Our experts' 2016 NFL season predictions
With the National Football League kicking off its season tonight in Denver, we asked our experts — columnists Mike Imrem and Barry Rozner, Chicago Bears beat writer Bob LeGere, and sports writer Joe Aguilar — to offer their predictions for the Bears, the NFC and AFC races, and the Super Bowl.
Mike Imrem
Bears record: 9-7
I picked the Diamondbacks to win World Series. Now it's another Arizona team to win the Super Bowl. Must be sunstroke. Go Coyotes! Go Suns!
NFC North (predicted order of finish): Green Bay, Minnesota, BEARS, Detroit.
NFC East: New York, Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia.
NFC South: Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa Bay.
NFC West: Arizona, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
AFC East: New England, New York, Miami, Buffalo.
AFC North: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland.
AFC South: Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee.
AFC West: Oakland, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego.
Playoff predictions
AFC wild cards: Cincinnati, Indianapolis.
NFC wild cards: Minnesota, Seattle.
NFC Championship: Arizona over Green Bay.
AFC Championship: Pittsburgh over Oakland.
Super Bowl: Arizona over Pittsburgh.
Barry Rozner
Bears record: 7-9
Picked them 6-10 a year ago, and they lost several close games. This time, let's give them one more. Seven is more than six.
NFC North: Green Bay, Minnesota, BEARS, Detroit .
NFC East: New York, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia.
NFC South: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Atlanta.
NFC West: Seattle, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
AFC East: New England, Buffalo, Miami, New York.
AFC North: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland.
AFC South: Houston, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Tennessee.
AFC West: Oakland, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego.
Playoff predictions
AFC wild cards: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati.
NFC wild cards: Arizona, New Orleans.
NFC Championship: Green Bay over Seattle.
AFC Championship: New England over Cincinnati.
Super Bowl: Green Bay over New England.
Bob LeGere
Bears record: 7-9
Addition of OG Josh Sitton is huge, and the schedule is one of the NFL's easiest, but this is a team still in rebuilding mode.
NFC North: Green Bay, Minnesota, BEARS, Detroit.
NFC East: New York, Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia.
NFC South: Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta.
NFC West: Arizona, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
AFC East: New England, Miami, New York, Buffalo.
AFC North: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland.
AFC South: Indianapolis, Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee.
AFC West: Kansas City, Denver, Oakland, San Diego.
Playoff predictions
AFC wild cards: Cincinnati, Denver.
NFC wild cards: Seattle, Minnesota.
NFC Championship: Arizona over Seattle.
AFC Championship: Pittsburgh over New England.
Super Bowl: Arizona over Pittsburgh.
Joe Aguilar
Bears record: 7-9
Steal of the Year Josh Sitton is worth 1 win. If not Kevin White or Leonard Floyd, other recent picks need to play like draft steals.
NFC North: Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit, BEARS.
NFC East: New York, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia.
NFC South: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans.
NFC West: Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco.
AFC East: New England, New York, Miami, Buffalo.
AFC North: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland.
AFC South: Houston, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Tennessee.
AFC West: Oakland, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego.
Playoff predictions
AFC wild cards: Kansas City, Cincinnati.
NFC wild cards: Arizona, Minnesota.
NFC Championship: Carolina over Seattle.
AFC Championship: Pittsburgh over New England.
Super Bowl: Pittsburgh over Carolina.