NFL Predictions 2023-2024

My main theories going into these predictions:

1. Good franchises find ways to win games they should not
2. Bad franchises find ways to lose games they should not
3. Once a franchise is good or bad, expect them to stay that way until proven otherwise

My guess as the Super Bowl LVIII Champions

NFC

East:

Philadelphia 12-5

Dallas 11-6 (Wild Card)

NY Giants 9-8 (Wild Card)

Washington 7-10

Notes:  by far the best divison in the NFC

North:
Detroit 10-7

Minnesota 9-8
Green Bay 7-10

Chicago 5-12

South:
Atlanta 10-7 

Carolina 8-9

New Orleans 7-10

Tampa Bay 5-12

West:
San Francisco 13-4 

Seattle 12-5 (Wild Card)

Los Angeles Rams 5-12
Arizona 2-15 

Playoffs:

Philadelphia over NY Giants

Seattle over Atlanta

Dallas over Detroit

San Francisco over Dallas

Philadelphia over Seattle

Philadelphia over San Francisco



AFC

East:
Buffalo 11-6

Miami 10-7

New England 9-8 
NY Jets 7-10

Note:  ANother tough division- really, any team could finish above .500

North:

Baltimore 11-6

Pittsburgh 11-6 (Wild Card)

Cincinnati 10-7 (Wild Card)

Cleveland 6-11

Note:  Toughest division in the AFC.  A three-way dogfight for the division crown.

South:
Jacksonville 11-6

Tennessee 8-9

Indianapolis 8-9

Houston 4-13

West:

Kansas City 11-6
Los Angeles Chargers 10-7  (Wild Card)
Las Vegas 7-10

Denver 5-12

Playoffs:
Jacksonville over Cincinnati

Buffalo over Pittsburgh

Los Angeles Chargers over Baltimore

Kansas City over Los Angeles Chargers

Buffalo over Jacksonville

Buffalo over Kansas City

Note:  Honestly, any team here could be in the NFC Championship game


Super Bowl: Buffalo 36, Philadelphia 31

2024 election kickoff

A few random thoughts as the GOP had their first primary debate in Milwaukee, kicking off the 2024 Presidential season:

Let the games begin...

1)  The skillset to be elected to a national office and the skillset to actually govern well once elected barely overlap, and seem to be growing further apart over time.  Being entertaining, clever with improv quips, and being able to raise money doesn't really help that much once you've actually won the office.  

2)  The GOP candidates keep acting like there will be an event- an indictment, a health issue, something- that removes former President Trump from the field.  That way, they can appeal to his voters without actually attacking him.

Maybe it's a smart strategy- but I doubt it.  People have been looking for something to cause voters to drop Trump for seven years.  

My question to all of the other candidates- why should the people who voted for Trump in the past vote for you over Trump instead?  What is your case to them?  

Because right not, ignoring Trump- or worse, sucking up to him- is a very bad look for all of you.

3)  I feel bad for Mike Pence.  Remember, the January 6th mob wasn't chanting to hang Joe Biden; they were chanting 'Hang Mike Pence'.  He did the right thing on January 6th and avoided plunging the country into a Constitution Crisis.  As he reward, a mob tried to kill him, his own president backed the mob, and he's despised by both parties.  

He's not my choice for President- I don't agree with him on much.  But I honestly believe he deserves a medal and heroic commendation.

4)  I remain a fan of Nikki Haley.  I don't agree with her on everything, but I think she is more capable of running the country than any of the alternatives.  I think she could win the general election.  But I don't know if the GOP primary voters are interested- she's currently 3rd in polling, but 30 points behind Trump.  

5)  As for the Democrats?  I think Biden's done a very good job- he's reduced unemployment without causing a recession, he's supported the Ukraine without getting us involved in the war.  But he'll be 81 in November, I don't know if he can handle four more years, and I don't have any reason to think that VP Harris is capable of being a good President.  I'll vote for Biden over Trump.  Any other GOP candidate, and my vote is gettable.