Mainz's Musing Week 1: We made it!
Every week I will be giving you my thoughts on the week ahead, and how it may pan out. Given the events of the past 12 months it is great to be here and finally have football back, but what should we expect from this season? Let me help you figure that out.
Thought 1: Is Home advantage going to be a thing early on?
Some teams thrive off the roars of their home crowd, some teams (including mine) do not get such an advantage…. With teams limited to little or no fans in the stadium it will be interesting to see if home advantage is a thing at all this year.
Ok, teams will have the comfort of knowing their surroundings, but the noise the defense can use to help them will be gone and the buzz offenses get when they hear the cheers will also be a distant memory.
Who is the only team that can still say they have a home advantage? Denver. Why you ask, well it is called Mile High for a reason.
Thought 2: The Steelers are the 3rd best AFC Team
The Steelers went 8-8 last season with multiple games of Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges as their starting QB. Ben Roethlisberger is back, and although age is not on his side, the last full season we got from him was very good. I expect the same this season, especially with all the weapons he has.
The defense may drop off a little but not enough to cause any concern. The Steelers have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, the last time they missed three years on the run was 2000. They make the playoffs and win at least one playoff game this season.
Thought 3: If you picked the Bills to win the AFC East, I have bad news for you.
I know we all want the New England dynasty to end but I do not think this is the year it happens. Is this a Super Bowl Patriots team? Probably not. However, I think they have a chance to be better on offense this year and I believe Cam will be great. The defense will regress a little but nothing to cause concern. The Pats dominance of the AFC East continues this season with another title. Worry not Bills, fans I still see you as a playoff team!
Thought 4: A bad 2019 team will be good in 2020? The Detroit Lions
Disclaimer: I do not think Matt Patricia is a very good coach and that probably means this could blow up in my face.
Ok, let me show my logic tree. The Lions should be frisky this season. I love the offensive talent they have and if Matt Stafford is back at 100% this team should put up a lot of points. I also think the NFC North is secretly garbage, so winning 4-5 games in division is not too hard. Add the additional playoff team into the mix and the Lions are a playoff team.
Enjoy Week 1 everybody, see you on the other side to violently overreact to 1/17th of the season!
Paul Mainwaring
NFL Analyst
A former UKEndzone writer, Paul has been dragged out of an enforced retirement to give his thoughts on the NFL and anything else he can slide past the editorial team.
Paul is most famous (infamous?) as Mainz one half of Waxing Lyrical. alongside his Partner in Crime Neil ‘Dutts’ Dutton.
Find him @Mainzey7 where all manner of sports are on the menu.