Here's my breakdown of the NFC and how the playoffs might look come January.
NFC EAST
(1) Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
(2) New York Giants: 9-7
(3) Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
(4) Washington Redskins: 5-11
The Skinny: It’s very tough to repeat as division winners in the NFL, because it puts a target on your back. But for Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys, they don’t mind the target. They want to build on last years heartbreaking playoff loss to Green Bay. Tony Romo had his most productive season last year, and a large part of that was the running game and the offensive line. While Demarco Murray is in Philadelphia it will be up to either Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden or newcomer Christine Michael to help ease things for Romo… Things could not be easier for Eli Manning. A new deal is on it's way, he has a new toy in rookie sensation and Madden cover Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham will try and prove that the “Madden curse” does not apply to him. The team enters the season with some key injuries on defense, which has to be better then predicted to have a chance at the post-season… QB Sam Bradford will try to prove that he's worth what Philadelphia traded away for him, which was QB Nick Foles and two draft picks. No one really knows what Chip Kelly had in mind for this team that went through a huge transformation in the off-season. Gone are Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Trent Cole and Nick Foles and they're replaced by DeMarco Murray, Ryan Matthews, Khiko Alonso along with Bradford… Which leaves the Washington Redskins in a tough position. It’s clear to anyone that has watched football the last two years that Robert Griffin III is not the same player he once was. Every week it sounds like there is something negative going on with him or the organization, and it's been announced Kirk Cousins will start week 1 and possibly the entire season. Which may not be so bad for Head Coach Jay Gruden and company because Cousins has played well and has shown that he can lead this offense. DB Dashon Goldson will help out a much-maligned secondary and DeSean Jackson is still a deep threat every time he’s on the field.
NFC NORTH
(1) Green Bay Packers: 12-4
(2) Detroit Lions: 9-7
(3) Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
(4) Chicago Bears: 6-10
The Skinny: There is no worse injury, then a season-ending injury that occurs in a pre-season game. Such is the case for WR Jordy Nelson A.K.A. White Chocolate. The Packers did nothing to help them in the off-season and that’s because they don’t need a lot of help to begin with. QB Aaron Rodgers has a knack of turning no-name players into household names; such was the case with Nelson. They brough in WR James Jones who knows the system well, and Devante Adams is poised for a career year… Last year in Detroit it was all about the defense, this year it's up to Matt Stafford to carry the team. He will have a lot of help, but gone are Suh and Nick Fairley, and those are some big holes to fill on the defensive line. Calvin Johnson did not have a “Megatron-esque” season, but that was because there were guys like Golden Tate, Corey Fuller and Eric Ebron that emerged as solid targets. Look for more out of Megatron this year… In Minnesota it’s the Adrian Peterson show yet again. After missing most of the season last year due to a suspension, “All Day” is back and has the best QB he’s ever had since Brett Favre. QB Teddy Bridgewater was riddled to the bench last year, but that’s not the case as this year as he will have every chance to show the Vikings and the NFL that he can make it. He’s got some good weapons in Kyle Rudolph, WR Mike Wallace and rookie WR Charles Johnson. Head Coach Mike Zimner will have that defense ready that is led by safety Harrison Smith… The same however, cannot be said about Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears. The Bears have gotten worse each year while the other teams in their division continue to get stronger. Trading Brandon Marshall will either be a blessing or a huge mistake. They brought in John Fox from Denver to help a very weak defense that has taken another step back by losing Lance Briggs(retired), Charles Tillman (Panthers), and releasing fan favourite Tim Jennings.
NFC SOUTH
(1) New Orleans Saints: 9-7
(2) Carolina Panthers: 8-8
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-9
(4) Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
The Skinny: It’s tough to pick a winner in the South, because each year it seems that the team no one expect emerges as the division winner. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are the most competitive teams in the division with Tampa Bay closing the gap. The New Orleans Saints had a down year last season, and one would think that trading Jimmy Graham would make this team worse, but I’ll argue that it’s additon through subtraction. They have Brandin Cooks who has quickly emerged as Drew Brees go-to-guy while adding guys like Centre Max Unger (who they got in the Graham trade) to help bolster the line infront of Brees. They also add CB Brandon Browner fresh off a super bowl win with the Patriots… The Carolina Panthers on the other hand took a huge blow with the loss of WR Kelvin Benjamin to a season-ending injury he suffered in the pre-season. Defense is never the problem under Coach Ron Rivera and LB Luke Kuechly, but the question remains who will Cam Newton throw too? Their offense will rely heavily on the run game of Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, and they hope that lightning strikes twice and that Newton can create chemistry with rookie WR Devin Funchess… A team that has no worries at the WR position is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have arguably one of the best tandems in the league with wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, now you add in Heisman winner and number one pick QB Jameis Winston along side RB Doug Martin who has looked in top form in the pre-season and this team could take a run at the division… While in Atlanta there is only one threat and his name is Julio Jones. The Falcons don’t have much going for them but new Head Coach Dan Quinn and off.coordinater Kyle Shanahan will do everything they can to get the ball to number 11.
NFC WEST
(1) Seattle Seahawks: 12-4
(2) Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
(3) St.Louis Rams: 8-8
(4) San Francisco 49ers: 4-12
The Skinny: The NFC West has gone from one of the laughing stocks of the league back when Seattle won the division at 7-9 in 2010, to the strongest division in the league. The defences for these teams are in the top-10 of the league and none are better then the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off back-to-back super bowl appearances, one in which they won and last year’s heartbreaking loss to the Patriots. So what does Pete Carroll do but trade for one of the best offensive weapons in the league in TE Jimmy Graham. They did loser former super bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (Oakland), CB Byron Maxwell (Philadelphia) and safety Kam Chancellor is holding out for a better contract, but with Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas they should be fine… In Arizona it seems like they have all the pieces of a winning team. Solid defense, great at home, and good weapons on offense, the one question is the health of QB Carson Palmer. Palmer signed an extension last year and a week later went down with a season-ending injury. They helped shore up the line in front of Palmer by bringing in Guard Mike Iupati from San Francisco. Second year wideout John Brown could have a breakout year in the slot in between big targers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd… The St.Louis Rams pulled off a huge trade in the off-season by acquiring Nick Foles from Philadelphia in exchange for Sam Bradford. Head Coach Jeff Fisher really likes Foles, and also really liked rookie Todd Gurley (whom they drafted 10th overall this past year) who is coming off an ACL injury in college. Gurley should help compliment Tre Mason and lighten the load for Foles. This team is gifted defensively and added another big name on defense in DT Nick Fairley. If all things go well this team could make the playoffs, but one things for sure is that this team will not back down form anyone… The team that looks like it’s already thrown in the towel is the San Francisco 49ers. Despite moving into their new stadium this season, it will be a long way to get back to the top for Colin Kapernick and company. The 49ers loss so many keep players it’s hard to keep track, but the biggest loss has to be LB Patrick Willis. The heartbeat of this team for the last decade has decided to call it quits as did DE Justin Smith after 7 years in the bay area. Then you throw in LB Aldon Smith who has had so many problems off the field that his talent on the field has been nothing more then a footnote, he's gone as well. Overall this team is in a rebuild even if they won’t admit it, and in the toughest division in the NFL there is nowhere to hide.
Playoffs:
Wild Card Round:
(3)Dallas v. (6)New York (WC)
(4)New Orleans v. (5) Arizona(WC)
Divisional Round:
(1)Green Bay v. Arizona
(2)Seattle v. Dallas
NFC Championship: Green Bay v. Dallas
NFC Winner: Green Bay
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