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2017 NFL Preview
AFC East Preview
The New England Patriots are primed for a big year, but they will not go 19-0 like some are predicting. They have one of the best offenses in the land and Bill Belichick will work around the loss of Julian Edelman, who is now out for the year. This team still has plenty of weapons at the WR corps and a solid run game, plus they have Tom Brady, who may be one of the best QBs ever. The defense is usually underrated, but it is very good and finished 1st in the league in points allowed last year, giving up just 15.6 ppg. They may not lead the league this year in points allowed. But they should finish in the top 7. A top five offense and a top seven defense, plus a fairly easy schedule will have them making a deep run in the postseason and quite possibly another Super Bowl Title.
The Miami Dolphins suffered a big blow in the preseason when they lost QB Ryan Tannehill, who was ready for a solid season, especially with the addition of TE Julius Thomas. Now they had to scramble and went out and signed QB Jay Cutler, who did not look good in his first game, but played very well in the loss to Philadelphia the next week. He has a big arm and the Dolphins have some nice weapons for him to throw to, plus they have one of the best backs in the league in Jay Ajayi. The offense could improve on the 22.7 ppg they put up last year, but the defense has to be a concern as it has struggled in the preseason, especially after allowing 808 yards and 69 points combined in games 2 and 3. They will finish around .500 and will not be apart of the postseason.
The Bills have not been to the postseason since 1999 and are now under new leadership as Sean McDermott has taken over for the fired Rex Ryan. The Bills have the opposite problem of the Dolphins as they have plenty of defense, but no offense. The Bills have averaged just 11.7 ppg in the preseason so far and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, string offense has not looked good at all. Tyrod Taylor is at QB and they have LeSean McCoy, but still the cupboard is bare when it comes to other solid skill players. They will be led by their defense and in the preseason it has looked good as they have allowed just 263 ypg and 16.7 ppg through three games. Still. The offense will hold them back, which means they will have to wait at least another year to break their postseason drought.
The New York Jets were just 5-11 last year and they could be a bit worse this year. The offense has been an issue for this team for years and this year it will be no different, The have cut ties with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith and have also lost RB CJ Spiller and WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. They did take a couple of WRs in the draft, but losses far outweigh the gains and even if their new receivers were of the caliber of Marshall and Decker, they still don’t have a QB to get them the ball as Josh McCown just hasn’t been a good QB in his career. They will rely on their running game and a solid defense to win games, but it will not be enough for them to escape the basement of the AFC East or even post more wins than they had a year ago.
AFC North Preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers come in off a solid 11-5 season and they made it all the way to the AFC Title game, before falling 36-17 to the Patriots, who went on to win it all. The Steelers didn’t do a whole lot in the offseason, but they are still loaded for another run at the Super Bowl. The offense will again be one of the best with Le’Veon Bell controlling the ground and Big Ben to a very strong set of receivers, controlling the airways. They must stay healthy, though, as there is not a ton of talent behind their starters at the skill positions. The defense was th12 in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed last year and they should be just as good, if not better this time around. Pittsburgh will get a challenge from the Ravens, but in the end they should grab at least 12 wins on the year and make another deep run in the postseason.
The Baltimore Ravens were 8-8 last year and missed the postseason for the 2nd year in a row, This year they look to challenge for a playoff spot and in the preseason they have been most impressive so far, especially on the defensive side of the bal. That defense has allowed just 177.7 ypg overall and just 6.3 ppg through their first three preseason games. Obviously, they won’t put up numbers like that during the regular season, but this will be one of the best defenses in the league. Last year they were 7th in yards allowed and 9th in points allowed and have upgraded that defense by using five of their seven picks in the draft on that side of the ball. The offense will have a solid aerial game, which is led by Joe Flacco, but they need more from a ground attack that averaged just 91 ypg and 92 ypg the last two year. Still, they should grab a wildcard berth thanks to their defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals were 12-4 back in 2015, but they crashed to a 6-9-1 mark last year. This year they look to be in the mix for a wildcard berth, especially with the upgrades they made to their offense. The Bengals used seven of their 11 picks on that side of the ball and took WRs John Ross and Josh Malone and RB Joe Mixon with three of their first five picks. That gives Andy Dalton a few more toys to play with and they should put up more than the 20.3 ppg they averaged last year. The defense was 9th in the league in points allowed a year ago and they picked up a couple of nice LBs in the draft in Jordan Williams and Carl Lawson, so this defense could be just as strong. The Bengals face the 4th easiest schedule in the league, but they will come up just a bit short in their quest for a wildcard slot, even though they are improved.
The Cleveland Browns have suffered through some rough seasons and this one will be no different, but they are headed in the right direction. The Browns had a heck of a draft and while they had three picks in the first round, it may be their 2nd round pick that will really make a difference for this team in the coming years. That pick is QB DeShone Kizer, who has had a very strong camp and has now been named their starting QB for week one. The Browns also went out and got WRs Kenny Britt and James Wright through free agency, plus have upgraded their offensive line. The offense should be much improved and should should the defense, after being one of the worst in the league last year. With their 1st pick they took DE Myles Garrett and with their 2nd pick it was safety Jabrill peppers and both will help this defense immediately. They finally have a draft to be proud of and are now headed in the right direction.
AFC South Preview
The Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans have won the AFC South every year since 2008, but that streak should end this year as the Tennessee Titans are primed for a very solid year. Marcus Mariota will have his best year as a pro, especially with the additions of WRs Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor and TE Jonnu Smith being selected in three of their first four picks in the draft. They also have a strong 1-2 punch in the running game with Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry, p[lus a very good OL The offense has made strides the last couple of years and now it is ready to really break out. Last year on defense, they were 20th in yards allowed and 16th in [points allowed and they helped out that side of the ball with with solid additions through free agency and 1st round pick CB Adoree Jackson. The Titans are improved on both sides of the ball and take on the 2nd easiest schedule, which should all propel them to the top of the AFC South standings.
The Houston Texans look to take the 2nd slot in the AFC South and will be in the mix for a wildcard slot this year. The Texans did win the AFC South last, despite the fact that they had Brock Osweiler at QB, who was one of the biggest busts in the league last year. This year they have Deshaun Watson, who they took with the 12th overall pick, but he didn’t have a great camp as he put up a QBR of just 67.3 in his three games played so far. Still, he has plenty of upside and they still have a solid ground attack that is will be led by Lamar Miller and rookie D’Onta Foreman, plus they have a solid OL. They could use help in the WR corps, but they should be slightly improved on offense this year. The defense is where this team’s bread is buttered and it is led By J.J. Watt. They were tops in the league in ypg allowed last year and will need that defense to lead them again, or at least till the offense catches up.
The Indianapolis Colts will again be a solid team, but still, they are just a one-trick pony as they will go only as far as Andrew Luck can take them. Last year, they were 8th in the league in scoring and 5th in passing, but they were also 23rd in rushing and did very little to try and upgrade tat part of their offense. That puts a lot of pressure on luck and a good set of receivers and if he goes down then they are in big trouble as the Colts just don’t have a capable backup QB on their roster. The defense was poor last year as they ranked 30th in the league in yards allowed and they made many changes on this side of the ball, plus they used their first three picks in the draft on defense. The Colts were 8-8 last year and again they look like a very average team. They have the easiest schedule in the league, but will still come up short in their quest for a spot in the postseason.
And then there were the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will again take up residence in the AFC South basement. They did have a very good draft and have upgraded just about every position in the offseason… except for the QB spot, which is the most important on the team. Blake Bortles was the starter last year and he wasn’t terrible, but still he had a horrible camp and they may now be looking at Chad Henne as their QB. The ground game got a boost with the drafting of 4th overall pick Leonard Fournette and they have a few decent WRs, but still, who will get them the ball. The defense was 6th in the league in yards allowed last year, but they did allow 25.0 ppg, which was 25th in the league. Most of that was due to the fact that the offense put the defense in bad situations. They could allow more ypg this year, but they should allow less ppg. They are on the right track, but will not get to where they want to go without a competent QB.
AFC West Preview
The Oakland Raiders look to be the class of this division, but it will not be easy as the Broncos and Chiefs will give them a run for their money. Still, this is a very good team that some feel will challenge the Patriots for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Oakland offense is led by Derek Carr, who is healthy after missing the last two games last year and that really derailed the offense as they scored just 20 total points in their final two games. If he is healthy, this offense will go and he has big weapons in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, plus the ground attack got an upgrade with the addition of Marshawn Lynch. This will be a scary offense this year. The defense was a sore spot for them, but they upgraded it by using their first three picks in the draft on that side of the ball. Their first two was to help a secondary that ranked 24th in the league in pass defense. The Raiders are a very good offensive team and their defense will be improved. The Raiders are back and I look for them to make a deep run in the postseason.
If defense wins championships, then the Broncos should be in the mix as their was one of the best in the league last year and it could be even better this year, especially with the additions of 2nd round pick DE DeMarcus Walker and 3rd round pick CB Brendan Langley. The Broncos were 4th in the league in yards allowed and 4th in points allowed last year and I see them ranking in that range again. The Offense was not very good last year and they really must settle on Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch at QB. Lynch probably has the better upside. The ground game got a boost as they brought in Jamaal Charles to help out a unit that put up just 93 ypg on the ground last year, but the offensive line needs some work. The Broncos have to play the toughest schedule in the league, but their defense is very strong and their offense will be better, so I will look for them to take second in the division and one of the AFC Wildcard slots.
The Kansas City Chiefs would take the 3rd spot in the AFC, but the loss of Spencer Ware will hurt an offense that wasn’t that great to begin with. The Chiefs won the division last year, but fell in their first playoff game by a score of 18-16 to Pittsburgh. The offense was rather average overall and just couldn’t get much off the Steelers in the postseason. The Chiefs went out and used their first pick on QB Patrick Mahomes, who could very well take the job away from Alex Smith before the season is over and Mahomes will not be a game manager like Smith is. He can really air it out and the Chiefs do have some decent WRs. Still, their running game is in trouble and that will put more pressure on Alex Smith, who hasn’t responded to pressure all that well in the past. The Chiefs will be led by their defense and it is a good one, but can it lead them to the postseason? They will challenge for a wildcard berth in the AFC, but I feel they will come up just a bit short.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a new home and a new head coach in Anthony Lynn. The Bolts have failed to get to the postseason in each of the last three year and Lynn hopes to change that. Well, he may eventually, but not this year. The Chargers again will have a strong offense that is led by Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon, plus a nice collection of receivers and an improved offensive line. They did take WR Mike Williams wit the 7thg overall pick in the draft, but he will not get on the field till mid-October. Still, there are enough weapons on this offense to make it go. The problem for Los Angeles comes on the defensive side of the ball and they have struggled in that respect in the preseason. It was 29th in the league in scoring last year and could be just as bad this year as they did little in the offseason to upgrade it. The Bolts could ride their offense to a .500 record, but that still won’t get them in the postseason.
AFC Wildcards-- Denver & Baltimore
Division Winners-- New England, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Oakland
AFC Title Game-- New England defeats Oakland
2017 NFC Preview
NFC East Preview
The Dallas Cowboys had a very good season last year and with both Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott now having a year under their belt, they should be a bit better this year. Elliott will start the season on the field, but at some point he will be serving a six-game suspension. Still, this is the best team in the division and their offense will still continue to produce, even when Elliott is not in there. Prescott just has to avoid the sophomore slump. The defense was solid last year as they allowed just 19.1 ppg and 344 ypg on the year. This defense has a chance to be even better this year as they used seven picks in the draft on this side of the ball. The one area of concern was a pass defense that ranked 26th in the league, allowing 260.4 ypg, while in the playoff loss to the Packers, they allowed 326 yards. The addressed that by using a 2nd, 3rd and 6th round draft pick on their secondary. I would look for the Dallas pass defense to rank in the upper half of the league rankings this year. The Cowboys should have another solid year and win the NFC East behind the offense of Prescott, Bryant and Elliott and an improved defense.
The New York Giants were 11-6 last year and should have another decent year this time around. They have a good offense that is led by Eli Manning and Odell Beckham, plus they have added WR Brandon Marshall and TE Evan Engram with their first pick in the draft. They do lose Victor Cruz, but still, this will be a good passing game. Paul Perkins will be the running back and they hope that he can carry a ground attack that averaged just 87 ypg last year. The Giants have solid skill players, but their offensive line is still one of the worst in the league and if they have issues on offense, that is where their problems will come from. The defense was very solid last year as they were 10th in the league in yards allowed and 2nd in points allowed, giving up just 17.8 ppg on the year. They did very little in the draft and in free agency on this side, but did take defensive tackle Dalvin Thompson with their 2nd pick in the draft. This is a solid team once again after going 11-5 last year and they should again challenge for the top spot in the NFC East, especially if their offensive line can get its act together.
The Philadelphia Eagles have missed the playoffs the last three years, but they are hoping to change things this year. They are in the 2nd year of Doug Pederson’s schemes and also in the 2nd year of having Carson Wentz at QB and while he did have just a 79.3 QBR last year, he has shown great improvements this year in Training Camp and is expected to have a big year. The Eagles have also added WRs Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, along with RB Legarrette Blount. Wentz has some new toys to play with to go along with WR Nelson Agholor, TE Zach Ertz and RB Darren Sproles. This offense should be improved and put up more than the 22.9 ppg that they averaged a year ago. A couple of years ago, the defense really struggled as the Chip Kelly offense went at warp speed and thus it meant the defense was on the field a lot more and they really tired down the stretch. In 2015, they allowed 26.9 ppg, which was 28th in the league, but last year the offense slowed down and the defense stayed fresher and they ended up allowing just 20.7 ppg, which was 11th in the league. This will again be a solid defense, especially since they used their first three picks in the draft on this side of the ball. The Eagles have a solid team and they will be in the mix for a postseason berth all year long.
The Redskins missed out on the postseason party last year and are hoping to get back there this year behind the arm of Kirk Cousins, who signed a big one year contract. He had a strong season last year as he threw for 4917 with 25 TDs and 12 INTs, but still it wasn’t enough. Part of the reason was a run game that was 20th in the league, putting up just 106.0 ypg. A better run game would open up more throwing lanes for Cousins to hit some big plays downfield to a fine group of receivers that will be led by Jamison Crowder, Terrelle Pryor and Brian Quick. The running game will be inexperienced as they have just one player on that group with more than two years of experience. The problem for Washington last year was their defense as they ranked 28th in yards allowed and 19th in points allowed, giving up 123.9 ppg. They really struggled against the pass as they allowed 258.1 ypg through the air, which was 25th in the league. The Skins addressed their need for help in the secondary, by taking three DBs in the draft and adding free agent CB D.J. Swearinger from Arizona. If the defense can improve on defending the pass, then this will be an improved group. Overall, the Skins will not be a great team and will take up residence in the NFC East.
NFC North Preview
The Green Bay Packers went 10-6 in the regular season and then beat the Giants and Cowboys in the playoffs before losing to Atlanta in the NFC Title game. Well, they are ready for another strong year as they had a solid draft and are in a rather weak division. Back is Aaron Rodgers to lead an offense that averaged a solid 27.0 ppg last year, which was 4th in the league. Gone is RB Eddie Lacy, but they have added RB Jamaal Williams in the draft and he has the skills to do just fine in the league. They also have a strong passing game that is led by Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and newly added TE Martellus Bennett. This will again be a potent offense. The problem for them last year was a defense that ranked 22nd in the league in yards allowed and 21st in points allowed, giving up 24.3 ppg. They lose DB Micah Hyde and DL Julius Peppers, but still this will be a solid defense this year, especially with a couple of DBs coming in that they chose with their first two picks in the draft. They had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last year, but that will change this time around. They are the best team in the division and are one of the favorites in the NFC to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Detroit Lions had a solid season a year ago as they were 9-7 in the regular season and made it to the playoffs where they lost to the Seahawks in the wildcard round. This year they look to make it back to the postseason and take the next step. The Lions were led by their defense last year as they were 18th in the league in total yards allowed and 13th in points allowed, giving up just 22.4 ppg. That defense looks to be stronger this year as they used their first two picks in the draft on that side of the ball and have added some nice free agents to give them some solid depth. The offense was below average last year as they ranked 21st in total yards and 20th in scoring putting up just 21.6 ppg. The offense looks stronger this year, especially with the addition of Kenny Golladay (3rd rnd pick) and a much-improved OL. I also look for Ameer Abdullah to have a bounce back season at RB. They will top last year’s numbers The Tigers had an average offseason this year, but they did address some needs, especially on the OL and upgraded their defense in the draft. This team could challenge the Packers for the division Title, but at the very least they should make a return trip to the postseason.
The Minnesota Vikings just missed out on the postseason last year as they were 8-8 on the year. The reason they missed the postseason was not because of their defense as it ranked 3rd in the league in total yards allowed and 6th in points allowed, giving up just 19.2 ppg on the year. That defense is strong and it will be what leads the team. They had 11 picks in the draft and used five of them on the defensive side of the ball, while grabbing Datone Jones from Green Bay in free agency. Most of the other parts from last year’s defense is back but they did lose Captain Munnerlyn and Chad Greenway to free agency. They will need that defense to step up on most nights as the offense will still be below average this year, even though they did make some nice moves to upgrade it. They brought in WR Michael Floyd (New England), took Dalvin Cook with their first pick in the draft and upgraded their OL with a couple of free agents and their 2nd pick in the draft Pat Ellein. They should be improved on this side of the ball, but it will take some time for all the new pieces to gel. If they get more from their offense than expected, then this team will challenge for a postseason berth this year.
The top three teams in this division have a shot at a postseason berth, while the Bears will be struggling to get to 5 wins on the year. The Bears had a very average offseason, but they possibly got their starting QB of the future in Mitch Trubisky, who they took with the 2nd overall pick. He will start the season as the #2 QB behind Mike Glennon and ahead of Mark Sanchez. Trubisky could be starting by the middle of the year. The Bears have also added solid receivers in Victor Cruz and Kenny Wright, plus have upgraded their offensive line. I look for them to easily top the 17.4 ppg they put up last year. The defense was not that good a year ago as they allowed 24.9 ppg, which was 24th in the league. They used just one of their five draft picks on defense, but did bring in seven free agents to help plug some holes. Still, the defense will be the weak link of this team again. The Bears were just 3-13 last year and despite being improved on offense, I don’t see them getting past five or six wins this year, but they are on the right track.
NFC South Preview
The Atlanta Falcons may be a bit peeved after losing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots. The one thing they can’t do this year is dwell on that as the rest of the division is stronger. The offense for the Falcons is top notch as they were 2nd in the league in total offense and 1st in the league in scoring last year, putting up 33.8 ppg. The offense is led by Matt Ryan, Rbs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and a strong collection of receivers that include Julio JOnes, Andre Roberts and Mohamed Sanu. They also have a very good offensive line. This team can run and pass and it it hard to not see them finish in the top three in scoring this year again. In the super Bowl, the problem was not their offense, but their defense and they used their first two picks on that side of the ball, but brought in DL Dontari Poe through free agency. The Falcons were 25th in the league in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed, giving up 27.4 ppg and on most days they were able to just outscore their opponents, except for the Super Bowl. This will still be a below average defense, but it should be improved over last year’s group and with the offense they have, they should again win the division and make another run at the Super Bowl.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be the team I am most excited to see this year, Last year they were 9-7 and just missed out on a playoff berth, which would have been their first since 2007. The Bucs didn’t have a great draft, but they did get some help on defense with two of their first four pcks, took TE O.J. Howard with their first overall pick and brought in WR Desean Jackson in Free Agency. The offense look like it will be a top 10 unit this year with Jameis Winston at QB and Mike Evans and the aforementioned Jackson as big play threats. The running game will be solid with Jacquizz Rodgers and Doug Martin (after 3 games suspension), plus a good offensive line. This will be an exciting offense to watch this year. The defense was 23rds in the league in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed, giving up 23.1 ppg. Their pass defense was troubling and they used their 2nd pick on safety Justin Evans, plus brought in a couple of DBs through free agency. The Bucs will be a fun team this year and if their defense is just average, then they will have a good shot at a postseason berth this year.
Back in 2015, the Carolina Panthers had a magical season as they went 15-1 during the regular season and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost 24-10 to the Broncos. Last season it was a whole different story as they went just 6-10 and finished last in the NFC South. Their big pick was RB Christian McCaffrey, who they 8th overall in hopes of helping out a ground game that dipped to 10th in the league last year, after ranking 2nd in 2015. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield and a good punt returner. Cam Newton had a bit of a down year last year as he hit just 52.9% of his passes and threw just 19 TDs passes, compared to 35 in 2015. He also ran for 277 yards less and had five less rushing TDs than he did in 2015. Getting Newton back on track is crucial, but they also need their defense to return to its 2015 form. Last year they were 21st in the league in yards allowed (359.8 ypg) and 26th in points allowed, giving up 25.1 ppg, compared to ranking 6th in the league in yards allowed (322.9 ypg) in 2015 and 6th in points allowed, giving up just 19.2 ppg. They brought in DL Julius Pepper and DBs Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Adams to help shore up the defense, plus drafted DE Daeshon Hall with their 3rd pick. This defense should be much improved this year and if Cam Newton can rebound from a tough year, then they will challenge for a postseason berth this year.
The NFC South may not be the best division in football, but top-to-bottom, it may be the most competitive. The New Orleans Saints have gone just 7-9 in each of the last three years and they will look to break that string this year and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2013. The problem for the Saints over the years has not been their offense as they have Drew Brees, who just continues to pile up the yards and TDs. Last year he threw for 5208 yards with 37 TDs and 15 INTs. He has now thrown at least 32 passes in eight straight years. He has another strong group of receivers this year and the Saints have added RB Adrian Peterson to help create a little more balance on offense. The problem for the Saints over the years has been on defense and last year they ranked 27th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed, giving up 28.4 ppg. If this team ever gets a defense then they will be very hard to beat as their offense is pretty much unstoppable. They did use three of their first four picks in the draft on defense and brought in LBs A.J. Klein (Carolina) and Manti Te’o (Chargers) through free agency, so they have a good shot at being improved and even an average defense will give them a shot at getting to at least eight wins.
NFC West Preview
The Seattle Seahawks had another solid season last year and made it to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs before bowing out to the Falcons. Seattle is ready for this season and the way they played in the preseason, it looks as if they are playing with a chip on their shoulders. The Seahawks have been led by their defense the last few years and that will not change this year. They were 5th in yards allowed and 3rd in points allowed, giving up just 18.3 ppg and used four picks in the first three rounds on that side of the ball. The also have added depth to their defense by bringing in six free agents on the defensive side of the ball. This will again be a top five stop unit. The offense was very average last year overall, but poor in the running game as they just weren’t able to compensate for the loss of Marshawn Lynch. This year they brought in Eddie Lacy in free agency and added a couple of FA linemen, plus took center Ethan Pocic in the 2nd round. The running game will be improved and that will help Russell Wilson hit some big plays down field to a talented corps of receivers, led by Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin. With an improved running game and a top-notch defense, the Seahawks should win the West and make a deep run in the postseason.
The Arizona Cardinals won the division back in 2015, with a 13-3 record, but last year they fell to 7-8-1 and missed out on the postseason. This year they look to get back to the postseason, but they have plenty of work to do, especially since they had a very average offseason. The offense was strong last year as they ranked 9th in total yards and 6th in scoring, putting up 26.1 ppg. The offense is led by RB David Johnson, who ran for 1239 yards, had 879 yards receiving and scored 20 TDs. They also have Carson Palmer at QB and a host of solid receivers led by Larry Fitzgerald. I look for this offense to again finish in the top ten. On defense they were 2nd in the league in yards allowed and 14th in points allowed, giving up 22.6 ppg. They used their first two picks in the draft on this side of the ball, plus brought in four defensive players through free agency, including DB Antoine Bethea. The Cardinals have some good pieces on both sides of the ball, but they will not take down the Seahawks in the division. The best they can hope for is a wildcard berth.
The Los Angeles Rams have not been to the postseason since 2004 and they won’t get there this year either. The Rams really struggled on offense last year, but new head coach Sean McVay did wonders with Kirk Cousins at Washington and he should have the same effect here with Jared Goff, who did look pretty good in training camp. Goff has a new weapon in WR Sammy Watkins to go along with WR Robert Woods and 3rd round pick WR Cooper Kupp, plus they RB Todd Gurley and an improved offensive line. This will not be the worst offense in the league like they were last year. The defense was 9th in total yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed last year, giving up 24.6 ppg. That was mostly due to the fact that their offense put them in bad positions most of the time. They lost some talent through free agency and didn’t really draft that well on this side of the ball, so the defense could be down some, but still allow less ppg than they did last year. They are improved on offense, but it won’t be enough to get them past seven wins this year.
The San Francisco 49ers have two rough years in a row as they were just 5-11 in 2015 and 2-14 last year. They brought in Chip Kelly last year and his fast paced offense and all the Niners could muster was just 19.3 ppg, which was 27th in the league. The Niners have a new QB and a new head coach and a new hope, but it will take time. Brian Hoyer has not had a great career at, but he is their best option right now and should be a good tutor for CJ Beathard, who they took with their 3rd pick in the draft. They have also added WRs Pierre Garcon and Aldrick Robinson through free agency and RB Joe Williams in the draft, plus they have upgraded their offensive line. The defense also had major issues last year as they ranked last in the league in both total yards allowed and points allowed, giving up 30 ppg. A lot of that was due to the fact that their defense was on the field some much as the offense just couldn’t sustain drives. The Niners used their first three picks in the draft on defense and they chose a lineman, a LB and a DB in hopes of upgrading each level of the defense. This will be an improved team on the field this year, but they still have a long way to go to challenge for a playoff spot.
NFC Wildcards-- New York Giants & Detroit Lions
Division Winners-- Dallas, Atlanta, Green Bay, Seattle
NFC Title Game-- Seattle Defeats Green Bay
AFC East Preview
The New England Patriots are primed for a big year, but they will not go 19-0 like some are predicting. They have one of the best offenses in the land and Bill Belichick will work around the loss of Julian Edelman, who is now out for the year. This team still has plenty of weapons at the WR corps and a solid run game, plus they have Tom Brady, who may be one of the best QBs ever. The defense is usually underrated, but it is very good and finished 1st in the league in points allowed last year, giving up just 15.6 ppg. They may not lead the league this year in points allowed. But they should finish in the top 7. A top five offense and a top seven defense, plus a fairly easy schedule will have them making a deep run in the postseason and quite possibly another Super Bowl Title.
The Miami Dolphins suffered a big blow in the preseason when they lost QB Ryan Tannehill, who was ready for a solid season, especially with the addition of TE Julius Thomas. Now they had to scramble and went out and signed QB Jay Cutler, who did not look good in his first game, but played very well in the loss to Philadelphia the next week. He has a big arm and the Dolphins have some nice weapons for him to throw to, plus they have one of the best backs in the league in Jay Ajayi. The offense could improve on the 22.7 ppg they put up last year, but the defense has to be a concern as it has struggled in the preseason, especially after allowing 808 yards and 69 points combined in games 2 and 3. They will finish around .500 and will not be apart of the postseason.
The Bills have not been to the postseason since 1999 and are now under new leadership as Sean McDermott has taken over for the fired Rex Ryan. The Bills have the opposite problem of the Dolphins as they have plenty of defense, but no offense. The Bills have averaged just 11.7 ppg in the preseason so far and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, string offense has not looked good at all. Tyrod Taylor is at QB and they have LeSean McCoy, but still the cupboard is bare when it comes to other solid skill players. They will be led by their defense and in the preseason it has looked good as they have allowed just 263 ypg and 16.7 ppg through three games. Still. The offense will hold them back, which means they will have to wait at least another year to break their postseason drought.
The New York Jets were just 5-11 last year and they could be a bit worse this year. The offense has been an issue for this team for years and this year it will be no different, The have cut ties with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith and have also lost RB CJ Spiller and WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. They did take a couple of WRs in the draft, but losses far outweigh the gains and even if their new receivers were of the caliber of Marshall and Decker, they still don’t have a QB to get them the ball as Josh McCown just hasn’t been a good QB in his career. They will rely on their running game and a solid defense to win games, but it will not be enough for them to escape the basement of the AFC East or even post more wins than they had a year ago.
AFC North Preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers come in off a solid 11-5 season and they made it all the way to the AFC Title game, before falling 36-17 to the Patriots, who went on to win it all. The Steelers didn’t do a whole lot in the offseason, but they are still loaded for another run at the Super Bowl. The offense will again be one of the best with Le’Veon Bell controlling the ground and Big Ben to a very strong set of receivers, controlling the airways. They must stay healthy, though, as there is not a ton of talent behind their starters at the skill positions. The defense was th12 in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed last year and they should be just as good, if not better this time around. Pittsburgh will get a challenge from the Ravens, but in the end they should grab at least 12 wins on the year and make another deep run in the postseason.
The Baltimore Ravens were 8-8 last year and missed the postseason for the 2nd year in a row, This year they look to challenge for a playoff spot and in the preseason they have been most impressive so far, especially on the defensive side of the bal. That defense has allowed just 177.7 ypg overall and just 6.3 ppg through their first three preseason games. Obviously, they won’t put up numbers like that during the regular season, but this will be one of the best defenses in the league. Last year they were 7th in yards allowed and 9th in points allowed and have upgraded that defense by using five of their seven picks in the draft on that side of the ball. The offense will have a solid aerial game, which is led by Joe Flacco, but they need more from a ground attack that averaged just 91 ypg and 92 ypg the last two year. Still, they should grab a wildcard berth thanks to their defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals were 12-4 back in 2015, but they crashed to a 6-9-1 mark last year. This year they look to be in the mix for a wildcard berth, especially with the upgrades they made to their offense. The Bengals used seven of their 11 picks on that side of the ball and took WRs John Ross and Josh Malone and RB Joe Mixon with three of their first five picks. That gives Andy Dalton a few more toys to play with and they should put up more than the 20.3 ppg they averaged last year. The defense was 9th in the league in points allowed a year ago and they picked up a couple of nice LBs in the draft in Jordan Williams and Carl Lawson, so this defense could be just as strong. The Bengals face the 4th easiest schedule in the league, but they will come up just a bit short in their quest for a wildcard slot, even though they are improved.
The Cleveland Browns have suffered through some rough seasons and this one will be no different, but they are headed in the right direction. The Browns had a heck of a draft and while they had three picks in the first round, it may be their 2nd round pick that will really make a difference for this team in the coming years. That pick is QB DeShone Kizer, who has had a very strong camp and has now been named their starting QB for week one. The Browns also went out and got WRs Kenny Britt and James Wright through free agency, plus have upgraded their offensive line. The offense should be much improved and should should the defense, after being one of the worst in the league last year. With their 1st pick they took DE Myles Garrett and with their 2nd pick it was safety Jabrill peppers and both will help this defense immediately. They finally have a draft to be proud of and are now headed in the right direction.
AFC South Preview
The Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans have won the AFC South every year since 2008, but that streak should end this year as the Tennessee Titans are primed for a very solid year. Marcus Mariota will have his best year as a pro, especially with the additions of WRs Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor and TE Jonnu Smith being selected in three of their first four picks in the draft. They also have a strong 1-2 punch in the running game with Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry, p[lus a very good OL The offense has made strides the last couple of years and now it is ready to really break out. Last year on defense, they were 20th in yards allowed and 16th in [points allowed and they helped out that side of the ball with with solid additions through free agency and 1st round pick CB Adoree Jackson. The Titans are improved on both sides of the ball and take on the 2nd easiest schedule, which should all propel them to the top of the AFC South standings.
The Houston Texans look to take the 2nd slot in the AFC South and will be in the mix for a wildcard slot this year. The Texans did win the AFC South last, despite the fact that they had Brock Osweiler at QB, who was one of the biggest busts in the league last year. This year they have Deshaun Watson, who they took with the 12th overall pick, but he didn’t have a great camp as he put up a QBR of just 67.3 in his three games played so far. Still, he has plenty of upside and they still have a solid ground attack that is will be led by Lamar Miller and rookie D’Onta Foreman, plus they have a solid OL. They could use help in the WR corps, but they should be slightly improved on offense this year. The defense is where this team’s bread is buttered and it is led By J.J. Watt. They were tops in the league in ypg allowed last year and will need that defense to lead them again, or at least till the offense catches up.
The Indianapolis Colts will again be a solid team, but still, they are just a one-trick pony as they will go only as far as Andrew Luck can take them. Last year, they were 8th in the league in scoring and 5th in passing, but they were also 23rd in rushing and did very little to try and upgrade tat part of their offense. That puts a lot of pressure on luck and a good set of receivers and if he goes down then they are in big trouble as the Colts just don’t have a capable backup QB on their roster. The defense was poor last year as they ranked 30th in the league in yards allowed and they made many changes on this side of the ball, plus they used their first three picks in the draft on defense. The Colts were 8-8 last year and again they look like a very average team. They have the easiest schedule in the league, but will still come up short in their quest for a spot in the postseason.
And then there were the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will again take up residence in the AFC South basement. They did have a very good draft and have upgraded just about every position in the offseason… except for the QB spot, which is the most important on the team. Blake Bortles was the starter last year and he wasn’t terrible, but still he had a horrible camp and they may now be looking at Chad Henne as their QB. The ground game got a boost with the drafting of 4th overall pick Leonard Fournette and they have a few decent WRs, but still, who will get them the ball. The defense was 6th in the league in yards allowed last year, but they did allow 25.0 ppg, which was 25th in the league. Most of that was due to the fact that the offense put the defense in bad situations. They could allow more ypg this year, but they should allow less ppg. They are on the right track, but will not get to where they want to go without a competent QB.
AFC West Preview
The Oakland Raiders look to be the class of this division, but it will not be easy as the Broncos and Chiefs will give them a run for their money. Still, this is a very good team that some feel will challenge the Patriots for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Oakland offense is led by Derek Carr, who is healthy after missing the last two games last year and that really derailed the offense as they scored just 20 total points in their final two games. If he is healthy, this offense will go and he has big weapons in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, plus the ground attack got an upgrade with the addition of Marshawn Lynch. This will be a scary offense this year. The defense was a sore spot for them, but they upgraded it by using their first three picks in the draft on that side of the ball. Their first two was to help a secondary that ranked 24th in the league in pass defense. The Raiders are a very good offensive team and their defense will be improved. The Raiders are back and I look for them to make a deep run in the postseason.
If defense wins championships, then the Broncos should be in the mix as their was one of the best in the league last year and it could be even better this year, especially with the additions of 2nd round pick DE DeMarcus Walker and 3rd round pick CB Brendan Langley. The Broncos were 4th in the league in yards allowed and 4th in points allowed last year and I see them ranking in that range again. The Offense was not very good last year and they really must settle on Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch at QB. Lynch probably has the better upside. The ground game got a boost as they brought in Jamaal Charles to help out a unit that put up just 93 ypg on the ground last year, but the offensive line needs some work. The Broncos have to play the toughest schedule in the league, but their defense is very strong and their offense will be better, so I will look for them to take second in the division and one of the AFC Wildcard slots.
The Kansas City Chiefs would take the 3rd spot in the AFC, but the loss of Spencer Ware will hurt an offense that wasn’t that great to begin with. The Chiefs won the division last year, but fell in their first playoff game by a score of 18-16 to Pittsburgh. The offense was rather average overall and just couldn’t get much off the Steelers in the postseason. The Chiefs went out and used their first pick on QB Patrick Mahomes, who could very well take the job away from Alex Smith before the season is over and Mahomes will not be a game manager like Smith is. He can really air it out and the Chiefs do have some decent WRs. Still, their running game is in trouble and that will put more pressure on Alex Smith, who hasn’t responded to pressure all that well in the past. The Chiefs will be led by their defense and it is a good one, but can it lead them to the postseason? They will challenge for a wildcard berth in the AFC, but I feel they will come up just a bit short.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a new home and a new head coach in Anthony Lynn. The Bolts have failed to get to the postseason in each of the last three year and Lynn hopes to change that. Well, he may eventually, but not this year. The Chargers again will have a strong offense that is led by Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon, plus a nice collection of receivers and an improved offensive line. They did take WR Mike Williams wit the 7thg overall pick in the draft, but he will not get on the field till mid-October. Still, there are enough weapons on this offense to make it go. The problem for Los Angeles comes on the defensive side of the ball and they have struggled in that respect in the preseason. It was 29th in the league in scoring last year and could be just as bad this year as they did little in the offseason to upgrade it. The Bolts could ride their offense to a .500 record, but that still won’t get them in the postseason.
AFC Wildcards-- Denver & Baltimore
Division Winners-- New England, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Oakland
AFC Title Game-- New England defeats Oakland
2017 NFC Preview
NFC East Preview
The Dallas Cowboys had a very good season last year and with both Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott now having a year under their belt, they should be a bit better this year. Elliott will start the season on the field, but at some point he will be serving a six-game suspension. Still, this is the best team in the division and their offense will still continue to produce, even when Elliott is not in there. Prescott just has to avoid the sophomore slump. The defense was solid last year as they allowed just 19.1 ppg and 344 ypg on the year. This defense has a chance to be even better this year as they used seven picks in the draft on this side of the ball. The one area of concern was a pass defense that ranked 26th in the league, allowing 260.4 ypg, while in the playoff loss to the Packers, they allowed 326 yards. The addressed that by using a 2nd, 3rd and 6th round draft pick on their secondary. I would look for the Dallas pass defense to rank in the upper half of the league rankings this year. The Cowboys should have another solid year and win the NFC East behind the offense of Prescott, Bryant and Elliott and an improved defense.
The New York Giants were 11-6 last year and should have another decent year this time around. They have a good offense that is led by Eli Manning and Odell Beckham, plus they have added WR Brandon Marshall and TE Evan Engram with their first pick in the draft. They do lose Victor Cruz, but still, this will be a good passing game. Paul Perkins will be the running back and they hope that he can carry a ground attack that averaged just 87 ypg last year. The Giants have solid skill players, but their offensive line is still one of the worst in the league and if they have issues on offense, that is where their problems will come from. The defense was very solid last year as they were 10th in the league in yards allowed and 2nd in points allowed, giving up just 17.8 ppg on the year. They did very little in the draft and in free agency on this side, but did take defensive tackle Dalvin Thompson with their 2nd pick in the draft. This is a solid team once again after going 11-5 last year and they should again challenge for the top spot in the NFC East, especially if their offensive line can get its act together.
The Philadelphia Eagles have missed the playoffs the last three years, but they are hoping to change things this year. They are in the 2nd year of Doug Pederson’s schemes and also in the 2nd year of having Carson Wentz at QB and while he did have just a 79.3 QBR last year, he has shown great improvements this year in Training Camp and is expected to have a big year. The Eagles have also added WRs Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, along with RB Legarrette Blount. Wentz has some new toys to play with to go along with WR Nelson Agholor, TE Zach Ertz and RB Darren Sproles. This offense should be improved and put up more than the 22.9 ppg that they averaged a year ago. A couple of years ago, the defense really struggled as the Chip Kelly offense went at warp speed and thus it meant the defense was on the field a lot more and they really tired down the stretch. In 2015, they allowed 26.9 ppg, which was 28th in the league, but last year the offense slowed down and the defense stayed fresher and they ended up allowing just 20.7 ppg, which was 11th in the league. This will again be a solid defense, especially since they used their first three picks in the draft on this side of the ball. The Eagles have a solid team and they will be in the mix for a postseason berth all year long.
The Redskins missed out on the postseason party last year and are hoping to get back there this year behind the arm of Kirk Cousins, who signed a big one year contract. He had a strong season last year as he threw for 4917 with 25 TDs and 12 INTs, but still it wasn’t enough. Part of the reason was a run game that was 20th in the league, putting up just 106.0 ypg. A better run game would open up more throwing lanes for Cousins to hit some big plays downfield to a fine group of receivers that will be led by Jamison Crowder, Terrelle Pryor and Brian Quick. The running game will be inexperienced as they have just one player on that group with more than two years of experience. The problem for Washington last year was their defense as they ranked 28th in yards allowed and 19th in points allowed, giving up 123.9 ppg. They really struggled against the pass as they allowed 258.1 ypg through the air, which was 25th in the league. The Skins addressed their need for help in the secondary, by taking three DBs in the draft and adding free agent CB D.J. Swearinger from Arizona. If the defense can improve on defending the pass, then this will be an improved group. Overall, the Skins will not be a great team and will take up residence in the NFC East.
NFC North Preview
The Green Bay Packers went 10-6 in the regular season and then beat the Giants and Cowboys in the playoffs before losing to Atlanta in the NFC Title game. Well, they are ready for another strong year as they had a solid draft and are in a rather weak division. Back is Aaron Rodgers to lead an offense that averaged a solid 27.0 ppg last year, which was 4th in the league. Gone is RB Eddie Lacy, but they have added RB Jamaal Williams in the draft and he has the skills to do just fine in the league. They also have a strong passing game that is led by Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and newly added TE Martellus Bennett. This will again be a potent offense. The problem for them last year was a defense that ranked 22nd in the league in yards allowed and 21st in points allowed, giving up 24.3 ppg. They lose DB Micah Hyde and DL Julius Peppers, but still this will be a solid defense this year, especially with a couple of DBs coming in that they chose with their first two picks in the draft. They had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last year, but that will change this time around. They are the best team in the division and are one of the favorites in the NFC to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Detroit Lions had a solid season a year ago as they were 9-7 in the regular season and made it to the playoffs where they lost to the Seahawks in the wildcard round. This year they look to make it back to the postseason and take the next step. The Lions were led by their defense last year as they were 18th in the league in total yards allowed and 13th in points allowed, giving up just 22.4 ppg. That defense looks to be stronger this year as they used their first two picks in the draft on that side of the ball and have added some nice free agents to give them some solid depth. The offense was below average last year as they ranked 21st in total yards and 20th in scoring putting up just 21.6 ppg. The offense looks stronger this year, especially with the addition of Kenny Golladay (3rd rnd pick) and a much-improved OL. I also look for Ameer Abdullah to have a bounce back season at RB. They will top last year’s numbers The Tigers had an average offseason this year, but they did address some needs, especially on the OL and upgraded their defense in the draft. This team could challenge the Packers for the division Title, but at the very least they should make a return trip to the postseason.
The Minnesota Vikings just missed out on the postseason last year as they were 8-8 on the year. The reason they missed the postseason was not because of their defense as it ranked 3rd in the league in total yards allowed and 6th in points allowed, giving up just 19.2 ppg on the year. That defense is strong and it will be what leads the team. They had 11 picks in the draft and used five of them on the defensive side of the ball, while grabbing Datone Jones from Green Bay in free agency. Most of the other parts from last year’s defense is back but they did lose Captain Munnerlyn and Chad Greenway to free agency. They will need that defense to step up on most nights as the offense will still be below average this year, even though they did make some nice moves to upgrade it. They brought in WR Michael Floyd (New England), took Dalvin Cook with their first pick in the draft and upgraded their OL with a couple of free agents and their 2nd pick in the draft Pat Ellein. They should be improved on this side of the ball, but it will take some time for all the new pieces to gel. If they get more from their offense than expected, then this team will challenge for a postseason berth this year.
The top three teams in this division have a shot at a postseason berth, while the Bears will be struggling to get to 5 wins on the year. The Bears had a very average offseason, but they possibly got their starting QB of the future in Mitch Trubisky, who they took with the 2nd overall pick. He will start the season as the #2 QB behind Mike Glennon and ahead of Mark Sanchez. Trubisky could be starting by the middle of the year. The Bears have also added solid receivers in Victor Cruz and Kenny Wright, plus have upgraded their offensive line. I look for them to easily top the 17.4 ppg they put up last year. The defense was not that good a year ago as they allowed 24.9 ppg, which was 24th in the league. They used just one of their five draft picks on defense, but did bring in seven free agents to help plug some holes. Still, the defense will be the weak link of this team again. The Bears were just 3-13 last year and despite being improved on offense, I don’t see them getting past five or six wins this year, but they are on the right track.
NFC South Preview
The Atlanta Falcons may be a bit peeved after losing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots. The one thing they can’t do this year is dwell on that as the rest of the division is stronger. The offense for the Falcons is top notch as they were 2nd in the league in total offense and 1st in the league in scoring last year, putting up 33.8 ppg. The offense is led by Matt Ryan, Rbs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and a strong collection of receivers that include Julio JOnes, Andre Roberts and Mohamed Sanu. They also have a very good offensive line. This team can run and pass and it it hard to not see them finish in the top three in scoring this year again. In the super Bowl, the problem was not their offense, but their defense and they used their first two picks on that side of the ball, but brought in DL Dontari Poe through free agency. The Falcons were 25th in the league in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed, giving up 27.4 ppg and on most days they were able to just outscore their opponents, except for the Super Bowl. This will still be a below average defense, but it should be improved over last year’s group and with the offense they have, they should again win the division and make another run at the Super Bowl.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be the team I am most excited to see this year, Last year they were 9-7 and just missed out on a playoff berth, which would have been their first since 2007. The Bucs didn’t have a great draft, but they did get some help on defense with two of their first four pcks, took TE O.J. Howard with their first overall pick and brought in WR Desean Jackson in Free Agency. The offense look like it will be a top 10 unit this year with Jameis Winston at QB and Mike Evans and the aforementioned Jackson as big play threats. The running game will be solid with Jacquizz Rodgers and Doug Martin (after 3 games suspension), plus a good offensive line. This will be an exciting offense to watch this year. The defense was 23rds in the league in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed, giving up 23.1 ppg. Their pass defense was troubling and they used their 2nd pick on safety Justin Evans, plus brought in a couple of DBs through free agency. The Bucs will be a fun team this year and if their defense is just average, then they will have a good shot at a postseason berth this year.
Back in 2015, the Carolina Panthers had a magical season as they went 15-1 during the regular season and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost 24-10 to the Broncos. Last season it was a whole different story as they went just 6-10 and finished last in the NFC South. Their big pick was RB Christian McCaffrey, who they 8th overall in hopes of helping out a ground game that dipped to 10th in the league last year, after ranking 2nd in 2015. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield and a good punt returner. Cam Newton had a bit of a down year last year as he hit just 52.9% of his passes and threw just 19 TDs passes, compared to 35 in 2015. He also ran for 277 yards less and had five less rushing TDs than he did in 2015. Getting Newton back on track is crucial, but they also need their defense to return to its 2015 form. Last year they were 21st in the league in yards allowed (359.8 ypg) and 26th in points allowed, giving up 25.1 ppg, compared to ranking 6th in the league in yards allowed (322.9 ypg) in 2015 and 6th in points allowed, giving up just 19.2 ppg. They brought in DL Julius Pepper and DBs Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Adams to help shore up the defense, plus drafted DE Daeshon Hall with their 3rd pick. This defense should be much improved this year and if Cam Newton can rebound from a tough year, then they will challenge for a postseason berth this year.
The NFC South may not be the best division in football, but top-to-bottom, it may be the most competitive. The New Orleans Saints have gone just 7-9 in each of the last three years and they will look to break that string this year and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2013. The problem for the Saints over the years has not been their offense as they have Drew Brees, who just continues to pile up the yards and TDs. Last year he threw for 5208 yards with 37 TDs and 15 INTs. He has now thrown at least 32 passes in eight straight years. He has another strong group of receivers this year and the Saints have added RB Adrian Peterson to help create a little more balance on offense. The problem for the Saints over the years has been on defense and last year they ranked 27th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed, giving up 28.4 ppg. If this team ever gets a defense then they will be very hard to beat as their offense is pretty much unstoppable. They did use three of their first four picks in the draft on defense and brought in LBs A.J. Klein (Carolina) and Manti Te’o (Chargers) through free agency, so they have a good shot at being improved and even an average defense will give them a shot at getting to at least eight wins.
NFC West Preview
The Seattle Seahawks had another solid season last year and made it to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs before bowing out to the Falcons. Seattle is ready for this season and the way they played in the preseason, it looks as if they are playing with a chip on their shoulders. The Seahawks have been led by their defense the last few years and that will not change this year. They were 5th in yards allowed and 3rd in points allowed, giving up just 18.3 ppg and used four picks in the first three rounds on that side of the ball. The also have added depth to their defense by bringing in six free agents on the defensive side of the ball. This will again be a top five stop unit. The offense was very average last year overall, but poor in the running game as they just weren’t able to compensate for the loss of Marshawn Lynch. This year they brought in Eddie Lacy in free agency and added a couple of FA linemen, plus took center Ethan Pocic in the 2nd round. The running game will be improved and that will help Russell Wilson hit some big plays down field to a talented corps of receivers, led by Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin. With an improved running game and a top-notch defense, the Seahawks should win the West and make a deep run in the postseason.
The Arizona Cardinals won the division back in 2015, with a 13-3 record, but last year they fell to 7-8-1 and missed out on the postseason. This year they look to get back to the postseason, but they have plenty of work to do, especially since they had a very average offseason. The offense was strong last year as they ranked 9th in total yards and 6th in scoring, putting up 26.1 ppg. The offense is led by RB David Johnson, who ran for 1239 yards, had 879 yards receiving and scored 20 TDs. They also have Carson Palmer at QB and a host of solid receivers led by Larry Fitzgerald. I look for this offense to again finish in the top ten. On defense they were 2nd in the league in yards allowed and 14th in points allowed, giving up 22.6 ppg. They used their first two picks in the draft on this side of the ball, plus brought in four defensive players through free agency, including DB Antoine Bethea. The Cardinals have some good pieces on both sides of the ball, but they will not take down the Seahawks in the division. The best they can hope for is a wildcard berth.
The Los Angeles Rams have not been to the postseason since 2004 and they won’t get there this year either. The Rams really struggled on offense last year, but new head coach Sean McVay did wonders with Kirk Cousins at Washington and he should have the same effect here with Jared Goff, who did look pretty good in training camp. Goff has a new weapon in WR Sammy Watkins to go along with WR Robert Woods and 3rd round pick WR Cooper Kupp, plus they RB Todd Gurley and an improved offensive line. This will not be the worst offense in the league like they were last year. The defense was 9th in total yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed last year, giving up 24.6 ppg. That was mostly due to the fact that their offense put them in bad positions most of the time. They lost some talent through free agency and didn’t really draft that well on this side of the ball, so the defense could be down some, but still allow less ppg than they did last year. They are improved on offense, but it won’t be enough to get them past seven wins this year.
The San Francisco 49ers have two rough years in a row as they were just 5-11 in 2015 and 2-14 last year. They brought in Chip Kelly last year and his fast paced offense and all the Niners could muster was just 19.3 ppg, which was 27th in the league. The Niners have a new QB and a new head coach and a new hope, but it will take time. Brian Hoyer has not had a great career at, but he is their best option right now and should be a good tutor for CJ Beathard, who they took with their 3rd pick in the draft. They have also added WRs Pierre Garcon and Aldrick Robinson through free agency and RB Joe Williams in the draft, plus they have upgraded their offensive line. The defense also had major issues last year as they ranked last in the league in both total yards allowed and points allowed, giving up 30 ppg. A lot of that was due to the fact that their defense was on the field some much as the offense just couldn’t sustain drives. The Niners used their first three picks in the draft on defense and they chose a lineman, a LB and a DB in hopes of upgrading each level of the defense. This will be an improved team on the field this year, but they still have a long way to go to challenge for a playoff spot.
NFC Wildcards-- New York Giants & Detroit Lions
Division Winners-- Dallas, Atlanta, Green Bay, Seattle
NFC Title Game-- Seattle Defeats Green Bay