.... And We Gon Win That Bitch

For a change Jalen Ramsey didn't have too much to say; but in the few words he did say he actually said a whole lot: "We goin to the Super Bowl and we gon win that bitch." (If you'd like to hear it right from the source's mouth, here it is on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbrqOEEFaKo

The photo of Ramsey (on the right, from the Jaguars' 1st round playoff game vs. Buffalo on Jan. 7) is just perfect, because it's a shot of the Jacksonville Jaguars' cocky, trash-talking, Pro Bowl cornerback with his mouth open. It may not be open 24/7, but Ramsey's mouth is certainly open often, especially when there's a microphone or an opposing receiver in front of it. On the night it said the Jaguars were going to win the Super Bowl he was speaking to the fans who had come to the stadium to welcome the team home following their 45-42 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2nd round of last season's playoffs back in January, the franchise's first playoff victory in 10 years.
And although, obviously, the Jaguars did not go on to win the Super Bowl (they lost at New England a week later), just to have the words "Jaguars" and "Super Bowl" mentioned in the same sentence and not have it be a joke said a mouthful. It said that the Jaguars, after losing 11 or more games for 6 seasons in a row, had arrived as contenders for the championship. Finally.


I'm a big fan of Jalen Ramsey (even though it aggravates me that he won't grow dreads, instead choosing to change his hairstyle every week, if not every other day), and so too, apparently, is my crystal ball - because when I checked in to see its forecast of the 2018 NFL season, it agreed with Jalen: the Jaguars are going to win the Super Bowl, only this season instead of last. Led again by their strong defense the Jaguars will rise to the top of the AFC during the regular season, according to CB2, and then take home the Vince Lombardi trophy after earning a trio of hard-fought postseason victories.

And whom will the Jaguars be beating up on in Super Bowl 53? Much too my disappointment, CB2 says that team will be the New Orleans Saints, who will go marching in to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3, thus foiling the Atlanta Falcons' plans to be the first team to play in a Super Bowl on their home field. Thanks in no small part to a huge, MVP-caliber season from Alvin Kamara, the Saints will finish on top of the NFC both in the regular season and playoffs, only to come up short against the Jaguars.

As usual, CB2 has predicted the winner of all 256 regular season games; and according to those predictions there will be 6 teams in the playoffs who missed the playoffs last season. That's bad news, of course, if you're a fan of the Bills, Titans, Chiefs, Rams, Panthers, or Eagles - because those new teams' spots in the playoff will come at the expense of your favorite teams. Yes, you read that correctly. After correctly predicting the Philadelphia Eagles to be NFC champs last year, CB2 is now saying they won't make the playoffs at all this season.

After the late-breaking addition of star DE/LB Khalil Mack to the Bears and the loss of RB Jerick McKinnon from the 49ers (due to injury) I gave CB2 a chance to make adjustments to its forecast; and it did, awarding 2 more victories to the Bears (but still not enough to make the playoffs) while leaving the 49ers unchanged (a very good thing if you're a 49ers fan).

Making all of its picks before the season started, CB2 was correct on 148 of the 256 regular season games in 2017, an increase of 2 wins over 2016. As for the 2018 forecast, here it is now, as always including all of the zany drama of Week 17, with CB2's exact words in italics.


AFC EAST

     1. NE 12-4
     2. NYJ 10-6
     3. BUF 4-12
     4. MIA 2-14

CB2: With division title on the line, Robby Anderson's 3rd TD catch of the game (and 10th of the season) with 11 seconds remaining gives Jets 21-20 lead at New England in Week 17; but Cordarrelle Patterson then returns ensuing squib kickoff 84 yards to the house as time expires to give Patriots 26-21 victory and 10th straight division crown.

Come on CB2, the Dolphins aren't really going to be that bad, are they?
CB2: In Gase We Bust

CB2 is predicting that with RB Isaiah Crowell scoring a career high 9 TD, the Jets will have more touchdowns scored by players with dreads than the other 3 AFC East teams combined.
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AFC NORTH

     1. PIT 12-4
     2. BAL 9-7
     3. CIN 7-9
     4. CLEV 5-11

CB2: With Patriots down by 4 late in crucial clash at Pittsburgh in Week 15, Tom Brady hits Cordarrelle Patterson in stride for would-be 72-yard TD on first play after 2-minute warning, but ball bounces off Patterson's hands and is intercepted by Terrell Edmunds. Steelers run out clock and hang on to win 31-27 thriller to gain inside track for #2 seed in AFC playoff race.

CB2 sees RB Alex Collins doubling his total number of touchdowns from 6 last year to 12 TD in 2018 as Ravens once again fall just short of making the playoffs.
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AFC SOUTH

     1. JAC 12-4
     2. HOU 10-6
     3. IND 6-10
     4. TENN 5-11

CB2: With division title on the line in Week 17 barn burner at Houston, Texans rally from 14-point deficit in 4th quarter to tie Jaguars on two TD catches by DeAndre Hopkins. But with 20 seconds on clock and Texans driving for winning score, Hopkins is stripped of ball by Jalen Ramsey after making catch in FG range; Jarrod Wilson scoops up fumble and races 70 yards for winning TD, giving Jaguars division crown and top seed in AFC playoffs.

According to CB2, DeAndre Hopkins' (photo above) 2 TD catches in Week 17 will up his season total to 15 TD catches, the most by any player with dreads this season, leading the Texans to the team crown for the most TD by players with dreads. Also according to CB2, Colts S Malik Hooker (photo below), picking up where he left off last season (which was cut short by injury), will lead all NFL players with dreads with 7 INT.

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AFC WEST

     1. LAC 11-5
     2. OAK 9-7
     3. KC 8-8
     4. DEN 2-14

CB2: In Week 17 nail-biter at KC, Kareem Hunt's 2nd TD of day pulls Chiefs into 17-17 tie with Raiders with :27 on clock. On ensuing kickoff, Dwayne Harris, bidding for his 2nd kickoff return TD of the game, fumbles ball as he gets yanked down by his dreads at the Oakland 40-yard line. Chiefs recover fumble and kick 57-yard FG on final play to win 20-17, knocking Raiders out of playoffs and allowing Jets to clinch wild card berth.

Let me get this straight CB2, you're picking the Broncos to finish with their worst record ever? Why?
CB2: Why don't you just STFU. Stop doubting. Their offense is still crappy.

CB2 believes the Chargers' two Melvins will enjoy banner seasons. RB Melvin Gordon (photo above), celebrating his TD against the Seahawks on Aug. 18, will be celebrating in the end zone a lot during the regular season too, scoring 16 TD to help make the AFC West once again the division with the most TD scored by players with dreads. And CB2 has DE Melvin Ingram (photo below) leading all players with dreads with 16 sacks.

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AFC TIEBREAKERS
Jaguars clinch #1 seed due to head-to-head victories over Patriots (Week 2) and Steelers (Week 11)
Steelers clinch #2 seed over Patriots due to head-to-head victory (Week 15)
Jets clinch #5 seed over Texans due to head-to-head victory (Week 15)
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NFC EAST

     1. WASH 9-7
     2. DAL 9-7
     3. PHIL 8-8
     4. NYG 6-10

TIEBREAKER: Redskins clinch 1st place due to better record in division games than Cowboys (WASH 4-2, DAL 3-3) 

CB2: With Cowboys and Giants tied in overtime in Week 17 heartstopper, poor punt by Giants gives Cowboys ball at NY 44-yard line; but on 3rd and 9 Janoris Jenkins picks off sideline pass by Dak Prescott and returns it 65 yards to the house, giving Giants 20-14 win that knocks Cowboys out of playoffs. Moments later Cam Sims outjumps Ronald Darby on fade for 7-yard TD catch on 3rd and goal on first possession of overtime to give Redskins division-clinching 29-23 win over Eagles, knocking defending champs out of playoffs.

Now that Redskins rookie RB Derrius Guice is out for the season due to an injury, CB2 likes Jay Ajayi to lead all NFC East players with dreads with 7 TD.
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NFC NORTH

     1. GB 11-5
     2. MINN 11-5
     3. DET 9-7
     4. CHI 7-9

TIEBREAKER: Packers clinch 1st place due to better combined ranking among NFC teams in points scored and points allowed.

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UPDATE ON 9/8/2018 .....  I changed Packers clinching from due to better strength of victory to due to better combined ranking .... For an explanation see the first comment at the end of this post.
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CB2: In blizzard at Green Bay in Week 17 Aaron Jones scores on 1-yard plunge with 33 seconds remaining to give Packers controversial 9-7 win over Lions. Jones appears to be stopped short; but with entire field covered by snow, goal line is obscured, and officials have difficulty determining if Jones reached end zone. After untangling pile of bodies, Jones is credited with TD, giving Packers division crown over Vikings on 7th tiebreaker and also eliminating Lions from playoffs, allowing Falcons to nab final NFC playoff berth.

CB2 is confident that with WR Davante Adams contributing 10 TD (for the 2nd straight season), Packers will top 20 TD by players with dreads in 2018. CB2 also is certain that Bears will finally end their long drought of no offensive TD by players with dreads.
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NFC SOUTH

     1. NO 11-5
     2. ATL 10-6
     3. CAR 7-9
     4. TB 4-12

CB2: Alvin Kamara runs wild in Week 17, capping his MVP season by rushing for career high 241 yards and 4 TD as Saints rout Panthers 42-20 to clinch 2nd straight division title.

CB2 is forecasting that RB Alvin Kamara (photo above) will score the most TD by any player with dreads in the league - 17 - leading the Saints to the NFC championship. And now that Redskins RB Derrius Guice is out for the season due to injury, CB2 like Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones (photo below) to lead all rookies with dreads with 7 TD.

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NFC WEST

     1. SF 10-6
     2. LAR 9-7
     3. ARIZ 9-7
     4. SEA 2-14

TIEBREAKER: Rams clinch 2nd place due to better record in division games than Cardinals (LAR 4-2, ARIZ 3-3)

CB2: With winner-take-all battle in Week 17 at the Coliseum tied at 27 and with 49ers on brink of FG range, Mark Barron intercepts Jimmy Garoppolo pass and returns it to the SF 25-yard line with :08 on the clock. But after play is over Marcus Peters is called for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting Garoppolo. On next play Rams attempt 58-yard FG; but kick is blocked and ball is picked up by Adrian Colbert, who takes it 70 yards to the house for 49ers, who clinch division title despite starting season 2-6.

Wait a minute CB. SEA 2-14?  The Seahawks TWO AND FOURTEEN?!
CB2: What NFC team are they better than?
You have a point there.

CB2 is predicting than CB Richard Sherman, in his first season not in a Seahawks uniform, will have 3 INT as he comes back from his Achilles injury, helping lead 49ers to the division title. CB2 is also predicting that RB Todd Gurley (photo below) will drop from 18 TD last year to just 12 TD this season as the Rams are dethroned as the team with the most TD by players with dreads.

CB2 also believes that Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (photo below) will add 8 more TD to his career total of TD, which currently stands at 110 TD.

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NFC TIEBREAKER
Saints clinch #1 seed to due better record than Packers in games against common opponents (NO 4-1, GB 3-2).
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PLAYOFFS

ROUND 1

• LAC over NYJ
• HOU over NE
• MINN over WASH
• SF over ATL

ROUND 2

• JAC over HOU
• PIT over LAC
• NO over MINN
• GB over SF

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• JAC over PIT
• NO over GB

SUPER BOWL 53

• Jaguars 27 Saints 16 (MVP: Jalen Ramsey)

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CHANGES FOR 2018

I really rushed to get this preview done, so I wasn't as thorough as I'd like to be in gathering info for the following lists. There's a 100% chance the lists aren't entirely accurate; so please let us know about any errors and omissions. From the info I did get, here's what we know as of 9/6/2018. (FYI: "PS" and "IR" will be used as abbreviations for players on teams' practice squads and injured reserve lists.)

EX-DREAD

These are the players who have cut off their dreads since the end of last season, and sadly the lists includes a few players who had some of the longest dreads in the league.

• Deon Bush (CHI)
• Matthias Farley (IND)
• Willie Henry (BAL)
• Marcus Johnson (IND)
• Rob Kelley (WASH) (photo on left below)

Sammy Watkins still had his long dreads at the Chiefs' minicamp in June; but then he showed up at training camp 6 weeks later looking like this, with the dreads he had been growing for 12 years tragically all gone. Fans at Redskins' game wondering who #20 is will have a much easier time identifying Rob Kelley now that the long dreads that blocked out the name on his jersey aren't there anymore.

• Cole Luke (CAR, PS)
• Bradley Marquez (DET)
• J.D. McKissic (SEA, IR)
• Vince Taylor (MIA)
• Kevin Toliver (CHI, rookie)
• Sammy Watkins (KC) (photo on right above)
• Ahkello Witherspoon (SF)

De'Veon Smith, who was recently released by Washington but who probably will be on somebody's roster at some point this season, and Matt Jones, recently released by Philadelphia, also have cut off their dreads.
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NEW DREADS

These are the players who didn't have dreads when last season ended but who have started growing them now. Also included are the players who got their dreads started last season but whom for whatever reason I didn't welcome them to the house (until now). In last season's preview I wrote that there was an "overwhelming" number of players with new dreads, and this year there are even more additions to the house than last year. And these are just the ones I know about. No doubt there are at least a few more that I'm not aware of yet.

• Ameer Abdullah (DET)
• Montravius Adams (GB)
• Sam Beal (NYG, rookie, IR)
• Michael Bennett (PHIL) (photo below)

• Kapri Bibbs (WASH, PS)
• A.J. Bouye (JAC)
• Deante Burton (ATL)
• Adam Butler (NE)
• Jason Cabinda (OAK, rookie, PS)
• Patrick Chung (NE)
• Michael Davis (LAC)
• Cam Erving (KC) (photo below)

• Leonard Floyd (CHI)
• Randy Gregory (DAL) (photo on left below)

• Joe Haden (PIT) (photo on right above)
• Deiondre' Hall (PHIL)
• Jonotthan Harrison (NYJ)
• Germain Ifedi (SEA)
• Bruce Irvin (OAK)
• Derwin James (LAC, rookie)
• Derrick Jones (NYJ)
• Julio Jones (ATL) (photo below ..... welcome back)

• Marquette King (DEN)
• Bradley McDougald (SEA)
• Yannick Ngakoue (JAC)
• Ifeadi Odenigbo (CLEV)
• Zach Pascal (IND)
• Tim Patrick (DEN)
• C.J. Prosise (SEA)
• Roy Robertson-Harris (CHI)
• Patrick Robinson (NO)
• Malcolm Smith (SF)
• Dawuane Smoot (JAC)
• Pita Taumoepenu (SF, PS)
• Earl Thomas (SEA)
• Delanie Walker (TENN)
• Jamaal Williams (GB) (photo on left below)
• Derek Wolfe (DEN) (photo on right below .... and yes, he really is white)

Demarcus Ayers, recently released by Chicago, and Nick Becton, recently released by the N.Y. Giants, also have started growing dreads.
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SAME DREADS, NEW THREADS

The number of players with dreads changing teams grows larger every year, this year totaling more than 40. The first team listed after a player's name is who he played for last season, followed by his current team, which will be underlined.

• Denico Autry (OAK, IND) (photo below)

• Nat Berhe (NYG, PIT)
• LeGarrette Blount (PHIL, DET) (photo below)

• Brandon Bolden (NE, MIA)
• Tre Boston (LAC, ARIZ)
• Kaelin Clay (CAR, NYG)
• Adrian Clayborn (ATL, NE)
• T.J. Clemmings (WASH, OAK)
• Sammie Coates (CLEV, HOU)
• Isaiah Crowell (CLEV, NYJ)
• Demario Davis (NYJ, NO)
• Mario Edwards (OAK, NYG)
• D.J. Fluker (NYG, SEA)
• Eli Harold (SF, DET)
• De'Vante Harris (NO, TB)
• Dwayne Harris (NYG, OAK) (photo below)

• Chris Ivory (JAC, BUF)
• Ricky Jean Francois (NE, DET) (photo below)

• John Jenkins (CHI, NYG)
• Adam Jones (CIN, DEN)
• Emmanuel Lamur (MINN, OAK)
• Kendrick Lewis (BAL in 2016, TENN)
• Ryan Lewis (NE PS, BUF)
• Brandon Marshall (NYG, SEA)
• Tyrann Mathieu (ARIZ, HOU)
• Pernell McPhee (CHI, WASH)
• Antonio Morrison (IND, GB)
• Cordarrelle Patterson (OAK, NE) (photo below)

• Dontari Poe (ATL, CAR) (photo above)
• Denzel Rice (IND PS, CLEV)
• Sheldon Richardson (SEA, MINN)
• Curtis Riley (TENN, NYG)
• Andre Roberts (ATL, NYJ) (photo below)

• Da'Norris Searcy (TENN, CAR)
• Richard Sherman (SEA, SF) (photo below)

• Julian Stanford (NYJ, BUF)
• Dee Virgin (HOU PS, DET)
• Erik Walden (TENN, SEA IR)
• B.W. Webb (CLEV, NYG)
• Markus Wheaton (CHI, PHIL)
• J.J. Wilcox (PIT, NYJ)
• Tramon Williams (ARIZ, GB) (photo below)
• Ramik Wilson (KC, LAR)

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BEATING THE ODDS

These rookie players with dreads have made their teams' 53-man opening day roster despite not being picked in the 2018 NFL Draft. Congratulations. You certainly earned it. Now go and prove you belong, fellas!

• Mike Boone (MINN) (photo below)

• James Crawford (GB)
• Sharif Finch (TENN) (photo on left below)

• Janarion Grant (BAL) (photo on right above)
• Desmond Harrison (CLEV)
• Tre Herndon (JAC)
• Holton Hill (MINN)
• Buddy Howell (HOU)
• A.J. Johnson (DEN)
• Deatrick Nichols (ARIZ) (photo below ..... It's wonderful that you made the team; but D, what's up with those dreads? The Deatrick Nichols I enjoyed watching so much playing for South Florida these last few years had dreads way longer than this.)

• Cam Sims (WASH) (photo on right below)
• Taylor Stallworth (NO) (photo on left below)

• Tavierre Thomas (CLEV)
• Charvarius Ward (KC)

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INJURED RESERVE

The number of players already on the IR list is incredibly long, and that's really a shame. It was particularly disappointing to see rookie RB Derrius Guice go down with a torn ACL in the first preseason game. I - and the Redskins - were counting on him to score a bunch of touchdowns this season.
A few of the players on this list will be released once they get healthy. A few might be added to their teams' active roster later in the season after they get healthy. But the vast majority of these guys are going to miss all of the 2018 season.

• Ola Adeniyi (PIT, rookie)
• Ade Aruna (MIN, rookie) (photo below)

• Sam Beal (NYG, rookie)
• Marlon Brown (CHI) 
• Noah Brown (DAL)
• Deon Cain (IND, rookie)
• Jamal Carter (DEN)
• Johnathan Cyprien (TENN)
• Dillon Gordon (KC) 
• Derrius Guice (WASH, rookie) (photo below)

• MarQueis Gray (MIA)
• Davontae Harris (CIN, rookie)
• Marcell Harris (SF, rookie)
• Trayvon Henderson (CIN, rookie)
• Krishawn Hogan (IND) 
• Robert Jackson (IND, rookie)
• Trey Johnson (PIT, rookie)
• Steve Longa (DET)
• Johnny Maxey (TENN)
• Chris McCain (IND) 
• Jerick McKinnon (SF)
• Damoun Patterson (PIT, rookie)
• Tye Smith (TENN)
• Robenson Therezie (IND)
• Jason Verrett (LAC)
• Erik Walden (SEA)

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OTHER

Let's wrap this up with just a couple of other changes.

Ronald Darby of the Eagles changed from jersey #41 last year to #21 this year. Chad Williams of the Cardinals also changed numbers, from #16 to #10.
Jay Ajayi (not pictured) of the Eagles switched from #36 to #26.

You may have thought that Seth Roberts of the Raiders cut off his dreads because you can't see them anymore when his helmet is on. Actually though, he just cut them shorter. Kevin White of the Bears (slightly shorter) and Ramik Wilson of the Rams (much shorter) also altered their dreads - much to my disappointment.