I'll be honest, it shocked the hell out of me. I really didn't want to use it, but if I changed it, I really couldn't say it was an objective exercise. Truth is, I probably gave the Browns a couple of games that I shouldn't have... The Browns went like this: Wins; All home games...lol... I did it subconsciously, but I had the Browns winning every home game and losing every away game. I didn't realize it until I was finished and saw that you and Tim were talking about the Browns win total. So I went back and looked a little closer at them. A lot depends on the first game of the year for the Browns, I believe. If they come out and win against the Steelers, their confidence level can carry them to 8 wins. If they lose, then it could easily jettison this "prediction" back down to 4-5 wins. BUT, I could also just as easily see them lose at home to the Chargers and win on the road in Tampa...so, in the end, I can still make a case for 8 wins. If they lose to the Steelers at home 0-1, then @Saints 0-2, even if they win at home against the Jets 1-2, if they go back on the road and lose in Oakland 1-3, that will have a negative psychological impact on players and coaching staff alike. Hue Jackson will definitely start to feel pressure and his job slipping beneath his feet. I have a feeling, his performance as a coach will start to decline if they don't get multiple wins early. To the point where, I could see him throwing Baker Mayfield in earlier than he really should. Everyone knows how much I love me some Baker...but, in reality, I personally feel Tyrod Taylor's veteran experience gives the Browns a better chance at winning in 2018. Just the way I feel about rookies and their mistake tendencies.
Eagles 13-3 Cowboys 10-6 Giants 8-8 Redskins 5-11 Saints 12-4 Falcons 11-5 Panthers 6-10 Buccaneers 2-14 Packers 12-4 Vikings 12-4 Bears 5-11 Lions 4-12 Rams 11-5 49ers 11-5 Cardinals 8-8 Seahawks 7-9 Patriots 12-4 Bills 8-8 Jets 5-11 Dolphins 3-13 Jaguars 12-4 Texans 8-8 Titans 7-9 Colts 2-14 Steelers 12-4 Bengals 8-8 Ravens 7-9 Browns 6-10 Chargers 10-6 Chiefs 9-7 Raiders 5-11 Broncos 4-12 I did every game so tiebreakers are known for this specific scenario. NFC 1. Philadelphia Eagles 13-3 2. New Orleans Saints 12-4 3. Green Bay Packers 12-4 4. Los Angeles Rams 11-5 5. Minnesota Vikings 12-4 6. Atlanta Falcons 11-5 AFC 1. Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4 3. New England Patriots 12-4 4. Los Angeles Chargers 10-6 5. Kansas City Chiefs 9-7 6. Houston Texans 8-8
These two probably stand out to me the most. I'm trying to remember the name of Bart's dad... lol RT will not be pleased with either of us.
I don't think 13-3 is being a homer considering they are the champs and the sched is pretty favourable, relatively speaking. I thought I'd have the Bills worse but the schedule doesn't seem too bad. Same for the Browns. I could have had both those teams lose 2 more but I gave them those wins. I am not loving the Redskins enough, especially when I think Dallas and NYG should bounce back some (I really like Dallas' sched). As for the Lions, they are a tough one. I thought I'd be giving them more but I dunno. I prefer the Bears to be better in that division.
AFC EAST NE 14-2 NYJ 5-11 BUF 3-13 MIA 2-14 AFC NORTH PIT 11-5 CIN 6-10 CIN 6-10 BAL 3-13 AFC SOUTH JAC 13-3 HOU 11-5 TENN 10-6 IND 4-12 AFC WEST OAK 14-2 LAC 14-2 KC 7-9 DEN 2-14 NFC EAST DAL 12-4 PHI 10-6 NYG 5-11 WASH 3-13 NFC NORTH GB 13-3 MIN 12-4 CHI 10-6 DET 5-11 NFC SOUTH ATL 14-2 NO 13-3 CAR 8-8 TB 1-15 NFC WEAST LAR 14-2 SF 7-9 SEA 5-11 ARI 1-15 I went through every game and just went with my gut for each game with some obvious bias for the Bears. I didnt keep track of who beat who at the time so I have know way of figuring out tie breakers. Fun thread though.
This jumps out at me on first glance, but with the history of the East it's not out of the realm of possibility. What's your take on Dallas going 12-4?
I’m high on Dallas this season. I think they get past the drama of last season and Dak takes over the leadership roll and plays better hitting the open guy instead of trying to force it to Dez.
AFCE Patriots. 12-4 Jets. 8-8 Bills. 8-8 Dolphins. 4-12 AFCN Steelers. 13-3 Browns. 9-7 Ravens. 7-9 Bengals. 3-13. AFCS Texans. 10-6 Titans. 9-7 Jaguars. 7-9 Colts. 6-10 AFCW Broncos. 12-4 Chargers. 9-7 Chiefs. 8-8 Raiders. 4-12 NFCE Cowboys. 10-6 Eagles. 10-6 Redskins. 6-10 Giants. 5-11 NFCN Vikings. 13-3 Packers. 11-5 Lions. 7-9 Bears. 4-12 NFCS Saints. 11-5 Falcons. 10-6 Panthers. 4-12 Buccaneers. 2-12 NFCW 49ers. 12-4 Rams. 12-4 Seahawks. 5-11 Cardinals. 3-13
And one more SB victory for the Steelers would be a fair value trade for the Browns having a winning record.
Here is my sure to be wrong prediction AFC NE 13-3 NYJ 6-10 Buffalo 6-10 Miami 3-13 Pittsburgh 14-2 Baltimore 10-6 Cincinnati 6-10 Cleveland 3-13 Indy 11-5 Jacksonville 9-7 Denver 6-10 Houston 5-11 LAC 12-4 KC 10-6 Oakland 7-9 Denver 5-11 Pittsburgh and NE get byes. Chargers beats Baltimore, Indy beats KC. Pittsburgh beats Indy and the Chargers upset NE. Pittsburgh beats Chargers to win the AFC. NFC Philly 13-3 Dallas 9-7 Washington 9-7 NYG 7-9 GB 13-3 Minnesota 10-6 Detroit 8-8 Bears 6-10 NO 11-5 Atlanta 9-7 Carolina 8-8 TB 5-11 LAR 10-6 Seattle 5-11 Arizona 4-12 SF 3-13 Philly and GB get byes. NO beats Dallas, Rams are upset by Minnesota. NO beats Philly, GB beats Minnesota. GB wins the NFC over NO. Steelers over Packers in the Super Bowl.
I don't think Dallas is going to be as bad off (losing Dez, Wit) as some people make out. That said, 12-4 seems a little optimistic for me.