The newest Heisman-winning quarterback to join the AFC North, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, will win the NFL offensive rookie of the year award. (espn.com)
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My Fearless Forecast for 2020 …
1.The NFC division winners will be the Vikings (north), Cowboys (east), Buccaneers (south) and 49ers (west). Wild card berths will go to the Saints, Seahawks and Packers. In one of the most highly anticipated championship game matchups ever, the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo will defeat the Buccaneers and Tom Brady and return to the Super Bowl.
2.The AFC division winners will be the Steelers (north), Bills (east), Texans (south) and Chiefs (west). Wild card berths will go to the Ravens, Patriots and Titans. In the championship game, the Steelers will defeat the Chiefs.
3.Super Bowl XL in Tampa, FL: 49ers 30, Steelers 21.
4.The popular choice, almost unanimous by national experts, is that Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will run away with offensive rookie of the year. But Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will win the award after lifting his team out of mediocrity.
AFC North
5.The division will shrink from top to bottom, meaning fourth place will draw closer to first place. But the gap between the Browns and Bengals will be closer than the one between the Browns and Steelers.
6.Myles Garrett will have more sacks than T.J. Watt for only the second time in their four years together in the division.
7.Lamar Jackson will not duplicate his phenomenal MVP numbers of 2019. He’ll throw more interceptions as the Ravens attempt to stretch the field via the pass. But Jackson will pad his 19-5 career won-loss record – the most important statistic for a quarterback.
8.Despite a 6-10 record marked by numerous close losses, Kevin Stefanski’s first year as Browns coach will be judged as progress by even those unrealistically expecting a playoff season.
AFC East
9.Cam Newton will lead the Patriots to a wild card berth in the Patriots’ first season without Tom Brady, but Newton will feel frustration, like Brady did in his latter years, with a weak supporting cast.
10.The Dolphins will make a run at the seventh playoff seed but will fall victim to a brutal schedule in December.
11.Josh Allen will finally post a signature win -- over the Patriots -- for the division title.
12.Gregg Williams will take over for fired Jets coach Adam Gase at their Week 11 bye week.
AFC South
13.The Titans will finish 9-7 for the fifth consecutive year.
14.Duke Johnson will lead the Texans in receptions.
15.Phillip Rivers will call it quits after the Colts fall short of the playoffs.
16.“With the first pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Clemson.”
AFC West
17.The Chiefs will distance from the field and become the first NFL team to clinch a division title.
18.Tyrod Taylor won’t make it to mid-season as the Chargers’ starting quarterback.
19.Broncos fans will continue to regret GM John Elway not hiring Kyle Shanahan to succeed Gary Kubiak as head coach in 2017.
20.The Raiders will be a blast to watch in Las Vegas and will be a big gate attraction when fans are allowed.
NFC North
21.This will be Aaron Rodgers’ last season in Green Bay.
22.This will be Matt Patricia’s last season in Detroit.
23.Mitchell Trubisky will have a nice bounce-back year and then leave the Bears in free agency.
24.The Vikings’ pass rush will kindle memories of the Purple People Eaters.
NFC East
25.The Giants won’t make the playoffs, but they’ll be a surprise team late in the year, like the Dolphins were in 2019.
26.The Cowboys will look awesome at times, but not at the end.
27.New President Jason Wright and coach Ron Rivera will lead the Washington football team through a turbulent season and have its ship steadied by the end.
28.The Eagles will be a huge disappointment to their fans.
NFC South
29.Drew Brees (41) will look older on the field than Tom Brady (43).
30.Bruce Arians will win coach of the year honors with his third different team.
31.Taysom Hill will play more snaps as Saints quarterback than Jameis Winston.
32.The Panthers will make a run at the Jaguars for the No. 1 draft pick but will fall short.
NFC West
33.The two shootouts between the 49ers (Garoppolo) and Seahawks (Russell Wilson) will be remembered among the most exciting games of the year.
34.Things will get tougher – not easier -- for Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray in their second year with the Cardinals.
35.Jared Goff will prove his 2018 season was no fluke, but the Rams won’t make the playoffs.
36.Jimmy Garoppolo will complete the biggest pass of his season this time and beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl.