Now heading into Week 13 of the NFL season, we have a pretty good idea of which teams are going to make the playoffs and which ones are fighting for a top pick in the draft.But what we don’t know is whether these “playoff” teams are actually for real, or if they’re merely benefiting from an easy schedule and not truly a threat for the Lombardi Trophy. Before we hop in though, let’s scratch two teams off the list as obvious contenders. After a historic back-and-forth battle in last year’s Divisional Game, both the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs are no-doubt contenders for Super Bowl LVII to the point where it seems mute to even spend time talking about them.KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 16: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills hurdles over Justin Reid #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)Both teams have electric offenses led by two of the best quarterbacks in the game, while also boasting top defenses that can stand their ground with anyone else in the NFL. They seem to be on a collision course for the AFC Championship game, although that doesn’t mean there aren’t other AFC teams who could pose a threat as well. 

One way or another, the 2021 NFL draft will go down as one of the most compelling of all time. Littered with elite prospects on both sides of the ball, the ‘21 class was hyped up as generational that haven’t exactly lived up to their potential. So as many of us football fans like to do, let’s look back and see where the players would be drafted if the 2021 NFL Draft was today.1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB   Original Pick: Trevor Lawrence, QBLook, let's not let recency bias get in the way here. Lawrence is still the best quarterback prospect we’ve seen since Andrew Luck, and an average rookie season under the mess of Urban Meyer doesn’t change that. In his second year, Lawrence has been fairly good. He is still a bit streaky, and sometimes relies on his mobility too much rather than actually reading the defense, but the raw talent is still clearly there. Plus, just a year and half into the NFL Lawrence is the face of the franchise in Jacksonville. He is the player this team will build and market itself around for years to come, and for a team in desperate need of that, the pick has to stay the same.JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars passes in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at TIAA Bank Field on October 23, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)2. New York Jets: Mac Jones, QB    Original Pick: Zach Wilson, QBAt second overall we get our first change with the Jets opting for Mac Jones over BYU’s Zach Wilson. While I still like the Jets swinging for upside in Wilson back in 2021, now in 2022 it seems like all the Jets need is a quarterback who can handle the ball and deliver it into their playmakers hands. Jones has shown he is capable of doing that with much less in New England, so the idea of surrounding him with receivers like Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore makes a lot of sense. And it’s not like Jones can’t support multiple talented receivers either, with the 2020 Alabama team featuring two first round talents in DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle as the former of the two won the Heisman Trophy that season. 3. San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance, QB    Original Pick: Trey Lance, QBLance hasn’t done much at the professional level, but the flashes he’s shown keep this pick the same. After backing up Jimmy Garoppolo for all but one game in 2021, Lance came into 2022 as the unquestioned starter. Unfortunately, Week 1’s contest against Chicago was spoiled by awful weather conditions which was then followed by an ankle fracture in Week 2. Still, Lance’s rushing ability was a huge part of the offense. His ability to keep defenses honest while also being able to sling the ball from sideline to sideline with accuracy is such a unique skill set that rarely falls to third overall in the draft. Given how the 49ers still have a contingency plan at QB in Garoppolo, Lance still makes perfect sense, even if he misses the first two years of his career.

Football is finally back and it's fair to say that the first NFL Sunday of the season produced some pretty amazing results. Not many people would have predicted that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trip to New Orleans to face the Saints would have been the game of the week.But it was. 

On Thursday night, football finally returns as the NFL preseason kicks off. The Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens meet in the traditional Hall of Fame Game, which doesn't just signal the start of the new season - but it also kicks off enshrinement week too. Although the Bears and Ravens are in action this week, other NFL teams will have to wait until August 9th to get back on the field.