By: Michael Saladino
As we begin the month of August, it brings us one step to football returning. This month will begin the NFL preseason starting on Thursday August 4th, with the Hall of Fame game. The Hall of Fame game will be contested by the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders. You may see some snaps taken by Lawerence but Carr may have the night on the sidelines. Watching the preseason is exciting for a quarter or so while the starters are playing but the game seems to die down a little late in the game. Either way it will be great to see football back!
As we head into the regular season, headlines are starting to take shape. Deshaun Watson is facing a six game suspension from the NFL. He will return back on Week 7 on the road against the Ravens. The Bucs have begun working out brand new Wide receiver, Julio Jones. Signed to a one year deal worth six million dollars, adds another weapon for Tom Brady. Brady coming back another season after previously retiring, that really was short lived. It seemed like Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams sent Brady out for good. Once again, Brady at the age of 44 this time, is looking to capture his 8th Super Bowl Ring. Also in the NFC, the Deebo Samuel deal got done. The 26 year old, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, signed a three year $71.6 million dollar extension.
This season will have plenty of notable games, starting with the season opener with the Buffalo Bills at the defending champion LA Rams. I really do like how the NFL started the season with this kind of matchup. It usually seems to be the defending champion playing a division opponent every season. The Bills got to the divisional round last year before a back and forth OT loss to the Chiefs. A matchup that could have gone either way in the playoffs but the Bills could be a team a coin toss away from a Super Bowl matchup. The Rams should be ready to get the season off in energetic fashion at home after winning the Super Bowl in that building earlier this year. Week 1 also includes matchups of the Chiefs and Cardinals. Mahomes and Murray, say less! The nightcap of week 1 wraps up the day with Tom Brady and the Bucs going on the road to play the Dallas Cowboys. The Monday night game wraps up the weekend with Russell Wilson returning to Seattle as a Bronco. That honestly may be the best Week 1 to open a season.
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Bills Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
My Predictions:
The three contenders I could see in the AFC include the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens. Starting with the Chiefs, Mahomes is looking to avenge the tough loss in the AFC Championship game. I expect Mahomes to be ready to go full gear this season after losing Hill but adding Juju. The Bills, as I alluded to earlier in this article, came so close last season in the playoffs losing to the Chiefs. The Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs combo only will develop another season stronger and with how good their defense can play, watch out for the Bills. I know my third contender could surprise some with the Ravens over the Bengals. Think about it though, if the Ravens can just stay healthy with Lamar Jackson they could have something. I know they have not performed the best in the playoffs or a big game but is this the year that changes that. I just have a feeling the Ravens led by Jackson, can make a run this season. I will add them to this list of surprising teams.
The three contenders I could see in the NFC include the Rams, Buccaneers, and the Eagles. Starting with the Rams, well what more can I say. I almost feel like I can do a whole article on the Rams at this point. Super Bowl champs, Aaron Donald, Sean McVay, Matthew Stanford, Cooper Kupp, Odell, and you see what I mean. The Buccaneers led by Tom Brady have a great chance this season to win another ring down in Tampa. Adding Julio Jones to an already explosive offensive lineup and with Brady out for revenge this year, look out! The Eagles I would put in the surprise team list but I really think they can contend for a Super Bowl. The combo of Jalen Hurts-Devonte Smith last season and then the addition of AJ Brown could make Philly one of the best offenses in the league. They added a couple of keys defensively that could make them unstoppable on both sides of the ball (little bias, maybe). Only time will tell if my predictions will be right or wrong but either way I am ready and thankfully football is back.
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