NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Way too early bold predictions for the 2022 NFL season

By Lou Scataglia

NFL Power Rankings: Quarterback Carson Wentz of the Washington Commanders (Center) stands with head coach Ron Rivera (L) and Co-owner and co-CEO Tanya Snyder (R) after being introduced at Inova Sports Performance Center on March 17, 2022 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
NFL Power Rankings: Quarterback Carson Wentz of the Washington Commanders (Center) stands with head coach Ron Rivera (L) and Co-owner and co-CEO Tanya Snyder (R) after being introduced at Inova Sports Performance Center on March 17, 2022 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
NFL
NFL: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts behind Joey Bosa #97 the Los Angeles Chargers after his touchdown pass to Travis Kelce #87 for an 34-28 win at SoFi Stadium on December 16, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Way too early bold predictions for the 2022 NFL season

3. All four AFC West teams make the playoffs

How about this?  Now that the NFL has expanded the playoff teams to seven per conference, it’s possible for an entire division to make the playoffs.

In 2021, the Chiefs and Raiders clinched playoff spots.  Obviously, the Chiefs made the playoffs, and they’ll surely make it again this season, even with no Tyreek Hill.

The Raiders had a rocky 2021 season, which somehow ended with them winning 10 games.

I think the Raiders are clearly the 4th best team in the division, but they added a ton of solid players in free agency and made a big trade for Davante Adams.

I think them going 10-7 again is likely, even with a new coaching staff.

The Chargers and Broncos did not qualify for the NFL playoffs in 2021, but both teams got significantly better at what they didn’t do well in 2021.

The Chargers’ defense was among the NFL’s worst in 2021, so they added J.C. Jackson, Khalil Mack, and Sebastian Joseph-Day in free agency to help fix that.

Denver’s offense couldn’t move the ball with Teddy Bridgewater, so they made a huge move for Russell Wilson.

Now, all four teams in the AFC West are rock solid and it would not surprise me if all of them made the postseason. This would obviously mean that only the division winners from the other three divisions would make it.

With a seven-team NFL playoff format, we are bound to see an entire division clinch playoff berths, and I think 2022 could see this happen.

Home/NFL