A quick rundown of Mark Maske’s predictions for how the 2016 NFL season will play out:
Green Bay benefits from the late QB shift-by-necessity by the Vikings.
SOUTH: Panthers
They’re too good for anyone to overtake in the division.
WEST: Seahawks
Seattle regains NFC West supremacy behind an offense now built around the passing of Russell Wilson.
Wild cards
WC1: Cardinals
Chandler Jones bolsters the pass rush and Arizona remains on the Seahawks’ heels all season in a tight division race.
WC2: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers? Yes, the Buccaneers. Jameis Winston has vowed that he’s ready to turn the team into a winner, and he delivers.
AFC
Division winners
EAST: Patriots
Tom Brady’s absence gives hope to others and might cost the Patriots home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. But no one in the division is able to capitalize.
NORTH: Bengals
Andy Dalton remains healthy and the Bengals are as good as anyone entering the playoffs.
SOUTH: Colts
Andrew Luck gets back to being the sport’s next great QB.
WEST: Chiefs
This time, the Chiefs don’t give themselves such a sizable early-season hole.
Wild cards
WC1: Steelers
No Martavis Bryant. No Le’Veon Bell (temporarily). No matter. The Steelers are still very good.
WC2: Broncos
The defense gets it done again despite a less-than-ideal QB situation in which rookie Paxton Lynch takes over for Trevor Siemian at some point.
NFC title game
Seahawks over Panthers
Russell Wilson gets back to another Super Bowl.
AFC title game
Steelers over Patriots
Ben Roethlisberger denies Tom Brady from getting back to the big game.
Super Bowl
Steelers over Seahawks
Ben Roethlisberger gets his third career Super Bowl triumph, denying Russell Wilson his second such victory.
