Every year, the NFL’s communications department is eager to point out how many nonplayoff teams from the previous season either qualify for the postseason or win their divisions the next season. The league’s go-to parity stat is that during 17 of the past 18 seasons at least two division winners were teams that did not make the playoffs the prior year.
We shall see if that comes to fruition this season.
Here’s a look at how our Steelers beat reporters see the 2021 NFL season playing out:
AFC
East
Chris Adamski: Bills
Tim Benz: Bills
Joe Rutter: Bills
North
Adamski: Browns
Benz: Browns
Rutter: Browns
South
Adamski: Titans
Benz: Titans
Rutter: Titans
West
Adamski: Chiefs
Benz: Chiefs
Rutter: Chiefs
Wild cards
Adamski: Steelers, Chargers, Raiders
Benz: Patriots, Steelers, Chargers
Rutter: Steelers, Chargers, Colts
AFC championship
Adamski: Bills over Chiefs
Benz: Bills over Titans
Rutter: Bills over Browns
NFC
East
Adamski: Cowboys
Benz: Cowboys
Rutter: Washington
North
Adamski: Packers
Benz: Packers
Rutter: Packers
South
Adamski: Buccaneers
Benz: Buccaneers
Rutter: Buccaneers
West
Adamski: Rams
Benz: Rams
Rutter: Rams
Wild cards
Adamski: Washington, Cardinals, 49ers
Benz: Seahawks, Cardinals, Vikings
Rutter: Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks
NFC championship
Adamski: Packers over Rams
Benz: Tampa Bay over Rams
Rutter: Packers over Buccaneers
Super Bowl
Adamski: Green Bay over Buffalo
Benz: Tampa Bay over Buffalo
Rutter: Buffalo over Green Bay
Awards
MVP
Adamski: Josh Allen, Bills
Benz: Tom Brady, Buccaneers
Rutter: Josh Allen, Bills
Offensive player of the year
Adamski: Josh Allen, Bills
Benz: Josh Allen, Bills
Rutter: Justin Herbert, Chargers
Defensive player of the year
Adamski: Aaron Donald, Rams
Benz: Aaron Donald, Rams
Rutter: Chase Young, Washington
Offensive rookie of the year
Adamski: Zach Wilson, Jets
Benz: Najee Harris, Steelers
Rutter: Kyle Pitts, Falcons
Defensive rookie of the year
Adamski: Kwity Paye, Colts
Benz: Greg Newsome, Browns
Rutter: Jaycee Horn, Panthers
Comeback player of the year
Adamski: Jameis Winston, Saints
Benz: Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Rutter: Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
