Playing out the entire 256-game NFL regular season schedule by picking scores for each game is something I've done each of the past four summers.

It isn't easy.

I like to play the season out week by week, which means picking scores as I go, taking into account where the game is being played, what time it's being played, and how it falls on a team's schedule. Three-game road trips or back-to-back road games can be tough. Long trips across the country are tough going to both coasts.

That's all taken into account with each pick, as is what I think a team's offense and defense will look like this season. With that, I project out the entire 2016 NFL season here, totaling up the games to get to the final records.

It's a challenging exercise to do because injuries can destroy the entire thing. Take last season. I had the Dallas Cowboys going 13-3 and getting to the NFC Championship Game. Tony Romo's injuries ended that possibility.

Then I had Dallas winning the NFC East until the Romo injury this summer. That forces rookie Dak Prescott in as the starter for six to eight games or so. He has been good in the preseason, but now things intensify. It won't be easy.

I still have the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, based on them beating Dallas in the regular season. Even with Teddy Bridgewater out for the year with a knee injury, the Vikings are built to run it and play good defense. That got them a division title last year, and it will be good enough to get to the playoffs this season, even with Sam Bradford playing quarterback. The trade to get him will pay off with a playoff berth.

Playing out the season is fun to do, and it brings out the venom in all of you. Why? Almost every fan in the league right now -- OK, maybe note Browns fans -- thinks their team is playoff-ready.

So jump in, take a look around, get nasty, get fired up and rip me to death for my picks.

In the end, my Super Bowl pick is the same one from a year ago: Green Bay against New England. I came close to picking the Seahawks to beat the Packers in the title game, but I think this is a big-time, bounce-back year for Aaron Rodgers. So let's put to rest the misguided notion that he was off last season.

He will show why he's the best in the NFL this season as he leads the Packers to his second Super Bowl title.

Just don't hold me to all of this.

After all, it is September and we know how things change from year to year in the NFL -- let alone week by week.

Week 1

Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos: Broncos 23, Panthers 21

Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 24, Packers 20

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 27, Bills 17

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: Texans 16, Bears 13

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles 26, Browns 10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 24, Bucs 17

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans: Vikings 19, Titans 17

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets: Bengals 27, Jets 20

Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints: Raiders 23, Saints 21

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 17, Chargers 13

Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 28, Dolphins 17

Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 31, Lions 24

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: Giants 21, Cowboys 17

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 30, Patriots 23

Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins: Steelers 30, Redskins 27

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers: Rams 16, 49ers 10

Carson Palmer and the Cardinals will clip the Brady-less Pats in Week 1. USATSI

Week 2

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills: Bills 24, Jets 17

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 31, Bengals 23

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Ravens 20, Browns 9

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins: Redskins 28, Cowboys 27

New Orleans Saints at New York Giants: Giants 34, Saints 31

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots: Patriots 26, Dolphins 24

San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 31, 49ers 10

Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions: Lions 27, Titans 20

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs: Texans 27, Chiefs 26

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams: Seahawks 19, Rams 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 27, Bucs 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 23, Jaguars 21

Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 31, Falcons 19

Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos: Broncos 28, Colts 21

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: Packers 31, Vikings 28

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears: Bears 20, Eagles 13

Week 3

Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Patriots 23, Texans 14

Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills: Cardinals 27, Bills 24

Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans: Titans 19, Raiders 16

Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 21, Browns 13

Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 27, Ravens 23

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Packers 39, Lions 28

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 28, Broncos 20

Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 20, Vikings 17

Washington Redskins at New York Giants: Giants 28, Redskins 24

Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs 17, Rams 16

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 32, 49ers 21

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 23, Jets 16

San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 35, Chargers 33

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles: Steelers 24, Eagles 17

Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 27, Bears 20

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints: Saints 27, Falcons 23

Andy Dalton and the Bengals will knock the Broncos from the unbeaten ranks in Week 3. USATSI

Week 4

Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 16, Dolphins 13

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville (London): Jaguars 27, Colts 26

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans: Texans 23, Titans 20

Cleveland Browns at Washington Redskins: Redskins 31, Browns 10

Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets: Seahawks 23, Jets 17

Buffalo at New England Patriots: Patriots 20, Bills 14

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons: Panthers 21, Falcons 20

Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 26, Raiders 20

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears: Bears 13, Lions 10

Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Broncos 20, Bucs 14

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 27, Rams 14

New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 27, Saints 23

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers: Cowboys 30, 49ers 20

Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 27, Chiefs 24

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 21, Giants 17

Week 5

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers: Cardinals 28, 49ers 10

New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns: Patriots 38, Browns 13

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions: Lions 28, Eagles 17

Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 33, Bears 21

Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 18, Titans 17

Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 23, Redskins 20

Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 19, Texans 17

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 23, Jets 20

Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos: Broncos 25, Falcons 19

Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys: Bengals 23, Cowboys 17

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams: Bills 16, Rams 13

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 28, Chargers 27

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers: Packers 27, Giants 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 31, Bucs 18

LeSean McCoy and the Bills will eke out a Week 5 win over the Rams after making the long trip to LA. USATSI

Week 6

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers: Broncos 19, Chargers 16

San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills: Bills 20, 49ers 13

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins: Redskins 24, Eagles 21

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans: Titans 20, Browns 18

Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants: Giants 21, Ravens 20

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints: Saints 37, Panthers 34

Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears: Jaguars 27, Bears 24

Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions: Lions 27, Rams 7

Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 27, Steelers 26

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots: Patriots 25, Bengals 13

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 27, Chiefs 23

Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 34, Falcons 21

Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers: Packers 31, Cowboys 20

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans: Texans 25, Colts 20

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 28, Jets 17

Week 7

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers: Packers 28, Bears 19

New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams: Rams 17, Giants 14

New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 27, Saints 21

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans: Titans 13, Colts 10

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles 20, Vikings 17

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 20, Browns 10

Washington Redskins at Detroit Lions: Lions 27, Redskins 23

Oakland Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 31, Raiders 27

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 19, Bills 16

Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets: Jets 20, Ravens 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers: 49ers 20, Bucs 17

San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 27, Chargers 23

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 31, Patriots 30

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 28, Seahawks 26

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos: Broncos 20, Texans 7

Mark it down: Carson Wentz and the Eagles will beat Sam Bradford and the Vikes in Week 7. USATSI

Week 8

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans: Jaguars 23, Titans 17

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 26, Chiefs 20

Washington Redskins at Cincinnati Bengals (London): Bengals 27, Redskins 21

Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs 26, Raiders 21

Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints: Seahawks 24, Saints 21

Detroit Lions at Houston Texans: Texans 20, Lions 18

New York Jets at Cleveland Browns: Jets 16, Browns 13

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons: Packers 27, Falcons 20

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills: Patriots 33, Bills 23

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos: Broncos 21, Chargers 20

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 30, Cardinals 27

Philadelphia a at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 28, Eagles 27

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears: Vikings 17, Bears 13

Week 9

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs 19, Falcons 14

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 37, Steelers 29

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns: Cowboys 23, Browns 14

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 21, Jaguars 18

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 17, Jets 16

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants: Giants 33, Eagles 27

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 22, Lions 19

Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams: Panthers 27, Rams 16

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers: Saints 27, 49ers 17

Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 28, Titans 18

Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers: Packers 34, Colts 28

Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 23, Broncos 20

Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 27, Bills 14

Derek Carr gets his first win over the Broncos in Week 9. USATSI

Week 10

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 18, Browns 16

Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans: Packers 22, Titans 20

Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins: Redskins 23, Vikings 21

Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs 10, Bears 6

Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 20, Chiefs 17

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles 28, Falcons 23

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets: Jets 18, Rams 16

Denver Broncos at New Orleans Saints: Saints 23, Broncos 20

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 19, Texans 14

Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 28, Dolphins 21

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 27, Cowboys 26

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 29, 49ers 13

Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots: Patriots 20, Seahawks 19

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants: Giants 23, Bengals 20

Week 11

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 19, Saints 14

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns: Steelers 28, Browns 17

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 34, Ravens 24

Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions: Lions 30, Jaguars 28

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 33, Titans 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 28, Bucs 20

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 24, Bills 7

Chicago Bears at New York Giants: Giants 27, Bears 21

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 21, Cardinals 17

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Rams: Rams 17, Dolphins 14

New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers: Patriots 28, 49ers 16

Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 26, Eagles 17

Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins: Packers 34, Redskins 31

Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 20, Texans 13

Adrian Peterson and the Vikes will take down the Cardinals in Week 11. USATSI

Week 12

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: Lions 19, Vikings 13

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 28, Redskins 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 31, Steelers 25

Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears: Bears 21, Titans 10

Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills: Bills 28, Jaguars 23

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: Bengals 30, Ravens 24

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons: Cardinals 27, Falcons 21

New York Giants at Cleveland Browns: Giants 20, Browns 10

Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints: Saints 23, Rams 14

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 28, 49ers 20

San Diego k at Houston Texans: Texans 17, Chargers 15

Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Seahawks 27, Bucs 16

Carolina Panthers at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 20, Panthers 17

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos: Broncos 28, Chiefs 21

New England Patriots at New York Jets: Patriots 33, Jets 10

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles: Packers 31, Eagles 21

Week 13

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 27, Cowboys 23

Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 21, Chiefs 20

Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots: Patriots 30, Rams 7

Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars: Broncos 21, Jaguars 17

Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers: Packers 28, Texans 17

Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 26, Eagles 20

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints: Saints 33, Lions 30

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 34, Dolphins 20

San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears: Bears 19, 49ers 16

Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 23, Bills 20

New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 37, Giants 29

Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 31, Redskins 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 30, Bucs 16

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 24, Panthers 23

Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets: Jets 24, Colts 23

Russell Wilson will get his revenge on the Panthers in Week 13. USATSI

Week 14

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 23, Raiders 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills: Bills 24, Steelers 17

Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans: Broncos 20, Titans 17

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs 27, Saints 24

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles: Redskins 28, Eagles 27

Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins: Cardinals 33, Dolphins 20

San Diego Chargers at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 37, Chargers 19

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: Bengals 17, Browns 16

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: Lions 38, Bears 31

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 28, Texans 17

Minnesota Vikings at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 20, Vikings 16

New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers: 49ers 21, Jets 14

Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams: Rams 15, Falcons 13

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers: Packers 27, Seahawks 24

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants: Giants 38, Cowboys 33

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots: Patriots 30, Ravens 20

Week 15

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 21, Rams 16

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets: Jets 20, Dolphins 17

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: Packers 35, Bears 27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 33, Bucs 17

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans: Texans 30, Jaguars 14

Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills: Bills 28, Browns 17

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 21, Eagles 20

Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 31, Titans 16

Detroit Lions at New York Giants: Giants 35, Lions 25

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 29, Colts 21

New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals 38, Saints 17

San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 19, 49ers 13

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos: Patriots 26, Broncos 21

Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 16, Raiders 10

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 31, Steelers 30

Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins: Redskins 24, Panthers 21

Tom Brady gets payback against the Broncos and pulls out a rare win in Denver. USATSI

Week 16

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles 28, Giants 20

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: Bills 38, Dolphins 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints: Saints 27, Bucs 23

New York Jets at New England Patriots: Patriots 35, Jets 27

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 21, Titans 17

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: Packers 24, Vikings 14

San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns: Browns 20, Chargers 13

Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears: Bears 23, Redskins 20

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers: Panthers 34, Falcons 14

Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 31, Colts 30

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams: Rams 19, 49ers 17

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans: Texans 26, Bengals 20

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 38, Ravens 30

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 20, Broncos 13

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys 27, Lions 20

Week 17

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 31, Saints 21

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 33, Ravens 23

New York Giants at Washington Redskins: Redskins 21, Giants 20

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: Titans 20, Texans 17

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Panthers 23, Bucs 17

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions: Packers 27, Lions 21

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 27, Jaguars 24

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins: Dolphins 21, Patriots 16

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 28, Bears 12

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets: Jets 20, Bills 17

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles: Cowboys 24, Eagles 23

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 28, Browns 12

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams: Cardinals 20, Rams 17

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos: Broncos 20, Raiders 19

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers: Chiefs 30, Chargers 20

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers: Seahawks 23, 49ers 13

Final regular-season records

AFC East

Patriots 13-3 Bills 7-9 Dolphins 7-9 Jets 6-10

AFC South

Jaguars 9-7 Colts 8-8 Texans 8-8 Titans 4-12

AFC North

Bengals 12-4 Steelers 11-5 Ravens 8-8 Browns 1-15

AFC West

Broncos 11-5 Chiefs 9-7 Raiders 9-7 Chargers 6-10

NFC East

Giants 10-6 Cowboys 9-7 Redskins 7-9 Eagles 4-12

NFC South

Panthers 11-5 Saints 7-9 Bucs 5-11 Falcons 5-11

NFC North

Packers 15-1 Vikings 9-7 Lions 7-9 Bears 5-11

NFC West

Cardinals 13-3 Seahawks 13-3 Rams 5-11 49ers 2-14

Playoff Seeds

AFC

Patriots Bengals Broncos Jaguars Steelers Chiefs

NFC

Packers Cardinals Panthers Giants Seahawks Vikings

First-round byes AFC: Patriots, Bengals

First-round byes NFC: Packers, Cardinals

Wild-card round AFC: Broncos beat Chiefs, Steelers beat Jaguars

Wild-card round NFC: Panthers beat Vikings, Seahawks beat Giants

Divisional round AFC: Patriots beat Steelers, Bengals beat Broncos

Divisional round NFC: Packers beat Seahawks, Cardinals beat Panthers

Championship Game NFC: Packers beat Cardinals

Championship Game: AFC: Patriots beat Bengals

Super Bowl: Packers beat Patriots