for the teams that didn't make
it to the playoffs last year. Getting there this year and
history tells us roughly half of the playoff teams don't make
it back, which means there are openings
for teams that did make it. We're going to do drafted a of
the teams that didn't make it last year that can crash
the party this year. Peter, you have the first thing.
I mean, I'm going to take the Chargers, I'm probably going to
pick the Chargers to win the division in my prediction
column on Monday.
I just think they've answered their biggest problems that
they had in the offseason. I will be very surprised if they
don't win 11 games,
almost a double take. When I saw the Ravens on there, it's so
hard to Envision them as not being a playoff team,
but they didn't make it last year.
I think they do.
Get this year. Won't be easy, very difficult in the AFC.
But I think the Ravens you talked about earlier about how
much healthier than last year. They had all those injuries.
The a seems like every day, another ACL. Another ACL. They
stay healthy this year.
They're in the playoffs. Guaranteed for 2022.
Mike might my next team is going to be the sayings and one
of the things about the saints that really interest me right
now
is that last year,
you know, Dennis Allen told me this
in Camp, he said last year, probably, Our receiver group
was our Achilles heel,
you know, because Michael Thomas is heard. They've got
other injuries and now with Michael Thomas
And you don't really know what you get out of here.
You know Michael Thomas Jarvis, Landry
and a guy who I think is going to be the best rookie receiver
in the NFL Chris olave.
I think it's going to be really, really interesting to
watch them. Obviously the key is Jameis Winston. But the one
thing I look at, when I look at the Saints,
is they have
the books figured out, you know, they are in the regular
season. Ian
in, Tom Brady's two years,
they have beaten
the Bucks all four times that they've played him.
And think about this mine,
not a single one of those games. Not a single one of
those four games has been a one score game.
And they beat them by nine nine eleven and twenty something.
And you know to me that's not an outlier.
And and so I think the Saints
are going to be an explosive team.
It's just you know, Jameis Winston is a huge Factor, but
I'll tell you this,
Andy Dalton
could be the most important backup quarterback east of
Jimmy Garoppolo in.
Any 22,
my big question about the Saints and maybe we can touch
on this next Friday, who replaces, Sean Payton, because
we just kind of shrug everything's the same except
Peyton. Well, it's kind of a big deal to not have Sean
Payton because he busted his ass every day. Constantly,
looking for ideas, studying film, being creative, pushing
everybody else, who steps into
that, roll off, fensively for Sean Payton. I think that is
an underrated question going into the season. I'm going to go
with the Vikings. I have Sims were here. I would say, blow
the horn and he would go. Oh,
I just think that the Right now, there aren't enough. Good
teams. Think the offense is going to be a lot better with
Zimmer gone and Kevin O'Connell and charge. And the defense
doesn't have to be much better than the crap that it was last
year for them to get
to the playoffs again, after a two-year. Drought
All right, two rounds done, one to go the playoff party,
crashers for 2020 to those who didn't make it last year who we
think will make it this year, Peter, you're up for round
three.
You know, my third team
on this in this Derby is the Indianapolis Colts. I'm buying
the
Matt Ryan Kool-Aid, or I'm drinking it, whatever, that's
the worst metaphor in NFL history.
I am also
Saying that Jonathan Taylor was not a one-year fluke, and that
is 1811 yards last year.
I won't be surprised if he comes very close to repeating that,
and if he touches the ball 375 times, which is
a very non
2022. Modern-day football thing for a running back, but I think
you're going to see Matt Ryan. Go to him more out of
the backfield
on those short little
dump off routes.
The one other thing I would say about the Colts,
I'm keeping my eyes on Shaquille. Leonard
Shack, Leonard formerly Darius Leonard,
I'm keeping my eyes on him because
he says all is well. Everything is fine.
My calf / back. Injury is okay.
I just I'm just keeping my eyes on that a little bit. He's
the best player on that defense and I think he is vitally important
to that defense.
Just I'm just keeping my eyes on them this year. I agree with
you. He recently said he's not going to play until he
feels completely ready to go, which tells me he's not
completely ready to go. Even though there's some optimism
he'll be out there. Week 1,
I'm looking at the odds that we showed earlier and I see
the Broncos at - 145 and man, I don't know in that Division
and in that conference I think it's a lot to expect with all
the changes that they're making. They could be really
good, but I don't know that I have a lot of confidence there.
I'm gonna go with the dolphins. The Dolphins have been close,
but, no, cigar the past couple of years,
I'm a big believer in Mike McDaniel
to, and on is going to be delighted that I've included
the Dolphins in this list. But I think that even though there
are still questions about to a tongue of eylau, it
quarterback, they have so many other weapons offensively their
entire defense for the most part is back. Their defensive
coordinator is still there. They were wreaking havoc last
year on teams with
their creative blitzing.
I think the Dolphins
have a pretty good chance of getting in this.
You're Peter after they finished. So strong last year,
I really like the influence, the imaginative influence of
Mike McDaniel. And I think that too, and especially Tyree kill,
are going to respond. Well, to the
every game plan is going to be a snowflake. We're going to do
something different every week. So I think the Dolphins are
a good pig, Mike.
Well, we won't do anything different every week because
every Friday we will have Peter King. He is now Now back, which
means football, season is upon us, we're taking Monday off.
Enjoy the full weekend
of college football even though I did not enjoy the Backyard
Brawl last night. But Peter, as we sign up, how do they not
play that game every single year? How do I not do that West
Virginia? It seem sane, people, 11 years without to arch-rivals
playing each other. It's
what happened? It's crazy.
I don't know and I don't like it
but I like having you back.
Everybody have a great.
weekend, we'll see you back here again on things like