In this week leading up to kickoff of the 2021 NFL season, there will be plenty of predictions.
The most recent and interesting one for Cleveland Browns fans comes from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper is known for his thorough study and review of collegiate football players in the months and weeks leading up to each year’s NFL draft.
He pioneered the first mock NFL drafts that are now copied by many analysts.
Kiper took a break from his 2022 NFL Draft preparation to cast his prediction for the 2022 Super Bowl.
His prediction involves a matchup between the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers and the AFC Champion Cleveland Browns.
Kiper believes the Packers will defeat the Browns and become Super Bowl Champions.
.@MelKiperESPN predicts the Packers will win Super Bowl LVI over the Browns 👀 pic.twitter.com/u5NnMb8fhB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 2, 2021
His Rationale
In terms of the NFC, Kiper thinks that all of the offseason drama with Aaron Rodgers will be immediately forgotten as the team starts winning.
He thinks that Jordan Love has proven himself as the heir apparent to Rodgers in Green Bay, but a Packers victory in the Super Bowl could complicate and prolong that transition.
As for the Browns, Kiper acknowledges that the roster is stacked on both sides of the ball with talented players who want to play for this team.
Nick Chubb on the culture change he's seen with the Browns:
"We're getting guys in here that want to be in Cleveland. The culture change and winning games is contagious."
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) September 1, 2021
Plenty Of Other Contenders
Of course, there are plenty of other contenders in both divisions and just as many predictions.
SUPER BOWL CHANCES 🔥
Our advanced model simulated the NFL season 10,000 times. pic.twitter.com/on05tpImbS
— SportsLine (@SportsLine) September 1, 2021
Those include the two teams who played in the 2021 Super Bowl, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Buffalo Bills are also widely viewed as a contender under the leadership of quarterback Josh Allen.
Both Los Angeles teams, the Rams and Chargers, could be competitive and try to repeat what the Bucs did last year, winning a Super Bowl championship in their home stadium.
A lot Of Football To Be Played
Predictions are nice, but the reality is there is a long 17 game season on the horizon.
The teams that handle injuries, adversity, and potential COVID-19 issues will most likely make it to the Super Bowl.
On September 2, it is impossible to know who will make it to the Super Bowl and ultimately win it.
That’s why they play the game.
NEXT: Browns Add Four More Players To Practice Squad
