An Early Look Into the 2017-2018 NFL Season: Who Makes it, Who Can Make It, and Who Won't

By Jacob Sanders

Well. It’s July. The worst time of the year when it comes to sports unless you’re a baseball fan then you’re doing just fine right now. However, for the rest of us sports fans out here, hockey and basketball just finished and every NFL player is on an official break before training camp. So, as I sit here and wait for August to roll around so I can pretend to be excited about preseason games, I decided to bring back a piece I did last summer around this time of year and do it again this year!

Yep. It’s time to look at who will be in the playoffs, who has a fighting chance, and who will miss the playoffs. Now when I did this last year, I got 28 out of 32 guesses correctly! The ones I whiffed on were thinking the Cardinals and Panthers were guaranteed to make the playoffs while also claiming there was no chance the Dolphins or Falcons make the playoffs because of better competition. The Cardinals and Panthers failed to do much while the Dolphins enjoyed a surprising 10-6 season along with the Falcons making an incredible 15-1 run all the way to the Super Bowl.

But, it’s a brand new season. And everyone is 0-0 right now. So let’s begin!

Quick Reminder. These ARE NOT professional opinions and simply my own as a junior writer. Enjoy!

The Instant Locks

New England Patriots

Let’s make this quick. Bill Bellichick and Tom Brady are still playing. The front office SOMEHOW managed to improve their roster on paper from what it was the day of the Super Bowl. Enough said. They aren’t missing the playoffs barring Brady’s or Bellichick’s departure.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are too talented to miss the playoffs. In addition, who is going to the steal the AFC North away from them? There is a case to be made for Baltimore, but frankly, this team is just much stronger and is much better against non-divisional opponents than Baltimore or Cincinnati. I could have said The Big Three and probably moved on already.

Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr looks to be the future face of the NFL. Right now, we see faces like Brady, Rodgers, and Roethlisberger. Soon, all three of those QBs will be retired and Carr will be in his prime harassing the entire NFL just like the three previously mentioned QBs do now. Besides that, the offensive line can’t be messed with and Khalil Mack is the best defensive player in the game ready to lead his defense into battle.

Kansas City Chiefs

Did you know that the Chiefs have not finished below 2^nd in the AFC West since Andy Reid joined? Yeah. That’s how good this Chiefs team is. Yet somehow they never make the headlines like they should. Franchise stars Eric Berry and Justin Houston lead a mean defense and Alex Smith still remains to be the most underrated quarterback to play this game. Well here is my respect to them. They aren’t missing the playoffs. They’re too good.

Green Bay Packers

Two words. Aaron Rodgers. And that’s about all you need to know. This team remains competitive whenever Rodgers in the game. He makes plays no one deems possible and they’re always jaw-dropping in the most crucial moments of the games. This team wins 10 games minimum. No ifs ands or buts about it.

Atlanta Falcons

I think it’s hard to always cheer for a football team after they lose a Super Bowl. Not because they lost but because the culture changes. The idea that they were already at the big game and lost; it can crush teams before a season begins. However, Dan Quinn’s “Embrace the suck” theme already pushes a culture that can get beyond such a huge loss. Especially the massive 28-3 collapse. You’re not done hearing about this team.

New York Giants

The Giants take this spot but with many reservations from me. I don’t see them as a hot team that’s got a chance at making a run for the Super Bowl. This is more of a fact that the Giants look like the strongest team in the NFC East (more on this later) and because they look like the strongest, that means they should win the division thus securing them a playoff spot by default. Oh, but why are they the strongest team? Well. The Giants have a well-rounded offense and a lights out defense that’s a lot of fun to watch. No other team in the NFC East has this.

Seattle Seahawks

The Hawks are in the same boat as the Giants. They will probably win the division by default barring the Cardinals returning to their 13-3 greatness. The Seahawks have not been the most impressive team in the last couple years but they remain competitive. At times though, their competitiveness can be mistaken for hot-headedness and loud remarks. It makes me wonder how much control of the culture that Pete Carroll has now. Knowing Carroll, I’ll be foolish for ever questioning it in the first place. They’ll make the playoffs. Division or Wildcard.

Playoff Fighters

Baltimore Ravens

As long as John Harbaugh is coaching and Joe Flacco is playing, this team is always competitive. It has however missed 3 of the last 4 post-seasons. Many questions are to be made of this team specifically on offense. However, the team’s weaknesses of last year were covered up in free agency and through the draft. I’m confident they’ll be competitive whether they make it to the playoffs or not. However, if they don’t, some big changes will be headed for this organization.

Tennessee Titans

I am confident when I say that I am pretty sure the Titans would have won the AFC South had Mariota not suffered a broken leg. That being said, this is a new year and we have no clue whether Mariota will continue improving, come to a standstill, or start to decline. My money is that he continues improving and helps the Titans push for their first playoff appearance in the last 10 years. Also, the punch that Murray provides in the running game is enough for this offense to keep any defense on its toes.

Houston Texans

Stop me if you have heard this before. This team is a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. If you haven’t then let me explain. Go back and watch the Patriots vs Texans AFC Divisional game. At one point, the score will say 13-24. But if you’re paying attention, does the game really feel like it’s 13-24? Or do you notice that Tom Brady is getting his butt kicked the entire game and that the Texans offense is just inept without a real field general and had to settle for field goals too many times. Keep in mind, Tom Brady was intercepted 2 times that game after just throwing TWO interceptions the entire regular season. Meanwhile, Osweiler threw 3 INT that game and never made it to the end zone when he wasn’t busy throwing INTs or missing receivers. Yep. With a real quarterback, the Texans are a threat to go to the Super Bowl. We’ll just have to see if HC Bill O’Brien can make Savage or Watson that real quarterback. Oh. And that one guy….uuuhhh. J.J. Watt I think is his name? Yeah. He’s back too.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins finally found their 10 win potential. While I don’t think the team can get more than 10 wins again this season (thank you New England), this team looks like it has spirit. It’s no longer a boring team to watch thanks to the culture Adam Gase brought to the team. Speaking of Gase, he has done wonders for Tannehill so far. Tannehill’s numbers aren’t the best, but when you watch game film, the difference is clear. In fact, the entire team just looks like they’re on another level than they used to be. The Dolphins aren’t an easy out anymore.

Buffalo Bills

This is a team that is again probably one of the weakest playoff fighters. And that’s simply because it’s in a division with the Dolphins and Patriots. I actually debated putting it into the Growing Pains category but this team is too talented to deny. I’m betting it’s another 7 or 8 win season but hey, they could surprise us.

Denver Broncos

I’ll keep this one sweet and simple. They still have a Super Bowl caliber defense. The biggest problem with the offense was the offensive line. When the offensive line had good games, Siemian looked like a quarterback capable of leading an offense behind such a spectacular defense but when the offensive line played poorly, which was most games, Siemian didn’t look very good. Siemian isn’t the end all be all, but he certainly looks like the man for the job when he is protected. We’ll see if Lynch’s development in Year 2 changes that.

Los Angeles Chargers

Wow what a weird thing to type.  So last year, I kept them out of the playoffs because the defense seems to always hold back Philip Rivers from reaching success. Well, watch out this season for a surprise. Joey Bosa looks like a monster from another world on the field and Philip Rivers still has at least two good years left. The clock is ticking, but the Chargers can make it to the playoffs with Rivers and Bosa leading their respective sides.

Detroit Lions

It was hard to keep the Lions out of the Instant Locks category. Unfortunately, they play in a really tough division and it will be tough to get a wildcard in the NFC this year as well. The Lions seem like the NFC’s version of the Bengals. Just good enough to get to the playoffs but not good enough to move past their first game. Time will tell if they can take it to the next level.

Minnesota Vikings

Just like the Lions, the Vikings will have a tough road to the playoffs but they also have a tough team and an excellent defense filled with talent that could potentially rival the Legion of Boom. Most of the Vikings highs and lows will fall on the performances of Sam Bradford and how well the running game gets rolling. If Bradford displays his MVP potential, this team will be nigh unbeatable. But if Bradford keeps playing just average…well…8-10 wins ain’t bad…right?

The Rest of the NFC South

Let this be a nod to the respect I have for Sean Payton and Drew Brees and how prolific they are as a duo every year. Unfortunately, the defense is always holding them back and that has to change for them to seriously get a chance at a wildcard.

The Panthers, imo, are the worst team off in the division but everyone else seems to think they will bounce back. I do not but I left them in this category in respect to everyone else’s opinion. You know, the one’s who actually make money doing this stuff.

The Bucs get their own paragraph. In my opinion, they are headed to the playoffs no doubt. I didn’t put them as an instant-lock as they don’t feel like a guarantee like the one who are there. But, this team is WAY too talented to miss the playoffs. Winston is growing into his own and will have the best WR corps he has ever worked with. Gerald McElroy is a monster and a defensive franchise star who can lead his defense to beat any opponent. If they miss the playoffs, it will be a major upset.

The Rest of the NFC East

Well, the Cowboys have an amazing offense. But did you know they lost 7 of 11 starters on defense last year? The bigger issue is the defense was never fantastic to begin with but now it has lost 7 starters. Hmmm.

The Eagles have the potential to take the division. But that’s all it is. Potential. Wentz has to form into a franchise QB which is possible under such a great offensive line. His WRs need to learn how to catch a ball as well. As for the defense, it’s lost some luster but is still anchored by Fletcher Cox. They aren’t pushovers.

Arizona Cardinals

The roster from last year is mostly intact. It’s also mostly the same roster that went 13-3 two years ago. The difference now? They have a future star in the making of David Johnson who can lift weight off of Carson Palmer and Patrick Peterson is still a top 2 corner in this league. With Fitzgerald’s leadership on offense and Jones’s nasty play style on defense, it’s hard to imagine this team stumbling again.

The In-Betweeners

Cincinnati Bengals

Now I know I am going to get a lot of trash for this one but there is much to be said about these Bengals. First of all, everyone is hyped about their offensive playmaking. Sure. That could be a reason to make them playoff fighters. But did we all just forget that their offensive line has been gutted the last two years? Or is that just me? Either way, you can talk about offensive talent all you want, but playmaking starts in the trenches. You got to have holes to run and time to throw to make those plays. It looks like Andy Dalton and Joe Mixon won’t be having that. But, they have been a competitive team consistently. Thus why I put them here.

Indianapolis Colts

I put the Colts here simply because of Andrew Luck. To be honest, any team in the AFC South has a shot but the Colts are becoming a younger team that need to slowly learn how to master their synergy as a team. They need one more year and Luck will be in his prime. Dangerous team but also a high-risk team. They would be in the Growing Pains list if it weren’t for Luck.

Growing Pains

Cleveland Browns

Look. I love what the Browns are doing. But they still don’t have a franchise QB and have plenty of clear holes on their roster. Things are looking up for the Browns though and eventually they should be playoff contenders in the next year or two.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Okay. I’m not on the hype train until the Jaguars actually PROVE THEMSEMSELVES. Holy moly they have been hyped for a third season straight now and have gone under each time. They do have a new head coach and Tom Coughlin is in the building as well but I just can’t give them credit yet for what’s on paper because the production has never matched what the paper says it should be. If this hasn’t convinced you, then let me ask you to debate this. Is Blake Bortles a franchise QB? Ready. Go.

New York Jets

This has to be the worst football roster in years. It has been gutted of star talent and you can name maybe four stars out of 53 on this roster. I don’t expect more than 2-3 wins from this team. It’s just a mess in New York.

Chicago Bears

This, like last year, speaks to the division the Bears are playing in. They are in a division with the Packers, Lions, and Vikings, whom I would all take to make the playoffs over the Bears any day. This team has got some talent though and seems only a draft or two away from being kings of the North again. #DraftJordanHowardforyourfantasyRB

San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams

Both of these teams are in the same boat as the Bears. They just play in a division with the Cardinals and Seahawks whom, unfortunately, will just be better. I do have more hope for the 49ers than the Rams as the 49ers have come out swinging for the fences with their free agency pickups and savvy draft moves. I applaud both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan for being fear-less and making the moves a franchise needs to get a jump-start. As for the Rams, they aren’t terrible, but they need a lot of help on offense like they do every year. Can’t win games if you don’t score points.