NFL experts predict: Answering 2019 offseason's biggest questions
NFL experts predict: Answering 2019 offseason's biggest questions
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
So long, Super Bowl LIII. We're moving on to 2019. This week, our panel of ESPN NFL experts is taking an early look at the offseason, answering the biggest questions on free agency, the draft and the season ahead.
Our crew will answer a question a day over the next two weeks, starting with a first look at next year's Super Bowl:
What's your way-too-early Super Bowl LIV pick?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Chargers over Bears. Philip Rivers played lights-out football in 2018. And with a balanced offense that features an old-school run game, plus the rising talent of wide receiver Mike Williams and a healthy tight end Hunter Henry, I expect Rivers to play at an MVP level next season. Pair that with a defense anchored by two book-end pass-rushers and a physical secondary? Yeah, I'll roll with L.A. to win the title over a Bears team that could have an even better defense than we saw in 2018.
Mike Clay, fantasy writer: Saints over Chiefs. I picked the Saints in 2018 because of their talented and deep group of starters on both sides of the ball. They came up just short, but with nearly every impact player still under contract for 2019, Drew Brees and friends are primed for another run.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Saints over Texans. The Saints might have had the best team in the league each of the past two seasons and lost two playoff games in utterly heartbreaking fashion. They break through this time, ending an impressive playoff run by Deshaun Watson and a Houston team that will load up in the offseason.
KC Joyner, fantasy writer: Rams over Chiefs. Kansas City went undefeated in games in which it allowed 28 or fewer points this season. The problem? It had seven games with 29-plus points allowed. Take a major step forward under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams, meanwhile, are still ascending and should be stellar again in Sean McVay's third season in charge.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Chiefsover Rams. Statistics show it's harder to repeat elite performance on defense, which is why I'm predicting two of the league's most explosive offenses will show up in Miami next February. The Chiefs should patch some of the holes in their secondary by then.
Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior writer: Chiefs over Rams. One name tells the story: Patrick Mahomes. We're witnessing the beginning of the Mahomes era in the NFL. In a quarterback league, the Chiefs have the best quarterback -- and he's about to begin a spectacular run. This is going to be so much fun.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer:Patriots over Seahawks. These teams are 1-2 in NFL winning percentage since Russell Wilson's rookie season in 2012. New England is always in the mix. Seattle's ability to win 10 games during a rebuilding season served notice that Pete Carroll's team will be contending sooner rather than later. Minnesota is another interesting dark horse from the NFC.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Chiefs over Saints. Andy Reid made a tough but necessary postseason change, hiring Spagnuolo to replace defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. If Spagnuolo can refresh the defensive scheme and combine with Reid's ever-evolving offense and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub's always excellent work, the Chiefs are ready to take the next step. Meanwhile, the Saints already have demonstrated they can come back stronger than ever after a postseason disappointment.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Patriots over Saints. The offseason blueprint for New Orleans is to keep the band together, which shouldn't be tough given the vast majority of its core is under contract for 2019. The Patriots have shown this team's run of consistency is not set to expire anytime soon; they continue to set a standard of excellence.
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
So long, Super Bowl LIII. We're moving on to 2019. This week, our panel of ESPN NFL experts is taking an early look at the offseason, answering the biggest questions on free agency, the draft and the season ahead.
Our crew will answer a question a day over the next two weeks, starting with a first look at next year's Super Bowl:
What's your way-too-early Super Bowl LIV pick?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Chargers over Bears. Philip Rivers played lights-out football in 2018. And with a balanced offense that features an old-school run game, plus the rising talent of wide receiver Mike Williams and a healthy tight end Hunter Henry, I expect Rivers to play at an MVP level next season. Pair that with a defense anchored by two book-end pass-rushers and a physical secondary? Yeah, I'll roll with L.A. to win the title over a Bears team that could have an even better defense than we saw in 2018.
Mike Clay, fantasy writer: Saints over Chiefs. I picked the Saints in 2018 because of their talented and deep group of starters on both sides of the ball. They came up just short, but with nearly every impact player still under contract for 2019, Drew Brees and friends are primed for another run.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Saints over Texans. The Saints might have had the best team in the league each of the past two seasons and lost two playoff games in utterly heartbreaking fashion. They break through this time, ending an impressive playoff run by Deshaun Watson and a Houston team that will load up in the offseason.
KC Joyner, fantasy writer: Rams over Chiefs. Kansas City went undefeated in games in which it allowed 28 or fewer points this season. The problem? It had seven games with 29-plus points allowed. Take a major step forward under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams, meanwhile, are still ascending and should be stellar again in Sean McVay's third season in charge.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Chiefsover Rams. Statistics show it's harder to repeat elite performance on defense, which is why I'm predicting two of the league's most explosive offenses will show up in Miami next February. The Chiefs should patch some of the holes in their secondary by then.
Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior writer: Chiefs over Rams. One name tells the story: Patrick Mahomes. We're witnessing the beginning of the Mahomes era in the NFL. In a quarterback league, the Chiefs have the best quarterback -- and he's about to begin a spectacular run. This is going to be so much fun.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer:Patriots over Seahawks. These teams are 1-2 in NFL winning percentage since Russell Wilson's rookie season in 2012. New England is always in the mix. Seattle's ability to win 10 games during a rebuilding season served notice that Pete Carroll's team will be contending sooner rather than later. Minnesota is another interesting dark horse from the NFC.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Chiefs over Saints. Andy Reid made a tough but necessary postseason change, hiring Spagnuolo to replace defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. If Spagnuolo can refresh the defensive scheme and combine with Reid's ever-evolving offense and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub's always excellent work, the Chiefs are ready to take the next step. Meanwhile, the Saints already have demonstrated they can come back stronger than ever after a postseason disappointment.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Patriots over Saints. The offseason blueprint for New Orleans is to keep the band together, which shouldn't be tough given the vast majority of its core is under contract for 2019. The Patriots have shown this team's run of consistency is not set to expire anytime soon; they continue to set a standard of excellence.