2014 NFL season preview: Who'll be the best, worst? Here are our picksBy Eye on Football staff | CBSSports.comAugust 25, 2014 10:20 pm ET
Turn on the lights. Let's play some football. (USATSI) Yeah, we know. That's why they play the games.We get it. It's too early to know who's coming out of the 2014 NFL season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy upward into a blizzard of confetti and which teams will begin 2015 NFL Draft preparations a bit earlier than the rest.Things happen. Circumstances change due to injuries, coaching issues, bad (or nonexistent) calls on the field or even a full-blown choke job. Sometimes a miserable start blossoms into a late-season rally. Big things will happen, in good ways and bad, that might dramatically change the fortunes of a team, player or coach.But we've studied the tape. We've spoken with players, GMs and coaching staff. We've heard all sides of the story and we've come up with our own observations while visiting training camps.The games will be decided on the field. This much we know. But as we knock the dirt out of our cleats and prepare for another NFL season, here are our predictions for 2014.SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSPete Prisco -- Denver Broncos: I think they've made some big improvements on defense with the additions of T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware. Plus, they get a lot of injured guys back, including left tackle Ryan Clady. They will be a better team in 2014 than a year ago, even if the record isn't better. But it will end better.Jason La Canfora -- San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh's uncertain future gets cleared up real quick after he joins his brother in the Lombardi Trophy club, and then, in the $7-$8M a year club. This year could be the end for Frank Gore, Anquan Boldin and Justin Smith and several of them go out on top.Pat Kirwan -- New England Patriots: The Patriots looked so impressive during my camp tour and the roster depth should be good enough to weather any storm except a Tom Brady injury, of course. When I reconvened with the team in a scrimmage against the Redskins, their no-huddle attack was back at full strength. New England got to the last two conference championship games with a significant number of younger players and backups, but now they look like a complete team.Will Brinson -- New Orleans Saints (over the Steelers): The addition of Jairus Byrd on defense and Brandin Cooks on offense, plus figuring out how to run the ball well again with a crew of talented backs in Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson, Travares Cadet and Pierre Thomas gives the Saints a balanced attack on both sides of the ball. A weakened NFC South means New Orleans can take hold of the division once again and storm out to a 13-3 record. Getting home field advantage means it's tough to take them down come the playoffs.Josh Katzowitz -- Denver Broncos: Their defense will be better. Their offense will continue to be the best in the league. And oh yeah, Peyton Manning.Ryan Wilson -- Green Bay Packers (over the Patriots): New England finally has a defense to rival those units from the early 2000s, back when the team last won a Lombardi Trophy. But it won't be enough against Aaron Rodgers, who will solidify his position as the NFL's best quarterback.John Breech -- Denver Broncos: The only way I see the Broncos losing this game is if they play the Seahawks again and I don't see them playing the Seahawks again. John Elway has built a team that's better than any team I've ever built using Franchise Mode in Madden.DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARPete Prisco -- Robert Quinn, DE, Rams: I think he has a real chance to take down the sack record this season. With new coordinator Gregg Williams, he will see more one-on-one situations. That will lead to more wins for him and more sacks.Jason La Canfora -- Robert Quinn: He has the goods to make a legit run at the sack record, and the cast around him and coordinator in place to help him maximize his immense talent. If that dome gets really loud again, that's another factor in his favor.Pat Kirwan -- Earl Thomas, S, Seahawks: Thomas may get a run for the Defensive Player of the Year from Robert Quinn, the sack master from St. Louis. Earl Thomas is the key to the great Seattle defense and he is so focused on a bigger year than last year that it will be difficult not to vote for him for this award.Will Brinson -- Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers: LEFT FIELD. I hate picking David because I don't know if the Buccaneers will be good. Win totals affect Defensive Player of the Year voting way too much (see: J.J. Watt and the terrible 2013 Houston Texans). David was one of the best defensive players in the league last year and he's a perfect fit with Lovie Smith's defense. He'll spend the year working under Lovie and put up massive numbers that will warrant consideration even if the Bucs struggle.Josh Katzowitz -- J.J. Watt, DE, Texans: He's still the scariest defender in the league. I don't know if he'll get more opportunities to take on single blockers because of the Jadeveon Clowney threat, but the No. 1 overall pick certainly won't hurt Watt's extraordinary production.Ryan Wilson -- J.J. Watt: He's the best defensive player in football and it's not even close. Defensive end in a 3-4 isn't the sexiest position but there's no disputing just how disruptive Watt can be.John Breech -- J.J. Watt: Now that Jadeveon Clowney is in Houston, Watt is probably going to be my choice to win this award every year until he retires. The Texans defensive end has been borderline unstoppable in his three-year career and with Clowney on the same defense, I see Watt having another ridiculous year. Also, I feel like Watt's going to get the NFL's first ever $100 million contract extension that doesn't go to a quarterback.BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR / MOST IMPROVEDPete Prisco -- Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals: I see him putting up Jamaal Charles-like numbers in the Arizona offense. He will run it. He will catch it. And he will go to the Pro Bowl.Jason La Canfora -- Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings: The Vikings decided to pay him like an elite TE, and under Norv Turner's watchful eye he will blossom into just that in a very tight-end friendly offense.Pat Kirwan -- Jake Locker, QB, Titans: It is make or break time for Locker and he is making every effort to be a great player. New head coach Ken Whisenhunt is excited about Locker but he will not tolerate poor play and has a history of moving on from mistake makers. I think Locker responds to the challenge.Will Brinson -- Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals: Coach Hue Jackson is going to run the ball a ton in 2014. I expect BenJarvus Green-Ellis to get cut, which leaves Bernard and Jeremy Hill. While they're a nice complement, Gio can be a feature back who busts off huge runs. I expect a massive season from him this year.Josh Katzowitz -- Alterraun Verner, CB, Buccaneers: I already mentioned this in my bold predictions, but I think Verner will have more of an impact on his new team than fellow free agent Darrelle Revis will with the Patriots. Playing for Lovie Smith will let everyone know that Verner is one of the best CBs in the game.Ryan Wilson -- Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Vikings: He was raw as a rookie last season but Patterson is primed for a big 2014. Matt Cassel will target him early and Teddy Bridgewater will lean on him heavily once he takes over full-time duty, a development we expect to happen sooner rather than later.John Breech -- Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos: This prediction has more to do with Peyton Manning than Emmanuel Sanders. In two seasons playing with Manning, Eric Decker caught 85 and 87 passes, which is a lot more than Sanders' career-high of 67. I expect to see his numbers go way up in 2014. Sanders has never been to a Pro Bowl or led the league in any receiving category, something that could change this year. Another potential breakout player I like is Packers tight end Richard Rodgers.
FREE-FALL TEAMPete Prisco -- Carolina Panthers: The offensive line is a major concern and that will put a lot of pressure on Cam Newton to make plays with his legs. That's not a good thing. I also don't like the secondary all that much and the receivers are raw.Jason La Canfora -- Carolina Panthers: A lot is being made of the receiver situation, but my real concern is the tackles and the ability to protect Cam Newton coming off surgery. They play a first-place schedule and that division could be much improved.Pat Kirwan -- Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are always reluctant to tear the team down and start a rebuild. The end result is multiple 8-8 seasons but this year the problems on defense should add up to a very disappointing season.Will Brinson -- Dallas Cowboys: They only won eight games last year so maybe this isn't a perfect pick. I think they could walk away from this season with two wins total. The defense can't stop anyone and if Tony Romo has to throw 45-50 times per game for the first five games (not unreasonable at all) his back is going to give out. Then it's Brandon Weeden time and then it's Jameis Winston time.Josh Katzowitz -- Kansas City Chiefs: After an unreal start to last season, Kansas City lost six of its final eight games of 2013. While I've finally come around to the idea that Alex Smith is going to be a solid starter in this league, the Chiefs simply aren't going to be as good as last year's 11-5 record.Ryan Wilson -- Carolina Panthers: Questions up and down the offensive line, an entire group of new receivers and a quarterback coming off ankle surgery points to the team taking a few steps back from last year's 12-4 mark.John Breech -- Carolina Panthers: There's a five-game stretch on Carolina's schedule that goes playoff team from last year, playoff team from last year, playoff team from last year, playoff team from last year, playoff team from last year. Those teams are the Bengals, Packers, Seahawks, Eagles and Saints. If the Panthers get to eight wins, I'll be shocked.RESURGENT TEAMPete Prisco -- Atlanta Falcons: They lost a lot of close games last season with a ton of injuries. This time, they change that. As long as Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are on the field, they will score points.Jason La Canfora -- Baltimore Ravens: Their playoff drought proves short as Gary Kubiak whips the offense into shape and some of their youngsters blossom. The Steelers will be back in the postseason, too.Pat Kirwan -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It was a close call for me between the Bucs and Titans. Lovie Smith will make a difference and the talented young team is energized by his presence. Josh McCown and Mike Glennon should be good enough to lead the team to wins. The addition of former Bengals DE Michael Johnson and rookie WR Mike Evans will have an impact on the final record.Will Brinson -- Pittsburgh Steelers: Also an 8-8 team from last year and, as I've noted, I think they'll improve quickly this year and have a huge year, winning 12 games.Josh Katzowitz -- Jacksonville Jaguars: Many observers seem to agree that coach Gus Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell have this team on the right track. They'll struggle to make the playoffs, but Blake Bortles will get them closer and closer.Ryan Wilson -- Pittsburgh Steelers: After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, Pittsburgh's offense could be explosive in 2014. The biggest question is whether a young defense can gel in the coming weeks and months.John Breech -- Atlanta Falcons: I don't think Atlanta will be quite resurgent enough to make the playoffs, but they will play well enough to make people in Atlanta care about the team until about Week 15. I see the Falcons winning anywhere from four to six more games than last season.TEAMS STILL UNDEFEATED AFTER WEEK 4Pete Prisco -- Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots: It doesn't mean they will play in the Super Bowl, but both will get off to good starts. Seattle has the tougher early schedule, so that will be impressive if happens.Jason La Canfora -- New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks: Parity is the rule in the NFL seemingly now more than ever, and a year ago only five teams opened 4-0. This year I'll say three teams: New England (they get the Dolphins, Vikings, Raiders and Chiefs), San Francisco and Seattle (3-0, have the early bye).Pat Kirwan -- New England Patriots: Three of their first four games are on the road which makes it tough, but only one of the first four games is against a team that had a winning record last year. The Patriots started out 4-0 last year and they are a better team today.Will Brinson -- New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots: Week 4 is early.Josh Katzowitz --Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and Arizona CardinalsRyan Wilson -- New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles: I originally had the Rams on this list but that was before Sam Bradford went down with another ACL injury. The Saints and Patriots make sense because they're generally two of the best teams in the league, but the Bears could make a playoff push this season if the defense comes together, and the Eagles could quietly be one of the NFL's best teams despite playing in its worst division.John Breech -- San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals: This prediction comes down to one thing: The schedule. The 49ers are the team I'm actually least confident in here, with games at Arizona, at Dallas and Philly at home. The Bengals have the advantage of a Week 4 bye, so they'll only have played three games after Week 4. Plus they play two of their first three games at home.LAST TEAM TO GET A WINPete Prisco -- Houston Texans: When I played out the season, I didn't have the Texans winning until Week 13 when they beat the Tennessee Titans.Jason La Canfora -- Houston Texans: This wasn't easy. Most of the teams many would assume might struggle actually get a chance to feast on one another early in the year. I didn't find a team with a gauntlet that looked impossible. But with a slew of early road games, i'll say the Texans with no great conviction.Pat Kirwan -- Cleveland Browns: The first part of the schedule is brutal (Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Baltimore). Then after a bye, a trip to Tennessee is their best chance, but the next game is a rematch with Pittsburgh.Will Brinson -- Cleveland Browns: Week 5, with Johnny Manziel starting against the Tennessee Titans.Josh Katzowitz -- Oakland RaidersRyan Wilson -- Dallas CowboysJohn Breech -- Minnesota Vikings or Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay's schedule scares me. So does Minnesota's. One of these teams will eventually get a win though because the Buccaneers and Vikings play each other in Week 8. link
