By Rahul Lal
Here we are, NFL fans. It’s August, players are in pads and fans are sitting at training camps with a growing sense of optimism that will be ultimately crushed for everyone but a single fan base in the winter.
Every offseason we love to look at NFL bold predictions whether it be to fill some void that only gambling can handle, to get better versed or even just simply out of sheer excitement.
After last year’s wild season coupled with the headlines over the past couple months, we are now presented with plenty of questions. After a historic season, will Cam Newton continue his growth and can the Panthers still be as dominant without Josh Norman? A year later, Deflategate’s suspension will finally be felt for Tom Brady and the Pats, will they be able to avoid digging themselves in a hole over the first four games? After Peyton rode out on his white horse with a shiny ring, who can step up this year to string together another huge win in February?
To answer these questions and more, we turned to CBS sports experts and analysts from across the country to get their NFL bold predictions for the 2016 NFL season.
Colin Dunlap
Featured sports columnist and weekend host.
93.7 The Fan | CBS Pittsburgh
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Cam Newton will win the MVP. His mixture of size and speed is just too much.
We all got a taste of it last season and he might be even better this year.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Green Bay Packers over Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bold Prediction: Late in the year, as injuries mount for some teams, an NFL team will bring Johnny Manziel in for a workout and eventually sign him.
Evan Roberts
Co-host of the Midday Show with Joe Benigno.
WFAN | CBS New York
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Tom Brady. After the Pats “struggle” to a 2-2 record without Brady, he will come back with a vengeance. His dominant numbers and 11-1 record will lead him to the MVP award despite missing the first 4 games.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Green Bay Packers.
Bold Prediction: After watching the Cavs win an NBA title and the Indians pennant race, Cleveland fans will watch their football team go 0-16.
Jim Berry
Sports Anchor for CBS4 News in Miami.
CBS4 | CBS Miami
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Russell Wilson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Arizona Cardinals.
Bold Prediction: The Cleveland Browns will make the playoffs.
Shan Shariff
Co-host of the Shan & R.J. Show with R.J. Choppy.
105.3 The Fan | CBS DFW
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Aaron Rodgers.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: The Carolina Panthers will miss the playoffs.
David McCoy
Sports reporter for WCCO-TV in Minnesota.
WCCO-TV | CBS Minnesota
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Russell Wilson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: The defending Super Bowl champion Broncos will miss the playoffs.
Ken Carman
Host of The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima.
92.3 The Fan | CBS Cleveland
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Andrew Luck.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Carolina Panthers.
Bold Prediction: The Chargers stay in San Diego.
Ike Reese
Co-host of the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show.
94WIP | CBS Philly
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Ben Roethlisberger.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bold Prediction: The Cincinnati Bengals will win their first playoff game since 1991.
Cody Stoots
Co-host of In The Loop on SportsRadio610.
SportsRadio 610 | CBS Houston
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Russell Wilson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: The Minnesota Vikings best the Arizona Cardinals for the right to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl after New England’s defeat of the Houston Texans.
Michael Spencer
Sports anchor for CBS4 in Denver.
CBS4 | CBS Denver
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Aaron Rodgers.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Don’t ask me why I’m so in love with Green Bay, but apparently I’m drinking the kool-aid. I think the Packers and Steelers meet in the Super Bowl and Green Bay wins.
Bold Prediction: Despite missing the playoffs last year, the Cowboys and Ravens make the playoffs and lose in their respective conference title games.
Levan Reid
Sports anchor for CBS4 in Boston.
CBS4 | CBS Boston
1. Who will win NFL MVP? The NFL MVP will be Antonio Brown.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? The Patriots or the Steelers. One of those teams will be the AFC representative.
Bold Prediction(s): RG3 won’t make it to the regular season, he will suffer preseason turf toe. JJ Watt will develop a bacterial infection that will zap his strength, but he will play all 16 games because that’s what JJ Watt does. Andrew Luck will stay clean shaven the whole season.
Damien Barling
Midday host on KHTK 1140.
KHTK 1140 | CBS Sacramento
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Russell Wilson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: Tony Romo will play all 16 games, and Dez Bryant will lead the league in all major wide receiver categories.
Rick Garcia
CBS2 morning news anchor in Los Angeles.
CBS2 | CBS Los Angeles
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Todd Gurley. I wouldn’t be shocked if one day he’s threatening the single season rushing yards record.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Arizona Cardinals. If Carson Palmer stays healthy this team has what it takes to go all the way.
Bold Prediction: Other than talk of a playoff run, the New England Patriots will stay below the radar this season.
Carl Dukes
Co-host of Dukes and Bell in Atlanta.
92.9 The Game | CBS Atlanta
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Antonio Brown.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: Two wide receivers will top 2,000 yards (Antonio Brown and Julio Jones).
Rich Walsh
Weekend sports anchor on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Ben Roethlisberger.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? The Steelers will beat the Cardinals.
Bold Prediction: The Browns won’t win a game this season. 0-16.
Andy Gresh
Co-host of Joe D and Gresh on NewsTalk 1080.
WTIC | CBS Connecticut
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Cam Newton.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? New England Patriots.
Bold Prediction: Jimmy Garoppolo will play well enough in four games that the Pats will trade him for a first round pick before the 2017 NFL draft.
Mike Jones
Personality for 102.5 FM in Seattle.
KZOC | CBS Seattle
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Russell Wilson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Seattle Seahawks.
Bold Prediction: The Cleveland Browns will make the playoffs.
Ken Boehlke
Host of Usually Wrong on CBS Sports Radio 1140.
KXNT/CBS Sports Radio 1140 | CBS Las Vegas
1. Who will win NFL MVP? Adrian Peterson.
2. Which team will win the Super Bowl? Arizona Cardinals.
Bold Prediction: It’s the year of the pirate! Both Tampa Bay and Oakland will be the surprise teams in the regular season, both will make the playoffs and Derek Carr and Jameis Winston will overtake Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson as the QB’s of the future.
Rahul Lal is an LA native stuck in a lifelong, love-hate relationship with the Lakers, Dodgers and Raiders. You can follow him on Twitter here.