It’s June, and we are deep into the NFL offseason. 2 months removed from the draft and 3 months out from the start of the NFL season, and NFL fans like me and many others at Xavier are starving for some football content. As a self-certified ball knower, I’d like to fill the void with some way to early NFL predictions with just under 100 days to go until the season. Some of these might age beautifully while other might be laughable by Week 3, but that’s always the fun of this kind of stuff. 

Super Bowl winner, NFC Champion: Los Angeles Rams 

The Los Angeles Rams seem to have everything going for them right now. Hot off an NFC championship appearance, a defense that was 8th in sacks, 5th in turnovers and top 20 lowest in yards allowed per game doubles down on their Super Bowl window by adding 2x Defensive player of the year Myles Garret to already one of the scariest defensive front in the league and a lockdown reliable tackler All-Pro Trent McDuffie to the secondary, who already has some Super Bowl experience with the Kansas City Chiefs.  

On the other side of the ball, reigning MVP Matt Stafford who led the league in passing yards and touchdowns proved he still has some great years in him. Not to mention he’s throwing the ball to legendary veteran Davante Adams and 2x pro bowler and the receptions leader last year Puka Nacua. Standout Alabama QB Ty Simpson looks to be the future as he gets to sit behind and learn from a future Hall of Famer. The Super Bowl champion Seahawks do have a chance of making it back this season, but the loss of the engine of their offense, explosive momentum-shifter Kenneth Walker is a huge factor in their championship bid.  

AFC Champion: Baltimore Ravens 

As of now, the AFC is not as clear as the NFC. The race is tight, but as of know two teams appear as the clear favorites. The Baltimore Ravens missed playoffs thank’s to Tyler Loop’s missed game winner against the Steelers. However, this year, the Ravens who are now under the leadership of elite defensive play-caller HC Jesse Minter and won’t have to face a 2025 playoff team until Week 8, meaning this team could very well start off 7-0. Early in the offseason they made waves by trading for star DE Maxx Crosby which fell through shortly after, but they bounced back by adding All-Pro and 4x pro bowler Trey Hendrickson to the pass rush. Hendrickson hopes to turn around a disappointing season for the Ravens defensive front, but they look like they could make a statement this year with breakout candidates DE Mike Green and Zion Young, a highly hyped rookie defensive end.  

The offense is running through its centerpiece, Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP who holds multiple record at the position. He continues to elevate the offense in every aspect of the game, and he has a strong shot at a Super Bowl. Not to mention he doesn’t have to play against Myles Garrett 2 games a season anymore. Another team that could run away with it this year is the Houston Texans. Their defense, lead by former Defensive rookie of the year and DPOY candidate DE Will Anderson Jr., let up the least yards and produced the second most turnovers this year hasn’t lost any key players yet but have yet to make a blockbuster move. However the offense lead by former Offensive Rookie of the Year QB CJ Stroud, still looking for his breakout season, made a risky but surprisingly strong move by trading for power back RB David Montgomery from Detroit. Although Montgomery is going from splitting carries with the best running back in the league Jahmyr Gibbs to a full-time starter, he still is projected to have a monster year. With help from their loaded defense the Texans surely could make a case for the AFC Championship this year. 

Hot Take: The AFC East will look completely different this year.  

Even without my bias as a Jets fan, it’s still clear to see that our division could drastically change. For starters, if you look at historical data roughly 30-35% of teams that lose the super bowl have a “significantly worse season” (dropping 3+ wins and/or missing playoffs). When factoring in the fact that the Patriots are now playing a 1st place strength schedule instead of a 4th place strength schedule, things could look scary to Pats fans next year. 

 On the other hand, the Jets add a veteran QB, one season removed from 4300 yards, Geno Smith to throw to ball to top WR Garrett Wilson, the best TE in college football last year Kenyon Sadiq, and two national championship rookies in WR Omar Cooper Jr. and CB D’Angelo Ponds as well as many other notable transactions. Although maybe not immediately, their young, star-studded core and veteran leaders gives us Jets fans a glimpse of hope we haven’t seen since Aaron Rodgers.  

The Dolphins are under a first-year head coach who hasn’t proved himself yet, Brian Duker, and just haven’t made enough moves yet to muster any hope in fans.  

The Bills are the clear favorites with MVP Contender Josh Allen at quarterback, with several elite players WRs Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, and adding star WR DJ Moore and rookie Skyler Bell (out of UConn), and I can’t see anything changing that.  

MVP prediction: Matt Stafford 

For now, the current MVP Matt Stafford seems to be the favorite. Nothing about his situation has negatively changed and his team only seems to be improving. He gets to throw the ball to two elite wide receivers and is definitely not playing like he’s 38 right now. Speaking of his age, the only thing that could impact his run for a back-to-back MVP is concerns about injuries because he’s on the older side for a football player.  

Close behind him could be Josh Allen, who always has a season deserving of the award, or Drake Maye, the runner-up last year who could make a case if things go right for the Pats.