By Matt Neach and Chris Bergeron, Sports Reporters
The NFL is back! The NFL has undergone some major changes this year, adding a seventeenth game to the regular season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to win back-to-back Super Bowls, having brought back all twenty-two starters from the championship season. Two local teams, the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Football Team, look to qualify for the playoffs in the biggest season ever. Here is what we think will go down!
Washington Football Team
Week 1: Vs. Los Angeles Chargers L
Week 2: Vs. New York Giants W
The WFT has had a rough patch against their NFC East rival the New York Giants. I believe they will break their five game losing streak to the Giants.
Week 3: @ Buffalo Bills L
Week 4: @ Atlanta Falcons W
Week 5: Vs. New Orleans Saints L
The Washington Football Team will lose a close one to the Saints. Jameis Winston is taking over for the future HOF QB Drew Brees. The Saints have one of the best running-backs in the league and with Washington struggling at the linebacker position it will be tough for them to stop.
Week 6: Vs. Kansas City Chiefs L
Even with the WFT having a top defense in the league, the Chiefs’ offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, will have an easy week securing a victory. .
Week 7: @ Green Bay Packers L
Week 8: @ Denver Broncos W
Week 10: Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers L
The Super Bowl champs have all of their starters from last year returning, which is going to be a tough matchup for the WFT.
Week 11: @ Carolina Panthers W
Week 12: Vs. Seattle Seahawks L
The Washington Football Team will not be able to slow down one of the league's best quarterbacks, Russell Wilson.
Week 13: @ Las Vegas Raiders W
Week 14: Vs. Dallas Cowboys W
Week 15: @ Philadelphia Eagles W
The Washington Football Team is going to take down the Eagles, who are struggling for a divisional matchup.
Week 16: @ Dallas Cowboys L
The Football team is going to try to get another sweep against their greatest rivals the Dallas Cowboys but will fail.
Week 17: Vs. Philadelphia Eagles W
Week 18: @ New York Giants L
Final Record: 8-9; Second in NFC East
Baltimore Ravens
Week 1: @ Las Vegas Raiders W
Week 2: Vs. Kansas City Chiefs L
The Chiefs have had the Ravens’ number, ever since Lamar Jackson was drafted. Since the Ravens usually start off slow, it’s a safe bet the Chiefs will be taking another one from the Ravens.
Week 3: @ Detroit Lions W
Week 4: @ Denver Broncos W
Week 5: Vs. Indianapolis Colts W
With Carson Wentz and one of the most balanced rosters in the league, this season the Colts are going to be a force to be reckoned with. I think the Ravens will take a tough one from the Colts with a stellar performance by Lamar Jackson.
Week 6: Vs. Los Angeles Chargers L
The Chargers are a young and upcoming team with reigning Offensive Rookie of The Year Justin Herbert and a good defense. The Ravens tend to have trouble against QB’s who air out the ball, and Herbert is one of the best at that.
Week 7: Vs. Cincinnati Bengals W
Week 9: Vs. Minnesota Vikings W
Week 10: @ Miami Dolphins W
The Ravens have a long history of beating the Dolphins, and this year I predict history will repeat itself. With a young and inexperienced Tua Tagovailoa, I think the Dolphins will have some offensive struggles that the Ravens defense will take advantage of.
Week 11: @ Chicago Bears W
Week 12: Vs. Cleveland Browns L
The Browns have gotten a lot better and deserve respect. They have the best running back duo in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and a well balanced defense. There's usually one game where the Ravens’ run defense falls apart, and I have that happening in Week 12.
Week 13: @ Pittsburgh Steelers L
Week 14: @ Cleveland Browns W
Week 15: Vs. Green Bay Packers L
The Packers will always be one of the best teams in the league as long as Aaron Rodgers is their QB. I think the 2020 MVP will have a stellar game, and torch the Ravens’ secondary.
Week 16: @ Cincinnati Bengals W
Week 17: Vs. Los Angeles Rams W
This is a tough game to predict. The Rams are just a solid team, they have a great QB in Matthew Stafford and one of the best defensive tackles of all time, Aaron Donald. The Ravens always play well against the Rams, and I think they can put up a contest against the Rams’ depleted secondary minus Jalen Ramsey.
Week 18: Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W
The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is one of the best in all of sports. The Steelers are collapsing, with 39 year old Ben Roethlisberger still starting at quarterback and one of the league’s worst offensive lines. I’ve got the Ravens winning this go around in the rivalry.