Due to the current pandemic, I’m spending a lot more time at home. Unfortunately, Xbox and YouTube don’t solve boredom like they used to. As a result, I’ve been forming many opinions about various subjects while staring at my wall. A good percentage of them are NFL related.
However, while surfing the web, I found out that I have a handful of unpopular NFL opinions. Thankfully, I have a platform where I can share my thoughts and potentially find people who agree.
With that being said, I present two of my unpopular NFL opinions for the 2020 season.
The Denver Broncos Will Make The Playoffs
I’ve seen a few comments from people that believe the Denver Broncos will make the playoffs, so I can see one saying that this isn’t an unpopular take. However, many personalities in the media think otherwise. Former NFL WR Andrew Hawkins and Chat Sports’ Mitchell Renz have the Broncos missing the postseason. Shockingly, Fox Sports’ Nick Wright has the Orange Crush going 3-13. I think these people are wrong by underestimating the capabilities of this football club.
Let me make a case for Denver.
After scanning their schedule, I predict that the Broncos will finish with 10 or 11 wins. Despite throwing the 12th-hardest schedule to a QB who has five starts under his belt, the Broncos are talented enough to win many contests. This offseason witnessed the team acquire Pro Bowlers defensive back A.J. Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey via trade to terrorize opponents.
In my opinion, the Broncos are in the strongest division. One of their rivals includes the defending champs Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC West is filled with superstars, creating a challenge for the Broncos on multiple Sundays. Fortunately, GM John Elway and company aided Drew Lock with a plethora of weapons. The team drafted wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and signed running back Melvin Gordon to go alongside rising star Courtland Sutton. The new set of tools gives the Broncos an increased chance of marking their territory in the AFC West.
The Broncos have a few non-roster related advantages going for them as well. First off, their home, Mile High Stadium, is one of the toughest places to play. Its Colorado weather and high-altitude have held even Tom Brady to an 8-9 record (including postseason).
Division wise, there’s always the potential for a Chiefs’ Super Bowl hangover. And, the Chargers might end the year with a different starting quarterback. Plus, it’s year number one for the Raiders in Las Vegas, so they’ll need time to settle. With a surplus of talent and the newly added seventh seed in the postseason, I see the Broncos using these advantages to get to the playoffs for the first time since Super Bowl 50.
Cam Newton’s Patriots Will Never Win The AFC East
The New England Patriots shocked the NFL world by signing former MVP, Cam Newton. For months, everyone tried to figure out how the young Jarrett Stidham would handle the post-Brady Pats. With the edition of Superman Cam, it’ll be interesting to see if Bill Belichick can still dominate the AFC East without TB12.
Despite all the hype surrounding the signing, I don’t think the Patriots will ever win their division with Cam. This take goes for every year he’s in Foxborough. However, I consider it a 2020 season opinion because Cam could be a one-year rental.
As great as Belichick is at coaching, he’s 54-63 (.462 win percentage) in regular-season games without Brady as his starting QB. With Newton under center, Belichick has to form a system around a QB whose skill set is different than ones he’s coached before.
When it comes to this season specifically, due to the pandemic, the league’s offseason training is vastly different. This can force Newton and the Patriots to use more time in the regular season to gel, which leads to losses. It doesn’t help that the Pats have the hardest schedule (.537 opponent win percentage).
Let’s not forget that the Pats’ offensive weapons are the same players that frustrated their loyal franchise hero out of Foxborough. This unit is very limited. They have no deep threats or real tight end. Also, Cam’s chemistry with wide receiver Julian Edelman will be nowhere close to Brady’s. A lack of offensive firepower will be an issue against the best division when it comes to secondaries.
Cam is going to have to make plays with his legs. Unfortunately, he’s 31 with a rough injury history. Injuries don’t heal like they do when one gets older. This will force Cam to use his, what some believe, shot arm in the pocket a lot more, making it easier for teams to gameplan around him. Belichick’s defense is going to have to carry despite losing Kyle Van Noy to the rival Dolphins.
In terms of the other three teams in the division, with Brady out of the picture, they’re ready to claim dominance.
Buffalo’s quarterback Josh Allen has a postseason trip and two seasons against Belichick under his belt. Additionally, the Bills traded for wideout Stefon Diggs to fill the hole of not having a WR1. The team also picked up Josh Norman, A.J. Klein, Vernon Butler, and Mario Addison to add to their already top-five defense.
Miami finished last season by winning five of their last nine games. Following their impressive achievement, the Phins were active in the offseason. They added key pieces to aid their lacking defense. The most notable move was the signing of Byron Jones to a five-year deal. Pairing him alongside All-Pro Xavien Howard forms one of the best cornerback duos in football.
Defensive-minded head coach Brian Flores acquired pass rushers Kyle Van Noy, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Shaq Lawson to cause trouble for opposing quarterbacks. On draft night, the Dolphins selected Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. When healthy, I believe he’s better than the first overall pick, Joe Burrow.
The Jets are the only team the Pats will be consistently better than. However, even that could be questionable due to the potential New York has with a young and solid gunslinger.
If progression works how it should, Cam will be the fourth-best QB in the AFC East in a few years. As electrifying of a player he is, he’s never achieved back-to-back winning seasons. That won’t cut it when competing against younger teams and coaches hungry for a division title.
Keep in mind, Cam is only a one-year rental for now. Even if he re-signs, it likely wouldn’t be a long-term deal. If he stays injury-prone, underperforms, and/or, most importantly, doesn’t fit the ‘Patriot Way,’ Belichick would most likely ditch him.
Final Thoughts
Those were two of my 2020 unpopular NFL opinions. I have more but chose not to cram them all in one article.
To summarize: The Broncos will make the playoffs, and Cam will never win the AFC East with the Patriots.
I can’t wait for the season to start because I’m confident in my takes.
Agree with my thoughts? Want to read more of my unpopular NFL opinions? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram.