Category: NFL

The 2024 NFL Season is upon us, and its time for Balls’ annual AFCW Predicktions. This is always met with plenty of bitching and moaning, but at the end of the season, I have a knack for hitting more than I miss. For example, when I’m being a homer and predicting more wins than Vegas or the mainstream media for the Raiders, the Raiders have hit 4 of the last 5 season win totals for the Raiders, when you guessed it, I predicted the Under. Ouch, that hurts. Or when I “hated” on the PFM Broncos for predicting they’d with the Super Bowl in the 2015 season despite PFM being dog shit, but the NFL needing his Swan Song season. I’ve picked the Chiefs to win the AFCW and more for like ever at this point, yet Poe’s bitchass still seems disrespected by my Chiefs predictions. Chargers? I’ve been pretty close, hard to be too far up and down from a team that is so incredibly mediocre, unless you’re retarded, the NFL Media, or Chargers fans who actually think these teams were anything special in the last forever.

So take whatever opinion you think the next 60 seconds of reading as it relates to my thoughts on your team’s season, ball it up, and throw it in the fucking trash, because yours truly has been way more hit than miss. So just sit this one out for once. Your Balls 2024 NFL/AFCW Predicktions!!

AFCW Standings Predicktions:
Kansas City Chiefs (13-4): They’re in year 6 of the (let’s get some tape on Patrick before we crown him) Mahomes Era… He’s still good. Reid’s good, defense is good. I do question a little of everything around them; but it ultimately is rooted in the idea of, can they possibly win 3 straight?? I’ll say no, moreso because of the odds. The odds they can lose a game vs a few contending AFC teams in playoffs or the NFC contender in the SB. The odds the receiving options can be good enough for Mahomes, the odds the OL/Defense can continue to be a strength surrounding him, and lets be honest, the odds the NFL will continue to allow them via officiating/etc. At some point, Chiefs ruling the NFL may not be great for business no matter how much you try to subsidize it (i.e. Mahomes, Kelce, Swifties, etc). Either way, Chiefs win the AFC West easily.

Las Vegas Raiders (9-8): Honestly, you could draw the next 3 teams out of a hat in my opinion. I think they’re all that close. I think the Raiders have the track record against their interdivision opponents, and the ability to matchup outside of it well enough to “earn” 2nd place in the AFCW, but outside of the playoffs and any semblance of contending for the NFL Championship. Pieces of their defense will shine, while others prove to be a liability at times. The receiving corps might be the best in the AFCW, but with Gardner Minshew at QB and an up and down OL/run game to support them, there will be some offensive dry spells.

Los Angeles Chargers (7-10): It’s hard to predict a losing season for a Jim Harbaugh led team. I have a lot of respect for the man. He was on the short list for replacing Jon Gruden for my Raiders in recent years. While I share a lot of the same respect for QB Justin Herbert, I’ve also long pointed out his shortfalls including rather uniquely circumstantial losses featuring late game giveaways, it’s hard for me to hitch my wagon to despite my respect for HC Harbaugh. There are simply too many questions surrounding him on offense, take your pick, OL, RB’s, TE’s, WR’s. There are also those underlying issues on a historically bad Brandon Staley’s Charger Defense.

Denver Broncos (6-11): It’s definitely not as hard to predict a losing season for a Denver Broncos team that has been losing for quite some time. Despite his ego, Sean Payton does not strike fear in the NFL/AFCW. He found that out in 2023. Their -56 Point Differential (which was an improvement from -72 in 2022) was still somehow good to finish 2nd in the AFCW at 8-9. The Broncos feature a rookie QB (whom I have grown to like in the offseason training process), with a mediocre offense around him, and a defense that I question as being the “strength” it’s being perceived as going into the season. This team has finished last in the AFCW 3 of the last 4 seasons. Only last season did they manage to crawl their way out despite the point differential. With the potential at QB, a few other pieces, and if HC Payton can regain success in the NFL, they have as good of chance as any to return to AFCW “Glory” (i.e. 2nd place behind the Chiefs).

Those season team predicktions of the AFCW were a bit doom and gloomy. My apologies, but I do think it’s another down year for the AFCW outside of the Chiefs winning and contending for another SB. Let’s focus on some high notes. As stated, Mahomes is still MVP favorite, Maxx Crosby should be firmly in the NFL Defensive POY race followed shortly by Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Chris Jones, etc. QB Bo Nix of Denver definitely has OROY potential, as well as TE Brock Bowers of the LV Raiders. There are plenty of reasons for AFC West fans to be excited for the 2o24 campaign, but I believe it should be focused around the building blocks for 3 of the 4 teams, with the Chiefs being the outlier as far as 2024 Playoff contention looking for the Super Bowl 3-Peat.

2024 NFL Predicktions:
AFC Playoff Teams (in seeded order): 1. Chiefs, 2. Texans, 3. Dolphins, 4. Ravens, 5. Bengals, 6. Jets, 7. Jaguars.

NFC Playoff Teams (in seeded order): 1. Lions, 2. Rams, 3. Eagles, 4. Falcons. 5. 49ers, 6. Packers, 7. Cowboys

AFC Championship: Texans over Jets, 27-23.
NFC Championship: Lions over Rams 31-20.
Super Bowl: Lions over Texans 30-24.

Individual Awards:
MVP – Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Defensive POY – Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Offensive POY – Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Offensive ROY – Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Defensive ROY – Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings
Coach OTY – DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
Comeback Player of the Year – Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets.

As NFL Training Camps start this week, can’t help but think this is the quietest summer I can remember in some time in the AFCW. Nothing significant on the trade block (unless you believe Davante Adams is on it, which I don’t), no holdouts appear imminent, minimal other drama.

No news is good news this time of year, as far as I’m concerned. I believe teams like the Broncos and Raiders could still make a couple key additions with the cap space they have and need for influx in talent at a couple positions. Otherwise, these teams appear focused with who they have in the building and ready to prep for their 2024 campaign.

That’s it, that’s the post. Enjoy the offseason.

-Balls

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Chargers – I expect the Chargers team to rally behind the new interim HC, and try to keep this game close early, but eventually Josh Allen and the Bills wear down a much inferior Chargers squad, and cover 27-13.

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos – I expect the Patriots the scheme up defensively to hold the Broncos offense in check. This game will be close late, but I do expect the Broncos to hold off the Patriots 20-17.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs – Hard to say which Raiders and Chiefs teams show up. This game has the potential to be very evenly matched with the Raiders having a chance to win, it also has potential to be a blowout with Mahomes lighting up the Raiders defense, even with a lackluster receiving corps. I do expect the result to be somewhere in the middle, with the Chiefs defense suffocating the Raiders offense at times, and win 27-17.

fuck the chiefs

Chiefs vs Saints – Derek Carr marched right down the field in his Saints debut scoring a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes did not. Saints win 26-24.

Chargers vs Rams – Former TCU rookie wide receivers Quinten Jounston and Derius Davis both found the end zone in their NFL debuts. Chargers roll 34-17.

Broncos vs Cardinals – Russell Wilson got the start with mixed results but admittedly the offensive line did him absolutely no favors. Cardinals win on a last second score 18-17, such a Broncos score.

Raiders vs 49ers – Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell looked sharp, both sides of the trenches were stout, and the defense is flashing signs of being much more opportunistic creating turnovers. Raiders dominate 34-7.

“I have returned.”

-General Douglas MacArthur

It has been a long time coming but I have finally returned. It has been hard to be away for all of you guys and the rehab really, really sucked but it is over and the old fart is back!

Well, it is draft/free agency time when every team and fan has hope for the upcoming season. It is also that time for the ultimate speculation into what we think each team needs and who they will draft with their 1^st pick. Let’s go!

Denver Broncos

Draft Picks:

• Round 3, Pick 68 (from IND)
• Round 3, Pick 69
• Round 4, Pick 108
• Round 5, Pick 140
• Round 6, Pick 194 (from PIT)
• Round 7, Pick 247 (from MIN)

Denver traded their 1^st and 2^nd round picks for Russell Wilson and Coach Sean Peyton.

Projected Cap Space: $12,235,634 (15^th in the NFL Spotrac)

Team Needs: OL, DL, RB (NFL.com)

Mock Draft: OT Blake Freeland, 6’8”, 305 BYU

Without top draft capital, expect the Broncos to be patient and take the BPA in each round.

Kansas City Chiefs

Draft Picks:

• Round 1, Pick 31
• Round 2, Pick 63
• Round 3, Pick 95
• Round 4, Pick 122 (from MIA)
• Round 4, Pick 134
• Round 5, Pick 168
• Round 6, Pick 197 (from MIA)
• Round 7, Pick 227 (from ATL)
• Round 7, Pick 251

Chiefs have the last pick in the 1^st round after winning the Superbowl (FUCK THE CHIEFS).

Project Cap Space: $-473,578 (18^th in the NFL Spotrac)

Team Needs: OT, WR, Edge (NFL.com)

Mock Draft: Edge Keion White, 6’5”, 285 Georgia Tech

This may seem to be a luxury pick but this guy would be a steal.

Las Vegas Raiders

Draft Picks:

• Round 1, Pick 7 overall
• Round 2, Pick 38 overall
• Round 3, Pick 70 overall
• Round 4, Pick 109 overall
• Round 5, Pick 143 overall (from ATL)
• Round 5, Pick 146 overall
• Round 6, Pick 189 overall (from DAL)
• Round 7, Pick 198 overall (from ARI)
• Round 7, Pick 209 overall (from NE)

The Raiders are picking in the top 10 and have more holes than Swiss cheese.

Projected Cap Space: $46,284,005 (3^rd in the NFL Spotrac)

Team Needs: QB, OL, CB (NFL.com)

Mock Draft: QB Will Levis, 6’3”, 232, Kentucky

Even if the Raiders sign a veteran QB, they need one to groom for the future.

Los Angeles Chargers

Draft Picks:

• Round 1, Pick 21
• Round 2, Pick 54
• Round 3, Pick 85
• Round 4, Pick 125
• Round 5, Pick 158
• Round 6, Pick 200
• Round 7, Pick 241

The Chargers have the 21^st pick and have Herbert’s contract extension looming.

Projected Cap Space: $-19,922,446 (28^th in the NFL Spotrac)

Team Needs: WR, DL, TE (NFL.com)

Mock Draft: WR Jalin Hyatt 6’0”, 185 Tennessee

The Chargers need some speed at WR and they may have to make some tough choices at that position.

Football, Football and more Football. I have missed it and all of you (even you lord, LOL)

MAY THE FO BE WITH YOU!

Fuck the Chiefs, Bengals taking this shit 30-26. Who Dey!

Balls filling in for JMC this week. We are still thinking of he and the War Department, praying she returns to full health soo. Take care, bud.

Short and sweet this week.

Chiefs over Colts 31-20, Mahomes and company is too much.

Chargers over Jaguars 24-20, expecting Herbert to play, albeit in a safe, cautious manner by and the Staley/Lombardi’s game planning.

Titans over Raiders 23-20, Raiders offense still reeling.

49ers over Broncos 26-23, back and forth affair. Russell/Hackett’s offense still struggling at times vs a 49ers team that is ready to rally behind Garappolo.

fuck your teams

Three down, one to go in our series of AFC West Offseason Reviews. The grand finale is that of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders had a very busy offseason. They started by relieving general manager Mike Mayock of his duties, and choosing not to retain interim head coach, Rich Bissaccia. That began the search of a new front office and coaching staff. A search that led them to former New England Patriots front office/coaching staff members, nabbing Dave Ziegler as general manager and Josh McDaniels as head coach. They rounded out the coaching staff with several former Patriots staff members highlight by offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, but the most notable addition would probably be adding Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator.

From there, the Raiders got busy reloading a roster that had just taken an injury/off the field depleted team to the playoffs, where they would lose to the eventual AFC Champions in the final seconds of the game.

Free Agents Lost:
CB Casey Hayward, WR Zay Jones, QB Marcus Mariota, DT Quinton Jefferson, FB Alec Ingold, LB Nicholas Morrow, DT Solomon Thomas and a few others.

Free Agents Retained:
OT Brandon Parker, DT Johnathan Hankins, OL Jermaine Eluemunor.

Free Agents Added:
EDGE Chandler Jones, DL Bilal Nichols, RB Brandon Bolden, CB Anthony Averett, WR Mack Hollinsm OG Alex Bars, FB Jakob Johnson, CB Darius Phillips, S Duron Harom, WR Keelan Cole, LB Kenny Young, LB Jayon Brown, DT Vernon Butler, WR Demarcus Robinson, RB Ameer Abdullah, EDGE Kyler Fackrell, LB Micah Kiser.

Traded For:
WR Davante Adams, CB Rock Ya-Sin

Traded Away:
EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

Draft Selections Added:
OL Dylan Parham, RB Zamir White, DT Neil Farrell, DT Matthew Butler, OT Thayer Munford Jr, RB Brittain Brown

Notable Undrafted Free Agents Added:
LB Darien Butler, WR Justin Hall, CB Sam Webb

With the overhaul of the front office and coaching staff, it was inevitable that the Raiders would see quite a bit of turnover among the roster, which is evidenced above. The Raiders addressed a few areas in particular. Pass rush by adding Jones, getting younger and more skilled in man coverage by adding Ya-Sin/Averrett, and also replenishing Carr’s WR corps, by trading for the best receiver in football in Davante Adams after Carr’s offense was cut off at the knees last year after the loss of Henry Ruggs III in 2021.

On paper, the Raiders seems to have addressed some concerns on the roster, and re-tooling for the new regime quite well but a few question marks linger. How quickly can the coaching staff implement their scheme, and will wins come sooner or later? Will the young offensive line gel quickly and with the diversity evidenced by other Patriots’ offensive lines over the years? Will the younger Raiders’ secondary be up for the task?

The Raiders’ offseason gives plenty of reason to be confident in the path moving forward, re-tooling an already talented team around a solid QB on offense w/ strong weapons as well as a few notable standout players on defense. It also gives plenty of reason for skepticism including an entirely new front office/coaching staff trying to implement their scheme, an OL that is unproven at best/completely doomed at worst, and an entire team centered around a QB whose career accomplishments include a 0-1 career playoff record over his 9 years.

In a division full of playoff contenders, featuring a perennial AFC favorite like the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders are as difficult as the rest of their division foes to predict how they will fare in 2022. I believe certain pieces of their coaching staff has improved, certain pieces of their roster has improved, but it will all depend on how it all comes together this season as to whether they will find themselves in the thick of AFC Playoff contention or trying to keep themselves out of the AFC West basement, like they had finally gotten themselves out of in recent years.

In other words, it’s on you, Josh McDaniels, Derek Carr and company!

We are nearly July, which means we are getting closer to the NFL Training camp, and football. Let’s look back at the offseason moves by a third AFC West team in this mini-series, the Denver Broncos.

A lot of change this offseason for the Broncos, but what’s new? This offseason featured the sale of the franchise for (Oh-Em-Gee!!) $4.65 Billion. The 2nd year general manager fired Vic Fangio, and replaced him with rookie NFL head coach, Nathaniel Hackett who proceeded to bring in his own staff. They also made a big addition at the most important position in sports, adding Russell Wilson at quarterback in exchange for a few early draft picks.

Let’s look at the rest of the moves up and down the roster.

Free Agents Lost:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB Kyle Fuller, CB Bryce Callahan, LB Kenny Young, LB Micah Kiser among others.

Free Agents Retained:
RB Melvin Gordon, S Kareem Jackson, TE Eric Saubert and DT DeShawn Williams

Free Agents Signed:
DE Randy Gregory, DT DJ Jones, CB K’Waun Williams, OL Billy Turner and OL Tom Compton.

Traded For:
QB Russell Wilson

Draft Selections Added:
OLB Nik Bonitto, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Damarri Mathis, DT Eyioma Uwazurike, S Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, WR Montrell Washington, C Luke Wattenberg, DT Matt Henningsen, CB Faion Hicks.

Notable Undrafted Free Agents Added:
OLB Christopher Allen, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, RB Tyreik McCallister

Broncos front office and rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett went to work rebuilding a defense that had been tailored to former head coach Vic Fangio. They moved on from players on all levels and brought in guys they felt were more suitable for DC Ejiro Evero.

The offensive side of the ball featured the addition of pro bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, and fortifying the offensive line to better protect the QB than Denver has done in recent years.

It is a very interesting time in Denver for the Broncos, a lot of change, a new era, and a lot of new shiny players/coaches. Ultimately, I believe there are simply too many moving parts to expect the Broncos to take the crown in a loaded AFC West, but if they can find a way to gel early and the coaching staff is as good as some believe they are I would not rule them out. There is a fair amount of talent on this roster in nearly every unit.

Fuck the Broncos.