Latest news with #predictions
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Championship is back... where the soul of Scottish football lives
When faced with the question of who will win the Championship this season, the words of that great philosopher Homer J Simpson spring to mind."I never make predictions - and I never will."This self-defeating maxim seems like a particularly apt code to live by when it comes to contemplating the strange and splendid chaos that is Scotland's second tier. And it all kicks-off on Friday evening with Arbroath hosting Ayr United in front of the Sportscene about predictions and sane football chat, just enjoy the madness - and hope the Gayfield wind machine is switched on for even more added days of Dick Campbell at Arbroath are long gone but the embers of that bunnet-inspired titanic title tussle with Kilmarnock back in season 2021-22 still burn brightly on the Angus coast. Two of his trusty lieutenants from those glory days – Colin Hamilton and David Gold - now share player-management duties, and to great effect. The club will unfurl the League One flag before the match with Ayr, testament to a side that knows how to the second tier is a different barrel of smoked fish. While the Red Lichties may publicly aspire to higher ambitions, survival for the part-time side would surely count as success. After all, their last match was a 1-0 defeat to League Two Forfar Athletic. Clearly that is not ideal. Is scent of promotion in the Ayr? What does success look like for Ayr United?At the end of last season a visibly scunnered Scott Brown cast doubt on his own future as Ayr exited the those dark clouds have seemingly scudded off into the distance with Brown leading his side to four wins out of four in the Premier Sports Cup group stage, including a 4-0 win over Arbroath at Somerset Park. Add to this new signings like Dom Thomas, Kevin Holt and Shaun Want who have all returned from across the Irish Sea – indeed, former Hamilton Academical defender Want was player of the season for a Larne side who competed in Europe - and suddenly the Honest Men look to have the nous and ability to set solid foundations. Off the field the club is heading in the right direction too. Could this finally be their year?Their final match of the season will be at home to St Johnstone. The Perth side are among the favourites to win the division after their 16-year stay in the top flight came to an have stuck with Simo Valakari, clearly believing in his vision of attack-minded football. It worked for Falkirk last season and has clearly worked for the Saints in the League Cup thus far, four wins out of four ending in a flourish with an 8-0 destruction of Elgin to this an intriguing blend of decent performers from last season - Sven Sprangler, Jason Holt and Adama Sidebeh - now allied with proven Championship additions like Sam Stanton, Reece McAlear and Morgan Boyes and there looks to be promise there. The signing of Stevie Mallan also catches the eye. Some bookies are making the other relegated Premiership side Ross County favourites to win the BBC Scotland pundits seems to be de rigueur and owner Roy McGregor has prised John Robertson away from weekends on Sportsound to lend his experience to manager Don Staggies have also brought in quality and experience with Declan Gallagher, Ross Docherty, Nicky Clark and Gary Mackay-Steven. They all know this territory inside out and should immediately stamp some identity into the would certainly be a big surprise if County or St Johnstone finish outside the top four. The evidence of Livingston last season shows that the teams dropping out of the top flight are highly likely to be in the mix. Also traditionally in that top four mix are Partick Thistle, but how will they fare without talismanic captain and striker Brian Graham who left to join Falkirk?Pretty well if the League Cup is any barometer. The Jags were another side with four wins out of four to win their group. Interestingly that also included a 3-1 away win at Ross County. The addition of Tony Watt, who won the Championship with Dundee United, looks astute as they seek to replace the 20-goals-a-season gap left by Graham. Will box office Dunfermline deliver blockbuster season? Could the box office be at Dunfermline Athletic? Possibly, with poker playing tycoon co-owner James Bord - who also has involvement with a sports analytic firm - now in control at East End Park along with former Celtic boss Neil Lennon in the make them Championship dark horses and three wins in the League Cup plus a defeat at Hearts where they earned plaudits points to positive signs for the kick off their season off away to Greenock Morton who are another club to have brought in an experienced hand to help the manager. In this case it's the former Motherwell, Derby and Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies who has arrived as technical head coach to work with Dougie Imrie. Three League Cup group wins and second round progression to face Aberdeen bodes the best bit of business Raith Rovers did in the summer was keeping star winger Dylan Easton. If he can keep back spasm issues at bay he has proved before that he can be one of the star players in this already has five goals in four matches in what was mixed bag of a League Cup campaign for the Kirkcaldy what to make of Airdrieonians? Hamilton Academical's points deduction which saw them plunge into League One saw gave the Diamonds the chance to survive via the will be hope they can do better this time given Rhys McCabe's side won plenty of plaudits in their first season in the second tier. That 1-0 win over Premiership Dundee in the League Cup will have done no lastly Queen's Park... With wealthy philanthropist Willie Haughey ending his financial backing of the club next summer, this season looks like being all about transition. Given this backdrop, it is difficult to see them emulating the promotion push of course, the football is only part of it in the Championship, where we have the allure of those hard-fired pies (which only occasionally get fired onto the pitch), the rickety stands which evoke memories of a bygone age and the passion and colour which spill forth from those stands in often wondrous and wacky ways onto our television screens on Friday soul of Scottish football lives here. It is wonderful to be part of it and the madcap chaos is about to begin again. Sit back and enjoy.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Terrifying disaster prediction from psychic dubbed 'new Baba Vanga' comes true AGAIN
A chilling prophecy made more than two decades ago by a self-proclaimed psychic known as the 'new Baba Vanga' appears to have come true. Ryo Tatsuki, a manga artist from Japan, first rose to prominence in the late 1990s after publishing her hauntingly detailed predictions in the cult book The Future I Saw. Indeed, the psychic has correctly predicted the deaths of Freddie Mercury, Princess Diana, along with a myriad of major world events - including the Kobe earthquake in 2011 and even the Covid-19 pandemic. Tatsuki, who's drawn frequent comparisons to the famous fortune teller Baba Vanga, has earned a reputation for eerily accurate predictions of some of the world's most devastating catastrophes. This week, the world is watching with renewed interest in her predictions as numerous countries on the Pacific coast were told to brace for a tsunami after one of the most powerful earthquakes that the world has ever seen rocked Russia. The 8.8 magnitude quake erupted near the Kuril Islands on 30 July, sending tremors rippling across the Pacific Rim. Authorities across Japan, the US, and parts of Southeast Asia scrambled to assess the risk of towering waves and people were told to move to higher ground. It appears Tatsuki's novel, based on her 'prophetic dreams', suggested a terrible disaster would occur on July 5, 2025, claiming the seas around southern Japan would 'boil' and although she was 25 days late - she wasn't that far off. In a reprint of the manga book that was released in 2021, Tatsuki explained how she once saw a catastrophic turn of events erupt underwater while she was sleeping. In a passage in The Future I Saw dedicated to discussing the devastation thst she believed was bound for Japan, Tatsuki wrote: 'The ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines will crack. 'Huge waves will rise in all directions. Tsunamis will devastate the Pacific Rim countries. 'A tsunami three times higher than that of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 will strike the southwest of the country.' Millions were under tsunami advisories yesterday after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia, sending tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast. Several people were injured but none gravely, and no major damage has been reported so far. The worst appeared to have passed for many areas, including the US, where all tsunami warnings were lifted by noon EST. But in countries along the Pacific - such as Ecuador, Chile and New Zealand - new warnings were forcing evacuations. Wednesday's earthquake was the sixth most powerful on record, and the strongest in Kamchatka region since 1952, with aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude expected. Tatsuki's claimed the 2025 tsunami would dwarf the one seen in Japan's devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which left 20,000 people dead or missing. 'A tsunami three times higher... will strike the southwest of the country,' she claimed. Wednesday's earthquake was the largest globally since 2011, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan. A tsunami of two feet was recorded in Hamanaka town in Hokkaido and Kuji port i n Iwate, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Several areas reported smaller waves, and at least one person was injured. In Iwaki, a city in Fukushima Prefecture, which was the epicenter of the 2011 tsunami and quake, dozens of residents gathered at a hilltop park after a community siren sounded and breakwater gates were closed. Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which was severely damaged in 2011, took shelter on higher ground while remotely monitoring operations, the operator said. By late Wednesday, Japan had downgraded its tsunami alert but left an advisory in place along the Pacific coast. Given that she's got a decent track record for predicting big events correctly, a lot of people took heed of Tatsuki's prior warning. As a result, her 2025 prediction has led to a major drop in flight bookings to Japan according to reports, which say trips have largely been cancelled by tourists from East Asia due to fears over a possible natural disaster. Bloomberg Intelligence reported that year-on-year, average bookings from Hong Kong are down 50 per cent. This has increased to - 83 per cent - when it comes to bookings made between late June and early July. The artist of the novel herself has warned that too much emphasis should not be placed on her predictions. She has instead advised that people should pay attention to expert insights and analysis. In addition, the public has been advised to dismiss Ryo Tatsuki's forecasts, with Japanese authorities asserting they lack scientific support and are completely baseless. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi prefecture, said: 'It would be a significant issue if unfounded rumors on social media impacted tourism. 'There is no cause for concern since the Japanese are not leaving the country.' He added: 'I urge everyone to disregard the rumors and come visit.' It has been noted that separately from Tatsuki's predictions, Japanese authorities have expressed worries regarding the dangers posed by earthquakes. In April, a government task force warned that as many as 298,000 could die in a massive earthquake off the Pacific coast of Japan. The country's location on the Pacific's so-called 'Ring of Fire' means it is prone to earthquakes. However, experts point out that the current scientific understanding means predicting the the time and location of earthquakes accurately is impossible. While she was largely unknown at the time her first book was published, Tatsuki has since became a recognised force among psychics. She claimed she began having premonitions in the early 1980s after a number of her vivid dreams came true. Her book has recently gained renewed interest after a number of her premonitions made in hindsight appeared to mirror real life events. Amongst her chilling predictions for the future, Tatsuki is said to have accurately foretold the sudden death of Freddie Mercury. She claims to have seen images of the Queen frontman dying suddenly in a dream on November 24, 1976. Exactly 15 years to the day later, the singer died aged 45 from complications of having AIDS. She is also thought to have predicted the death of Princess Diana. A year later, Tatsuki claimed she had a dream in which she saw a woman standing at the end of a corridor in a palace. Stood at the end, she saw a portrait of a blonde woman holding a baby, with the picture named 'Diana'. Five years to the day later, she claimed she had another dream about the Princess in which she saw her die in the car crash. The prophet has previously said that her predictive dreams arrive in a period of time that can be divided by five. Then in 1995, Tatsuki said that dreamed an old man led her to 'cracked earth', leading her to predict that the Japanese city of Kobe would be 'cracked' in either 15 days or 15 years. And thus her prophecy came true as 15 days later, Kobe was struck by an insidious earthquake that killed more than 5,000 people. It is now considered the second deadliest earthquake of the 20th century. She has often been compared to the Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga, who despite passing away nearly three decades ago in 1996, has issued countless predictions for the fate of the world, foretelling events all the way up till 5079. She too became a cult figure after supposedly predicting major world events such as 9/11, the Covid-19 pandemic and even Princess Diana's death. She also accurately said that Europe would be rocked by a devastating war. More disturbingly, she added that Russia would survive the wars and end up dominating the world.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I predicted dad's death & deadly disaster before it happened…now I see dead people – how you can use psychic abilities
EVER since she was a child, Alysa Conger knew she was different - but it wasn't until she predicted her own dad's death a week before it happened that she finally realised she was gifted. While her chilling predictions as a child were brushed off by adults, she says she hasn't stopped interacting with "those on the other side" ever since her father Kevin's tragic passing. 6 The 30-year-old, who now works as a psychic medium, says: 'As a young child, I had instances of predicting future things or had general knowledge that would be brushed off by adults. 'When my parents sat me down to tell me they were getting divorced, I said, 'Yeah, God already told me'. 'And one day, my dad was showing me the new stereo in his car, and I told him it would get stolen and to put a fake cover on it to disguise it. 'We didn't live in an area where that sort of thing was common, but I knew it would get stolen that night – and it was." As a child, Alysa would see "entities" and even spotted a dark figure standing over her mum's bed in one of her first chilling experiences of the afterlife. She says: 'When I was four and sleeping in my mom's bed, she was turned away from me and facing a mirror. 'I stirred awake in the night and saw in the mirror a grey, non-human, semi-translucent figure lying over my mom's reflection. 'I can only describe this as the feeling you might get if you're in a situation with a predatory animal and you don't want to move too much or make yourself known, even though you are making eye contact. 'We had this spooky moment of acknowledgement, like it knew I was looking at it, and then it sank into her body. 'I was always scared at night. I also saw beings who were not 'negative' – similar in their shadowy nature, but they had this electric outline around their figure. I'm a psychic medium to the stars - 4 key signs your loved one is trying to contact you from the dead & how to talk back 'I kept this to myself, but it was very impactful.I just brushed it all off and ignored it.' Chilling premonition As she grew up, Alysa, who is based in Los Angeles, California, found her visions impossible to ignore, and in October 2022, she started to receive startling premonitions. Just a week before her father suddenly took his own life, she says she sensed something untoward - intuitive thoughts she describes as "downloads". She says: 'The week before my father's death, I continuously kept getting weird 'downloads' around the death of a father or a parent. 'I can only describe it as a thought dropping into your awareness that feels outside of your normal brain ramblings. This stuff is subtle. 'If I say bring to mind your favourite place to be – the way you can feel into that and see that, is similar. 6 'But it's being given to me rather than my own projection. 'I couldn't pinpoint what this was really about because my father killing himself was 0% on the radar as an option. 'I remember even looking at a friend while on a walk while she was experiencing grief on the anniversary of her mother's passing, and I felt so detached from what I was witnessing. 'Then I said to her, 'I feel like I am about to be dealt a massive lesson within the experience of deepening empathy, something is going to happen'. 'That same week, I kept thinking, 'My dad is going to forget my birthday, I can just feel it'. 'A few days later, I got a call to say he had taken his own life.' How to get help EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: Alysa says she doesn't feel guilt for not initially understanding her premonitions and instead used them as a 'catalyst' to start the work she now does. Since that day, Alysa has embraced her spiritual side wholeheartedly and discovered abilities she had no idea she could possess. She added: 'Because of his suicide and what led up to it, I began to trust what was coming through to me. 'I knew that helping others connect with and learn to trust their intuition is the path for me, and that path appears – for now – through mediumship and all that comes with it.' I couldn't pin point what this was really about because my father killing himself was 0% on the radar as an option. Through her work as a psychic medium, under the business name Hello Who Said That, Alysa speaks with people from all walks of life to help connect them to lost loved ones and provide insight into their lives. She says her work is altogether more subtle than films would have you believe, likening it to the visceral memory of a favourite place to visit and the 'instant download of information' recalling it can bring. She said: 'You bring it to mind and you can see, feel, smell and know all about it. 'When I drop in with a client, that is what it is like – and then I translate what I am perceiving.' Alysa says she doesn't get scared talking with spirits, adding, 'living people are way more of an energetic issue than the dead. 'Living people are entitled and demanding, and in denial. 'The dead are mostly just vibing.' 'Tsunami of souls' She says she still gets "downloads", such as hearing a 'voice' in her head telling her her brother had gotten into an accident, and checking her phone to discover that had been the case. She also claims to have sensed 'a big tsunami of souls leaving Earth' right before the Covid pandemic struck, killing millions of people worldwide. 6 6 Alysa, who believes we are all capable of such abilities, says death 'looks like many things' and believes life and the afterlife coexist alongside one another. She added: 'If people take anything from any of this, it is that we are all parts of the whole. 'How we have been living is with great limitations, and these limitations can be lifted – spirits are here to show us that. 'This isn't a magical super power I have that others do not. 'It's like never doing a push-up in your life – you have to start doing them, and they are hard and they suck at first, but eventually you can do them. 'I am just someone who has been doing my push-ups – and others can as well.' She believes more people should explore their own abilities. Alysa added: 'More people should connect to this part of themselves because this is a great access point to greater connection – and connection is exactly what we all need. 'We are expansive beings who have been removed from access to that part of ourselves. 'People living lives aligned with their heart are people creating a better world.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL record predictions 2025: AI makes win-loss picks for all 32 teams
Artificial flavoring. Artificial sweeteners. Artificial plants. Artificial intelligence (AI). Technology has taken artificial to the forefront, making it so even a square peg can fit into a round hole, bridging the gap in all situations. Don't know what song to listen to? The algorithm will figure it out. Don't know how to find your destination? The self-driving car can handle that. Don't understand what you just read? AI can summarize it. Society soaks up everything artificial because it's more convenient or tastes better. Laziness or convenience? You be the judge. No matter how popular those fake things become, nothing can ever replace the original. As we embark on the early days of NFL training camp, it's important to have some fun, even if the robots continue to conquer more and more in some sort of ode to imperialism. Will Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs rebound after a Super Bowl beatdown? Which NFL team will surprise? Who will be the league's best and who will be the worst? While many speculate and debate how each NFL team will perform in 2025, we decided to get Google Gemini's artificial thoughts by having it predict every team's record. Here are the results. 2025 NFL record predictions: AI projections for all 32 teams AFC East Buffalo Bills: 12-5 New England Patriots: 9-8 Miami Dolphins: 8-9 New York Jets: 7-10 Gemini isn't forecasting any surprises in the AFC East, predicting Buffalo to win the division for the sixth straight year. The chatbot noted that they have a strong foundation in place as the team dreams of reaching the Super Bowl. Josh Allen's crew should keep rolling without much resistance. Google's artificial intelligence is buying stock, however, in the Patriots next season. It's a big fan of Drake Maye and believes Mike Vrabel can get the team back to their winning ways. Conventional wisdom suggests that the Patriots are poised for a better season. Gemini subscribes to that line of thinking as well. Miami finds itself settling into the third spot in this division race, primarily because of concerns about consistency and health. Can Tua Tagovailoa avoid injury all season? Is there enough depth on the roster? The chatbot isn't sure of either, saying results for the Dolphins are mixed this season. Returning to the bottom of the AFC East is the Jets, who are certainly no stranger to being there. However, it's a 7-10 season for New York in what profiles as a significant question mark-style season, according to Gemini. The team has limited upside in its imaginary eyes, but likes the defense and is unsure about Justin Fields. Maybe the intelligence isn't that artificial after all. AFC North Baltimore Ravens: 11-6 Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7 Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-8 Cleveland Browns: 5-12 The Ravens are locked and loaded for another run in 2025, hoping this will be the year they get over their playoff woes to reach the big game in February. Gemini is forecasting another division-winning season for John Harbaugh's team, with a sprinkling of regression despite their all-in approach to the offseason. Regardless, it should come as no surprise that the Ravens lead the way here as Lamar Jackson looks to build off another MVP-caliber season. Cincinnati is a logical entrant for the second spot in the AFC North, but the Bengals are a wild card in the jungle. The contract situations for Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart have been a dark cloud hanging over the offseason in Cincinnati. That is in addition to a team that has underachieved each of the last two seasons. The Bengals have a wide range of outcomes, but Gemini lands on the more optimistic side of the spectrum. The Steelers also know a thing or two about a wide range of outcomes, especially after signing the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. After adding DK Metcalf to upgrade the receiver room, it remains to be seen whether Pittsburgh is better in 2025. The chatbot has taken Mike Tomlin's ability to avoid losing seasons into account, predicting a 9-8 record. In the AFC North basement, it's the Cleveland Browns. That comes as no surprise considering the state of their rebuild and the lack of a clear quarterback solution. Cleveland's defense can steal some games thanks to Myles Garrett, but don't expect a miracle in The Land. MORE: Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match AFC South Houston Texans: 11-6 Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8 Indianapolis Colts: 7-10 Tennessee Titans: 4-13 It's been all chalk for Gemini in the early going, sticking with the favorite to capture the division crown. The Texans may have a few problems on their hands come playoff time, especially if C.J. Stroud is wounded behind that offensive line. However, the defense is good enough to carry them through a division that doesn't figure to have much resistance, leaving them as the clear team to beat. Liam Coen lived a life of luxury coordinating an experienced Tampa offense loaded with talent in 2024. Now for his next trick, he heads to the opposite coast of Florida to guide Jacksonville back to NFL relevancy. It's a much younger offense for the Jaguars, giving the rookie head coach a blank canvas to mold the roster as he sees fit. With that in mind, Gemini believes they can contend for a playoff spot this year. If Trevor Lawrence returns to form, Jacksonville is a frisky team that can be a threat. Everything for the Colts is tied to their quarterback situation, and the chatbot agrees. Anthony Richardson has to take a step in the right direction, but his shoulder injury is already dominating the conversation. There is still talent on this team that should keep them from bottoming out. However, the ceiling isn't particularly high and seven wins feels pretty close to it. The Titans hope they have their quarterback in Cam Ward, but it's unlikely that wins will follow in 2025. Tennessee has plenty of other issues that will hold them back next season, which is to be expected in a rebuild. An infusion of talent will continue in the coming years, but this year is all about making sure Ward is the answer going forward. Wins would be a bonus. AFC West Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5 Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7 Denver Broncos: 9-8 Las Vegas Raiders: 6-11 The Super Bowl seemed to show some cracks in the armor for Kansas City, but the Chiefs remain inevitable in an AFC West desperate to dethrone them. As long as Patrick Mahomes is playing and Andy Reid is coaching, this is the Chiefs' spot until it's not. Gemini agrees, highlighting their consistency and top-end talent. Jim Harbaugh's first season back in the NFL was a resounding success, remaking the identity of the Chargers while still securing a playoff spot. Following an early playoff exit, Harbaugh now needs his team to take the next step. The chatbot has them finishing with one less win, but considers Los Angeles a serious contender if things break right. Gemini believes the Broncos will challenge for a playoff spot again this season, calling them a potential surprise in the AFC. The AI must've forgotten that Denver was the surprise of 2024 with Bo Nix delivering in a big way. It especially likes the addition of Trent Sherfield. Regardless, the Broncos will again be a pesky bunch next season. Perhaps the most surprising prediction in the AFC, Gemini isn't buying whatever the Raiders are selling. Vegas checks in at 6-11, which would be a disappointing win total after its offseason makeover. They've stabilized the organization by bringing in Pete Carroll and Geno Smith to work with a roster infused with young talent like Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Gemini considers the division too tough for them to compete right away, but that won't make anyone in Sin City feel good if it comes to fruition. NFC East Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6 Dallas Cowboys: 10-7 New York Giants: 8-9 Washington Commanders: 6-11 We've yet to see a team reach the 13-win mark and that won't happen here either with the Eagles. Maybe it's a Super Bowl hangover for the defending champions, but Gemini isn't going out on a limb for this prediction. However, this would also be the first time an NFC East champion was able to defend its crown since the Eagles last did so from 2001-2004. The Cowboys are a surprise entrant in the second spot, primarily because they profile as a team in transition. Dak Prescott is returning from a hamstring injury that ended his 2024 season. Brian Schottenheimer takes over as head coach and the offensive line will have to operate without the veteran presence of Zack Martin, who retired. The acquisition of George Pickens should take some pressure off CeeDee Lamb and Gemini likes the revamped running back room. Either way, Dallas is a wild card with a big gap between the floor and the ceiling. Surprises continue in the NFC East as the Giants check in at 8-9. Despite a new-look quarterback room headlined by Russell Wilson, the Giants don't profile as a team prepared to make such a vast improvement in 2025, considering the challenging schedule that lies ahead. Gemini is higher on them than most, but an offense led by Malik Nabers coupled with a pass rush featuring Brian Burns and Abdul Carter can certainly make even the most pessimistic see a ray of sunshine in the future. No matter what, Washington has always been a city that disappoints 50% of people at a given moment in time. In the case of the Commanders, this might be closer to unanimous – an unheard of conclusion in the district. Barring an injury to Jayden Daniels, it seems impossible for the Commanders to finish 6-11 after making the trip to the NFC championship a season ago. The chatbot pointed out that Washington is going all-in and could struggle to integrate those pieces. Color us skeptical. NFC North Green Bay Packers: 11-6 Detroit Lions: 10-7 Chicago Bears: 9-8 Minnesota Vikings: 7-10 The Packers finished four games behind the NFC North champions in 2024 after totaling 11 wins. According to Gemini, that same win total will be enough to grant them a home playoff game in 2025. The chatbot is expecting a big year for Jordan Love and likes the Matthew Golden draft pick, adding that improving on a 1-5 record in division games will be enough to put them in the top spot. Detroit, on the other hand, is primed for a setback this season. That is thanks in large part to the staffing changes following the departures of both coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. After injuries claimed many roster players last year, this will be a Lions group that faces some new challenges in a division that provides no soft landing spot. As if losing the coordinators wasn't bad enough, the Lions will have to watch as Johnson takes over for their rivals in Chicago. The Bears are a popular breakout candidate with the expectation of a second-year leap from Caleb Williams and now they are also armed with a capable offensive line. Protecting Williams is key, but the quarterback must also step up his play. If both things come true, the Windy City is in for an exciting fall. The Vikings bet on J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback of the future. It would've been easy to stick with what worked last year while the quarterback was sidelined. After all, 14-win seasons don't grow on trees. Yet Minnesota is making the move to the former Michigan man, hoping he can deliver the goods in the Twin Cities. Gemini isn't a believer, calling it a season of transition for the Vikings. Depending on McCarthy's season, decision-makers in Minnesota could end up wondering if Sam Darnold is the one that got away. NFC South Atlanta Falcons: 10-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8 Carolina Panthers: 7-10 New Orleans Saints: 4-13 Talent has never been the question for the Falcons. Atlanta's woes seem to be more a citywide sports issue, but Gemini is predicting the football team will respond in a big way this season, winning the division for the first time since 2016. They are loaded on offense with Bijan Robinson and Drake London, while the defense tries to catch up with a much-improved pass rush. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. both enter the fold, representing the youth movement in the ATL. A big step forward from Michael Penix Jr. could be all they need to make some serious noise. The Buccaneers have become a factory for producing offensive coordinators in recent years, losing Dave Canales and Coen to head coaching jobs. Now it's Josh Grizzard's turn, but that lack of continuity can also be a problem. That is also Gemini's primary concern, suggesting that turnover could lead to a slow start. Tampa remains the team to beat in the NFC South, but the chatbot predicts they will fall short in 2025. Much like how Johnson left Detroit to join the division foes in Chicago, Canales did the same to Tampa Bay by leaving for Carolina. His Panthers are looking to turn a corner this year and Bryce Young is a big reason for that. He made strides in 2024, giving Carolina a reason to be optimistic. Despite being in the midst of a rebuild, the Panthers can be frisky in 2025. Unless some higher power intervenes, the Saints won't be winning many games this year. There is talent on the roster, even if it's often injured, but the quarterback spot is a complete unknown. Derek Carr retired, leaving Tyler Shough as the apparent starter in New Orleans. Kellen Moore, the team's new head coach, has his work cut out for him in what should be a year that isn't defined by wins and losses. MORE: Los Angeles Rams are 'right place' for wide receiver Davante Adams NFC West San Francisco 49ers: 12-5 Los Angeles Rams: 10-7 Arizona Cardinals: 8-9 Seattle Seahawks: 7-10 After a short stay at the bottom of the NFC West, Gemini has the 49ers back on top in 2025. Last year was ruined by injuries for San Francisco, leading to some new players emerging in different spots. Now they are loaded up for what they hope is a deep playoff run. Gemini has them tied for the league lead in wins, staving off tough competition from their Southern California neighbors. The Rams lost the snow globe battle in the playoffs against the Eagles, but proved they are Super Bowl contenders. It wasn't a guarantee that would remain the case after the offseason. Matthew Stafford was involved in trade rumors, but he is now back for another run in Hollywood. They made a big splash by signing Davante Adams. On paper, this should be a top team in the league. Gemini has them finishing second in the NFC West, but this is a squad no one will want to play in January. Gemini didn't specify how the Cardinals' season will play out, but we can only assume it expects a hot start followed by a limp to the finish line. Arizona's defense should make some significant strides; however, this team goes as far as Kyler Murray takes them. That is evidenced by the extreme highs and lows that the Cardinals seem to experience every year. If he can find some consistency, this team can be in the hunt. Our last stop on our tour around the NFL and the NFC West is Seattle. The Seahawks will have a new look in 2025, highlighted by the arrivals of Darnold and Cooper Kupp. It remains to be seen if Darnold can replicate the magic he found in Minnesota last season, leaving the Seahawks as an unknown. They are remaking the team with Mike Macdonald's vision in mind, turning the page from the Carroll era. The chatbot expects flashes, but not a lot of consistency. We tend to agree. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL record predictions: AI makes win-loss picks for all 32 teams
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Simpsons creator says the show will continue until a main character dies
The Simpsons c reator Matt Groening offered new predictions regarding the show's longevity, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk at San Diego Comic-Con. Groening stated that The Simpsons is expected to continue until one of its central cast members dies. He made humorous forecasts, including public celebrations upon Trump's death and Elon Musk's crash-landing on Mars. Groening also predicted societal shifts, such as America returning the Statue of Liberty to France and children encouraging their parents to abandon the 'cult of MAGA' by removing Fox News from their TV channels. The event also saw the announcement of celebrity guest stars for the upcoming 37th season, and the show's executive producer clarified that Marge Simpson's recent on-screen death is not considered canon. Simpsons creator predicts how world would react to Trump's death and Elon Musk landing on Mars
