I picked a as I call it an Arctic Circle, Super Bowl and
soon was reminded that neither of these cities is actually in
the Arctic Circle.
No crap. Sherlock. Yes, I understand that. So
I picked Buffalo to beat Green Bay
and I picked Buffalo because in my opinion, they are
the deepest team in pro football with the most dangerous
quarterback in pro football.
No team is Flawless,
but this team addressed
a flaw in the offseason
by signing Von Miller for too much money.
But
when you see that you've got to do a you've got to stretch to
a certain degree
to get this player
and you've got to guarantee
three full years on his contract
which you know when you're 33 years old. I think that's what
he is.
That's it. It's a big stretch
and they've also got to find a way to keep Von Miller
healthy for the year
as general manager. Brandon being said, we got Vaughn
didn't Miller, we got Von Miller to close games
so they need to make absolutely sure that even though he's
going to be healthy as a mule early,
they don't overuse him early and get him hurt. So he's not
going to be there when the games really count as far as
Green Bay goes.
I wrote my column that pretty ironic that
they would have to go on the road, which I think they may
have to do to get to a Super Bowl
and they haven't been to a Super Bowl in 12 years.
But I think that this is the year.
I just think Aaron Rodgers. There's very few people who are
as motivated by outside noises Aaron Rodgers. Is he
understands what everybody is saying.
You can't win without Davante, Adams,
or you can't win.
The level that you have.
And I also think it's a big help obviously,
getting rich basashi in there to coach special teams
to really put an emphasis on special teams
for the first time in years
in Green Bay. So that's my Super Bowl pick. So, let's go
over each conference and I'll give you a little reason why
I did what I did
in my column in football morning in America. This this
week, let's start with the AFC pick. Hello, number one,
I think they're Far and Away the best team in their division
when it running away
Baltimore. I picked for the second seed
and they're going to need a win and week 18 over. Cincinnati at
Cincinnati. I think to get here. I think they overlooked
and get past all the Lamar Jackson noise.
As we sit here and recording this on Tuesday
before the start of the season,
I don't believe that Lamar Jackson is going to
New contract by opening day.
I just don't think that's a huge deal in his really going
to have a big impact on how he plays or how the Ravens play.
I like them over Cincinnati for a very simple reason. This was
the team that was most beat up in the NFL last year. Left
tackle quarterback both Corners,
top two running backs, all gone
for the stretch run of the season
and some of them for the entire season.
So, So I think now you know that you're you know you've got
most of your guys back I think they're finally going to show
that they're pretty damn good team.
I think the charger's edged out, the Chiefs in the AFC.
West could go either way. Any one of the four teams in that
division could win that division, you don't say that
very often but I can say that
with confidence in this case I like the Chargers. And to me
I think I think they're, you know, if they go, whoever goes
for into in this Division, I think it's going to have a real
good chance to win it.
Tennessee edges out the Colts
in the AFC South,
you know, you'd be surprised at this,
but
I am a little bit concerned about the Indianapolis defense.
I don't know that there's enough Playmakers on that
defense even though they got Yannick in God. Why even though
it looks like
they're going to have Shaquille Leonard
at the The start of this season. Will see a might be my
words late in the year.
Wild Card teams, five Kansas City. Six. Cincinnati
7, Miami.
I just think they look when I visited Kansas City's camp and
I've talked about it on this podcast.
I think that the reborn Player of the Year, a guy who's going
to be in contention for comeback player of the year
is Juju Smith Schuster.
He's so happy. They're moving them all over the map.
That's going to be a really good player
to watch this year in the AFC West,
finally. In the AFC,
I like Buffalo to beat the Chargers
for the AFC Championship.
And as I said,
I think
portable tables of Western New York, beware.
Let's go to the NFC
probably my biggest surprise pick was picking New Orleans to
be the number one seed.
Look,
you know, one of my favorite stats right now in the NFL is
that since Tom Brady
got to Tampa, he is played New Orleans, four times
in the regular season, he's lost all four and none
of the four games has been a one score game.
So that says a lot to me?
No, no. Even though the Bucks
in a turnover field game for New Orleans did beat the Saints
in a playoff game. On the way to the Super Bowl
which is huge and is Meaningful
those other four games. I think they say something. And to me,
I just like New Orleans especially with some of the issues
on the offensive line that
Tampa Bay has entering the season.
I like Green Bay. Number two,
I think Green Bay is going to be as good as
As ever, I have them winning 12 games. That's helped of course,
by four games against the Bears and Lions. Even though I think
the lions are going to be significantly improved.
I just like what I see out of green bad. Like what I saw in
training camp, I think they're young receivers will come
through Philadelphia wins, the NFC east
and beats out Dallas
I don't know many teams that are going to have the skill players
at the receiving end of footballs
then the Philadelphia Eagles because you look at,
you know, they're they're Devante Smith
and and AJ Brown
and Dallas Goddard. That is some dangerous Weaponry
for Jalen Hurd, so I think is going to be good.
The Rams number four, listen.
I just think
there are too many things, when you try to repeat and you add
in this year,
10 games against playoff teams from 2022,
10 of your 17 games
are against legit contenders.
This is, this is a tough tough schedule
for the Rams.
I got my Wild Card teams number five, Minnesota, fifth seed,
Minnesota, six, Tampa, seven, Sam. Francisco.
I think it's going to be a really interesting time in
the NFC. Come January
because I don't think that there is one really Premier
team in the NFC.
I think on paper, I like the Rams the most,
but I just think that they have so many
games on this schedule that you look at and say, oh my gosh,
how are you going to survive all that
fine? Finally, let's just do my MVP. I've got Josh Allen
winning
just in Herbert second, Lamar Jackson third,
I just think at this point in his life in his career,
what I saw from Joshua Allen last year in the playoffs,
in the games that mattered the most,
there's just one word. Wow.
And to me, I think he's going to carry that over into this
season,
my offensive player, I think. Jonathan Taylor is going to
win.
His second straight rushing title this year, and I like
Jonathan Taylor to win that defensive player. Yes,
Aaron Donald will become the first player in NFL history to
win for Defensive Player of the Year Awards
and his biggest Contender.
I got a defeo way the edge rusher from Baltimore
who I think with new defensive coordinator Mike McDonald in
Baltimore
is going to be a real
Real dangerous weapon
this year.
My offensive rookie Chris, olave, Defensive Rookie sauce.
Gardner, my coach John Harbaugh, my comeback player.
Christian McCaffrey Juju Smith Schuster, Jameis Winston
one of those three guys I think is going to be standing at
the end
so
that is the season preview pod. I'd love to hear your
reactions. Please write to me either at Peter underscore
King.
And Twitter or on my
at my Gmail account
for my football morning in America
at Peter King fmia at gmail
or leave a review for me on this podcast and tell me
exactly what a lunatic. I am.
That's it for this week's podcast will be back
to review week one
next week and season is upon us. Have a great year Have
a fun year
and enjoy the games this weekend.
Next week, another edition
of the Peter King podcast.