{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"INTRO","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Brady_Tom_USATSI_14872678.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599572913,"caption":"

It’s really happening!! It’s gonna be weird. It’s gonna be quiet. It’s gonna be contentious and confusing at times. But the 2020 NFL season is going to be played in full and it’s going to be spectacular. You could just stop right here knowing all that.

Or you can spoil all the fun of the next five months by reading further and finding out whether or not the Bucs have a home game in February this year. Oh, I think they might.

"},{"title":"AFC EAST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Allen_Josh_USATSI_13852976.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573403,"caption":"

Buffalo Bills (11-5)
New England Patriots (8-8)
Miami Dolphins (7-9)
New York Jets (5-11)

THE SKINNY

Buffalo starts 6-0, the capper of that run being a prime-time win at home over the Chiefs. And through it all, Josh Allen remains wildly inconsistent.

With the Patriots struggling mightily to score 20 (Nick Folk and Jake Bailey are their most potent weapons before Halloween), they start the season 2-4 as the Bills make it a one-horse race.

The Dolphins' season-opening win at Foxboro puts wind in their sails but they spend the year not being bad enough to go to Tua while not being good enough to make the playoffs. The Jets put up points as Sam Darnold takes a big step forward but they can’t stop a nosebleed on defense.

"},{"title":"AFC NORTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Jackson_Lamar_USATSI_13779943.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573406,"caption":"

Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Cleveland Browns (5-11)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)

THE SKINNY

If you think the Ravens are going away, they aren’t. They set the NFL record for rushing last year, breaking the record set by the 1978 Patriots. They don’t get past that 3,296-yard output this year but with early-season conditioning an issue for most teams, Baltimore runs wild.

The biggest story in the division, though, is the resurgence of Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. The learning curve for the Browns under new head coach Kevin Stefanski is too steep to give them any traction. Joe Burrow is the real thing.

"},{"title":"AFC SOUTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Vrabel_M_Tannehill_R_USATSI_14782129.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports phooto","published":1599573408,"caption":"

Tennessee Titans (10-6)
Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Houston Texans (9-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)

THE SKINNY

The 2019 edition of Ryan Tannehill was a delight. In 2020, he reverts a little bit. But in this Black-and-Blue division where the three teams at the top take turns beating each other, the Titans still win the division.

The 2019 edition of Philip Rivers was a warning. The Colts didn’t heed it. They still are a solid team following the mantra of the rest of the good teams in the conference (Chiefs aside): Run the ball. Play defense.

The sneaky fleet of weapons the Texans amassed for Deshaun Watson go for naught. They still can’t protect him. The Jaguars take a bold run at a winless season.

"},{"title":"AFC WEST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Mahomes_Patrick_USATSI_13991077.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573410,"caption":"

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Los Angeles Chargers (6-10)

THE SKINNY

The Chiefs cannot be stopped until the Bills trip them up. Until the Bills and Broncos trip them up in back-to-back weeks. Chiefs-Bucs is the NFL regular season game of the year and Tom Brady outduels Patrick Mahomes.

The light goes on just a little bit for Derek Carr in Vegas while the Broncos are the team nobody wants to play. The Chargers turn it over to Justin Herbert after their bye week.

"},{"title":"NFC EAST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Wentz_Carson_USATSI_13829639.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573413,"caption":"

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
Washington Football Team (3-13)
New York Giants (3-13)

THE SKINNY

The Eagles went on a run at the tail end of last season to make the playoffs. They added Darius Slay to their secondary. If Carson Wentz can put together a healthy season, they can be the surprise team in the NFC.

New coach in Dallas (Mike McCarthy), same results where results don’t match the talent level. I love that there’s a team called Football Team. Joe Judge gets Giants headed in right direction but that first-year curve is tough to conquer.

"},{"title":"NFC NORTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/rodgers_aaron_usatoday.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573415,"caption":"

Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Detroit Lions (4-12)

THE SKINNY

A kinder, gentler Aaron Rodgers follows up last season’s 13-3 record with another division title.

The loss of Stephon Diggs hurts the Vikings until rookie Justin Jefferson gets going. The Bears are spinning their wheels and the Lions defense keeps them from making any progress.

"},{"title":"NFC SOUTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Brady_T_Gronkowski_R_GettyImages_1228285712.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1599573418,"caption":"

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)
New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Carolina Panthers (4-12)

THE SKINNY

A little slow out of the gates in September, the Bucs kick it in once they get a few games under their belt and go on a run as Tom Brady throws 40 touchdowns for the second time in his career.

The Saints have all that talent but Drew Brees shows his age a little bit as does Matt Ryan. Teddy Bridgewater isn’t enough to help Matt Rhule overcome his first-year curve.

"},{"title":"NFC WEST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Garoppolo_J_USATSI_14870729.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573421,"caption":"

San Francisco 49ers (11-5)
Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Los Angeles Rams (6-10)

THE SKINNY

Sneaky fun in the NFC West where Jimmy G., Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson have brilliant seasons. The Niners defense carries them to the division title. The Rams Super Bowl trip seems so long ago.

"},{"title":"AFC PLAYOFFS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Heyward_C_Mahomes_P_USATSI_11262981.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573425,"caption":"

WILD CARD ROUND

Bye: Ravens

Chiefs over Raiders, Steelers over Titans, Bills over Colts

DIVSIONAL PLAYOFFS

Steelers over Ravens, Chiefs over Bills

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Steelers over Chiefs

"},{"title":"NFC PLAYOFFS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Kittle_G_Suh_N_USATSI_13330711.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573429,"caption":"

WILD CARD ROUND

Bye: Buccaneers

49ers over Vikings, Cardinals over Packers, Saints over Eagles

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Bucs over Saints, 49ers over Cardinals

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Bucs over 49ers

"},{"title":"SUPER BOWL 55","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Generic_Bucs_USATSI_13200146.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573433,"caption":"

Bucs over Steelers

What is old is new again. Tom Brady (this time in pewter) against the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger on the other side, but big Ben's former OC is now the head coach with the Buccaneers.

It might be time to turn the page to very well oxygenated new blood at the quarterback position around the NFL.

But 2020 will belong to the GOAT and Patriots fans won't know whether to laugh or cry when he wins Super Bowl 54 in his new "home.

"},{"title":"AWARDS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Arians_B_Brady_T_USATSI_14836318.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599573438,"caption":"

MVP

Tom Brady, Buccaneers

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brady

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Chandler Jones, Cardinals

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bruce Arians, Buccaneers

"}]}

2020 NFL Season: Predicting Super Bowl winner, playoff teams, MVP