When summer gives way to fall, many things are true – cold weather, leaves change colors, but the best part about it is that football is right around the corner. With the upcoming NFL season, a lot has changed: teams went from being at the bottom of their division to Super Bowl contenders, a whole new set of rookies will come in and try to prove themselves, and everybody will try to chase the Lombardi and add some bling to their collection; but only some have the firepower to do so.

To start, let’s talk about some teams that I think will make the playoffs and could possibly go all the way. The teams are the Packers, Chargers, 49ers, Vikings, Broncos, Ravens, Chiefs, Rams, Bills, and Bengals. 

To break these teams down, let’s start with the Packers. The Packers are a team that consists of an offense with reigning back-to-back MVP, Aaron Rodgers, star running backs, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, a defense that ranked 9th in yards against and 13th in points against, and has players like Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, Adrian Amos, and Preston Smith. Record Prediction- 11-6.

The Chargers are a team that in the past didn’t meet their expectations, but this year might be different. The Bolts are a team that made lots of off-season additions like Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson and Sebastian Joseph-Day. But let’s not forget about current stars like Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, and Derwin James. Record Prediction- 12-5.

The 49ers made it to last year’s NFC conference championship, and they could come close this year too. With a new quarterback, Trey Lance, which, if he could live up to the hype, could be far better than most teams think. This team consists of a top defense and a run-heavy offense that kills teams if the run is working, and if it isn’t, they could play through talented pass catchers like George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk. I believe this team’s success rides on the back of Trey Lance and if he succeeds, this team could very well be Superbowl contenders but to balance out, I think this team will finish 11-6.

The Vikings are my sleeper team that if things work out, could hoist the Lombardi. This team has an offense with Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and a defense with players like Harrison Smith, Za’Darius Smith, and Danielle Hunter. The chances of this team going all the way are slim, but the Vikings need to get more respect. Record Prediction- 10-7.

Broncos country, let’s ride. The Broncos have always been seen as a team that was just missing a quarterback and they finally got one. Russell Wilson will make this team far better and could finally let some of these wide receivers breakout like Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. This team’s defense has always been good. The loss of Von Miller is big, but I don’t think it will slow them down too much. Record Prediction- 11-6.

The Ravens are a team that if they stay healthy, they could be fantastic. With a team composed of  former MVP Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and J.K. Dobbins coming back from injury, this offense could be explosive and they already have a good defense. Record Prediction- 10-7.

The Chiefs have consistently been close to the Super Bowl over the last three years and won it one time. With the loss of the speedster, Tyreek Hill, this team will have to try to adapt by using a more communal way of wide receivers with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But let’s not forget about seasoned veteran, Travis Kelce, who is seen as the best tight end in all of football. Record Prediction- 12-5.

The LA Rams who are the reigning Super Bowl champs could very well repeat with the star-studded roster they have. With a dominant defense, offense, and coaching staff, it’s very hard to find a weakness in this roster. With players like Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, and Tyler Higbee, this passing game will be great, and with running backs, Cam Akers and Darnell Henderson Jr.,  it should be fun to see how far this team can go. The only issue could be the possibility of Matthew Stafford’s elbow injury lingering throughout the season. My record prediction for this team is 13-4.

The Buffalo Bills have been a team in the past which were a laughing stock of the league, but now they could make a serious Super Bowl push. With an MVP favorite, quarterback Josh Allen, and stud wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, could carry this offense because of their lack of an efficient run game. A defense that really found itself last year could continue their development and could become a very well-rounded team that could put a lot of points on the board and let up only a few. My record prediction for the Bills is 14-3.

The Cincinnati Bengals, the AFC champions,  have a great shot at winning it all. A team that made the Super Bowl last year, and with an improved offensive line, this team could skyrocket into the stratosphere of winning football games. Joe Burrow, Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon is a fantastic offense and defense that, if it could be at least league average, could make this team explosive. My record prediction is 12-5.

Overall, all of these teams have a great chance of winning it all, but with every season of football there are surprises of over and under performances. Let’s just hope we have another year of superb football and may the best team hoist the sacred Lombardi.