A few short weeks ago I had the second best job in America. No, I wasn’t a backup quarterback in the NFL. That’s the best job.
I was the backup to the Prognosticator of the United States of America. I was the Vice Prognosticator. It was largely ceremonial. All I really had to do was attend the scheduled yearly funeral for the Cleveland Browns season.
And then the damndest thing happened. Everybody suddenly noticed that an old guy was old.
So here I am.
All I can say is my fellow Americans, if you elect me as the Prognosticator of the United States of America, I promise the Cleveland Browns will win the Super Bowl.
Now I know what you are thinking. I had four years in this administration as Vice Prognosticator to get it done and we did not do so. Even though we promised it would happen every year. I acknowledge that.
But look at how far the Cleveland Browns have come since the Prognosticator and I took office. The team no longer sucks. That counts for something right. I mean, it’s practically a campaign slogan.
Look, we’ve been through a lot as a nation in the last four years. From Baker Mayfield to Deshaun Watson, all of America has suffered as the Cleveland Browns have struggled.
But I am here with joyful message: We’re not going back. Those days are over, my friends. There is a new dawn upon us, if you just elect me as Prognosticator.
If you elect the other guy, well.
Do you remember all those years of arrogant Patriot fans talking about their love for goats? How about when the Baltimore Ravens, who used to be, you know, the Cleveland Browns before Satan, AKA Art Modell, moved them… well how about when they won the Super Bowl and showcased Ray Lewis and his despicable dance of the dead? Or, what about all those years when the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl?
I’m telling you, we’re not going back. That is, if you vote for me.
If you vote for the other guy, you will fall into a virtual hellscape. You know, like the one you remember so well.
It’s all up to you to decide what’s gonna happen.
AFC
EAST
DOLPHINS – Tua Tagovailoa, wanting to please his online critics, switches to throwing right handed. It works, because the Internet is never wrong. 12-5
JETS – Aaron Rodgers leads the Jets to a 4-0 record when he quits to run for Vice President. People try to explain to him that RFK Jr. dropped out, but Aaron will have none of it. He’s running for Vice President! The media is so biased! Jets 9-8
BILLS – Josh Allen carries the Bills on his back. It would be better if he used his arm. 8-9
PATRIOTS – Jacoby Brissett is better than Patriots fan think he is, and the team is worse than they think it is. The good journeyman quarterback is about to go on a bad journey, while Bob Kraft craves a good happy ending.2-15
NORTH
BROWNS – Deshaun Watson has only one goal for the season: a happy ending. 17-0
BENGALS – Joe Burrow has an offensive line, which makes Joe Burrow really dangerous, only losing twice to the Browns. 15-2
RAVENS – Lamar Jackson gets himself another first half of the season MVP before regressing into the playoffs. 10-6
STEELERS – Old Russell Wilson is the Bubby Brister of Mark Malones. 4-13
SOUTH
JAGUARS – Are the Jaguars destined every year to start as as a very tough team to beat and finish off as, meh? This year, they are. But it still leads to a winning record 10-7
TEXANS – The skeptic in me (how did he get in there?) is not buying the Texans hype. Starship Reality to Houston. Come in Houston. 10-7
TITANS – Callahan and son, just like Sanford and son, start out in a place thought of as a junkyard. But Will Levis just might be a hidden gem. And expect an immediate improvement to the offensive line. 9-8
COLTS – Anthony Richardson is about to play meaningful football. Not sure who it will be meaningful to. 4-13
WEST
CHIEFS – Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift was enough of a push to get Andy Reid to finally accept his longstanding invitation to join the Rolling Stones. 14-3
CHARGERS – Jim Harbaugh, ever the dreamy-eyed strategist, tells all who will listen about how good Bill Belichick was at NFL cheating, and how he can only hope to cheat so good. 10-7
RAIDERS – Gardner Minshew’s job is to provide the Raiders with hope while also leading to a record that allow them to draft a quarterback who will eventually provide real hope. But Minshew doesn’t play along. The team is too good to escape mediocrity. 7-10
BRONCOS – I can’t believe I agree with Sean Payton on anything, but I like Bo Nix too 6-11
NFC
EAST
COWBOYS – Dak Prescott, MVP candidate, teases Jerry Jones one more time. 12-5
EAGLES – The Eagles are a good team, Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback, and Philly is, well, Philly. So there will be boos. 10-6
GIANTS – The Giants, Brian Daboll, and Daniel Jones peaked a couple of years ago. Yes, that was a peak. 5-12
COMMANDERS – Dan Quinn just wants one more chance to try to hold a 28-3 lead. Not to be this year. His team will be lucky to lead at all. 3-14
NORTH
LIONS – These are magical football years in Detroit. In some cities, the team doesn’t have to win it all to create magic. 12-5
PACKERS – Jordan Love is, so far, a textbook reason for why a team should sit a young quarterback and let him watch. 11-6
VIKINGS – Sam Darnold is what you think he is. 6-11
BEARS – How about we pump the breaks on the Caleb Williams Hall of Fame ceremony. 5-12
SOUTH
FALCONS – Watch as players like Kyle Pitts and Drake London become superstars with a real quarterback. 12-5
BUCCANEERS – Baker Mayfield’s moxie is so likeable and his play is so very, very average. 9-8
SAINTS – If the goal is to be mediocre and stay mediocre, Derek Carr is the man for the job. 8-9
PANTHERS – What kind of drink is David Tepper planning to throw this year? 4-13
WEST
49ers – The 49ers are loaded, I smell some selfishness creeping into the locker room. o much on money either will or will not rock the boat. Probably not this year. 12-5
RAMS – Aaron Donald, retired, waits on his white horse ready to ride into the middle of the season and save the day for Matthew Stafford, who does his part. 10-7
SEAHAWKS – Gino Smith has made the Seahawks into a very average team. 9-8
CARDINALS – CI do not believe in Kyler Murray any more than you do. 6-10
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NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
LIONS OVER 49ers
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
BROWNS OVER CHIEFS
SUPERBOWL
BROWNS OVER LIONS
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This column is sponsored by JANUARY 6, THE SEQUEL, opening at theaters this November.