I think the by game predictions are too hard as NFL games can be completely random. I usually think of it in sections. Typically 4 game stretches but being lazy so I'll do 8.

at colts, chiefs, texans, falcons and bills in london, colts, at saints, at steelers. I want to say 6-2 but feels like 5-3 to me. Going 0-2 against chiefs and bills seems plausible but then that means 5-1 in the other six games. So I'm leaning towards 1-1 against cheifs and bills and then 4-2 in the remainder. the three games against colts and texans should be wins but who knows. havent seen these young QBs in the NFL so teams won't have as much tape to expose their weaknesses. we could easily slip up. At Steelers could be tough. Not sure how Pickett will have progressed.

niners, titans, at texans, bengals, at browns, ravens, at bucs, panthers. This feels much harder than the first eight games but I'm leaning towards 5-3 here as well. Hopefully the offense will really be clicking by now and praying that we can figure out how to generate some pass rush with what we have. splitting the niners and titans seems reasonable but tough. at bucs seems like only easy game. no idea what to think of panthers.

so 10-6 going into final weekend at tennessee. if that is the case I woudlnt be surprised if the division title is on the line once again.

I'm not quite as optimistic as a lot of people. I worry about the defense. We had a lot of opportunistic turnovers late in the year which we can't rely on again. In theory that should be offset by the bad losses early in the season where hte defense couldnt stop anyone late. Unless some of our young guys develop, I feel like our defense will be worse. No Key and who knows how Smoot will play. Arguably our two best pass rushers last year from a defense that wasn't fantastic. We just dont have a game changer on defense anywhere... unless someone develops.

---