Before the 2019 NFL season kicked off, fans were overflowing with confidence, hot takes, and
a frankly dangerous amount of belief in the Cleveland Browns. Social feeds, fan polls, and
prediction lists were packed with “sure things” that felt as safe as a Brady fourth-quarter
drive against a prevent defense.

Looking back now, those 2019 NFL predictions read like a mix of sharp insight and
“what were we thinking?” energy. Thanks to fan-voted lists like Ranker’s 2019 NFL prediction
poll, plus expert forecasts from major outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, NFL.com, the
Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation, and others,
we can rewind the tape and see which calls really were “most likely to happen” in the eyes
of fansand how they aged once the season actually unfolded.

Below, we’ll rank the 2019 NFL predictions that fans thought were practically inevitable,
explain why they felt so believable at the time, and compare the hype to what really
happened on the field.

How Fans Built Their 2019 NFL Prediction Wish List

In the summer of 2019, football conversations were driven by three big forces:
advanced stats, expert previews, and good old-fashioned fan optimism.
Analytics-heavy outlets like FiveThirtyEight and ESPN’s Football Power Index ran thousands
of simulations to project division winners and Super Bowl favorites, often landing on the
usual suspects like the Patriots, Chiefs, and Saints.

At the same time, national and local media painted vivid narratives: the rebirth of the
Browns with Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Rodgers unleashed in a new offense,
and a loaded Bears defense anchored by terrorizing pass rusher Khalil Mack.

Fan-voted lists pulled all those threads together. One of the most telling was a Ranker
poll titled almost exactly like this article, where supporters upvoted predictions they
believed were most likely to come trueeverything from Tom Brady retiring, to Kyler Murray
winning Rookie of the Year, to Khalil Mack grabbing Defensive Player of the Year honors.

If you wanted a snapshot of the 2019 football mindset, those fan rankings were it:
a mash-up of reasonable bets, bold awards calls, and wishful thinking disguised as
“inevitable outcomes.”

2019 NFL Predictions Most Likely To Happen, Ranked By Fans

1. 10. Odell Beckham Jr. Catches Four TDs in a Single Game

   When OBJ landed in Cleveland, fans immediately started scripting his highlight reel:
   one-handed catches, game-winners, and multi-touchdown explosions. A fan poll even
   floated the prediction that Beckham would snag four touchdown passes in a single game,
   and it ranked surprisingly high in perceived likelihood.

   Reality check? While Beckham made some big plays, the Browns’ offense never turned into
   the fireworks show many expected. Between up-and-down quarterback play, coaching turmoil,
   and a struggling offensive line, the “four TDs in one game” dream stayed just thata
   dream. Still, the prediction made sense at the time: pair an elite receiver with a
   gunslinging young quarterback and fans will immediately start doing Madden math in
   their heads.

2. 9. James Conner Tops His 2018 Totals in Yards and TDs

   After a breakout 2018 season as Pittsburgh’s lead back, James Conner was widely expected
   to build on his success. Fan lists confidently predicted he’d surpass his previous totals
   in rushing yards and touchdowns, especially with the Steelers offense still seen as
   potent and balanced.

   Instead, injuries and offensive inconsistency derailed that script. Conner remained a
   talented piece of the offense, but the “he’ll easily top 2018” optimism reminded everyone
   that running back production is highly volatile. Even the most logical prediction can get
   wrecked by one bad twist of the ankle.

3. 8. Aaron Rodgers Throws for 5,000 Yards

   On paper, this one felt overdue. Aaron Rodgers had long been considered one of the most
   gifted passers in NFL history, and with a new coaching staff and supposedly refreshed
   scheme in Green Bay, fans were sure a 5,000-yard season was finally coming. Some fan
   rankings even listed this prediction right near the top of “most likely” outcomes.

   What actually happened was more subtle: the Packers focused on efficiency, a stronger
   run game, and better defense rather than asking Rodgers to carry the entire load through
   the air. The team success was there, but the stat-padding wasn’t. It’s a classic lesson:
   fan predictions often assume “more passing = better,” while coaches frequently aim for
   “just enough passing to win.”

4. 7. Baker Mayfield Breaks the Browns’ Single-Season Passing Record

   This prediction was everywhere. Coming off a promising rookie year and boosted by the
   arrival of Odell Beckham Jr., Mayfield was treated as a near-lock to shatter Cleveland’s
   passing records and launch the franchise into legitimate contention. Major outlets ran
   glowing Browns previews, and local coverage confidently floated playoff and even Super
   Bowl talk.

   Instead, the 2019 Browns crashed into reality: inconsistent play-calling, protection
   issues, and sky-high expectations created a messy season. Mayfield had flashes of the
   star everyone envisioned, but the “record-breaking” part of the prediction never fully
   materialized. In hindsight, this was a great example of how narrative momentum (“the
   Browns are finally fixed!”) can overpower cautious analysis.

5. 6. Khalil Mack Wins Defensive Player of the Year

   After terrorizing offenses in 2018, Khalil Mack looked like a safe bet to grab another
   Defensive Player of the Year award. Fan polls bumped this prediction high up the list,
   and analysts agreed the Bears’ defensive juggernaut could easily fuel another award run.

   The twist? Mack had a strong year, but the award went elsewhereto New England Patriots
   cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who locked down receivers all season and co-led the league
   in interceptions, making history as the first Patriot to win the AP Defensive Player of
   the Year honor.

   Fans weren’t wrong to think Mack had a great chance; they just underestimated how dominant
   an elite shutdown corner can look in the right scheme.

6. 5. Tom Brady Retires at the End of the Season

   This prediction felt almost poetic. Heading into 2019, some fans and pundits imagined
   Tom Brady riding off into the sunset after one last Patriots run, especially as New
   England stayed near the top of Super Bowl prediction lists yet again.

   Instead, Brady delivered a plot twist: he left the Patriots after the season, but kept
   playing and went on to win another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The fan
   prediction nailed the sense that a major chapter was closingbut missed on the idea that
   Brady was done with football. Turns out, predicting the end of an all-time great’s career
   is like blitzing him on third-and-short: risky and often painful.

7. 4. Kyler Murray Wins Rookie of the Year

   Here’s one fans absolutely crushed. The Ranker poll highlighted Kyler Murray as a strong
   Rookie of the Year candidate, and national analysts agreed: a dual-threat number-one
   pick with a creative offensive coach in Kliff Kingsbury was always going to have a big
   opportunity.

   Murray delivered. He finished his first season with over 3,700 passing yards, 500-plus
   rushing yards, and a solid stat line that earned him the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
   award.

   This prediction shows fans aren’t just guided by hypethey can also read the tea leaves
   when talent, scheme, and opportunity line up perfectly.

8. 3. Patriots, Chiefs, and Saints Are Super Bowl Locks

   Across expert pick columns and fan debates, three teams dominated the 2019 Super Bowl
   discussion: the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New Orleans
   Saints. National outlets frequently listed them as the most likely conference champions
   or Super Bowl winners.

   And honestly? Fans weren’t far off. The Chiefs ended up winning Super Bowl LIV over the
   49ers, confirming that at least one of those “obvious” contenders really was on the
   verge of a title. New England and New Orleans had strong regular seasons but fell short
   in the playoffs, reminding everyone that the NFL postseason is chaos wrapped in pageantry.

9. 2. The Browns Are Legit Super Bowl Contenders

   If there were a “Most Overconfident Prediction” trophy, this would win by a landslide.
   After a splashy offseason and a promising 2018 finish, the Browns were elevated from
   punchline to supposed powerhouse. Sports Illustrated called them legit contenders,
   local analysts broke down possible playoff scenarios, and fan polls treated a deep
   Browns run as more likely than not.

   The outcome was brutal: coaching issues, offensive struggles, and the weight of
   expectation created a season that fell far short of the “Super Bowl or bust” chatter.
   This prediction is a textbook example of how easily fans (and media) can talk themselves
   into a fairy tale when a long-suffering franchise finally shows signs of life.

10. 1. The Patriots Dynasty Rolls On

    At the very top of many preseason prediction lists was a simple idea: the Patriots would
    keep being the Patriots. With Brady and Belichick still together after another title,
    fans and analysts treated New England as the default favorite for another deep playoff
    run, and advanced models generally agreed.

    During the regular season, that prediction looked great. The Patriots started hot,
    fielded an outstanding defense, and entered the postseason as serious contenders. Then
    came an early playoff exit and the end of the Brady era in New England. The dynasty
    didn’t exactly “fall off a cliff,” but it did quietly transition into something else.

    Fans ranking this as the “most likely” 2019 NFL prediction were working off nearly two
    decades of dataand that’s hard to argue with. Sometimes the safest prediction is still
    vulnerable to time, roster turnover, and one bad January afternoon.

What 2019 Taught Us About NFL Predictions

When you put all these predictions side by side, a pattern emerges. Fans (and plenty of
experts) are very good at identifying:

• Which established contenders are still dangerous
• Which elite talents are likely award front-runners
• Which rookies are set up for immediate success

They’re much less accurate when:

• A franchise is trying to jump from “fun story” to “Super Bowl favorite” in one offseason
• Predictions rely on perfect health at a volatile position like running back
• The narrative gets louder than the underlying roster and coaching reality

The 2019 season delivered both validation and humility. Fans correctly pegged Kyler Murray
as a strong Rookie of the Year candidate and saw that the Patriots and Chiefs were still
elite. But they also learned that hyping the Browns to the moon, forecasting Brady’s
retirement, or penciling in monster seasons for individual stars can backfire fast.

Fan & Bettor Experiences: Riding the 2019 Prediction Roller Coaster

Beyond the stats and standings, the most interesting part of these 2019 NFL predictions is
how they felt in real time. If you were a fan or bettor that year, you probably lived
through at least one of these emotional arcs:

Riding the Browns Hype Train (Until It Derailed)

For Cleveland fans, 2019 was supposed to be the cinematic redemption arc. You had a
charismatic young quarterback, a superstar wide receiver, and national media suddenly
treating your team like a chic Super Bowl pick. Browns jerseys flew off shelves, futures
bets spiked, and social media was filled with “this is our year” posts.

Then the games started. Protection issues exposed the offensive line, the playbook didn’t
match the hype, and small mistakes snowballed into big losses. For fans, it was a gut-level
reminder that no amount of preseason excitement can guarantee in-season execution.

Living the “Brady’s Last Ride” Narrative

If you were a Patriots fanor a long-time Brady skepticyou may remember the emotional
whiplash of 2019. Predictions about his retirement hung over every game like a cloud.
Every slightly off throw or tough loss turned into “is this the end?” conversation fodder.

When the season ended with an early playoff exit and Brady leaving New England, some fans
felt oddly validated (“I knew something was changing”), while others felt misled by all the
“he’s done” talk once he proceeded to win another title in Tampa. As an experience, it
showed how predictions don’t just analyze the gamethey shape how fans emotionally process
each moment.

Backing Kyler Murray and Winning Big

On the positive side, anyone who bought into Kyler Murray early had a great time in 2019.
If you drafted him late in fantasy, bet on his Rookie of the Year odds, or just liked
watching a dynamic young quarterback in a creative scheme, you got to ride a prediction
that aged very, very well.

One of the underrated joys of fandom is when your preseason “this guy is going to be
special” call actually hits. Unlike some of the wilder predictions, belief in Murray was
grounded in a clear role, strong college production, and a team committed to building
around his skill set.

Learning to Respect Chaos (and Lamar Jackson)

Another big emotional lesson from 2019: chaos remains undefeated. While Lamar Jackson and
the Ravens weren’t usually at the very top of preseason “most likely” predictions, his MVP
breakout reset everyone’s expectations mid-season. Once again, it proved that even the best
models and fan polls can underrate a player whose development curve is about to go vertical.

For fans and bettors, 2019 became a sort of masterclass in humility. You could have all the
right information, follow every expert, read every simulation, and still be blindsided by a
breakout star, a shocking upset, or a contender collapsing under pressure.

How to Use 2019 Predictions to Be Smarter Next Time

So what’s the real value of revisiting these “most likely to happen” predictions years
later? It’s not just to laugh at the misses (though that’s fun) or pat ourselves on the
back for the hits. It’s to refine how we think:

• Treat team transformations (like the 2019 Browns) with healthy skepticism, especially
  when they rely on multiple new pieces and a rookie head coach.
• Be cautious with “career-best stat” predictions for veteransschemes and team strategy
  can change even when talent stays the same.
• Look for rookies like Kyler Murray who combine opportunity, talent, and a supportive
  system, not just hype.
• Remember that dynasties end slowly, then suddenly. Even the “safest” long-term prediction
  can flip in a single year.

In short, 2019 showed that fans are smarter than they often get credit forbut the NFL is
still wild enough to make even the most likely prediction look silly by December.

Conclusion: Why 2019 Predictions Still Matter

The 2019 NFL season may be in the books, but its predictions live on as a cautionary and
inspiring tale. Fans correctly believed in Kyler Murray’s potential, recognized the
continued power of teams like the Patriots and Chiefs, and understood that elite defensive
players could tilt the awards race.

They also learned, in very loud and sometimes painful fashion, that hype can outpace
reality, especially for franchises trying to make a leap from long-time underdog to
overnight juggernaut. The gap between “most likely to happen” and “actually happened”
is where NFL magicand heartbreakreally lives.

So the next time you scroll through a fan-voted prediction list or fill out your own bold
picks, remember 2019. Celebrate your good calls, laugh at the bad ones, and never forget:
the NFL will always reserve the right to surprise you.

sources: