2015 Previews and Predictions - NFC

We’ve had to wait seven months since that glorious night when Left Shark stole the show at SuperBowl 49. Combines, the draft, training camps, pre-season games, injuries and the never-ending saga of the deflated balls are all very well, but finally the real deal – the regular season – is almost back with us!

I’ve really enjoyed watching the Chiefs’ pre-season games. Although I have to keep telling myself that the scores are irrelevant, it’s been fun to see us string a few wins together and to try to spot which players have the chance to shine for us this year. The opener in Houston will show us if the training has truly worked. Both teams have a host of stars in defence, but we look to have the edge on the other side of the ball, especially as the Texans will be without Arian Foster. We should be able to limit Houston’s scoring, and I’m hopeful that our triple threat of Charles, Kelce and now Maclin as well should be able to post enough points to get us off to a winning start.

With preseason almost over at the time of writing, I’ve made my predictions for each division in turn. I’m going to check out the odds to see if I can turn any of this research into a profit – but I’d love to hear from any of you who think my guesses are wildly out!

First up, the NFC.

NFC East

Some intriguing quarterback questions, and the issue of whether the overall system is more important than the players in it…

Washington seem to have finally given up on their long struggle to coax some of RG3’s rookie magic out of him, and have passed the ball to Kirk Cousins. Running back duo Alfred Morris and Matt Jones could do well, but the team looks out of their depth overall.

Some fireworks from the Giants last season, with Odell Beckham proving the sensation of the season – and then the wrong kind of fireworks in the offseason as Jason Pierre-Paul managed to seriously injury himself mishandling sparklers on the American version on Bonfire Night! They should be around as good as last year but don’t seem to have brought in anyone who will help them make the leap back to being contenders.

With the likes of new signings DeMarco Murray and Kiko Alonso, the Eagles have re-invented themselves in all parts of the team. The real test will come with new quarterback Sam Bradford – he is undeniably talented but also undeniably fragile. My suspicion is that the team will soar early, and then crawl over the line in the second half of the season once he is inevitably injured yet again. This leaves the way clear for the Cowboys – Romo and Bryant should continue to hook up (along with Jason Witten if he can keep going for another year). In McFadden, Randle and Dunbar, they have three chances to find a running back who can replace Demarco Murray. And in La’el Collins they may have got the steal of the season – a possible first rounder dropping out of the draft altogether, apparently for little more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Cowboys (11-5 – 3rd seed)

Eagles (10-6 – 5th seed)

Giants (8-8)

Redskins (3-13)

NFC North

I had the Packers down for the best record in the NFL when I first put some notes down for this preview. Then Jordy Nelson went down and out for the season and I had to look again at the numbers. Then Randall Cobb went down and it was all up in the air…

As it happened, the Cobb injury looks minor, but it’s a good reminder of the injury-strewn nature of the NFL, and the fact that teams who can withstand the loss of a key player will inevitably struggle

with the loss of two or three. Assuming the league’s MVP Aaron Rodgers avoids a mishap, I still have Green Bay as strong favourites to lead the North again.

Minnesota looks the best bet to follow them – an already reasonable side last year should be a little better with a year’s more experience in Teddy Bridgewater and a returning Adrian Peterson who looks fit and is clearly desperate to get back on the field after a lost year. Detroit have been touted as the second favourites in the division, but the loss of Ndamukong Suh from a defence which already has an aging secondary is a concern. If rookie running backs Ameer Abdullah or Zach Zenner can impress straight away they will be a great side to watch, but they will give up enough points to cost them several close games.

The Chicago Bears have the feel of a side that have already decided before game 1 that this is a rebuilding season. With the unfortunate loss of rookie Kevin White to injury, and with several roster moves clearing out older players to give younger replacements a chance to learn on the job, I think the Bears have at least one eye on the future. Fourth place in the division, and a high draft pick in 2016, both beckon.

Packers (12-4 – 2nd seed)

Vikings (9-7 – 6th seed)

Lions (7-9)

Bears (2-14)

NFC South

The South wasn’t astonishingly good last year, but at least it was reasonably close! There’s every chance of something similar this year.

Tampa Bay was the worst team in the league last year, and they still look below average. If you’re ranked in the bottom 5 in both offence and defence, there’s a long way to go to be competitive. Locking up star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and grabbing the obvious top draft pick in Jameis Winston looks like a step in the right direction, but the Bucs need several steps before they become a serious threat.

Carolina has taken a move backwards with the injury to Kelvin Benjamin. Despite quarterback Cam Newton’s impressive play for several years now, there isn’t enough support around him. Ted Ginn may be his leading wide receiver despite being a 30 year old with five starts in the last five seasons – that just isn’t enough.

The Falcons and Saints are battling to be the best of a bad bunch. Both have a good veteran quarterback leading the way. Matt Ryan looks to be set up to have a pass-heavy strategy with Julio Jones, Roddy White and Leonard Hankerson, while Drew Brees has less depth in the passing game, not least with the departure of Jimmy Graham – instead, New Orleans look like they are going to move more towards the rush (as long as Mark Ingram and CJ Spiller can stay fit for long enough). There’s little to choose between the two teams, but the Saints did very well in 2009 and 2011 when they last relied on their running backs so I am going to pick them to edge it by the smallest of margins.

Saints (9-7 – 4th seed)

Falcons (9-7)

Panthers (7-9)

Buccaneers (6-10)

NFC West

The 49ers have lost several key players over the off-season, either to retirement (Patrick Willis, Chris Borland) or to free agency (Mike Iupati, Frank Gore). There’s only so much of that you can make up for by signing rugby league stars to the team! At best, I think the 49ers can battle towards a 50% season, at worst the San Francisco crowd yells for Colin Kaepernick to be benched for Blaine Gabbert.

St Louis look strong on defence. The offence sadly doesn’t look up to scratch – Tre Mason and Kenny Britt are not inspiring options for the team. My feeling is that once Nick Foles gels with his offensive line and once Todd Gurley makes the team, the Rams will string a few wins together. But it’ll be too late by that point as a slow start will probably kill their chances.

I would say the opposite about rivals the Arizona Cardinals. Another strong defensive side, they look set up to start well, with Carson Palmer back from injury and Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown offering him a choice of targets. Unlike the Rams, I think the Cardinals will start fast but tie up late in the season as their team looks injury prone, which will cost them a playoff spot.

Last, but certainly not least… in the aftermath of the Jordy Nelson injury in Green Bay, I have now got the Seahawks listed as my team with most wins this season. One tactical slip up away from being SuperBowl champions twice in a row, the Seahawks look like challengers yet again. Jimmy Graham is a major new target for Russell Wilson – as, possibly, is Chris Matthews who emerged from out of nowhere to catch his first ever NFL career passes on the biggest stage. Beast Mode running back Marshawn Lynch and multiple members of their powerhouse defence have also been signed up to new contracts and there seems no way that this team can miss the playoffs. The week 2 match up between the Seahawks and Packers should be an early highlight to the season – but regardless of the result, not decisive for either.

Seahawks (13-3 – 1st seed)

Cardinals (9-7)

Rams (7-9)

49ers (5-11)