Record projections for all 32 NFL teams in 2014

Cotton

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Record projections for all 32 NFL teams in 2014
Nate Davis, 3:44 p.m. EDT June 2, 2014

How will the 2014 NFL season play out? If we really knew, we'd keep the answers to ourselves and join Johnny Manziel in Las Vegas. But USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis is willing to offer one outcome after picking all 256 regular-season games and 11 playoff contests (he predicted the Seahawks would beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, eight months before the game kicked off, after doing this exercise in 2013). Here are the results (wild-card entries noted by *; all postseason teams also listed with seeding):

AFC East
Patriots 11-5 (3): With Gronk, Wilfork back and Revis on board, how won't they win 12th AFC East title in 14 years?
*Jets 10-6 (5): If Geno Smith can sustain steady play from late last season, Rex's bunch primed for playoff return.
Dolphins 8-8: O-line chemistry typically takes time to achieve, and Dolphins had to replace 80% of their unit.
Bills 3-13: Sammy Watkins needs time to adapt. So will defense, which lost Jairus Byrd and is changing scheme. Again.

BELL: Coaches belong in locker rooms

Q: Which coaches might be on hot seat?

AFC North
Ravens 10-6 (4): Healthy Dennis Pitta, fueled Steve Smith and revamped defense mean return to postseason.
Bengals 9-7: The roster returns mostly intact, but breaking in two new coordinators might be killer setback.
Steelers 9-7: Defense in transition — and maybe old in spots — could be undoing despite all the offensive firepower.
Browns 6-10: May be on cusp of something special, but expected suspension of Josh Gordon will delay that a year.

AFC South
Colts 13-3 (1): Return of Reggie Wayne, favorable schedule give them great shot at third AFC title in nine years.
*Texans 9-7 (6): If this year's QB can avoid self-inflicted wounds, they have horses to be playing again in January.
Titans 6-10: Something promising is taking shape. But new coaches need time, and Jake Locker needs to stay healthy.
Jaguars 4-12: They're on right track with far superior roster, but win column won't reflect that for another year.

AFC West
Broncos 12-4 (2): Could be better than 2013 team even if wins and offensive output dip. But schedule is murderous.
Chargers 8-8: Last year's schedule allowed late-season charge. This year's could easily produce late-season slide.
Chiefs 4-12: Tight salary cap meant crippling free agent defections, and they didn't sufficiently reload in draft.
Raiders 3-13: Best thing influx of over-the-hill vets can do is change culture. Carr, Mack promise brighter days ahead.

2014-06-02-seahawks
Could all-pro Seahawks DBs Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas (29) be celebrating another Super Bowl title after the 2014 season?(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
NFC East

Eagles 11-5 (4): Class of weak division. But can Nick Foles reproduce 2013 magic? DeSean Jackson's speed will be missed.
Redskins 7-9: If the line and RG3's knee hold up, this offense will be hard to slow, but defense may be year away.
Giants 6-10: Eli Manning's supporting cast is getting younger, even if he isn't. Team speed doesn't impress.
Cowboys 3-13: Tony Romo's back, defense are looking awfully frail. Dallas fans might end up pining for .500 teams.

NFC North
Packers 12-4 (2): Healthy Aaron Rodgers means another healthy shot at Super Bowl. Defense looks markedly improved.
*Bears 11-5 (5): If defense was slightly better in 2013, this is a playoff team — and D seems signficantly better now.
Lions 4-12: So much talent but so much to prove. Tough to find a lot of wins given lack of improvement on defense.
Vikings 3-13: If the 2008 or 2010 version of Matt Cassel shows up, this might be playoff team. That's a big if.

NFC South
Saints 11-5 (3): Rookie Brandin Cooks adds new layer of mayhem to offense, but undervalued D could also take Saints a long way.
Falcons 10-6: Their problems in pits have been addressed, but Julio Jones' health could determine playoff prospects.
Panthers 7-9: They lost a lot of key bodies in free agency, which probably means a lot of lost ground in standings.
Buccaneers 3-13: Big gamble that 2013 Josh McCown is real deal, and journeyman QB of previous 11 years is gone for good.

NFC West
Seahawks 12-4 (1): Full season of Percy Harvin plus intact championship nucleus could equal Super Bowl repeat.
*49ers 11-5 (6): Likely extended absences of star LBs Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman could be too much to overcome.
Cardinals 10-6: They could be 10-win team once again. And once again, that may not be enough to reach playoffs.
Rams 10-6: They could win a lot of 17-13 games. They may also lose too many given lack of weapons on offense.

Wild-card round

Patriots (3) defeat Texans (6)
Ravens (4) defeat Jets (5)

Saints (3) defeat 49ers (6)
Bears (5) defeat Eagles (4)

Divisional round

Colts (1) defeat Ravens (4)
Broncos (2) defeat Patriots (3)

Seahawks (1) def. Bears (5)
Packers (2) def. Saints (3)

Championship round

Colts (1) defeat Broncos (2)
Seahawks (1) defeat Packers (2)

Super Bowl XLIX

Seahawks defeat Colts

___________________________________

3-13? Not likely.
 
D

Deuce

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That's fine with me. It's a top 4 pick with 2 of which having just taken QBs this year. Welcome to Dallas, Jamies.
 

dallen

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I don't see it if Romo plays a significant part of the season. If Weeden is our opening day starter....:skurred
 

Simpleton

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Yea, if Romo plays the majority of the year and is near 100% there is no way we win only 3 games with the offensive skill position talent and the OL that we have.
 

Rev

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Make it so.
 

Cowboysrock55

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3-13, 8-8....what's the fucking difference anymore? Don't care.
I think there are definitely some on here that would prefer 3-13. Means the Cowboys may draft a legit young QB. Means Garrett is out. May force Jerry to rethink his decisions and try and do something big like bring in an elite head coach.

That doesn't mean 3-13 is realistic though.
 

p1_

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National writer: Dallas Cowboys will finish league-worst 3-13 this season

National writer: Dallas Cowboys will finish league-worst 3-13 this season

National writer: Dallas Cowboys will finish league-worst 3-13 this season


Cover your eyes, Dallas Cowboys fans. USA Today NFL writer/editor Nate Davis predicts the Cowboys will finish the 2014 season with a 3-13 record.

"Tony Romo's back, defense are looking awfully frail," writes Davis, who correctly picked the Seattle Seahawks to defeat the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl before this past season.

In his predictions, Davis picks the Eagles will win the NFC East with an 11-5 record. He says the Redskins will finish second in the division at 7-9, and the Giants will finish third at 6-10. The Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also projected by Davis to finish a league-worst 3-13.

A 3-13 finish for the Cowboys would be their worst record since 1989 when Dallas finished 1-15 in quarterback Troy Aikman's rookie season.

SportsDay's Jon Machota made his way-too-early season predictions in April and pegged the Cowboys to finish at 8-8 for the fourth-straight season.

The Cowboys don't seem to be inspiring much confidence among pundits and prognosticators, especially after starting middle linebacker Sean Lee tore his left ACL during the first day of organized team activities on May 26. This week Sports Illustrated's Peter King said Dallas will have one of the worst defenses in the league this season. The team finished 2013 ranked last in yards allowed per game (415.3).

Besides filling the void left by Lee, other hurdles the Cowboys must clear in 2014 include replacing departed defensive starters DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher and keeping quarterback Tony Romo healthy after a second back surgery this offseason.

Dallas begins training camp July 24 in Oxnard. The season opener is Sept. 7 at home vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
 

Genghis Khan

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We aren't great but 3-13 is a little stupid. Lower end of the middle of the pack is much more likely.

The Eagles have a brutal schedule. No way they get to 11 wins.
 

p1_

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Record projections for all 32 NFL teams in 2014
Nate Davis, 3:44 p.m. EDT June 2, 2014

How will the 2014 NFL season play out? If we really knew, we'd keep the answers to ourselves and join Johnny Manziel in Las Vegas. But USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis is willing to offer one outcome after picking all 256 regular-season games and 11 playoff contests (he predicted the Seahawks would beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, eight months before the game kicked off, after doing this exercise in 2013). Here are the results (wild-card entries noted by *; all postseason teams also listed with seeding):

AFC East
Patriots 11-5 (3): With Gronk, Wilfork back and Revis on board, how won't they win 12th AFC East title in 14 years?
*Jets 10-6 (5): If Geno Smith can sustain steady play from late last season, Rex's bunch primed for playoff return.
Dolphins 8-8: O-line chemistry typically takes time to achieve, and Dolphins had to replace 80% of their unit.
Bills 3-13: Sammy Watkins needs time to adapt. So will defense, which lost Jairus Byrd and is changing scheme. Again.

BELL: Coaches belong in locker rooms

Q: Which coaches might be on hot seat?

AFC North
Ravens 10-6 (4): Healthy Dennis Pitta, fueled Steve Smith and revamped defense mean return to postseason.
Bengals 9-7: The roster returns mostly intact, but breaking in two new coordinators might be killer setback.
Steelers 9-7: Defense in transition — and maybe old in spots — could be undoing despite all the offensive firepower.
Browns 6-10: May be on cusp of something special, but expected suspension of Josh Gordon will delay that a year.

AFC South
Colts 13-3 (1): Return of Reggie Wayne, favorable schedule give them great shot at third AFC title in nine years.
*Texans 9-7 (6): If this year's QB can avoid self-inflicted wounds, they have horses to be playing again in January.
Titans 6-10: Something promising is taking shape. But new coaches need time, and Jake Locker needs to stay healthy.
Jaguars 4-12: They're on right track with far superior roster, but win column won't reflect that for another year.

AFC West
Broncos 12-4 (2): Could be better than 2013 team even if wins and offensive output dip. But schedule is murderous.
Chargers 8-8: Last year's schedule allowed late-season charge. This year's could easily produce late-season slide.
Chiefs 4-12: Tight salary cap meant crippling free agent defections, and they didn't sufficiently reload in draft.
Raiders 3-13: Best thing influx of over-the-hill vets can do is change culture. Carr, Mack promise brighter days ahead.

2014-06-02-seahawks
Could all-pro Seahawks DBs Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas (29) be celebrating another Super Bowl title after the 2014 season?(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
NFC East

Eagles 11-5 (4): Class of weak division. But can Nick Foles reproduce 2013 magic? DeSean Jackson's speed will be missed.
Redskins 7-9: If the line and RG3's knee hold up, this offense will be hard to slow, but defense may be year away.
Giants 6-10: Eli Manning's supporting cast is getting younger, even if he isn't. Team speed doesn't impress.
Cowboys 3-13: Tony Romo's back, defense are looking awfully frail. Dallas fans might end up pining for .500 teams.

NFC North
Packers 12-4 (2): Healthy Aaron Rodgers means another healthy shot at Super Bowl. Defense looks markedly improved.
*Bears 11-5 (5): If defense was slightly better in 2013, this is a playoff team — and D seems signficantly better now.
Lions 4-12: So much talent but so much to prove. Tough to find a lot of wins given lack of improvement on defense.
Vikings 3-13: If the 2008 or 2010 version of Matt Cassel shows up, this might be playoff team. That's a big if.

NFC South
Saints 11-5 (3): Rookie Brandin Cooks adds new layer of mayhem to offense, but undervalued D could also take Saints a long way.
Falcons 10-6: Their problems in pits have been addressed, but Julio Jones' health could determine playoff prospects.
Panthers 7-9: They lost a lot of key bodies in free agency, which probably means a lot of lost ground in standings.
Buccaneers 3-13: Big gamble that 2013 Josh McCown is real deal, and journeyman QB of previous 11 years is gone for good.

NFC West
Seahawks 12-4 (1): Full season of Percy Harvin plus intact championship nucleus could equal Super Bowl repeat.
*49ers 11-5 (6): Likely extended absences of star LBs Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman could be too much to overcome.
Cardinals 10-6: They could be 10-win team once again. And once again, that may not be enough to reach playoffs.
Rams 10-6: They could win a lot of 17-13 games. They may also lose too many given lack of weapons on offense.

Wild-card round

Patriots (3) defeat Texans (6)
Ravens (4) defeat Jets (5)

Saints (3) defeat 49ers (6)
Bears (5) defeat Eagles (4)

Divisional round

Colts (1) defeat Ravens (4)
Broncos (2) defeat Patriots (3)

Seahawks (1) def. Bears (5)
Packers (2) def. Saints (3)

Championship round

Colts (1) defeat Broncos (2)
Seahawks (1) defeat Packers (2)

Super Bowl XLIX

Seahawks defeat Colts

___________________________________

3-13? Not likely.
I see what you've done here.
 

Clay_Allison

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Hard to take a prediction article seriously when they pick the Super Bowl winner to repeat. The Hawks are a tough team, but they are not the kind of dominant super team that can go back to back. P.S. They really think the entire NFC west is going 10-6 or better? They would have to be nearly undefeated outside of their head to head games.
 
Last edited:

p1_

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Hard to take a prediction article seriously when they pick the Super Bowl winner to repeat. The Hawks are a tough team, but they are not the kind of dominant super team that can go back to back.
Who do you like better than Seattle?
 

p1_

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If Romo goes down, 3-13 is very possible, if not probable.
 

Clay_Allison

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Who do you like better than Seattle?
A lot of teams. It's a hell of a lot harder to get back than to get there the first time. There's a reason back to back championships happen once a decade.

If I had to pick a team that has a good chance, I wouldn't be surprised to see New Orleans get back to the SB.
 

data

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Thanks for reporting the entire article [MENTION=82]p1_[/MENTION]
 

Texas Ace

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6-10, maybe 7-9 is my prediction.

This team is going to be bad.
 
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