50 Bold Predictions for the 2020 NFL season

Hopefully the year of the Zebra is behind us and the NFL can now move on to truly competitive football in the 2020 season. The league never stops, so it’s already time to look ahead. What follows are 50 predictions for the next year, some bolder than others. Be sure to let me know what you think.

“Bold”

1. The Broncos will play an away game against the Falcons in London.

2. Dan Quinn will not be the Falcon’s head coach in London.

3. San Francisco will not play in Super Bowl LV.

4. The Chiefs will not take a first round running back in the Draft.

5. Justin Simmons will be a Bronco.

6. Patrick Mahomes will be the first quarterback to make more than $40 million per year.

7. Joe Flacco and Ronald Leary are not members of the 2020 Broncos.

8. Drew Brees returns to the Saints.

9. Prince Amukamara will be a member of the 2020 Broncos.

10. Tom Brady will play for the New England Patriots

Impudent

11. Bud Dupree does not return to the cap strapped Pittsburgh Steelers.

12. Xavier Rhodes hits free agency after a laughable Pro Bowl season.

13. The Saints dump Janoris Jenkins to create cap space.

14. Joe Burrow looks like a bust in his first season in the NFL.

15. Philip Rivers signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and doesn’t start 10 games for them.

16. Derrick Henry signs a big contract that someone regrets before the season is over.

17. Sammy Watkins is cut, does not sit out 2020.

18. Matt Patricia will be the first coach fired in 2020.

19. Doug Marrone will be the second coach fired in 2020.

20. Jordan Love is a huge bust.

Brash

21. Henry Ruggs III goes in the top 14 NFL draft picks.

22. The Buffalo Bills do not make the playoffs.

23. Neither do the Tennessee Titans.

24. John Elway picks up Garett Bolles fifth year option, Mike Klis cites PFF to defend it.

25. The Packers pick up two wide receivers in the NFL Draft.

26. Carson Wentz plays 17 games in 2020.

27. Adam Gase listens to Joe Douglas and the Jets stick with Le’Veon Bell.

28. Derek Carr doesn’t play for the Las Vegas Raiders even after Gruden says so 100 times.

29. The Dallas Cowboys win the NFC East.

30. Mike Zimmer is canned after the Vikings take a step back in 2020.

Daring

31. Chris Harris signs with the Kansas City Chiefs.

32. The serious Trevor Lawrence contestants are Carolina, Jacksonville, and Detroit.

33. The Browns are a wildcard contender and Baker Mayfield is back to beloved.

34. Jeffrey Okudah or Derrick Brown will fall out of the top 5 of the NFL Draft.

35. Elway will pass on a left tackle at 15, leading to “outrage” on hot take radio.

36. Royce Freeman won’t finish second on the Broncos in carries.

37. Denver will not spend big on the offensive line in free agency.

38. Tampa Bay will draft Justin Herbert or Jacob Eason.

39. The Las Vegas Raiders will be a playoff contender after winning the offseason.

40. The Chargers will be a true bottom feeder, and London rumors will grow louder.

Brazen

41. The Arizona Cardinals make the playoffs.

42. Tua Tagovailoa will win OROY.

43. Xavier McKinney will get votes for DROY.

44. Noah Fant will make the Pro Bowl.

45. So will Bradley Chubb.

46. Todd Davis will return in 2020.

47. The Houston Texans win the AFC South and don’t win a playoff game.

48. The Chicago Bears clean house after another disappointing season.

49. Drew Lock gets MVP votes.

50. The Denver Broncos make a playoff run.

Your Broncos Links

Mahomes is why Broncos’ D can’t waste time filling holes - Mile High Report

The Super Bowl and NFL MVP is going to be good for a long time; Broncos will need to have an answer for him.

Steve Atwater shares his thoughts on being voted into the Hall of Fame - Mile High Report

Denver Broncos great and now Hall of Famer, Steve Atwater, met with the media after being voted in. Here’s what he had to say.

Denver Broncos will not raise ticket prices in 2020 - Mile High Report

The Denver Broncos will not be raising their ticket prices in 2020 as they struggles to fill the stadium to close out last season.

Offseason needs for all 32 NFL teams in 2020 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

DENVER BRONCOS: SOMEONE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON COURTLAND SUTTON AT WIDE RECEIVER

Secondary needs: offensive line, cornerback

Sutton emerged this season as a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver who could step into the void left by Emmanuel Sanders after his trade and flourish in it. He was the only player to step up in that receiving corps, though. Tim Patrick led the rest of the Broncos’ wide receivers with only 1.18 yards per route run — almost a full yard less than Sutton — and DaeSean Hamilton was next in total receptions (28). If the Broncos want to full evaluate Drew Lock next season with a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal, they need to give Sutton some help.

Broncos could pursue these free agents from Super Bowl LIV

The Denver Broncos could begin their attempt to get back into contention by signing some free agents from the Chiefs or 49ers in 2020.

Simmons has no qualms with agent Hurtado now serving Broncos interests | 9news.com

“My whole idea is I can’t control it if it happens or not,’’ Simmons said of the franchise tag. “But if it does happen, I don’t know if I’m the type of guy who would sit out. Playing is my passion and if it happens, it happens. “Obviously, we’d like to get a long-term deal done and speaking with Elway and all the guys there, they’re great and I love the system. I think the system fits for both parties — for myself and for Vic (Fangio, the Broncos’ head coach who leads the defense.)

NFL Draft Links

Crabbs’ 2020 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 | The Draft Network

Broncos Henry Ruggs III WR, Alabama The Broncos have some size at the wide receiver position in Courtland Sutton, but how about some speed? You won’t find very many dudes who can burn faster than Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, who shouldn’t be confused for “just” a speed guy, either. He’s the perfect compliment to Sutton’s ball skills and size — and is a threat to take simple slants the distance every time he touches the football.

NFL mock draft 2020: Patriots, Raiders, Cowboys, Giants go defense; Bucs, Chargers get in on QB | Sporting News

15. Denver Broncos (7-9) Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama The Broncos need some defensive and receiving help, but they also could use a boost to their offensive line edge play to help both second-year QB Drew Lock and third-year running back Phillip Lindsay. Wills (6-5, 320 pounds) is a strong, powerful run-blocker who needs a little time to develop into an elite pass-protector.

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller’s Post-Super Bowl Complete 7-Round Predictions | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

The Denver Broncos believe they have their quarterback (Drew Lock), a stud young receiver (Courtland Sutton) and the makings of a better offensive line. Now they need to add more pieces to the offense to compete with the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders. CeeDee Lamb was almost unstoppable for Oklahoma over the last two seasons as he dominated the Big 12 and showed off his awesome catch radius, power after the catch and toughness. He might not be the biggest or fastest runner, but no one can find a way to stop Lamb when he’s on a breaking route and using his physicality to keep defensive backs from the ball. Lock’s talented arm and mobility with Sutton, Lamb and tight end Noah Fant in the passing game could make Denver’s offense exciting.

PFF 2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Dolphins trade up to take Tua Tagovailoa | College Football and NFL Draft | PFF

15. DENVER BRONCOS — OT TRISTAN WIRFS, IOWA If Denver wants to give Garrett Bolles another year to prove himself, Wirfs would be the perfect in-between lineman who can start at guard initially before eventually moving to tackle. Ronald Leary’s $9-plus million cap hit looks like a forgone conclusion to come off the books with his injury history.

NFL Links

Joe Staley emotional after ‘raw and real’ SB defeat - NFL.com

”Yeah, I’m sorry. This is super disappointing,” Staley said. “This is very hard being in this moment right now. You put your heart and soul and your whole entire life into trying to be a Super Bowl champion and you get towards the end of your career. And you realize how rare these opportunities are.

Kyle Shanahan endures another devastating Super Bowl collapse - NFL.com

For the second time in four seasons, Kyle Shanahan suffered a devastating fourth-quarter Super Bowl collapse. Michael Silver reflects on another heartbreaker for the San Francisco 49ers head coach.

Chris Jones after SB win: ‘I want to be a Chief for life’ - NFL.com

”You actually got to sit back and enjoy the moment cause you don’t get these moments often. I’m so grateful to be on this team, man,” he shared. “Kansas City, I know I don’t talk about it much but I want to be a Chief for life. I plan to stay here forever, man, and win not only one championship, two, three, four. We got to build a dynasty here.”

Patrick Mahomes: I want to stay in Kansas City, contract is handled by other people – ProFootballTalk

“That’s stuff that’s handled with other people,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, I want to be in Kansas City a long time. I want to win a lot of football games.”

Chiefs have more than one play from 1948 Rose Bowl in their playbook – ProFootballTalk

“My brother’s high school coach was actually in that game for USC, so I had a little bit of tape I went back through and pulled that out,” Reid said. “We actually have a whole package of it, so you have to wait to wait until next year to see the rest. There’s some good stuff.”

Tyrann Mathieu was grateful when 49ers started to throw the ball – ProFootballTalk

“We were grateful they got out of the run and started to throw the ball,” Mathieu said. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that he was focused on moving the chains rather than killing clock, but they weren’t able to do either and the Chiefs are the champs as a result.

Chiefs Win Super Bowl LIV In the Trenches - The Ringer

Nick Bosa and a dominant 49ers pass rush controlled the first three quarters of the game—then Chris Jones and the Chiefs defensive line took over in the final frame

The Winners and Losers of Super Bowl LIV - The Ringer

There isn’t a hole Patrick Mahomes can’t dig the Chiefs out of. Plus: Nobody ever show Kyle Shanahan a win-probability chart, and holy crap, Kansas City won a Super Bowl!

Peter King Explains His (Absurd) Reason For Not Voting Troy Polamalu Into Hall Of Fame - Steelers Depot

I think an explanation for the lack of vote for Polamalu on the final five is necessary. I believe he was one of the top five candidates this year, and I believe in voting for the best five candidates. But because I felt certain Polamalu would make it regardless of my vote, I decided to vote for three players I felt were marginal after listening to the deliberations—Atwater, Boselli and Lynch. I don’t feel great about doing that, honestly. Our jobs are to vote for the best five, and I was totally on the fence about the fifth yea vote had I marked down Polamalu. It still bothers me a little bit. But I felt so strongly about the cases of Atwater, Boselli and Lynch, who were exceedingly close in my eyes, that I wanted to vote for them, knowing that a vote not for Polamalu was not going to keep him out. I’ve done this a couple of times before, and I absolutely do not want to make it a habit. It just felt like the right thing to do this year.”

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid Are a Match Made in Football Heaven - The Ringer

A generational talent at QB paired with an offensive mastermind at head coach. Mahomes and Reid fulfilled their destiny with the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win—and they’re only getting started.

Barnwell on Super Bowl LIV - Andy Reid’s masterpiece, and how the Chiefs came back and the 49ers blew it

Andy Reid out-coached Kyle Shanahan. Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the best player on the field. And this game was decided by two key third downs.

How Much Did the Referees Affect Super Bowl LIV? - The Ringer

There were a number of important plays during the game on which penalties occurred—including a few that weren’t called.