So long, Super Bowl LIII. We're moving on to 2019. Our panel of ESPN NFL experts is taking an early look at the offseason, answering the biggest questions on free agency, the draft and the season ahead.
The topics our panel has hit so far (click the links to see the answers):
Which 2018 rookie will make the biggest jump in Year 2?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Dante Pettis, WR, 49ers. From Weeks 10 through 16, we saw the skills of Pettis as a route runner; during that stretch, he caught 24 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns. He also exhibits clean footwork and the speed to separate. And he is playing in one of the best passing systems in the league under coach Kyle Shanahan. With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo back in next season, the second-round pick Pettis could put up some legit numbers.
Mike Clay, fantasy writer: James Washington, WR, Steelers. The Steelers have a lengthy résumé of developing wide receivers into stars, and Washington could be next. The second-round pick underwhelmed as a rookie, but he was an explosive downfield playmaker at Oklahoma State and last preseason. If Antonio Brown is traded, Washington will be sitting pretty for No. 2 duties opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster in one of the league's top-scoring offenses.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks. It's great what Chris Carson did to keep Penny at bay and hold onto the starting job last season. I just don't think it will last. Penny runs with a mean streak and, in flashes, looked like everything the Seahawks imagined he would be when they took him in last year's first round. I think Penny takes control of the backfield this spring and summer and the Seahawks look to move Carson in a trade while his value is still high.
KC Joyner, fantasy writer: Sam Darnold, QB, Jets. Darnold led the league in Total QBR over the final four weeks of the 2018 season (80.7). That elite trend could continue under new coach Adam Gase, who was lambasted for his initial news conference with the Jets but actually should be lauded for getting as much out of the limited Ryan Tannehill as he did during his Miami tenure.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals. It can't get worse, right? I thought Rosen showed flashes of potential early, but the Cardinals' porous offensive line and lack of weaponry hindered his development. I'm not sure if he'll take a Jared Goff-style leap under new coach Kliff Kingsbury, but I imagine Rosen will take a few steps forward in the new offense.
Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior writer: Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns. I know what you're thinking: Mayfield was downright sensational as a rookie. Yep. He was. And don't be at all surprised when he rockets to an All-Pro level in Year 2. Granted, a lot of people don't like some of his antics. I get that. Here's the only thing that matters, though: This guy is a straight baller.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Deon Cain, WR, Colts. The sixth-round pick was looking like a potential draft steal before a torn ACL ended his rookie season during training camp. He'll have a chance to become a big-play threat in his second season. Seattle's Penny is another one to watch after a quiet rookie season that lowered outside expectations.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Maximizing Goedert in an offense largely centered around tight end Zach Ertz proved more difficult than the Eagles probably anticipated. Still, Goedert finished his rookie season with 33 receptions, including 12 in his final four games, and the Eagles now have an entire offseason to find more ways to get him the ball.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Sam Darnold, QB, Jets. The early returns on Darnold were solid, led by dashes of brilliance in his rookie season. Darnold has an advanced mind, arm talent and a host of the other traits you look for in a quarterback. His decision-making will improve, and the Jets should boast a stronger supporting cast around him.
If free-agent QB Teddy Bridgewater isn't in New Orleans in Week 1, he'll be in ______.
Mike Triplett, Saints reporter: Miami. If it were solely up to Bridgewater, he should want the Giants. He could thrive right away with all of that offensive talent in New York, and he's familiar with coach Pat Shurmur from their time together in Minnesota. But that works only if the Giants are ready to cut Eli Manning, which is a huge "if" at this point. So I'll go with Bridgewater's hometown Dolphins, who are even more likely to add a veteran quarterback and showed some interest in him last year. Either way, I expect Bridgewater to sign a short-term deal so he can try to increase his value by succeeding on the field -- and maybe have more options available the next time around, including a possible return to New Orleans.
Bowen: Washington. Drafting a quarterback on Day 1 or Day 2 should be on the table here. And with Alex Smith potentially unable to play in 2019, look for Washington to target Bridgewater on a two-year deal, similar to the contract Sam Bradford landed in Arizona last year.
Clay: Miami. New coach Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea will be looking to overhaul the roster, and the rebuild figures to start at quarterback. If Ryan Tannehill is cut loose, Bridgewater would make sense as a short-term (and potential long-term) fix. Offering competition in the form of a trade (Jacoby Brissett?) or draft selection also would make sense.
Graziano: New York, with the Giants. The chatter coming out of East Rutherford indicates that the Giants plan to continue starting Manning until sea-level rise forces them to move to Des Moines. But I have to think that, at some point, they wake up and realize that (a) this isn't 2011 and (b) the young stars in their locker room are aching for a change, even if they won't disrespect Manning by saying it out loud. A Bridgewater-Giants pairing makes sense for both sides. Even if the Giants do take a quarterback in the first round this year, it won't be one they're eager to start right away. Bring in Teddy on a short-term deal for eight figures a year and sell him on the opportunity to put up big numbers with Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. around him and parlay that into the deal of his dreams a year or two down the road.
Joyner: Jacksonville. The Jaguars do their analytics homework and will know that Bridgewater passed all seven of the all-important Parcells Rules prior to the 2014 draft. They have a Super Bowl ceiling with the right quarterback under center, and Bridgewater's skills would fit superbly well in Jacksonville.
Kimes: Washington. The Giants might also take a look, but reports suggest they'll keep Manning on the roster -- and because they're the team with the highest draft pick that also needs a quarterback, I think they're more likely to bring on a rookie. Washington needs a replacement for Smith and can't afford to spend much on said replacement, which is why Bridgewater represents the best available option.
Reid: Washington. The Redskins' perpetual search for salvation at QB will lead them to Bridgewater.
Sando: Washington. Bridgewater might be best off staying in New Orleans and waiting for Drew Brees to retire, but the Redskins will need a Smith contingency that goes beyond Colt McCoy. Carolina would be an interesting under-the-radar consideration for Bridgewater if Cam Newton's shoulder responds poorly to surgery. Bridgewater's former coaches, Norv and Scott Turner, are running the offense there.
Seifert: Washington. Bridgewater won't find a better chance to play regularly in 2019, assuming the Jaguars land Nick Foles, and the Redskins won't find many better options to replace Smith. Although he hasn't started a regular-season game since 2015, Bridgewater showed during the 2018 preseason that his right knee is healthy enough to support a return to the field.
Yates: New York, with the Giants. I think an overlooked aspect of why the Giants bypassed taking a quarterback last offseason in the draft is that general manager Dave Gettleman was not enamored enough with the prospects (and was obviously a massive fan of Barkley). Here we are a year later with the Giants in a weaker position to draft a quarterback in a weaker class of prospects. Bridgewater represents a veteran fix.
Design a realistic offseason trade that helps both teams:
Clay: Dolphins trade WR DeVante Parker to Colts for QB Jacoby Brissett. Both players will be unrestricted free agents after the 2019 season. Parker would get a fresh start and add size to the perimeter opposite T.Y. Hilton in Indianapolis. Brissett, buried on the depth chart behind Andrew Luck, would have an opportunity to compete for a starting job in Miami. New Dolphins coach Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea were both on the New England staff when the Patriots drafted Brissett in 2016.
Graziano: Jags trade RB Leonard Fournette to Eagles for QB Nick Foles. Why not? The Jaguars have clearly soured on Fournette, and the Eagles obviously don't need Foles at the franchise-tag price. Fournette would give Philadelphia the kind of back LeGarrette Blount was for them during their Super Bowl run (only better, if he can stay healthy), and the salary relief (Fournette is scheduled to make about $2.9 million this year and $4.2 million next) could help Jacksonville take on Foles on a new contract.
Joyner: Jags trade CB Jalen Ramsey to Eagles for a first-round pick. Philadelphia doesn't have anyone in its secondary who can shut down Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr. or the rest of the powerhouse NFC wide receivers. A first-round pick is a big price to pay, but Ramsey hasn't been happy in Jacksonville and could be a perfect fit for a team with Super Bowl ambitions.
Reid: Bills trade RB LeSean McCoy to Redskins for a late-round pick. The Redskins got an incredible 2018 season from 33-year-old Adrian Peterson, who had a whole lot more left than I thought he did. But Peterson is a free agent. Washington could just sit back and hope that Derrius Guice, who as a rookie suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the preseason, rebounds in a big way in 2019. Or the Redskins could also bring in Shady McCoy, who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Sando: 49ers trade QB Nick Mullens to Broncos for a late-round pick. The 49ers would be banking on Jimmy Garoppolo and 2017 third-round choice C.J. Beathard being their top two quarterbacks. The Broncos would be getting a quarterback versed in the offensive system new coordinator Rich Scangarello is bringing from San Francisco. Denver could still draft a QB and bring back Case Keenum as the bridge. The Broncos own eight picks in the draft's final four rounds. Why not spend one for Mullens?
Seifert: Dolphins trade CB Xavien Howard to Raiders for No. 24 overall draft pick. The Raiders have three first-round picks, making coach Jon Gruden more likely to move one of them. It might sound crazy for the Dolphins to trade a Pro Bowl cornerback before he turns 26, but they appear headed toward a rebuild and Howard is arguably their most valuable asset. Trading him now also would allow the Dolphins to avoid paying the massive contract extension Howard is likely to get in the next year.
Yates: Bills trade RB LeSean McCoy to Eagles for a 2019 fifth-round pick. This idea was floated in advance of the trade deadline following the early-season injury to Jay Ajayi, with reasons to understand the motivation; the Eagles were one of just two teams to not have a single player rush for 100 or more yards this past season. McCoy enters the final year of his contract and has seen a declining level of production over the past two seasons. A change of scenery could spark a return to form and allow Philly to streamline its backfield.
Who will be the Jaguars' starting QB in Week 1 next season?
Mike DiRocco, Jaguars reporter: Dwayne Haskins or another rookie draft pick. Jacksonville likely will sign a lower-tier veteran free agent and draft a quarterback. It's hard to see the Jaguars being willing to give up draft picks and pay the $25 million franchise-tag number for Nick Foles, especially since they're stuck with $16.5 million in dead money for Blake Bortles. If Foles were a free agent, they'd more likely be in on him, but adding a veteran like Josh McCown (who spent a year in Cleveland with new Jags offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) and drafting a QB over a trade seems like the more prudent approach. Ohio State signal-caller Haskins was the Jaguars' top QB during their in-season evaluations.
Bowen: Nick Foles. The Jags could be in the mix for a first-round quarterback. But I like the fit of Foles in Jacksonville as an aggressive pocket thrower who also can target defenses off play-action, which is key to the Jags' game plan.
Clay: Ryan Tannehill. Like most, I believe the Jaguars need to find a veteran who can compete with a first-round rookie quarterback. Once released by Miami -- which the front office has hinted at -- Tannehill will offer the Jaguars a conservative passer whose job it will be to "shorten" games for a terrific defense by avoiding turnovers and handing the ball off to Leonard Fournette as often as possible. Oh, and Tannehill will get to stay in Florida.
Graziano: Nick Foles. It made sense to begin with, and adding DeFilippo gave it even more legs. This is an unusual buyer's market at quarterback, with more veterans seeking starting jobs than teams able to offer them, so it shouldn't cost Jacksonville an arm and a leg to extend Foles. And if the Eagles are intent on trading him (as opposed to letting him hit the market and risk him signing with an NFC East team), the Jags are a sufficiently far-away option to make them happy as well.
Joyner: Teddy Bridgewater. The Jaguars have a strong analytics department and will know the value of the Parcells Rules for drafting quarterbacks. Bridgewater passed all of those guidelines in college and would be the perfect fit for an offense that needs a playmaker who also can play it safe when the defense and running game give him the lead.
Kimes: Nick Foles. About a month ago, I thought the Jaguars would pursue Joe Flacco; Foles presents a better option for a team that wants a prototypical pocket passer. The Jaguars don't have much cap space, but I don't see many teams vying to give Foles a long-term deal, so the cost shouldn't get out of hand.
Reid: Nick Foles. This one has Foles written all over it. I just don't believe Jacksonville executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin will go with a rookie. I mean, the Jaguars don't have forever here.
Sando: Drew Lock or another rookie draft pick. Under this scenario, the Jaguars will decide that moving on from Bortles is in the best interests of all parties, but they won't want to pay $18 million to $25 million per year for a veteran castoff who might not deliver a substantive upgrade or hope for the future. Trying to trade for Matthew Stafford was a long-shot idea that also came to mind. It might be a Hail Mary, but if the Lions decided to start over, the Jaguars could view Stafford as the difference-making QB they have lacked.
Seifert: Nick Foles. It's hard to believe that Coughlin would choose this moment to start over with a rookie quarterback. Nor would it make sense for coach Doug Marrone, entering a crucial third year of his tenure in Jacksonville, to sign off on that. Foles makes too much sense here, especially when you consider his connections to DeFilippo.
Yates: Nick Foles. The Jaguars are set to rework their roster, but that doesn't mean tear it down and start over. There's far too much talent to venture down that road, but a face-lift is needed. Foles is the most obvious option for the team to pursue, as he represents an upgrade over Bortles with the most recent run of production among available veteran signal-callers.
Max Kellerman states his case that if Nick Foles does find another team, the Giants and Vikings would be good destinations for him.
Where will Le'Veon Bell be playing in 2019?
Jeremy Fowler, Steelers reporter: Raiders. The Jets are a trendy pick and should be players for Bell, but the Raiders check just about every box: They are well-stocked with cap space, lack quality running backs under the age of 30, need star power for the transition to Las Vegas and have general manager Mike Mayock, who once called Bell the game's best all-around back and a versatile model for modern ball carriers. And don't forget about the Eagles, who Bell believed wanted to trade for him at last year's deadline.
Bowen: Jets. Bell's rare talent is a fit with multiple teams. But I look at the enormous cap space in New York and the need to upgrade the running back position. Give quarterback Sam Darnold a high-percentage target in the passing game and utilize Bell's versatility.
Clay: Raiders. Mayock and coach Jon Gruden have a ton of cap space with which to work, and adding a playmaker or two for Derek Carr will be a priority. Incumbent backs Marshawn Lynch (32 years old) and Doug Martin (30) are both free agents, opening up space for Bell, who would immediately step in as a 20-plus-touch player, while adding star power as the team prepares for its move to Las Vegas.
Graziano: Texans. The Jets and Raiders make sense for all of the reasons everyone here is saying, but what if Bell wants to play for a contender? Houston has won its division three out of the past four years, has an ascendant young quarterback in Deshaun Watson and a No. 1 receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. Adding Bell to the mix -- the Texans have the cap space and can easily get out of Lamar Miller's deal -- would help them build the kind of dynamic offense you need to compete for the top seed in the AFC. They weren't that far off from it this season.
Joyner: Chiefs. This began as an effort for Bell to get more money, but it's also now personal to him. This combination will make him want to pursue a team that can pay him big dollars and give him a chance to get even with the Steelers. Kansas City could provide a perfect fit, as the Chiefs currently have the eighth-lowest cap hit number in 2019 and Spencer Ware is a free agent. Acquiring Bell might be just what Kansas City needs to jump through the currently open Super Bowl window.
Kimes: Jets. The Adam Gase hiring makes me a little apprehensive about picking New York; in Miami, Gase was quick to move on from players he felt didn't adhere to the team's "culture," and Bell might not fit his desired mold. But it makes sense from a financial and football perspective, given the Jets' copious cap space and their needs on offense.
Sando: Jets. I'm tempted to suggest the Baltimore Ravens as a great place for Bell to take out his frustrations if the market for him fails to materialize as hoped. The Jets probably make the most sense, however, because they need offensive help for Darnold and GM Mike Maccagnan could be facing a make-or-break season. It'll be interesting to see how much sway Gase has in setting up the team for the long term. He went away from bigger-name veteran players in his final year with Miami.
Seifert: Raiders. Bell seems desirous of a precedent-setting, free-agent contract. Can you think of another team more likely to pay a 27-year-old running back more money than anyone at his position has ever received? The Jets connection is a popular choice, but the Raiders are much more likely to outbid.
Yates: Jets. Maccagnan is equipped with close to $100 million in cap space and a need for immediate improvement of his roster. His most immediate path there is to develop Darnold and surround him with impressive talent. Bell wants a market-shattering contract, but that opportunity might not exist, even on the open market. The Jets still have plenty of resources to allocate and secure an offense-changing back.
Who is the sneaky-good free agent teams should covet next month?
Bowen: Bryce Callahan, CB, Bears. The nickel corner is a starter in today's NFL. And Callahan's 2018 film is pretty solid. He can match routes inside of the numbers and play the ball at the point of attack. Plus, Callahan has a good feel for blitzing in substitution-package pressure schemes. At 27, Callahan's best fit is back in Chicago given the expected carryover of the defense with new coordinator Chuck Pagano. If Callahan hits the market, however, teams should line up for him.
Clay: Tre Boston, S, Cardinals. Remember the disrespect safeties dealt with during free agency last season? Boston was one of them, managing only a one-year, $500,000 contract with Arizona. After crushing it with the Chargers in 2017, Boston was terrific while playing 85 percent of the Cardinals' defensive snaps last season. The 26-year-old deserves a pay raise and a multiyear deal.
Graziano: Trey Flowers, DE, Patriots. He averages only seven sacks a season, so he's likely not going to command big pass-rusher money. But Flowers plays every position on the defensive line for the Patriots, and he's consistent in terms of pressuring quarterbacks, even if other guys are better at bringing them down.
Joyner: Josh Lambo, K, Jaguars. The margin for error in kicking is lower now for teams than at maybe any time in NFL history. With that in mind, many teams should have interest in Lambo, who ranks third in field goal percentage over the past two seasons (92.7 percent).
Kimes: Pierre Desir, CB, Colts. The 2018 season marked a breakout year for the 28-year-old defensive back, who bounced around the NFL before emerging as a starter in Indianapolis. After a consistent campaign that was capped by a strong performance in the playoffs, Desir should draw interest across the league.
Reid: Trey Flowers, DE, Patriots. Flowers plays all along the defensive line, is a high-motor guy and is good in the locker room. He won't come cheaply, but he's a really good football player.
Sando: Kareem Hunt, RB. Hunt is off the radar at this point, but if the NFL does not suspend him, he will presumably resurface and produce on a low-dollar contract. (Hunt has since signed with the Browns.)
Seifert: Matt Paradis, C, Broncos. Few on the outside appreciate how good Paradis has made himself. Every team wants a great left tackle, but they're almost impossible to find in free agency. Absent of that, a top-end center can transform an offensive line just as quickly.
Yates: Kerry Wynn, DE, Giants. The focus on pass-rushers this offseason will be via a robust free-agent class and top-tier group of draft prospects, but Wynn is a name to keep an eye on in the second wave of the open market. While his sack production has been minimal, he generates pressure as a rotational edge rusher and can contribute on special teams.
Which team should be the early favorite to pick No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft?
Bowen: Dolphins. I've been through a coaching change as a player in the NFL, and that transition can be rough, especially for a team such as Miami with a limited roster, plus an expected change coming at quarterback. Look for the Dolphins to hit the reset button in 2019 as they turn over the locker room and build a new identity.
Clay: Dolphins. Quarterback uncertainty? Check. Overhauled coaching staff? Check. Holes on the offensive line? Check. Uninspiring offensive skill position players? Check. Multiple defensive voids (especially in the front seven)? Check. Minimal cap space? You guessed it -- check. This franchise has a lot of work to do this offseason to avoid plummeting in the standings.
Graziano: Cardinals ... again. Josh Rosen is starting over in Year 2 with a new coaching staff and a completely untested coach, with lots of work still to do to make the roster respectable. ... The Cardinals are a long ways off.
Joyner: Dolphins. Adam Gase was the subject of a lot of jokes in his first news conference with the Jets, but let's not forget that he got fired despite getting seven wins out of a Dolphins team that has three- or four-win-caliber talent. Add that to the transition woes inherent under a new coach, and the bottom is likely to drop out on Miami in 2019.
Reid: Cardinals. They are a complete mess. It's fair to question the overall direction of the organization, and the roster needs a ton of work. I mean, it wouldn't be surprising if Arizona had to start all over again in a couple of seasons.
Sando: Dolphins. They are willingly entering a rebuilding phase without a difference-making quarterback and without especially high draft choices. They were one of two teams (the Cardinals were the other) to finish 2018 with zero games in which both their offense and defense were at least average in ESPN's efficiency metrics. Miami lost five games by at least 17 points (only Arizona lost more of those, with six).
Seifert: Cardinals. Not enough people recognize the unusual approach the Cardinals are taking to dig out of their hole. They hired a failed college coach (Kliff Kingsbury) because they think he is a good playcaller, will start a quarterback (Rosen) who ranked last in the NFL in Total QBR and have a coaching staff hired by the general manager. Sometimes different is good, but this arrangement has a chance to bomb spectacularly.
Yates: Bengals. Cincinnati could find itself in a quarterback transition phase, and the defense has glaring holes. Patience shouldn't be a problem for Zac Taylor, as the Bengals just showed as much with Marvin Lewis to try to get over the top. Now, with Taylor in tow, the Bengals should face an honest reality about their franchise trajectory and allow him the time to build things back up.
Who's your pick to be next season's MVP?
Bowen: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. I'm betting on Rodgers' talent here and a new offensive system under new coach Matt LaFleur that will mesh more with the modern passing game. Expect misdirection and play-action to generate open window throws for Rodgers while keeping him on schedule in the pocket to dice up opposing secondaries.
Clay: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. Rodgers had a down year in 2018, but I expect him to bounce back in a big way. Each member of one of the league's top offensive lines is under contract, and Green Bay could add another reliable receiver opposite Davante Adams. LaFleur should add life to a stagnant offense.
Graziano: Drew Brees, QB, Saints. I'm all-in on the Saints, and there will be all kinds of pro-Brees sentiment next season after his loss to Mahomes in 2018.
Joyner: Andrew Luck, QB, Colts. He had a higher Total QBR than Mahomes during the second half of the season and did it with worse skill-position talent around him. If the Colts' front office closes that talent gap this offseason, Luck can outplay Mahomes -- and every other player in the league.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. After a season like the one he just had, there's reason to think Mahomes -- or the weapons around him -- could regress. But he's too talented and, more importantly, too consistent to bet against.
Reid: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. This one is a no-brainer. The scary thing is the 23-year-old should be even better next season. Well, the scary thing for the rest of the league, anyway.
Sando: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. He looks like the safest choice based on his age and talent in combination with his team's coaching and weapons.
Seifert: Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks. Lost in the weekly debate about the Seahawks' running emphasis was that Wilson had one of the best passing seasons of his career, with 35 touchdown passes, seven interceptions and 9.0 adjusted yards per attempt. If coach Pete Carroll shifts the ratio just a bit, Wilson is ready to put up MVP-type numbers.
Yates: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. It has been a decade since this award was won by the same player in consecutive seasons, when Peyton Manning secured the honor in both 2008 and 2009. It stands to reason that Mahomes should improve as a player -- even if not statistically-- in 2019, just his second full season as a starter.
What's your way-too-early Super Bowl LIV pick?
Bowen: Chargers over Bears. Philip Rivers played lights-out football in 2018. With a balanced offense that features an old-school run game, plus the rising talent of wide receiver Mike Williams and a healthy tight end Hunter Henry, I expect Rivers to play at an MVP level next season. Pair that with a defense anchored by two bookend pass-rushers and a physical secondary? Yeah, I'll roll with L.A. to win the title over a Bears team that could have an even better defense than we saw in 2018.
Clay: Saints over Chiefs. I picked the Saints in 2018 because of their talented and deep group of starters on both sides of the ball. They came up just short, but with nearly every impact player still under contract for 2019, Drew Brees and friends are primed for another run.
Graziano: Saints over Texans. The Saints might have had the best team in the league each of the past two seasons and lost two playoff games in utterly heartbreaking fashion. They will break through this time, ending an impressive playoff run by Deshaun Watson and a Houston team that will load up in the offseason.
Joyner: Rams over Chiefs. Kansas City went undefeated in games in which it allowed 28 or fewer points this season. The problem? It had seven games with 29-plus points allowed. The defense must take a major step forward under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams, meanwhile, are still ascending and should be stellar again in Sean McVay's third season in charge.
Kimes: Chiefs over Rams. Statistics show it's harder to repeat elite performance on defense, which is why I'm predicting that two of the league's most explosive offenses will show up in Miami next February. The Chiefs should patch some of the holes in their secondary by then.
Reid: Chiefs over Rams. One name tells the story: Patrick Mahomes. We're witnessing the beginning of the Mahomes era in the NFL. In a quarterback league, the Chiefs have the best quarterback -- and he's about to begin a spectacular run. This is going to be so much fun.
Sando: Patriots over Seahawks. These teams are 1-2 in NFL win percentage since Russell Wilson's rookie season in 2012. New England is always in the mix. Seattle's ability to win 10 games during a rebuilding season served notice that Pete Carroll's team will be contending sooner rather than later. Minnesota is another interesting dark horse from the NFC.
Seifert: Chiefs over Saints. Andy Reid made a tough but necessary postseason change, hiring Spagnuolo to replace defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. If Spagnuolo can refresh the defensive scheme and combine with Reid's ever-evolving offense and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub's always excellent work, the Chiefs are ready to take the next step. Meanwhile, the Saints have demonstrated that they can come back stronger than ever after a postseason disappointment.
Yates: Patriots over Saints. The offseason blueprint for New Orleans is to keep the band together, which shouldn't be tough, given that the vast majority of its core is under contract for 2019. The Patriots have shown that this team's run of consistency is not set to expire anytime soon; they continue to set a standard of excellence.