2019 NFL season predictions: Division winners, playoff projections, Super Bowl picks, and more

The 2019 NFL season is finally here.

After weeks of training camp practices and organized practices that most couldn’t see and four meaningless preseason games in which no one important played all that much, real NFL football is on our doorstep.

The 2019 season is upon us and, in the time honored tradition of fools who like to voluntarily make themselves look ridiculous, we here at the Bleeding Green Nation are here to give you our predictions on the upcoming season.

So, here are our picks for division winners, wild cards, playoff winners, Super Bowl champion and assorted end-of-year awards. Enjoy!

JOHN STOLNIS

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Packers (4)

NFC South - Saints (2)

NFC West - Seahawks (3)

NFC Wild Cards - Falcons (5), Cowboys (6)

AFC East - Patriots (1)

AFC North - Steelers (4)

AFC South - Jaguars (3)

AFC West - Chiefs (2)

AFC Wild Cards - Chargers (5), Texans (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Seahawks (3) over Cowboys (6), Falcons (5) over Packers (4)

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles (1) over Falcons (5), Seahawks (3) over Saints (2)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (1) over Seahawks (3)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Jaguars (3) over Texans (6), Chargers (5) over Steelers (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots (1) over Jaguars (3), Chiefs (2) over Chargers (5)

AFC Championship Game: Patriots (1) over Chiefs (2)

Super Bowl 54: Eagles over Patriots

Super Bowl MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

NFL MVP: Russell Wilson - QB Seattle Seahawks

Offensive Player of the Year: Russell Wilson - QB Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack - LB Chicago Bears

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Jacobs - RB Oakland Raiders

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ed Oliver - DT Buffalo Bills

Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Doug Pederson - Philadelphia Eagles

Needless to say, I’m excited about the 2019 season, because I really believe this is a team that can win it all again. They have a coach in Doug Pederson who knows how to win big games and, if Carson Wentz stays healthy all year (which I believe he will), the Eagles should be able to secure the top seed in the NFC. If they get homefield advantage, I have a hard time seeing anyone other than the Saints go into Lincoln Financial Field and beating the Birds. Thankfully (and strategically), I have New Orleans losing to Seattle at home in the Divisional Round. As for the AFC, I’m tired of seeing New England go to the Super Bowl, but do you really see an alternative? Do you really think, after all this time, that Andy Reid is actually going to outfox Bill Belichick on the biggest stage of the season to that point? I don’t. And so, a rematch of Super Bowl 52 is something we all deserve.

BRANDON LEE GOWTON

NFC East - Eagles (2)

NFC North - Packers (3)

NFC South - Saints (1)

NFC West - Seahawks (4)

NFC Wild Cards - Falcons (5), Vikings (6)

AFC East - Patriots (1)

AFC North - Ravens (3)

AFC South - Texans (4)

AFC West - Chiefs (2)

AFC Wild Cards - Steelers (5), Chargers (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Packers (3) over Vikings (6), Seahawks (5) over Falcons (4)

NFC Divisional Round: Saints (1) over Seahawks (4), Eagles (2) over Packers (3)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (2) over Saints (1)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Ravens (3) over Chargers (6), Steelers (5) over Texans (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots (1) over Steelers (5), Chiefs (2) over Ravens (3)

AFC Championship Game: Chiefs (2) over Patriots (1)

Super Bowl 54: Eagles over Chiefs

Super Bowl MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

NFL MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley - RB New York Giants

Defensive Player of the Year: Daeshon Hall - DE Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Miles Sanders - RB Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ed Oliver - DT Buffalo Bills

Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Doug Pederson - Philadelphia Eagles

If you’re scared about “too much hype,” get a dog. The Eagles are winning Super Bowl LIV.

SHAMUS CLANCY

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Vikings (4)

NFC South - Falcons (2)

NFC West - Seahawks (3)

NFC Wild Cards - Saints (5), Packers (6)

AFC East - Patriots (1)

AFC North - Steelers (2)

AFC South - Jaguars (4)

AFC West - Chiefs (3)

AFC Wild Cards - Ravens (5), Browns (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Seahawks (3) over Packers (6), Saints (5) over Vikings (4)

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles (1) over Saints (5), Falcons (2) over Seahawks (3)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (1) over Falcons (2)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Chiefs (3) over Browns (6), Ravens (5) over Jaguars (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots (1) over Ravens (5), Steelers (2) over Chiefs (3)

AFC Championship Game: Steelers (2) over Patriots (1)

Super Bowl 54: Eagles over Steelers

Super Bowl MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

NFL MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Player of the Year: Julio Jones - WR Atlanta Falcons

Defensive Player of the Year: Bobby Wagner - LB Seattle Seahawks

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Jacobs - RB Oakland Raiders

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ed Oliver - DT Buffalo Bills

Comeback Player of the Year: Deion Jones - LB Atlanta Falcons

Coach of the Year: Doug Pederson - Philadelphia Eagles

Behind a healthy Carson Wentz and the best collection of Eagles skill players in my lifetime, the Birds cruise to 13-3 and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I’m buying all the Falcons stock this year too. Matt Ryan will have a 2016-esque season while Julio Jones leads the league in receiving yards, but they’ll lose in Philadelphia for the fourth time in as many years come the NFC Championship Game. The Birds will meet in “The Steagles Super Bowl” against Pittsburgh, as the Steelers shine this season with a post-Antonio Brown glow. With three touchdown passes from Wentz, in addition to a second half DeSean Jackson punt return tuddie, the Eagles raise the Lombardi Trophy once again.

Fraud Sean McVay and the Rams slug their way through a Super Bowl hangover and finish 7-9 (their win total is more than double the amount of points they scored in Super Bowl LIII).

MICHAEL KIST

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Packers (4)

NFC South - Falcons (3)

NFC West - Seahawks (2)

NFC Wild Cards - Saints (5), Rams (6)

AFC East - Patriots (2)

AFC North - Browns (3)

AFC South - Colts (4)

AFC West - Chiefs (1)

AFC Wild Cards - Ravens (5), Chargers (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Falcons (3) over Rams (6), Saints (5) over Packers (4)

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles (1) over Saints (5), Falcons (3) over Seahawks (2)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (1) over Falcons (3)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Browns (3) over Chargers (6), Ravens (5) over Colts (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Chiefs (1) over Ravens (5), Patriots (2) over Browns (3)

AFC Championship Game: Chiefs (1) over Patriots (2)

Super Bowl 54: Chiefs over Eagles

Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes - QB Kansas City Chiefs

NFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes - QB Kansas City Chiefs

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley - RB New York Giants

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett - EDGE Cleveland Browns

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray - QB Arizona Cardinals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Burns - EDGE Carolina Panthers

Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Freddie Kitchens - Cleveland Browns

Is picking the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl over the Eagles a reverse jinx? Perhaps. Is it so there’s at least one of us that doesn’t pick the Eagles to win it all? Maybe. Am I going to keep answering my own questions? Who knows?

Look, it’s really, and I can’t stress this enough, really hard to win the Super Bowl. Consider this round one of Wentz vs. Mahomes, Pederson vs. Reid with an eventual redemption story rivaling that of Rocky vs. Clubber Lang. Reid getting the monkey off his back is a great story too, one that would silence just about all of his critics. Also, Mahomes is an alien. Are you ready for more Wentz vs. Foles talk for an entire offseason? Is Wentz clutch? Yeah, that’s happening in this scenario. Gird your loins.

As for Pederson getting snubbed again for Coach of the Year? It definitely won’t be because he didn’t deserve it. The media loves a shiny new toy and Pederson’s greatness is old hat in those circles.

BENJAMIN SOLAK (wow look how big my name is but ur so small)

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Packers (3)

NFC South - Saints (2)

NFC West - Rams (4)

NFC Wild Cards - Falcons (5), Seahawks (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Seahawks (6) over Packers (3), Rams (4) over Falcons (5)

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles (1) over Seahawks (6), Saints (2) over Rams (4)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (1) over Saints (2)

AFC East - Patriots (2)

AFC North - Ravens (3)

AFC South - Titans (4)

AFC West - Chiefs (1)

AFC Wild Cards - Browns (5), Chargers (6)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Ravens (3) over Chargers (6), Browns (5) over Titans (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Browns (5) over Chiefs (1), Patriots (2) over Ravens (3)

AFC Championship Game: Browns (5) over Patriots (2)

Super Bowl 54: Eagles over Browns

Super Bowl MVP: DeSean Jackson - WR Philadelphia Eagles

NFL MVP: Baker Mayfield - QB Cleveland Browns

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley - RB New York Giants

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald - DT Los Angeles Rams

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Marquise Brown - WR Baltimore Ravens

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Quinnen Williams - DT New York Jets

Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Freddie Kitchens - HC Cleveland Browns

Do I think the Browns are more likely to make it to the Super Bowl than the Chiefs or the Patriots? Not really — but it sure is more fun to imagine! With Todd Monken and Freddie Kitchens catering a plethora of offensive weapons to Baker Mayfield’s top-flight skill set, this team can get hot — and as long as the personalities gel, Mayfield and Beckham Jr. and Kitchens will keep this team hot for a long time. Don’t underestimate the impact of RB Kareem Hunt’s return from suspension late in the season.

However, I can reasonably pick the Eagles to win the Super Bowl this year, and as an Eagles fan and Eagles writer, I’m certainly not going to do otherwise. The NFC is a wildly competitive conference this year, so health and depth are critical — the Eagles have responded well to key injury under Doug Pederson in the past few years, and are the deepest team in the league. That alone suits them best for the grueling playoff run through the NFC field.

Doug Pederson’s just never gonna win COTY, folks. Greatness always goes under-appreciated by its generation.

Lee Sifford

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Bears (4)

NFC South - Saints (3)

NFC West - Seahawks (2)

NFC Wild Cards - Rams (5), Cowboys (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Saints (3) over Cowboys (6), Rams (5) over Bears (4)

NFC Divisional Round: Rams (5) over Eagles (1), Saints (2) over Seahawks (4)

NFC Championship Game: Saints (2) over Rams (5)

AFC East - Patriots (1)

AFC North - Browns (3)

AFC South - Jaguars (4)

AFC West - Chiefs (2)

AFC Wild Cards - Steelers (5), Chargers (6)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Chargers (6) over Browns (3), Steelers (5) over Jaguars (4)

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots (1) over Chargers (6), Steelers (5) over Chiefs (2)

AFC Championship Game: Steelers (5) over Patriots (1)

Super Bowl 54: Steelers over Saints

Super Bowl MVP: Ben Roethlisberger - QB Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL MVP: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Player of the Year: Juju Smith-Schuster - WR Pittsburgh Steelers

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald - DT Los Angeles Rams

Offensive Rookie of the Year: David Montgomery - RB Chicago Bears

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Quinnen Williams - DT New York Jets

Comeback Player of the Year: DeSean Jackson - WR Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Doug Pederson - HC Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are going to come out flaming hot. With the wealth of talent and health they currently have rostered, there quite simply is no other way. Unfortunately, the lack of depth in the secondary comes back to haunt them as they get outdueled by Sean McVay’s LA Rams. The Eagles have nothing to be ashamed of, however, as they won the division mightily and will come back with vengeance in 2020.

Around the NFL, the Browns, make the playoffs and Baker Mayfield shows he is the real deal. Patrick Mahomes takes a big step back from his historic 2019 campaign, and Mike Tomlin and the Steelers show they don’t need Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell to be a power house.

Tyler Jackson

NFC East - Eagles (1)

NFC North - Packers (3)

NFC South - Saints (2)

NFC West - Rams (4)

NFC Wild Cards - Seahawks (5), Falcons (6)

AFC East - Patriots (2)

AFC North - Ravens (4)

AFC South - Texans (3)

AFC West - Chiefs (1)

AFC Wild Cards - Chargers (5), Browns (6)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Packers (3) over Falcons (6), Rams (4) over Seahawks (5)

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles (1) over Rams (4), Packers (3) over Saints (2)

NFC Championship Game: Eagles (1) over Packers (3)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Browns (6) over Texans (3), Ravens (4) over Chargers (5)

AFC Divisional Round: Patriots (1) over Browns (6), Ravens (4) over Chiefs (2)

AFC Championship Game: Patriots (1) over Ravens (4)

Super Bowl 54: Eagles over Patriots

Super Bowl MVP: Carson Wentz — Eagles

NFL MVP: Carson Wentz — Eagles

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes — Chiefs

Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack — Chicago Bears

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray — Cardinals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Quinnen Williams — DT Jets

Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Wentz - QB Philadelphia Eagles

Coach of the Year: Matt LaFleur — Green Bay

It’s weird seeing everybody pick the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl, but here we are, back in the mid-2000s where Philadelphia is a yearly contender. For the first time in years, the strength of schedule initially seems easy for the Eagles and they’ll get the benefit of a second place schedule. That combined with the parity in the NFC should give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs and as we saw during the Super Bowl run, that matters, especially with dome/warm weather teams like the Rams and Saints in the mix for deep runs. In the AFC, the Ravens are my surprise team to make a deep run. They lost a lot of defensive snaps, but their secondary might be the best in the league and they have explosive playmakers on offense in Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews and Hollywood Brown as well as a coaching staff that’s willing to scheme to Jackson’s strengths and has the formula to beat New England. Ultimately I believe they’ll fall short as I believe they’re stilling missing a piece on offense. In the awards race I believe everything is straight forward, but I should explain the LaFleur pick. I believe he’s probably under qualified for the job, but he’s been gifted Aaron Rodgers in a division that’s slowly regressed. If he can get the Packers back to the playoffs for the first time in two years, voters will view that favorably, much like they did with McVay two years ago, though McVay took over a worse situation. This award SHOULD go to Doug Pederson if everything plays out as we anticipate, but if the award process worked the way it should, Bill Belichick would have more than three of these.