2015 Tampa Bay Predictions
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to start a new era. That era would be the one where No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston starts to turn around the identity of this franchise for the better.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to start a new era. That era would be the one where No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston starts to turn around the identity of this franchise for the better.
The Atlanta Falcons enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to continue redeeming themselves for the disappointment they’ve put on display the past few seasons. Although last year was hardly able to make up for failing to exceed recent expectations, it was a step in the right direction — a step that this franchise will look to build upon this year.
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2015-16 NFL Season with yet another target on their backs. Not only have they been to back-to-back Super Bowls, but they are an incredibly balanced team with a defense that makes the world ‘elite’ seem like an understatement.
The New Orleans Saints enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to avenge a lackluster 7-9 campaign in an attempt to return to elite levels. They have the luxury of playing in a weak NFC South division, but here’s the catch: They’re aren’t just playing in a weak division; they’re part of the reason the division has become weak in recent seasons.
The St. Louis Rams enter the 2015-16 NFL Season with their heads held high, but it’s tough to imagine them forcing the likes of the Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals into a battle for the divisional crown by the time the regular season comes to a close.
The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to make up for a terrible finish to their 2014-15 campaign. Despite starting 9-1, this group went on to finish just 11-5. For those keeping track at home, that’s a 2-4 finish — a finish due to the loss of both Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to the injury bug.
The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2015-16 NFL Season as the big losers of the offseason. The hope following the conclusion of 2014-15 was that an 8-8 season was going to be an anomaly of a down year, but there’s virtually no scenario where you can make the case a bounce-back year is in order for this group from the Bay Area.
The Carolina Panthers enter the 2015-16 NFL Season as back-to-back NFC South champions, yet that hardly makes them a favorite to do so a third time. This group took full advantage of a weak division last season, and it has a clear goal of improving upon a 7-8-1 record.
The 2014 Houston Texans were a very quiet 9-7 team. A winning season and a +65 point differential might suggest that this team isn’t far off from returning to their 2011 and 2012 form when they won the AFC South back to back years, going 22-10 over that stretch.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots have long been the toast of the AFC East. This year should be a little different as both the Bills and Dolphins improved with their offseason acquisitions and the Pats will likely be without Tom Brady for the first four games of the regular season.
Last year was a coming out party of sorts for Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. A division title and a trip to the AFC Championship game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Indy is primed to make another deep run this year, and odds makers see it that way too as the Colts are the favourites to win the AFC.
2014 was certainly one worth forgetting for gang green. The N.Y. Jets finished a pitiful 4-12, with wins over the lowly Raiders and Titans and a meaningless week 17 victory over the Dolphins. Beating the Steelers in week 10 was about the only feather in the team’s cap a year ago.
The Dolphins failed to make the post season once again in 2014, posting a record of 8-8 and finishing third in the AFC East. That record should not be factored in when weighing how good this team can actually be.
The Buffalo Bills posted a respectable 9-7 record in 2014, finishing as the runners up in the AFC East to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
If the Bills want to finally get over the hump and compete for a division title and a long awaited playoff berth they’re going to need a fast start to the season. The Patriots will be without QB Tom Brady for the first four games of the season, which could leave the door wide open for the Bills to get an early lead and force the Pats to play catch up.
The Jacksonville Jaguars went 4-12 last season, which as unfathomable as it seems, gave them twice as many wins as they collected in 2012. Luckily for the franchise, numerous changes were made this offseason, giving the team hope that it can at least become relevant again in 2014.
The Baltimore Ravens took a big step backward in 2013 after winning the Super Bowl following the 2012 season. Following an eventful offseason, the Ravens look to bounce back with a reloaded roster, hoping that they can put off the field distractions behind them and focus on what’s happening between the lines.