It's been a while since I have blogged. Between my real writing job picking up steam and my daughter being taught remotely at home, I have been super busy lately.
But since the NFL season is right around the corner, I feel like it's time to throw out some predictions and bold statements.
The Reds have been super disappointing in MLB so it's time to move my attention to the NFL as my favorite team in all of pro sports played in the Super Bowl last year.
Some folks are down on the Niners this year. I don't get it. And maybe it's not as bad as I have seen on social media. I have learned that comments on twitter are not always the consensus but more the loud minority.
There will be a handful of teams that start the season with realistic Super Bowl expectations.
The Chiefs. The Ravens. The Titans. The Steelers. The 49ers. The Saints. The Packers. The Vikings. The Cowboys. The Seahawks. The Buccaneers. Maybe the Eagles.
Some of those teams are better than others but I would think all of them think they can win it all.
But last year, no one predicted the 49ers would be the top seed in the NFC and even make the playoffs. So you just never know. The NFL has long stood for Not For Long for me.
Windows aren't open for very long. It's all about the head coach, quarterback and defense IMO. If you don't have a top 10ish QB and a top 10ish defense, it's extremely hard to win a title.
Kansas City has the No. 1 QB in the league. a Hall of Fame head coach and the defense was much better down the stretch and played well in the playoffs when it mattered.
As a 49ers fan, I love Kyle Shanahan. But if he would have ran the ball just a few more times in the final 7 minutes of the Super Bowl, the Niners would be celebrating a sixth title.
A 10-point lead with 7 minutes to play for one of the league's best running offenses and Shanahan called three straight running plays when the Chiefs were rallying. It's not like KC's defense was stopping the run. The Niners averaged five yards per carry in the game.
I'm still bitter. I took me weeks to get over the loss. Nothing hurts me more as a sports fan than when the Niners lose a big game or the Super Bowl. Especially when they had a lead late in the game.
But I don't think this team is just done either like some have suggested. Not sure why they aren't picked to win the NFC West. They bring back most of the roster that got them to the Super Bowl. And they add some really key pieces, too.
Trent Williams at left tackle. Jerick McKinnon as a third-down back. Trent Taylor as a slot receiver. None of these guys played in the Super Bowl last year. All three are upgrades from what they had on the field last year.
Joe Staley is a Hall of Fame left tackle. But Trent Williams is a better player at this point of his career. And the word is that Williams is now up to 315 pounds. He's one of the best tackles in the game when he's right mentally and I think he'll be amped up to play for his former coach and for one of the best teams in the league.
Jimmy G is going to love having Williams protect his blindside.
McKinnon is a guy who Shanahan signed early in his tenure. He hand picked the Jet to be a big part of his offense. And injuries has forced him to the sidelines the past two years. McKinnon is reportedly healthy now and if it stays that way, he will be a nightmare for teams to cover.
Trent Taylor was Jimmy G's favorite target when he was a rookie. Not having his security blanket last year was a big deal. I think Taylor is severely underrated and will be one of the top receivers on this team this season.
Throw in Brandon Aiyuk at receiver, a full season with Raheem Mostert as the main running back and a full second year in Shanahan's system for Jimmy G and the Niners' offense should be much better in 2020.
Jimmy G will be just the third QB in Niners history to eclipse 4,000 yards and he could give Jeff Garcia's franchise record a run for the money.
The defense should be fine, too. Especially if Dee Ford's knees hold out a little longer than they did last year. The pass rush will be awesome, I think collectively Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Kwon Alexander are one of the best linebacking duos in the game and the secondary was a big key to the defense last year and everyone is back.
The Niners should finish no worse than 10-6. I think that's a low bar for this team but if there are injuries, 10-6 is a fair prediction. It's hard to go 13-3 every year so my final prediction is 11-5. But if they get back to the Super Bowl, I think they finish the deal this time.
Predictions
AFC East - Bills
AFC West - Chiefs
AFC North - Ravens
AFC South - Titans
Wild Card - Steelers
Wild Card - Colts
Wild Card - Patriots
NFC East - Cowboys
NFC West - 49ers
NFC North - Packers
NFC South - Saints
Wild Card - Vikings
Wild Card - Seahawks
Wild Card - Buccaneers
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