the post-season. After a great building block year, the Raiders made some huge win now moves in the off-season that have them set up to be Super Bowl contenders this year. Davante Adams coming to town is obviously insane. He will take this offense up another notch they probably won't have even realized they could go. Chandler Jones was also added on defense to pair opposite of All-Pro Maxx Crosby. This well rounded team is equipped to beat anyone and has to be a playoff team!
Losses: @ Chargers, vs Broncos, @ Chiefs, @ Rams, vs 49ers, vs Chiefs
The rest of the AFC (outside the playoffs)
8. Miami Dolphins (10-7)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
10. Baltimore Ravens (9-8)
11. Cleveland Browns (9-8)
12. Tennessee Titans (7-10)
13. New England Patriots (7-10)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-10)
15. New York Jets (5-12)
16. Houston Texans (4-13)
Wildcard bracket (based on projections)
NFC:
Rams (#4 seed) over Vikings (#5 seed)
Saints (6) over Packers (3)
Buccaneers (2) over 49ers (7)
AFC:
Chiefs (5) over Colts (4)
Bengals (3) over Broncos (6)
Chargers (2) over Raiders (7)
Divisional Round
NFC:
Buccaneers (2) over Rams (4)
Saints (6) over Eagles (1)
AFC:
Chargers (2) over Bengals (3)
Bills (1) over Chiefs (5)
Conference Championships
NFC:
Buccaneers (2) over Saints (6)
AFC:
Chargers (2) over Bills (1)
Super Bowl 57
CHARGERS over Buccaneers
Final Thoughts:
After what projects to be a wild and impossible to predict regular season and playoffs, I forsee the Los Angeles Chargers, led behind Justin Herbert and their turnover creating defense to take down the GOAT Tom Brady in what will probably be his final game. Both teams will not be the one seed in these projections but find their ways to the Super Bowl due to the depth of their rosters and the consistency of their QBs. Ultimately, I just think the Chargers are too young and hot to lose to anyone in the post-season, with Herbert taking home the first of potentially many Super Bowl MVPs!
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Award Predictions
MVP: Joe Burrow, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
Runner-Up: Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
Runner-Up: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Defensive Player of the Year: TJ Watt, Edge Rusher, Pittsburgh Steelers
Runner-Up: Micah Parsons, OLB, Cowboys
Coach of the Year: Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Runner-Up: Sean McDermott, Bills
Comeback Player of the Year: Derrick Henry, Running Back, Tennessee Titans
Runner-Up: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dameon Pierce, Running Back, Houston Texans
Runner-Up: George Pickens, WR, Steelers
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher, Detroit Lions
Runner-Up: Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets
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Since I also ran out of time, here are my week 1 game picks as well
Bills over Rams
Eagles over Lions
49ers over Bears
Bengals over Steelers
Dolphins over Patriots
Browns over Panthers
Colts over Texans
Saints over Falcons
Ravens over Jets
Jaguars over Commanders
Vikings over Packers
Titans over Giants
Chargers over Raiders
Chiefs over Cardinals
Buccaneers over Cowboys
Seahawks over Broncos
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