With the Packers back to a regular Sunday schedule for the next two weeks, and the next weekly Stock Report not scheduled to be released until next Wednesday, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to release my 2019 NFL futures stock report.  

In this piece, I will identify three teams that will be locks to go over their win totals, three teams that will be locks to go under their win totals, and three dark horses that could surprise us all.  Finally, I will reveal my division and wild card picks along with our NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner.

Over Locks:

1. Kansas City Chiefs Over 10.5:

Everyone will be talking about New England after Sunday Night's massacre over the Steelers but Kansas City is the team with the most dynamic offense in the NFL.  In a league where defensive struggles are considered boring, the Chiefs should coast to 13 wins by simply scoring 30+ points on most of their opponents.

2. New England Patriots Over 11: For obvious reasons, the rich continue to get richer.  Even if Antonio Brown does get hit with a personal conduct suspension of 8 games, the Patriots still looked unstoppable on Sunday night without him.  The defense will improve and fire on all cylinders come November and the team will be ready for another January run.  Remember, they play six games against the Dolphins, Bills, and Jets who are not exactly worthy opponents just yet.  

3. Houston Texans Over 8.5:

Even with the departure of the overrated Jadeveon Clowney, this could still be the most complete Houston Texan team we have ever seen.  Houston fortified their offensive line around Desean Watson by adding Laremy Tunsil and provided another weapon to go alongside DeAndre Hopkins in Kenny Stills.  I look for Hopkins and Stills to stretch the field, and Watson and the running back by committee combination to keep defenses honest with different running formations, especially RPO's.  Romeo Crennel and the defense will provide enough of a pass rush to at least, disrupt most opponents passing attacks.  I look for the Texans to be a 10 or 11 win team and give the Chiefs or the Patriots all they can handle come playoff time.

Under Locks:

1. Miami Dolphins under 4.5:

I think the Dolphins are really as bad as their Sunday performance indicated.  Once they lose their 8th game, they will almost certainly turn to Josh Rosen who will get clobbered because of that awful offensive line.  The Miami Dolphins are a dumpster fire of a franchise who are openly tanking for Tua.  I think the Dolphins are a lock to go 2-14.

2. Cleveland Browns under 9:

I am not jumping off the Cleveland Browns bandwagon like the majority of their supporters, I am just reiterating my opinion that this cast of characters has dumpster fire written all over it.  Hopefully, Baker Mayfield doesn't become Johnny Manziel reincarnated and OBJ just takes off his damn watch.  Either way, I see the wheels spinning out of control by week 10.  This could become a disappointing 7-9 or 6-10 debacle in a hurry, and if it does, heads will roll.

3. Denver Broncos under 7:

I know it's only week 1, but if you cannot defeat the Antonio Brownless Raiders, I have no clue how you plan on winning 7 games.  I think the Joe Flacco era could very well be short-lived if Drew Lock can show promise at the end of this season or early next season.  I don't see a complete disaster of a season like Miami or Cleveland will most likely experience, but I think the lack of offensive firepower holds this team back.  I think the Broncos end being a 6-10 team in 2019.

Dark Horse Teams:

1. Dallas Cowboys over 9 wins:

I think their defense alone makes them a 9 win team in the NFC East and if Dak Prescott can play a third of the season as he did on Sunday, the Cowboys could definitely win 12 games.  I think Dallas wins 11 or 12 games this year and is the surprise elite team of this year.

2. New York Jets under 7.5 wins:

This may not be a darkhorse pick, especially if the Jets end up losing on Monday Night to start the season 0-2.  The dark clouds continue to develop overhead for gang green with an absolutely brutal schedule the next four weeks (Eagles, Cowboys, Patriots twice) that could see them start 1-5 or 0-6.  The team looks to already be in disarray as they cut their kicker in favor of former Packer great Sam Ficken, and watch as their crazy coach Adam Gase is already spewing at the NY media.  In typical Jet fashion, this has all the makings for another circus act.

3. Indianapolis Colts over 7.5 wins:

All of the talk before the regular-season opener (other than Antonio Brown) revolved around the retirement of Andrew Luck and the certain demise of the Colts.  Insert Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback with a brand new contract and plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball and you still have a solid football team who can control the point of attack, run the ball, and play solid defense.  This Colts team showed me a lot in defeat as they charged back to tie the game on the road.  I think the Colts will win 9 games and contend for a wild card birth despite everyone writing them off after the retirement of their star quarterback.

Division Winners/Wild Card Births:

NFC:

1. NFC East: Dallas Cowboys

2. NFC South: New Orleans Saints

3. NFC North: Minnesota Vikings

4. NFC West: LA Rams    

Wild Cards:

1. Seattle Seahawks

2. Philadelphia Eagles

(Green Bay Packers on the bubble at 8-8/9-7)

(Chicago misses the playoffs and goes under 9 wins)

AFC Division Winners/Wild Card Births:

1. AFC East: New England Patriots

2. AFC South: Houston Texans

3. AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers

4. AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs

Wild Cards:

1. LA Chargers

2. Tennessee Titans

(Colts/Ravens just miss out)

Super Bowl Predictions:

NFC Champion: Dallas Cowboys 

AFC Champion: New England Patriots

Super Bowl Champion: New England Patriots

NFL MVP: Pat Mahomes

Sound Off:

Who do you like as locks and who are your dark horses? Why am I wrong? Do you like any of my picks? (There are some obvious locks I did not include to limit this to nine teams with decent odds)

Give me your picks.

Stay Tuned for my six-pack of week 2 picks exclusively in Key Battles this Saturday.