Having successfully navigated the treacherous COVID-19 waters, the NFL christened its 2020 season Thursday night with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs beating the visiting Houston Texans, 34-20.
Thirteen tilts follow Sunday. Two more commence Monday night. Some will be played in front of scaled-down crowds. Some will be played in front of empty seats. The main thing is that they will be played. Fingers crossed.
Time to climb out on the proverbial limb and offer some projections:
AFC East
Buffalo (10-6): As the Patriots dip, the Bills rise. Sean McDermott should get his due for the job he has done in Buffalo, as quarterback Josh Allen matures.
New England (9-7): Cam Newton seems an odd fit, but Bill Belichick will find a way to make it work. If Newton stays healthy. Still, New England’s divisional reign will end.
Miami (8-8): Brian Flores squeezed five wins out of last season’s supposed tank job. It will be Tua time before season’s end. Plus, we get to see the Dolphins’ plan for Lynn Bowden.
N.Y. Jets (5-11): Hard to know exactly what the Jets are doing. Gave in and shipped Jamal Adams to Seattle. Wasting quarterback Sam Darnold’s rookie contract.
Baltimore (12-4): Defenses will be better prepared for Lamar Jackson’s wizardry this time around, but the Ravens are still darn good. Look for a divisional champ repeat.
Pittsburgh (10-6): Ben Roethlisberger is back to team with the Steelers’ stout defense, led by T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. Sure wild card team, at least.
Cleveland (8-8): After ripping up the playbook and starting over year after year, owner Jimmy Haslam seems to have hit on a good plan with GM Andrew Berry and Coach Kevin Stefanski.
Cincinnati (6-10): New Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow earned plenty of plaudits during training camp. Mike Brown actually spent money on the defense. The Bengals will be improved.
10.5 sacks. Franchise rookie record. You've only seen the surface.
Houston (10-6): Will be interesting to see how quarterback Deshaun Watson adapts now that top weapon DeAndre Hopkins is in Arizona. The Texans still have plenty to win the division.
Indianapolis (8-8): Philip Rivers should be re-energized behind the Colts’ terrific offensive line. After slipping last year, Indy’s defense must return to 2018 level for team to make playoffs.
Tennessee (7-9): Steamroller Derrick Henry and a stout defense propelled the Titans to the AFC title game last year. Whether quarterback Ryan Tannehill can repeat his 2019 play is the 2020 question.
Jacksonville (2-14): Poor Josh Allen, the former UK star who had a productive rookie season. The Jags show all the signs of a distressed property.
AFC West
Kansas City (12-4): The Super Bowl champs cracked the piggy bank to pay Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. Love rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Las Vegas (9-7): Raiders could light up their new home if quarterback Derek Carr can take advantage of the weapons Jon Gruden has placed around him.
Denver (7-9): Losing Von Miller for the season to a tendon injury was not the way you want to start the 2020 season. New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur should help young quarterback Drew Lock.
L.A. Chargers (4-12): That the Chargers will play second fiddle to the Rams at new SoFi Stadium in L.A. tells you part of the story. Tyrod Taylor will struggle replacing Philip Rivers.
NFC East
Dallas (10-6): The Cowboys hope a new defense will aid an offense led by Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper. New coach Mike McCarthy got a draft day steal in receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Philadelphia (9-7): Was ready to pick Eagles as division champs until injuries riddled training camp. If Carson Wentz can’t stay healthy, we may see rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts.
N.Y. Giants (6-10): New coach Joe Judge used old-school tactics in training camp to whip Giants into shape. That won’t be enough, however. Daniel Jones gets full rein at quarterback.
Washington (4-12): The team without a nickname is a team without much going for it on offense. Under new coach Ron Rivera, the defense should be a strength.
Aaron Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship Game last season. Mike Roemer AP
NFC North
Minnesota (10-6): Kevin Stefanski left for Cleveland, but new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak was the architect behind the Vikings’ attack. Mike Zimmer does have some holes to fill on defense.
Green Bay (9-7): The Packers will have a difficult time matching last year’s 13-3 record. And just how much did drafting quarterback Jordan Love get under Aaron Rodgers’ skin?
Detroit Lions (7-9): Coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn are on the hot seat, especially with Sheila Ford Hamp taking over as team chairman. Need a healthy Matt Stafford.
Chicago Bears (5-11): No one will let the Bears forget they passed on Patrick Mahomes to draft Mitch Trubisky. Nick Foles isn’t the answer, either.
NFC South
New Orleans (12-4): The Saints still have the best roster in the division, if not the conference. Another Super Bowl would be a fitting swan song for Drew Brees.
Tampa Bay (10-6): The Bucs’ makeover is the AFC’s biggest storyline. Tom Brady. Gronk. Tampa Bay will be improved, but not ready to hand it the division title.
Atlanta (8-8): The Falcons could easily be improved over last year but not gain any headway in a division with the Saints and the Bucs. Dan Quinn needs an improved defense.
Carolina (2-14): New coach Matt Ruhle will be an NFL success, but he has his work cut out for him this year with the Panthers. Teddy Bridgewater takes over at quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan celebrated with his dad, Mike, after the Niners beat Green Bay in last season’s NFC Championship Game. Matt York AP
NFC West
San Francisco (11-5): For some reason, people think the 49ers will suffer a hangover from the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. I’m not one of those people.
Seattle (10-6): The Seahawks aren’t going away anytime soon. A healthy Tyler Lockett will help Russell Wilson, who found a gem last year in D.K. Metcalf.
Arizona (9-7): The Cardinals are on the upswing with Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and an improved defense. KIiff Kingsbury needs to get more out of his offensive line.
L.A. Rams (7-9): Two years ago the Rams were in the Super Bowl and Sean McVay was the league’s hot young coach. Now it looks like the Rams could be facing a rebuild.
AFC Playoffs
1-Kansas City bye
2-Baltimore over 7-Las Vegas
3-Houston over 6-New England
5-Pittsburgh over 4-Buffalo
1-Kansas City over 5-Pittsburgh
2-Baltimore over 3-Houston
1-Kansas City over 2-Baltimore
NFC Playoffs
1-New Orleans bye
2-San Francisco over 7-Arizona
3-Minnesota over 6-Tampa Bay
5-Seattle over 4-Dallas
1-New Orleans over 5-Seattle
2-San Francisco over 3-Minnesota
1-New Orleans over 2-San Francisco
Super Bowl
New Orleans over Kansas City
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 1:56 PM.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys.Support my work with a digital subscription
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