USA Today NFL Record Projections Are Bizarre Once Again

Every year, USA Today puts out what can only be described as bold record predictions for the upcoming NFL season. Making calculated guesses as to how things will shake out is part of the fun of the build-up to football season, but oftentimes, these projections come off more as gutsy than practical.

Clearly nothing has changed heading into this season, as the projected standings have plenty of extremely outlandish outcomes, including what can only be described as a surprise Super Bowl champion.

For starters, there will apparently only be two teams that make it to 12 wins next season despite the fact that four or more teams have reached that mark every year since 2006.

The projections also have the Rams, who finished the 2018 season as NFC champions with a talented young core and a brilliant head coach at the helm, finishing 9-7 and missing the playoffs. The team winning the NFC West? The San Francisco 49ers, who will be relying on Jimmy Garoppolo, who's trying to rebound from a torn ACL (and also trying to rebound from Not Being Better Than Nick Mullens).

And, of course, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. The predicted Super Bowl champion Chargers. On what planet are they winning the Super Bowl in 2019? They have a formidable squad, yes, but suggesting they can make it past Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs and Tom Brady's Patriots (something they've never come close to doing!) is reckless.

Exercising a bit more caution when picking the top teams in the league might be helpful for next year's round of projected records.

Only time will tell how this projections hold up, but I wouldn't hold out hope for very many of these hot takes coming true once Week 17 rolls around.