We look ahead to the new NFL season as the Philadelphia Eagles look to defend the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Eagles caused a shock by winning the 52nd Super Bowl in Minnesota, defeating favourites New England Patriots – who had been looking for a record equalling 6th success.
Going into the new season and it is again The Eagles and Patriots who are favoured to meet in the Super Bowl again – which in 2019 will take place in Atlanta in the wonderful Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home of the Falcons.
Last season saw one of the most unpredictable in history, and we try and guide you through each division with picks from our three NFL guys – our own Graeme Bailey, Pete Koury of America’s biggest radio station SiriusXM and John HIll of Coral – who provide all the odds for our NFL coverage.
The three guys will again be providing weekly picks for every week of the season…
American Football Conference (AFC)
AFC – East
BUFFALO BILLS
Last season: 9-7-0 (wild card)
Super Bowl Odds: 150/1
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Last season: 6-10-0
Super Bowl Odds: 125/1
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Last season: 13-3-0 (Super Bowl runners-up)
Super Bowl Odds: 4/1 (favourites)
NEW YORK JETS
Last season: 5-11-0
Super Bowl Odds: 150/1
PREDICTION: The AFC East looks as weak as it ever has when you take away The Patrtiots, who will be winning the division once again. The Bills claimed a wild card berth last season but hard to see a repeat. The Jets and The Dolphins will be hoping to have a winning campaign, but it does not look likely.
AFC – North
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Last season: 9-7-0
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Last season: 7-9-0
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Last season: 0-16-0
Super Bowl Odds: 80/1
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Last season: 13-3-0 (Division winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 9/1 (second favourites)
PREDICTION: The Steelers are once again favourites to win the North and rightly so, but they maybe missed a big chance last season. The battle looks interesting with The Ravens looking solid and they could progress – but surely no team can progress more than The Browns who could turn a 0-16 campaign into a winning season. The Bengals look like they have a huge battle on their hands not finish bottom.
AFC – South
HOUSTON TEXANS
Last season: 4-12-0
Super Bowl Odds: 22/1
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Last season: 4-12-0
Super Bowl Odds: 66/1
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Last season: 10-6-0 (Division Winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 18/1
TENNESSEE TITANS
Last season: 9-7-0 (wild card)
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
PREDICTION: A fascinating division and all four will fancy their chances of making it into the play-offs. Jackonsville are clear favourites with their top-line defence, whilst Houston will be looking for fit-again JJ Watt to inspire them, likewise The Colts will be expecting the same from Andrew Luck. The Titans shocked many be making the play-offs but that looks a push to do it again.
AFC – West
DENVER BRONCOS
Last season: 5-11-0
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Last season: 10-6-0 (Division winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 33/1
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Last season: 9-7-0
Super Bowl Odds: 20/1
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Last season: 6-10-0
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
PREDICTION: Kansas City have dominated this division in recent years, but it may be tough for them to defend their title with Denver looking in good shape again and The Chargers looking competitive – could be fascinating division but surely the Khalil Mack-less Raiders will not be in the mix under Jon Gruden.
John Hill –
AFC East – New England Patriots
AFC North – Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South – Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West – Los Angeles Chargers
AFC wildcards – Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs
Pete Koury –
AFC East – New England Patriots
AFC North – Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South – Houston Texans
AFC West – Los Angeles Chargers
AFC wildcards – Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans
Graeme Bailey –
AFC East – New England Patriots
AFC North – Baltimore Ravens
AFC South – Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West – Denver Broncos
AFC wildcards – Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs
National Football Conference (NFC)
NFC – East
DALLAS COWBOYS
Last season: 9-7-0
Super Bowl Odds: 25/1
NEW YORK GIANTS
Last season: 3-13-0
Super Bowl Odds: 50/1
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Last season: 13-3-0 (Super Bowl winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 10/1
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Last season: 7-9-0
Super Bowl Odds: 66/1
PREDICTION: A great division and the champions Philadelphia won’t have it all their own way – but they should make it through, but who will join them – Dallas and Washington will have their moments, but surely The Giants, with Odell Beckham tied down to a new deal and with Saquon Barkley snapped up from the draft, should land the spot.
NFC – North
CHICAGO BEARS
Last season: 5-11-0
Super Bowl Odds: 50/1
DETROIT LIONS
Last season: 9-7-0
Super Bowl Odds: 50/1
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Last season: 7-9-0
Super Bowl Odds: 12/1
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Last season: 13-3-0 (Division winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 11/1
PREDICTION: The Lions and The Bears have it all to do here, they are both good teams but they are coming up against two sides who are looking for Super Bowl glory in Minnesota and Green Bay, and those two will surely battle for top spot.
NFC – South
ATLANTA FALCONS
Last season: 10-6-0 (wild card)
Super Bowl Odds: 20/1
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Last season: 11-5-0 (wild card)
Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Last season: 11-5-0 (Division winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 14/1
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Last season: 5-11-0
Super Bowl Odds: 80/1
PREDICTION: Tampa Bay still look some way off the other three here, but unlikely we will see another three go through. The Panthers look strong, so it is a matter of who goes through with them and you have to think the Saints could deny Atlanta a chance to make it through to home soil for the Super Bowl.
NFC – West
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Last season: 8-8-0
Super Bowl Odds: 100/1
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Last season: 11-5-0 (Division winners)
Super Bowl Odds: 10/1
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Last season: 6-10-0
Super Bowl Odds: 25/1
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Last season: 9-7-0
Super Bowl Odds: 33/1
PREDICTION: The Rams look capable of going all the way, and will anyone go with them? Well The 49ers with Jimmy Garoppolo look capable, unlike Seattle and Arizona at this point.
John Hill –
NFC East – Dallas Cowboys
NFC North – Green Bay Packers
NFC South – Atlanta Falcons
NFC West – Los Angeles Rams
NFC wildcards – Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings
Pete Koury –
NFC East – New York Giants
NFC North – Minnesota Vikings
NFC South – Atlanta Falcons
NFC West – Los Angeles Rams
NFC wildcards – Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints
Graeme Bailey –
NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North – Minnesota Vikings
NFC South – Carolina Panthers
NFC West – Los Angeles Rams
NFC wildcards – New York Giants and Green Bay Packers
SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS:
John Hill – Los Angelles Rams to win
Pete Koury – New England Patriots to beat Minnesota Vikings
Graeme Bailey – Los Angeles Rams to beat Denver Broncos