Predictions Thread

[iknowftbll]

With the last pre-season and what feels like an eternity between now and the first game of the season, the time has come for the analysts to start making their W-L predictions for teams across the league. I thought it would be fun to have a thread dedicated to this. If you stumble upon a prediction for the Broncos and any other AFC West team, post it here.

As a reminder, my prediction for the division was:

Broncos: 12-4
Raiders: 10-6
Chiefs: 8-8
Chargers: 7-9

I made those in May. It'll be fun to see how close I come. Meanwhile, here are some other predictions I've stumbled upon:

USA Today (dated 27 July):

Raiders: 10-6
Chiefs: 9-7
Broncos: 8-8
Chargers: 6-10

Fansided.com* (dated 17 August):

Chiefs: 12-4
Broncos: 9-7
Raiders: 9-7
Chargers: 6-10

*NOTE: These were written by dedicated Chiefs homer Matt Verderame, so make of it what you will.

See if you can find more and add to it here. It'll be interesting to see how most analysts treat the Broncos this year, and have a one-stop shop collection of their predictions for us to look back on once the season is over.

 

[DownSetHutch]

Great thread idea, ikf. I'm going to put my predictions here too. BTW, USA Today and Fansided are smoking crack with their predictions.


Broncos : 10-6
Raiders : 9-7
Chiefs : 8-8
Chargers : 7-9


I think it will be a tight, exciting race, but I can't see another team taking the AFC West from us this year, even with our QB and O-line question marks.

 

[nflbronco]

Denver 11-5
KC 10-6
Oak 9-7
SD 8-8

I think AFCW is going to be a battle down to the wire. I understand 11 wins is a tall order for a team with young QB's. Bring it on.

PS Thanks for longer editing post option too

 

[Draft Crazy]

I'd really have to look at each schedule to get a more accurate prediction, but that takes a lot of time. So I am going to go off the top of my head and predict.

Denver 10-6
KC 8-8
Oakland 7-9
San Diego 7-9

I think we become a much better team offensively as the season goes on. Lose a few shaky games early in the year but finish very strong. Team many of us don't want to play late in the season or come playoff time barring injuries.

 

[58crash]

Denver 12-4
KC 12-4
sd-7-9
Oakland 4-12



We win the division...

 

[Draft Crazy]

History would be made.. No division has ever had two 12-4 teams. That would be an amazing season for the AFC West.

 

[Mingo]

Broncos 12-4
Chiefs - 11-5
Raiders 8-8
Chargers 6-10

 

[nflbronco]

11 and 12 wins for us with such green QB's. Great positive vibe around here props to us all.

 

[Broncos6482]

Broncos - 12-4 QB doesn't matter, it's all about the defense in Denver
Chiefs - 10-6 Defense takes a big step back, but the offense improves so they snag a wild card spot
Raiders - 9-7 Finally a winning record, but still no playoffs
Chargers - 6-10 Philip Rivers wins them a few more games than they otherwise would

 

[cdumler7]

History would be made.. No division has ever had two 12-4 teams. That would be an amazing season for the AFC West.

Well they were not quite both 12-4 but the NFC West in 2013 had a 13-3 team in Seattle and 12-4 in San Fran. In 2008 the AFC South had Tennessee at 13-3 and Indy at 12-4. If we go back further when there were only 3 divisions per conference we find it a bit more often.

 

[CEH]

Well they were not quite both 12-4 but the NFC West in 2013 had a 13-3 team in Seattle and 12-4 in San Fran. In 2008 the AFC South had Tennessee at 13-3 and Indy at 12-4. If we go back further when there were only 3 divisions per conference we find it a bit more often.

Denver and KC in 1997

 

[Draft Crazy]

Well they were not quite both 12-4 but the NFC West in 2013 had a 13-3 team in Seattle and 12-4 in San Fran. In 2008 the AFC South had Tennessee at 13-3 and Indy at 12-4. If we go back further when there were only 3 divisions per conference we find it a bit more often.

Right, but I don't believe two teams have tied at 12-4 for the division since the new format. I could be wrong, but I believe that to be the case. No bets on that.

The best was when the Patriots missed the playoffs at 11-5.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Denver and KC in 1997

KC lost 3 games that year, Denver 4.

 

[cdumler7]

Right, but I don't believe two teams have tied at 12-4 for the division. I could be wrong, but I believe that to be the case. No bets on that.

The best was when the Patriots missed the playoffs at 11-5.

Yeah wasn't sure if you meant that no two teams have finished atop the division at 12-4 together or if no two teams have had a 12-4 record or better within the division. So far at least looking I haven't found the 12-4 for both teams being the case. Would be interesting to see happen though.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Hopefully it happens in another division though. I don't want to have the stress of the Chiefs for the division. The Chicago Cubs have been hard enough to deal with this year.

 

[cdumler7]

Hopefully it happens in another division though. I don't want to have the stress of the Chiefs for the division. The Chicago Cubs have been hard enough to deal with this year.

I know the feeling. Can't even watch baseball this year with all the love they are giving the Cubs. Chiefs winning the division since I live in Chiefs country would be 10x worse. Every year I have to listen to them talk about how this is their year then thankfully get to brag at the end of the year about the success of the Broncos compared to the Chiefs. This off season has been much nicer after winning the Super Bowl as none of them want to brag to a fan of the Super Bowl champs. In the past they could always say "well we both ended the same without a Super Bowl trophy."

 

[CEH]

KC lost 3 games that year, Denver 4.

I was providing another closer to home example of CD's post talking about 13-3, 12-4 teams.

 

[iknowftbll]

Yeah wasn't sure if you meant that no two teams have finished atop the division at 12-4 together or if no two teams have had a 12-4 record or better within the division. So far at least looking I haven't found the 12-4 for both teams being the case. Would be interesting to see happen though.

Are we looking just at the AFC West? Because the 2011 Ravens and Steelers both finished 12-4. In 2003, the Colts and Titans both finished 12-4.

 

[randymon]

Are we looking just at the AFC West? Because the 2011 Ravens and Steelers both finished 12-4. In 2003, the Colts and Titans both finished 12-4.

Well one comment was " no division has had two 12-4 teams "...in history. So...you are correct.

 

[iknowftbll]

NFL.com has 20 analysts each predicting division winners. For the AFC West, that broke out like this:

Chiefs: 12
Raiders: 6
Broncos: 2
Chargers: 0

The same group picked both wild card teams. Here's how the Broncos fared among the same analysts picking WC teams:

WC #1: 3
WC #2: 6

Here's the complete article:

2016 AFC playoff predictions: South, West appear wide open