THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS have reached the last two Super Bowls and are 9/2 favourites but pick up a second Vince Lombardi trophy in three seasons next February.
The Green Bay Packers were all set to be their biggest challengers this year but the loss of wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season has had a dramatic impact on their championship credentials.
But what about the rest of the NFC, can anyone step up to the plate and dethrone the Seahawks?
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
It’s not quite a make-or-break year for Chip Kelly and his up-tempo offence but you get the sense the natives in Philadelphia will become quite restless if they don’t make the playoffs this year. A lot will depend on how many games Sam Bradford plays but upgrades at running back and in the secondary should help them to the postseason.
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
Like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expected the Cowboys to play so well last year. However, what is forgotten in the hype behind Dallas is that eight of their 12 wins came on the road, a feat they surely can’t repeat. Unless they can turn their home stadium into a fortress, 2015 is going to mark a return to mediocrity for America’s team.
3. New York Giants (6-10)
The Giants’ record since winning Super Bowl XLVI is 9-7, 7-9, 6-10. In summary, they’ve been rubbish the last three years. In the offseason, they sacked Perry Fewell who was the co-ordinator in charge of the league’s 3rd worst defence last year. They have a favourable schedule but 8-8 looks the very peak of their abilities this season.
4. Washington (3-13)
In three of the last four seasons, the Washington football team has had a top five pick in the NFL Draft. With former number two overall pick Robert Griffin III now their third choice quarterback, you would get fairly short odds on the worst team in football making it four out of five.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The loss of Jordy Nelson to ACL injury before the start of the season is a blow few quarterbacks could recover from. Luckily for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers is one of them. There are still question marks over the Green Bay secondary and week two’s home game with Seattle could prove crucial in determining the outcome of the NFC.
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
The Vikings are the dark horses in the eyes of many this year and will benefit from an early bye week (week five) which should allow them build momentum towards the business end of the season. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has the chance to establish himself as one of the best young QBs in the game this year but their defence should remain the focal point for this team.
3. Detroit Lions (10-6)
There’s a theory in Detroit that the Lions defence actually suffered for having Ndamukong Suh because it meant everyone stood around waiting for him to make a play. We’ll learn just how true or not that was this season. The Lions could well have an impact in this division but, like the Eagles last year, even 10 wins may not be enough to make the postseason.
4. Chicago Bears (5-11)
John Fox is one of those weird head coaches who can make bad teams good and yet make great teams good too. Is he the right man for Chicago? It’s doubtful and the Bears could easily find themselves with just one win by the time their bye week comes around in week seven if they’re not careful.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
Admittedly we’re one of the few to predict the Falcons will win this division but you have to believe Dan Quinn’s defensive sensibilities will seep through straight away and that will be enough for Atlanta to claim the worst division in football. Staying injury free — we’re looking at you Julio Jones — could prove key to everything the offence does.
2. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
The loss of Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks has been pretty well documented but losing guard Ben Grubbs to Kansas will have just as big an impact on the passing game. The defence continues to be the weak point in New Orleans and the decision to release Junior Galette — for off-the-field issues – will not help.
3. Carolina Panthers (6-10)
In theory, the Panthers won this division last season but football was the real loser as they posted a losing record in doing so. It’s hard to be too high on their prospects this year given they must cope without their stud wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. In their favour though, is the fact that all the teams in this division are below average so you never know.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10)
Tampa aren’t getting near the playoffs anytime soon but they do benefit from a relatively easy start to the season that young quarterback Jameis Winston really needs to take advantage of. They’ll still finish bottom of the division mind.
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
It’s hard to stay as consistently good as the Seahawks have over the past few seasons and they play one of the toughest schedules in the NFL but… but… they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league, one of the best defences and are are almost guaranteed to win eight home games. That’s a pretty good start to any season.
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
The Cardinals were very unlucky last season when the loss of not one but two quarterbacks at the tail end of the year put paid to their hopes of an extended playoff run. A large part of their success was down to Todd Bowles though and he’s no longer in Arizona. Can James Bettcher do the same job? We doubt it.
3. St Louis Rams (8-8)
The Rams are another team with the potential to have a top five defence but with very little in the way of star power on the other side of the football. Nick Foles will only keep his side in games where his defence concedes 20 points or less, that’s a tough ask for any quarterback.
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)
Up there with Washington as one of the worst teams in the NFL, the 49ers can only hope the actual season goes much better than an offseason that saw players leave, get injured, get arrested and the loss of their head coach Jim Harbaugh. The one bright spot has been Aussie import Jarryd Hayne making the team.
Playoffs
Eagles
Seahawks
Packers
Falcons
Vikings
Lions
Disagree? Of course you do. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
