MMBQ Staff release NFL Predictions | Saints heavily favored to make playoffs | Brees MVP?

Each the year the staff at MMBQ (Sports Illustrated) release predictions on who they think makes the playoffs, wins the Super Bowl and who takes home the individual awards. With the NFL season kicking off in two days, now seems as good a time as any to put down some bold predictions for the 2018 season.

There aren’t many years in the team’s history where they are entering the season as a favorite which has caused the fan base (and in many year’s the team itself) to adopt an underdog mentality. Sean Payton wanted to break away from that paradigm this season introducing the “Prove Them Right” mantra. Of the fifteen analysts from MMBQ twelve labeled New Orleans playoff bound.

By The Numbers:

12 of 15 say Saints make the playoffs: Albert Breer, Jenny Vrentas, Robert Klemko, Jonathan Jones, Andy Benoit, Kalyn Kahler, Ben Baskin, Andrew Brandt, Michael Beller, Mark Mravic, Bette Marston, and Mitch Goldich

5 of 15 say Drew Brees wins the MVP Award: Albert Breer, Kalyn Kahler, Michael Beller, Bette Marston and Mitch Goldich

2 of 15 say Alvin Kamara wins the OPOY Award: Jonathan Jones, Kalyn Kahler

2 of 15 say Marcus Davenport wins DROY Award: Jonathan Jones, Bette Marston

1 of 15 say Cameron Jordan wins the DPOY Award: Albert Breer

1 of 15 say Sean Payton wins Coach of the Year: Jenny Vrentas

Finally, in the most important prediction of them all, 2 of the 15 have the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl with 4 others predicting New Orleans makes it to the big game but lose to either the Patriots or Chiefs. With a total of 6 analysts saying the team is good enough to make it all the way it’s definitely a break away from what most fans are used to.

Bette marston - SI/MMBQ

Make sure you give the full article a read on the Sports Illustrated website. What do you think of the results? What players should be in consideration for awards that are noticeably missing? One name that pops out for potentially winning an award would be rookie receiver Tre’Quan Smith giving the comments Payton has made about his performance in both training camp and during the preseason. Maybe it’s a bit too soon to jump on that horse though.

It is nice to see Brees getting recognized for his continued dominance. Will that confidence be remembered when it’s time for actual ballots to be cast? History says no, but a run (and win) to the Super Bowl could finally give Brees that one award that has alluded him throughout the entirety of his career.