NFL Photos | NFL Photography Gallery | NFL.com
Schedule Release: 2013 Predictions
Happy schedule release day. It's a euphoric yet bittersweet day because while it's awesome to take a look at the schedule, there is a little twinge because you realize these games are months away. So with that in mind, here are some way-too-soon predictions for the upcoming 2013 NFL season. Be sure to hit me up with some of your predictions for the upcoming season on Twitter @adamrank and use the hash tag: #2013NFLpredictions.

The already slighted Ravens fans will complain they have to go on the road, unlike most Super Bowl champions. As a result, Ravens fans boycott Orioles games. What's that you say? They already don't go to O's games (13,591 in attendance on Wednesday night)? Word travels fast.

The Bills will prove they belong in the conversation in the AFC East when they play host to the New England Patriots in Week 1. Well, that is if the conversation is the Bills have no chance of winning the AFC East after getting shellacked by the Patriots. (With this pessimistic attitude, I'm practically a Bills fan.)

Don't look for a great start for Bengals sensational receiver A.J. Green, who will face three tough pass defenses from last year: the Bears (8), Steelers (1) and Packers (11). So, expect quarterback Andy Dalton will have to learn another play other than "throw the ball up in the air and hope Green comes up with a big catch."

The Browns will give it a go with QB Brandon Weeden this upcoming season. And with the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Browns select Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. (Wow, with this pessimistic attitude, I'm practically a Browns fan already.)

To make sure no repeat mistakes are made again, the Broncos plan to defend Jacoby Jones with eight players. Flacco still hits him on a 70-yard touchdown in the season opener. BTW, the higher/lower mark for Wes Welker touches in their Week 12 game at New England is 36. I might go higher.

Arian Foster returns to Twitter in October to take on the Iron Shiek after the former WWF champion takes great delight in the Texans' three-game skid against the Ravens, Seahawks and 49ers following Houston's 2-0 start. Foster again retires from Twitter soon after when he refuses to respect the legend.

Peyton Manning returns to Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 7 (seriously, this wasn't the first Sunday night game of the week instead of giving the Broncos a home game in Week 1?). And it's just like old times as Manning does what he does best -- he throws a game-crippling interception in the closing moments and, this time the Colts go on to win. Jubilant Colts fans in No. 18 jerseys don't know how to act.

Buzzfeed recently printed out the list of the 21 worst things in the world. You know what ranked No. 22? Blaine Gabbert? Yes, I stole that from Dan McGuiness on Twitter.

I will probably go out on a limb again and pick the Chiefs to win the AFC West. I'll look like a genius when the team knocks off the Jaguars in Week 1. The Chiefs will go 2-0 with a win over the Cowboys in Week 2, so shock the world, Chiefs! Oh, and Leon Sandcastle has an INT return for a touchdown in the first week.

Every fan in Sun Life Stadium will rise to their feet and voice their displeasure over the new logo and uniforms during the club's home opener in Week 3 against the Falcons. Thankfully, the "roar" of 13 fans can't be picked up by TV microphones. The Dolphins will open the season with two road wins, though!*
*Our home page editor is a Dolphins fan.

John Fox resorts to taking a page out of Bill Belichick's playbook when he inserts Wes Welker into the defensive secondary during the team's Week 12 matchup in New England. But in a twist of cruel irony, Welker drops the game-ending interception. That's right, the Patriots benefit from a Welker drop this time.

The Jets hang on to Darrelle Revis, and Mark Sanchez has one of his most productive seasons as the Jets rebound and challenge for a playoff berth
![After the Raiders lose to the Jaguars in Week 2, a reporter asks GM Reggie McKenzie if the team is "Clowning for [Jadeveon] Clowney." An uncomfortable silence overtakes the room when it's realized the Raiders are just that bad. (With this pessimistic attitude...yeah, nothing's changed about my feelings for the Raiders.)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ikbgsnbkvebofolhzior.jpg)
After the Raiders lose to the Jaguars in Week 2, a reporter asks GM Reggie McKenzie if the team is "Clowning for [Jadeveon] Clowney." An uncomfortable silence overtakes the room when it's realized the Raiders are just that bad. (With this pessimistic attitude...yeah, nothing's changed about my feelings for the Raiders.)

James Harrison shows up at Heinz Field in Week 1, starts putting on a uniform and runs on to the field. Nobody has the heart to tell Harrison he's no longer with the Steelers. But it pays off as Harrison has two sacks in the Steelers' Week 1 win over the visiting Titans.

The Chargers opening on Monday Night Football has become a bit of a tradition. And this year you throw out the record books when the Chargers play host to their long-time rival Houston Texans. Wait, what?

After he witnessed the Titans open the season on the road with a rocky 0-2 start at Pittsburgh and Houston, Vince Young buys a front-row ticket for the team's home opener against the Chargers and shows up in his old jersey, you know, just in case.

Carson Palmer officially will begin hating life about three minutes into the Birds' season opener at St. Louis. Palmer eventually will give way to the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, Tyler Bray, in Week 11 against the Jags. Fans in Jacksonville no longer hate their quarterbacks as much.

When Steven Jackson scores his third rushing touchdown against St. Louis in Week 2, coach Jeff Fisher will ask, "Wait, we're allowed to give Jackson the ball near the end zone? Who knew?"

Cam Newton shocks the world in Week 1 against the Seahawks! No, he doesn't lead the Panthers to a victory. He keeps his eyes open and is well composed during the post-game press conference after the team loses. The Panthers then win their next five games

The Bears open the season with two home victories over the Bengals and Vikings. Jay Cutler actually looks at Alshon Jeffery during the win over the Vikings. Oh, he didn't throw the ball to him. But at least he looked at another receiver this time.

The Cowboys defense will give up close to 70 points in the first two games against the Giants and the Chiefs, and somehow Tony Romo will be blamed for this.

Reggie Bush makes a huge impact with the Lions who again are challenging for a playoff berth. Titus Young remains unimpressed as he tweets out that he is a better running back than Bush. And then he promptly deletes the tweet.

The Packers have a lot of options at running back, but it's DuJuan Harris who eventually wins the gig and leads the club with a season total of 13 rushing yards. Yes, 13. After the season, Aaron Rodgers vows to throw the ball more in 2014.

Adrian Peterson falls just short of his stated goal of 2,500 rushing yards. But after the Vikings' game against the Lions in Week 1, Peterson completes his goal the following week against the Bears in Week 2.

The Saints open the season with the Atlanta Falcons. Wait, the Saints with a chip on their shoulder opening the season at home against the Falcons? Where have we heard this before? As a result, Falcons coach Mike Smith refuses to punt the ball and the Saints roll on to a 31-17 victory and eventually win the NFC South.

Tony Romo purchases a large block of tickets for the Cowboys' visit to the Meadowlands in Week 12. Romo doesn't have a large contingent coming to the game. But with that huge contract, he's one of the few people who actually can afford tickets to a Giants game.

The Eagles open with four of their first six on the road. And Eagles fans are upset they have to wait so long to turn on new coach Chip Kelly.

The Cowboys and Dolphins played in front of 216 people in Miami in 1987, the worst-attended game in NFL history. Keep that in mind when one-win St. Louis FC plays host to the one-win Jaguars in Week 5. The winner gets the rights to Los Angeles, but the city of Angels isn't so sure it wants either.

Things get a little awkward when Colin Kaepernick shows up at training camp with a portrait of Jim Harbaugh tattooed on his back. Actually, the awkward part is that it's actually a photo of John Harbaugh tattooed on his back.

Pete Carroll is accused of running up the score on the Jaguars in Week 3 during a post-game interview. "Hey at least let us get on the field first," Carroll says. And then the Seahawks run up the score.

49ers tackle Anthony Davis draws a 15-yard penalty when he throws a copy of his new contract at former college coach Greg Schiano during the team's Week 15 showdown in Tampa Bay. Davis tells Schiano that he's a two-year and done kind of coach as the Bucs miss the playoffs again.

The turf at FedEx Field already will look worse for wear and tear when the Redskins open up on Monday Night Football and host to the Eagles. This gives fantasy enthusiasts one more day to lament if RG3 is going to play or not. Make sure you have Kirk Cousins on your roster just in case! But it won't matter. RG3 plays and the Skins beat the Eagles.