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10 ridiculous predictions for the 2015 NFL season
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10 ridiculous predictions for the 2015 NFL season

With all 32 NFL teams kicking off their seasons this week, there is a tremendous amount of hope around the league. Some of this hope will come to a crashing halt early in the season, while there will likely be some major surprises as the regular year draws on.

In a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at 10 ridiculous predictions for the 2015 NFL season, we check in on an enigmatic backup quarterback in Cleveland that could surprise naysayers once he inevitably takes to the field. We also look at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that won just two games last season. Is this squad prepared to contend in the weakest division in football?

Here are 10 "predictions" for the upcoming season — predictions that likely won't come true when all is said and done, but it is certainly fun to imagine them coming true.

1. Johnny Manziel takes over for the Cleveland Browns, leads team to playoffs

Playing in the toughest division in football, the Browns are all but an afterthought in the AFC North. Most experts rightfully have Cleveland finishing in the cellar once again. However, it must be noted that there is a nice amount of talent on this roster. It's all going to be about getting average quarterback play. Sound familiar?

With an offensive line that allowed just 31 sacks last year and has the talent to become dominating in the run game, Cleveland has one part of the equation down pat on offense. If the team is able to find a consistent workhorse out of the two talented young running backs it possesses, this could become a real strength.

On defense, the Browns boast three Pro Bowl performers in the secondary, including one of the best safety tandems in the NFL in Tashaun Gipson and Donte Whitner. If Justin Gilbert and/or Pierre Desir can step up opposite Joe Haden at corner, this area of the team could also find its way to domination.

The one area that remains a concern is quarterback. Josh McCown is slated to start under center, but he looks like nothing more than a career backup at this point. In reality, McCown isn't going to up the play of his offense. That's only magnified with what has to be considered a talent-stricken receiver group.

Enter into the equation a quarterback in Johnny Manziel, who has the ability to squeeze blood from a stone here. His superior athleticism and tremendous ability to improvise could work wonders in the Browns offense. At this point, that might be the team's best hope of treading water on offense. And if they are able to do that, the Browns defense is more than up for the task on the other side of the ball.

2. Joseph Randle bests DeMarco Murray’s 2014 season

If you look at Murray's game tape from last season, one thing is clear. The Cowboys offensive line, one of the best positional groups in all of football, was a huge reason why the new Philadelphia Eagles running back put up franchise records en route to earning the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Even after missing the early stages of camp with an oblique strain, Randle found a way to separate himself from the rest of the Cowboys running backs, free-agent signing Darren McFadden included. And while there will likely be a running back by committee approach in Dallas, especially after the team acquired Christine Michael from the Seattle Seahawks, it wouldn't be surprising to see Randle get a vast majority of the touches early on. With a 6.7 yards per attempt average as Murray's primary backup last season, there is little doubt that Randle possesses the talent to be an every-down back.

Now take into account the fact that Pro Football Focus graded out the Cowboys offensive line as the second-best run-blocking unit in the NFL, and there's a good chance that Randle will have a ton of success this season. After all, the team's rushing attack averaged 4.6 yards per attempt last season.

3. Jim Tomsula proves that Jim Harbaugh was indeed the problem

After what has to be considered the most disastrous offseason in NFL history, the San Francisco 49ers enter the 2015 season with a ton of question marks. They also enter the season with muted expectations after a tremendously successful head coach was jettisoned from the organization due to a spat with the team's front office. Replacing him is a first-year head coach without as much as coordinating experience in the NFL. Needless to say, there have been a ton of dumpster fire memes thrown the 49ers way in recent months.

Still, there is some elite-level talent on this team. With an offense now catered to his strengths, Colin Kaepernick could be primed for a breakout campaign. That's only magnified by the additions of Torrey Smith and Reggie Bush to a skill-position group that had been lacking in previous seasons.

Defensively, San Francisco boasts one of the deepest and most-talented lines in the league. If a couple of their youngsters step up, this area of the team could be a major surprise. Factor in the return of former All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who missed the entire 2014 season with a knee injury, and San Francisco's front seven could be good. On the back end, this squad also boasts two Pro Bowl safeties in the form of Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid, who are among the best players at their positions in the NFL.

We know about all the drama that took place around Santa Clara during the latter part of last season. And most of the focus has been on failures within the team's front office. While that's fine and dandy, it's not a secret that Jim Harbaugh may have wore out his welcome with the players. Now with a player-friendly head coach in Tomsula, the expectation here is that San Francisco will play much more loose than what we saw last season. Whether this equates to more wins and a playoff appearance remains in question. But things aren't as bad as some in the media would like you to believe.

4. Adrian Peterson breaks single-season rushing record

Peterson had previously stated that this was his ultimate goal. Back and prepared to show everyone why he's the best running back in the NFL after a year hiatus, Peterson looks to be in the best shape of his life. In addition to all this, the Vikings seem prepared to make Peterson the workhorse he was prior to missing all but one game last season due to the well-known child abuse case.

Vikings beat writer Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune indicated as much during the summer:

“Adrian Peterson will get the majority of the carries in this offense. We all know that. I think McKinnon’s role will be as an occasional third down back."

That has to be somewhat of a surprise considering the success McKinnon saw as a rookie last season. Though, it must be noted that Peterson enters the 2015 season having had a full season away from the NFL. This is going to do a whole heck of a lot when it comes to him remaining fresh throughout the year.

The biggest piece here for Peterson is that he has a solid passing game to take some of the burden off him. This means that he's not going to see defenses going all out against the run like he did on a consistent basis prior to last year. And considering Peterson averaged nearly 1,700 total yards per season from 2007-2013, it's not too ridiculous to believe he could break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. In fact, he finished nine yards from breaking that record back in 2012.

5. After losing on appeal, NFL owners push Roger Goodell from commissionership 

The NFL has been a complete disaster from a PR perspective over the past year-plus. That came to a head earlier this month when the federal courts ruled in favor of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in his appeal of a four-game suspension the league levied against him for his alleged role in Deflategate. Since the ruling, multiple owners have suggested that Goodell's authority over suspensions and appeals should be changed.

As highly unlikely as this might be, things can trend away from the top executive in the biggest sports league in a heart beat. Once owners start to feel their bottom line is being pinched or their product isn't be represented a great deal by the league, support for the commissioner will dwindle. That could force a committee of 32 people (one representation from each team) to consider ousting Goodell.

6. Ray Rice catches on with the New England Patriots

Okay, this one is a bit absurd. Though, an argument could be made that New England is in need of a reinforcement at running back.

LeGarrette Blount looked horrible during the summer and found himself suspended for the season opener. The team also released Jonas Gray during final cuts. This brings New England's depth chart to Blount, James White, Brandon Bolden, Travaris Cadet and Dion Lewis. That's not exactly the most talented backfield in the league right there.

So, why would the Pats consider bringing in Rice? Bill Belichick already routinely brings in players with ties to Rutgers. Plus, in addition to what he would bring to the team from an on-the-field standpoint, it would also be an act of defiance against the league — something the Patriots organization wouldn't necessarily mind doing at this point.

7. Greg Hardy breaks NFL’s single-season sack mark

This isn't all too absurd, at least in general. One of the elite pass rushers around the NFL will likely break Michael Strahan's single-season sack record of 22.5. And all things equal, Hardy has as good of a chance as anyone.

Unfortunately, the new Dallas Cowboys defensive end is going to be behind the proverbial eight-ball when the season starts. Hardy was originally suspended 10 games by the NFL after an off-field domestic violence issue. That suspension was shortened to four games this summer, which means he's going to see the field much earlier than most anticipated when the Dallas Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal.

Hardy, a Pro Bowl performer when he recorded 15 sacks for the Carolina Panthers back in 2013, is among the best all-around pass rushers in the NFL. It would take about an average of two sacks per game for Hardy to break the record. While that's obviously a long shot, I wouldn't be surprised to see both J.J. Watt and Justin Houston hit the 23-sack mark.

8. Adam Gase proves to be the Jay Cutler whisperer, helping the Chicago Bears win NFC North

More than anything else, Cutler is known for being the guy that has gotten multiple head coaches and coordinators fired during his career. From Josh McDaniels to Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman, this has been one of the common themes in an up-and-down career for the otherwise ultra-talented quarterback.

Though, it appears that Cutler could be on the verge of breaking out of his funk. I know, how many times have we heard this before? The idea here is that Gase's offensive system is quarterback friendly — something we saw in Denver with Peyton Manning. A quick release, timing offense will also help the Bears overcome what could very well be another poor season from the team's offensive line. Add into the equation two elite pass catchers in Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett, and the Bears offense might surprise a few people.

While likely to finish in the cellar in the ultra-competitive NFC North, some major improvement under first-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could help the Bears surprise a lot of skeptics this season.

9. With division on the line against Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, Seattle Seahawks pass from the one

This is just mean. One would hope that Pete Carroll and Co. have learned their lesson after a disastrous final sequence against the Patriots in the Super Bowl this past February. Entering the 2015 season as the odds-on favorite to win the NFC West, Seattle will be going up against its biggest competition in the division on the final Sunday of the regular season. Do they drop the ball ... almost literally by avoiding Marshawn Lynch in a late-game goal-line situation? Some things we just won't ever let go, Seattle.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers go from two wins to winning the division title

This might be the likeliest of the ridiculous predictions included here. We all know the AFC South has been an unmitigated disaster over the past two seasons, with the seven-win Panthers squad "earning" the division title last year. With major questions remaining for each team in the division, including issues along the offensive line and wide receiver in Carolina, the division promises to be as wide open as previous seasons.

With Jameis Winston under center and two tremendous receiving options in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans on the outside, the Buccaneers offense could do just enough to tread water throughout the season. Enter into the equation a running back in Doug Martin that seems to have returned to form, and that side of the ball could keep Tampa Bay in playoff contention deep into the season. Remember, even during a two-win 2014 campaign, the Buccaneers were not eliminated from playoff contention until December.

Check out Vincent's other work on eDraft.com and follow him on Twitter @VincentFrankNFL.

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