Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season is just around the corner. What better way to raise (or temper) expectations than with a complete breakdown of predictions and projections?
Below is a guide of what to expect once the season kicks off Thursday -- from teams that will score the most points and defenses that will allow the least, to the best and worst positional units in the league, to the toughest schedules -- as well as (very early) predictions for the playoffs and, of course, Super Bowl LII.
Surprise teams
Tennessee Titans: Tennessee has drafted and developed talent well in recent years and revamped at wide receiver (Eric Decker, Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor) and cornerback (Logan Ryan, Adoree' Jackson) during the offseason. They should easily take the AFC South.
Los Angeles Chargers: The injury bug seems to be biting the Chargers for the sixth consecutive year, but the team is still very good on paper. The defense is built around one of the league's best duos at edge rusher (Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram) and cornerback (Jason Verrett, Casey Hayward). Plus, Phillip Rivers' talented and deep supporting cast includes Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles' defense is as good as you'll find on paper. Tim Jernigan, Derek Barnett and Ronald Darby were key additions to a unit that also includes the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Jordan Hicks and Malcolm Jenkins. The team's success will come down to Carson Wentz's Year 2 progression, though the additions of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, as well as, one of the league's best offensive lines will certainly help his cause.
Disappointing teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers are a popular breakout team this season, but I see a franchise whose offseason additions makes them an average team at best. There are some stars in Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Brent Grimes and Gerald McCoy. But the list of liabilities is even longer and includes a poor offensive line, a shaky running back situation and voids and/or depth issues at defensive end, linebacker, defensive back, safety and kicker.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos' quarterback situation is one of the worst in the league, and reliable depth is lacking across the entire offense, which is going to make a playoff push tough despite their top-end defense. The AFC West is one of the league's toughest divisions, which adds to Denver's concerns.
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys lost starting offensive linemen Ronald Leary and Doug Free and four of their top five defensive backs during the offseason. Ezekiel Elliott is suspended for six games and the team will face the league's hardest schedule this season. The offense is good, but the defense ranks among the league's worst units and figures to cost them a playoff berth in 2017.
Just missed the cut: Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants
Highest scoring teams
1. New England Patriots: The Patriots have finished no worse than 10th in the league in offensive points since 2001 and added Brandin Cooks to a unit that ranked third in 2016. Points scored based on my projections: 472.
2. Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta is a new lock to regress to the mean following a historic 2016 season in which the Falcons paced the NFL with 540 points. But this is still a quality offense that can afford to score 100 fewer points and still rank among the best in the league. Points scored based on my projections: 456.
3. New Orleans Saints: The Saints have finished no lower than 12th in the league in points since the Drew Brees and Sean Payton era began in 2006. Points scored based on my projections: 444.
Lowest scoring teams
1. New York Jets: The Jets' offense is worst in the NFL and the team faces a very tough schedule. Points scored based on my projections: 258.
2. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers' patchwork offense is composed primarily of replacement-level players behind Carlos Hyde and Pierre Garcon. Points scored based on my projections: 292.
3. Cleveland Browns: Uncertainty at quarterback and a shaky group of pass-catchers won't be enough to offset a very good offensive line. Points scored based on my projections: 294.
Defenses that will allow the fewest points
1. Seattle Seahawks: In addition to their standout linebacker and safety groups, Seattle's defense also includes Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson and Cliff Avril. Points allowed based on my projections: 319.
2. Houston Texans: Led by J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney, Houston's defense is arguably tops in the NFL. Points allowed based on my projections: 324.
3. New York Giants: Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul, Damon Harrison, Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Landon Collins combine to form one of the game's top defensive cores. Points allowed based on my projections: 332.
Defenses that will allow the most points
1. New Orleans Saints: The Saints made an effort to rebuild the defense this offseason, but it's going to take time for Marshon Lattimore, Alex Anzalone and Trey Hendrickson to make a sizable impact. There are holes on every level behind star Cameron Jordan. Points allowed based on my projections: 424.
2. New York Jets: The Jets have the Leonard Williams-Muhammad Wilkerson duo in place up front, but otherwise this is a unit overloaded with unproven or otherwise poor options. Points allowed based on my projections: 420.
3. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes are quality options up front, but this is an otherwise ugly-looking unit in rebuilding mode. Points allowed based on my projections: 413.
Easiest schedules
1. New England Patriots: New England benefits significantly from playing six games against the division-rival Dolphins, Jets and Bills. Miami is not very good and lost Ryan Tannehill for the year, while New York and Buffalo have sold the farm in hopes of building for the future.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati will face the AFC South and NFC North and divisional opponents Cleveland and Baltimore aren't very good, and their unique games are against Denver and rebuilding Buffalo.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville is a sleeper for a wild card thanks to a schedule that includes matchups with the Colts (twice), Texans (twice), Ravens, Jets, Rams, Browns and 49ers.
Hardest schedules
1. Dallas Cowboys: In addition to playing six games in a tough NFC East, the Cowboys will face the AFC West with unique games against the Falcons and Packers.
2. San Francisco 49ers: The rebuilding 49ers will have their hands full with a schedule that includes four games against Seattle and Arizona and four more against the NFC East. Unique games against Carolina and Chicago aren't as much of a walk in the park as you'd expect for a last-place team.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: The defending AFC West champs open up at New England then play unique games against Houston and Pittsburgh on top of six games against the AFC West and four more against the NFC East.
Best offensive positional units
New England Patriots quarterbacks: Tom Brady is now 40 years old, but he's coming off a season in which he posted a 28:2 touchdown to interception ratio and won the Super Bowl. If he goes down, Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the game's top backups.
Atlanta Falcons running backs: Devonta Freeman leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage over the past two years, which landed him a long-term contract extension. Tevin Coleman is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 9.1 yards per reception in his two NFL seasons.
Green Bay Packers wide receivers: This unit has a superstar in Jordy Nelson, quality second and third options in Davante Adams and Randall Cobb and intriguing, young depth behind them.
New England Patriots tight ends: Rob Gronkowski is arguably the best tight end in NFL history, which even with his injury issues, pushes this unit to the top. Dwayne Allen's play has dropped off since his rookie season, but he's a fine No. 2.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line: The Steelers' line has a good or great starter at all five positions, and the majority of the unit has been together for several seasons. The continuity and high-end talent is enough to rank them as the league's top unit.
Worst offensive positional units
New York Jets quarterbacks: Journeyman Josh McCown is 38 years old and will be backed up by one of the worst second-round picks in recent memory, Christian Hackenberg. Bryce Petty might make a few starts as well. This isn't going to end well.
Indianapolis Colts running backs: I have ton of respect for Frank Gore, but he struggled with efficiency last year, is 34 years old and doesn't have much help behind him. Marlon Mack has potential, but he's an unproven fourth-round pick. Robert Turbin is a replacement-level backup.
New York Jets wide receivers: The Jets' quarterback issues will only be exacerbated by the league's worst group of wideouts. Robby Anderson, Charone Peake, Jalin Marshall, ArDarius Stewart and Jermaine Kearse combine to form what is about as ugly a group as you'll find entering Week 1.
Arizona Cardinals tight ends: Jermaine Gresham plays a limited receiving role and is not a very good blocker. The likes of Troy Niklas and Ifeanyi Momah are behind him on the depth chart.
Seattle Seahawks offensive line: The offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL last year, and very little was done to improve it over the offseason. Justin Britt and newcomer Luke Joeckel are the only players who can be counted on for decent play.
Best defensive positional units
Jacksonville Jaguars interior defensive line: Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell both rank among the best defensive tackles in the league, and the Jaguars managed to acquire both over the past two offseasons. Abry Jones and Sheldon Day provide quality depth inside.
New York Giants edge rushers: Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon provide the Giants with a lethal pass rush. Pierre-Paul missed 5.5 games last year, and yet the duo still combined for 15.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss.
Seattle Seahawks off-ball linebackers: Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright rank among the best linebackers in the game, and both were on the field for at least 97 percent of the Seahawks' defensive snaps last year. The duo combined for 327 total tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Denver Broncos cornerbacks: Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib are top-five NFL cornerbacks. They helped Denver's defense allow an NFL-low 5.8 yards per pass attempt last year. Depth is a bit of a concern, though Bradley Roby is a competent nickel corner.
Seattle Seahawks safeties: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor each missed extended time last season, but both played at a high level when active. The Seahawks signed Bradley McDougald away from Tampa Bay, which gives them one of the league's best No. 3 options at the position.
Worst defensive positional units
Oakland Raiders interior line: Recent second-round picks Mario Edwards (injured most of last year) and Jihad Ward (ineffective) have yet to pan out, and 2017 third-rounder Eddie Vanderdoes is currently positioned for a large rookie-season role.
Jacksonville Jaguars edge rushers: The Jaguars are stacked defensively, but their defensive end situation leaves a lot to be desired, at least in nickel situations. Once Calais Campbell kicks inside, youngsters Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler Jr. will be counted on to handle a majority of the team's pass rush.
Oakland Raiders linebackers: They failed to re-sign resurgent Perry Riley Jr. and will instead go with an incredibly underwhelming group that includes Cory James, Tyrell Adams, Nicholas Morrow and 2017 fifth-round pick Marquel Lee, who is currently the favorite to start Week 1 at middle linebacker.
Buffalo Bills cornerbacks: The Bills shipped Ronald Darby to the Eagles, which means 2017 first-round pick Tre'Davious White will be the team's top corner. E.J. Gaines, Leonard Johnson and Shareece Wright will also play sizable roles.
Buffalo Bills safeties: Buffalo added versatile Micah Hyde at safety and he'll be joined back deep by Jordan Poyer, Colt Anderson and Trae Elston.
AFC playoff teams
1. New England Patriots: The defending champs remain the best all-around team in the NFL.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Their defensive prospects need to turn the corner this year, but the offense remains stocked with talent.
3. Tennessee Titans: Nothing is certain in the NFL, but the Titans feel like a safe pick to take the AFC South this year.
4. Los Angeles Chargers: The surprise breakout team of 2017 just needs some better luck in the injury department.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: They have the league's easiest schedule, a solid defense and an incredible group of offensive skill guys.
6. Oakland Raiders: An obvious contender to take the AFC West, but a tougher schedule and weak defense are roadblocks for them.
NFC playoff teams
1. Atlanta Falcons: The offense will come back to earth, but the defense will be better.
2. Seattle Seahawks: A healthy Russell Wilson combined with an elite defense should be able to overcome a bad offensive line.
3. Green Bay Packers: The defense still has problems, but Aaron Rodgers is elite and will lead this team to another division crown.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: The tightest division in football goes to a team in good or great shape at nearly every single position. Carson Wentz will make or break this prediction.
5. Carolina Panthers: The 2015 NFC champs are a strong bounce-back pick considering the presence of Cam Newton and a defense that remains loaded.
6. Arizona Cardinals: Extremely unlucky last year, Arizona is solid on both sides of the ball and has a light schedule in 2017.
Top five in 2018 NFL draft
1. New York Jets: One of the worst Week 1 rosters in recent memory, and not by accident. The Jets are in full-on rebuild mode and will have their shot at an elite quarterback prospect next April.
2. San Francisco 49ers: New head coach Kyle Shanahan won't be able to work a miracle overnight, especially against a tough schedule.
3. Cleveland Browns: The personnel is improving, but this is still a young team with many voids.
4. Los Angeles Rams: New head coach Sean McVay will need some time to turn this team around, though a big second-year leap from Jared Goff would go a long way.
5. Buffalo Bills: The Bills all but committed to a rebuild season when they dumped Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby for picks and inferior players.
Super Bowl prediction
New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons: New England beats Atlanta in a Super Bowl LI rematch. Too easy of a pick? Maybe. But the Patriots are the best team in the NFL.