So with the draft and FA pretty much done. Record for season

17 - 0

I am personally trying to sort out my prediction in light of these 4 key facts:

1.  Rookie QBs usually don't do a Stroud.  Even the more recent Hall of Fame level QBs did not do a Stroud.  Rookie QBs in their first season have a lot to learn, because the learning curve is steepest for that position than any other - that's why so many bust (yes, even first overall picks of the draft and Heisman winning QBs bust).  I don't believe he will bust but I want to keep it "real" here.  He will make his share of mistakes this rookie year.  I fully expect the click-bait articles and meatball fans will be calling him a bust when he does make the typical rookie QB mistakes.

2.  We have a totally new offense along with a new coaching staff.  That's a good thing, but again, in this first season we have new coaches, new schemes AND ALSO a rookie QB.  I doubt this thing goes perfect this first season in light of that fact.

3.  The NFCN is the #1 toughest division if football in 2024.  If you take the time to study what the other 3 teams did to improve, it is pretty sobering.  Good teams got better all around us.  The Vikings won't be a cake walk even with J.J. McCarthy.  I "get it" that a lot of folks don't believe that.  I do.

4.  Key injuries are the wild card in this.  If we have bad luck with our best players getting IR'd then that is going to hamstring the season.  Think about the impact of Caleb, Sweat, Jaylon Johnson, and our WR unit here... we can pretty quickly become a lessor team depending upon what happens here.

I throw that out there because I am drinking the Kool Aid here and going with 10 wins.  My heart says 10 wins.  My head says to not be surprised if it is a 9 win season.  I'm not going full-meatball if we have 9 wins this year.  JMO.

I went 10-7 cuz of A) rookie QB and B) this coaching staff has to prove itself in winning tight games.

Otherwise I'd say this could be 11-12 win team.

If we can get past our own division to get in the playoffs, we are a pretty good team