It is time for a team other than the New England Patriots to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
That team is the Houston Texans, coming out of nowhere, riding the MVP season of quarterback Deshaun Watson all the way to the NFL’s championship game. Justice will be served on the other side of the bracket, as the New Orleans Saints breeze through the NFC.
The 49ers are a much-improved team, and they will remain in the NFC playoff picture throughout the season with Jimmy Garoppolo earning wide acclaim for his comeback season. Still, this organization’s best football is a season away.
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The Raiders’ last season in Oakland will be more of the same -- tumultuous. The offense will be improved, but the defense will leave the field only for the necessity of lining up for extra points.
Spoiler alert! If you want the 2019 NFL season to be a surprise, stop here. Otherwise, go ahead and turn to the final page to see how the book ends ...
2019 NFL predictions
AFC WEST
1-Kansas City
2-L.A. Chargers
3-Denver
4-RAIDERS (6-10)
San Francisco 49ers
AFC EAST
1-New England
2-Buffalo
3-N.Y. Jets
4-Miami
AFC NORTH
1-Pittsburgh
2-Baltimore
3-Cleveland
4-Cincinnati
AFC SOUTH
1-Houston
2-Jacksonville
3-Indianapolis
4-Tennessee
AFC Playoffs
Wild card round: New England over L.A. Chargers; Pittsburgh over Jacksonville
Divisional round: New England over Kansas City; Houston over Pittsburgh
AFC Championship: Houston over New England
NFC WEST
1-L.A. Rams
2-49ERS (9-7)
3-Seattle
4-Arizona
NFC EAST
1-Philadelphia
2-Dallas
3-N.Y. Giants
4-Washington
NFC NORTH
1-Minnesota
2-Green Bay
3-Chicago
4- Detroit
NFC SOUTH
1-New Orleans
2-Atlanta
3-Carolina
4-Tampa Bay
NFC Playoffs
Wild card round: L.A. Rams over Green Bay; Minnesota over Atlanta
Divisional round: New Orleans over L.A. Rams; Minnesota over Philadelphia
NFC Championship: New Orleans over Minnesota
SUPER BOWL 54
Feb. 2, 2019, in Miami
New Orleans over Houston
NFL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Deshaun Watson, Houston
Offensive Player of the Year: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, L.A. Rams
Coach of the Year: Bill O’Brien, Houston
Comeback Player of Year: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Devin Singletary, Buffalo
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Allen, Jacksonville