The NFL’s summer of “what ifs” is officially over, with preseason action kicking off Thursday night. First Things First co-host Nick Wright didn’t waste any time, dropping his team tiers for Week 1 of preseason on Wednesday, and some of his takes are absolutely wild. Forget generic predictions, Wright laid out his script for the league, complete with plenty of surprises as teams face their first real stress tests.
Betting Against History Or Just Scared?
Wright kicked things off by highlighting six teams that history says *should* produce a postseason contender, yet he wants nothing to do with them. We’re talking the Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals, Jets, Raiders, and Titans, all sitting at a whopping 100-to-1 to make the playoffs. Wright himself admits it: “Almost every year, a team that has these odds and these are the six teams in the league,” he said. “History says one of them is making the playoffs. Do you have the courage to pick it? I don’t.” That’s a strong statement from a guy who usually loves a bold take.
Then there’s the “Could Be OK!” tier, and Wright’s enthusiasm for these teams is basically zero. The Giants, Colts, Steelers, and Vikings fall into this category, pegged as hit-or-miss outfits that might land anywhere from eight to nine wins. “Seems like they could be okay,” Wright noted, clearly not inspired. “I don’t really have much to say about them. They could win eight or nine games. They could. I don’t know that I believe they will. They could be okay.” Ouch, that’s a tough look for those fan bases entering preseason.
The NFC South is a Madhouse, But This QB Can Go Off
The NFC South gets its own special tier, and for good reason: it’s hands down the most unpredictable division in the league. Despite the chaos, Wright is all-in on the Buccaneers, mostly because of quarterback Baker Mayfield. He believes Mayfield can get absolutely red-hot when he’s playing with something to prove, and honestly, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? “I like the Bucs,” Wright stated. “It’s the NFC South…someone’s gonna go 8-8 and one will win it and I hope it’s Baker [Mayfield]. I hope he gets hot in the playoffs.”
Switching gears to the “boom or bust” label, the Houston Texans are front and center. Their entire season hinges on whether C.J. Stroud can deliver, because if he does, this team is dangerous. Wright isn’t shy about the stakes. “What is the deal and who is the real C.J. Stroud and who are we going to see if they get just good production from the offense,” he wondered. “That could be a Super Bowl team. The defense and DeMeco Ryans are so good.” That’s high praise for a team that could either soar or totally crash.
Early Camp Worries Are Real for These Old Teams
Wright is actively concerned about the Commanders and 49ers, and honestly, you can’t blame him. Both organizations are off to a rough start in camp, which is extra problematic considering they’re already two of the oldest teams in the league. The Laremy Tunsil injury for the Commanders is a “huge deal,” sidelining a key guy for months. And the 49ers? They’ve got a “bunch of guys out intermittently.” Wright summed it up perfectly: “These are older teams we talked about that we don’t love. The fact that they have one of them already has one key guy done for months and the other has a bunch of guys out intermittently. It’s just a bad part of training camp.” Not exactly the momentum you want heading into Week 1 of preseason. He also feels like something is missing with the Lions and Packers.
Preseason is about to hit, so we’ll see if Wright’s crystal ball is accurate or if some of these teams prove him way wrong. Can those 100-to-1 shots actually surprise everyone? Will Stroud rise to the occasion? Keep your eyes locked on the early games, because the script is about to be written.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply