2018 NFL Season Preview

The time has finally arrived. After a long long wait, the NFL regular season is finally upon us. We are ready to go with the kickoff to the 2018 season in the National Football League. Everybody starts off the year with a clean slate and one goal in mind, to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy as champions of the game of football. Lots to get caught up on before we dive into the full blown season preview. There are some tweaks that have been made to the rules for this year. There's plenty of new faces around the league in new places, while others have decided to hang up the pads. Here we go, lets start with some of the new rule changes.

What is and isn't a catch around the league have been more clearly defined. A catch takes place when a player has two feet down or any body part other than the hands, and they have control of the ball. To go along with that, they must make a "football move" such as making a 3rd step, reaching/extending to the line to gain, tucking the ball away, warding off defensive players, or have the ability to perform such an act. Finally, the rule for receivers who were going to the ground during the catch process has been deleted. Then there's the rule of hitting with the helmet. Can't lead with the crown of the helmet or its a personal foul penalty.

The 2017 season saw the end of some pretty good careers. Kam Chancellor, Antonio Cromartie, Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Nick Mangold, Carson Palmer, Darrelle Revis, Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte, DeMarco Murray, Victor Cruz, Eric Decker, and Brent Celek have all called it a career. We've also got some new faces in new places around the league. First the trades. Cleveland reloaded by adding Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor in separate deals, then sent DeShone Kizer away to Green Bay. Kansas City dumped off some talent by trading away both Alex Smith (to Washington) and Marcus Peters (to Rams). Denver got rid of some talent as well by trading Aqib Talib (to Rams) and Trevor Siemian (to Minnesota). Los Angeles made a splash by getting Brandin Cooks from the Patriots, while the Giants also made moves by acquiring Alec Ogletree from the Rams and dealing away Jason Pierre-Paul to the Bucs.

Some big names switched uniforms during the offseason. Sam Bradford (Minnesota to Arizona), Teddy Bridgewater (Minnesota to Jets (traded to saints)), Kirk Cousins (Washington to Minnesota), Case Keenum (Minnesota to Denver), Isaiah Crowell (Cleveland to Jets), Carlos Hyde (San Francisco to Cleveland), Dion Lewis (New England to Tennessee),  Danny Amendola (New England to Miami), Allen Hurns (Jacksonville to Dallas), Jordy Nelson (Green Bay to Oakland), Allen Robinson (Jacksonville to Chicago), and Sammy Watkins (Rams to Kansas City), Jimmy Graham (Seattle to Green Bay), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jets to Jacksonville), Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville to Green Bay),  Mike Pouncey (Miami to Chargers), Justin Pugh ( Giants to Arizona), Weston Richburg (Giants to San Francisco), Nate Solder (New England to Giants), Josh Sitton (Chicago to Miami), and Travis Swanson (Detroit to Jets) were all on the move. That was just offense.

On defense, Vinny Curry (Philadelphia to Tampa Bay), Sheldon Richardson (Seattle to Minnesota), Ndamukong Suh (Miami to Rams), Muhammad Wilkerson (Jets to Green Bay), Demario Davis (Jets to New Orleans), Trent Murphy (Washington to Buffalo), Tahir Whitehead (Detroit to Oakland), Avery Williamson (Tennessee to Jets), Malcolm Butler (New England to Tennessee), Morgan Burnett (Green Bay to Pittsburgh), T. J. Carrie (Oakland to Cleveland), Marcus Gilchrist (Houston to Oakland), Trumaine Johnson (Rams to Jets), Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona to Houston), Rashaan Melvin (Indianapolis to Oakland), Patrick Robinson (Philadelphia to New Orleans), and Richard Sherman (Seattle to San Francisco) all changed cities during the offseason.

So now that we got that all caught up, here's how things go down. This is how we see the divisions playing out for the 2018 NFL Season.

Solly:
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
NFC Wild Card: Green Bay Packers
NFC Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West: Los Angeles Chargers
AFC Wild Card: Tennessee Titans
AFC Wild Card:  Houston Texans

Steve:
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
NFC Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings
NFC Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans
AFC West: Los Angeles Chargers
AFC Wild Card: Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC Wild Card: Denver Broncos

3rd Mic Dan:
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
NFC Wild Card: Green bay Packers
NFC Wild Card: San Francisco 49ers
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West: Los Angeles Chargers
AFC Wild Card: Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Wild Card: Houston Texans