NFC East
1) New York Giants:
What I Like: The Giants defense can't be any worse than it was last year. In free agency they added DE Olivier Vernon, CB Janoris Jenkins, and DT Damon Harrison. They also drafted CB Eli Apple in the 1st round of the draft. Those guys should help improve the defense by just showing up the first day of training camp. Jason Pierre-Paul now has an entire year to recoup from last year's fireworks incident, and he can be a real threat once again. Their offense is still explosive and Eli Manning is still one of the best QBs in the NFL. Odell Beckham is a superstar, and now they get Victor Cruz back from injury and 2nd round pick, Sterling Shepard, should also bolster that passing attack. Three different times they have back-to-back home games on their schedule. They have a three game homestand in Weeks 9-11 against Philly, Cincy, and Chicago. The Giants are due for a year in which they make a playoff run since they haven't been in the playoffs since their Super Bowl year in 2011.
What I Don't Like: You can say that Tom Coughlin's run in New York needed to end, but you never know what you are going to get when you bring in a new head coach without any head coaching experience. The Giants did that with the promotion of Ben McAdoo from offensive coordinator to head coach. How do we know that McAdoo will do a good job as head coach? Is he really any kind of upgrade over Tom Coughlin? I don't think so at this point. That should scare Giant fans. Also, their schedule has some really tough spots. They open up at Dallas. Then they have to go to Minnesota and Green Bay in Weeks 4 and 5. They have to go to London to take on the Rams in Week 7, and they finish with back-to-back road games at Philly and at Washington to end the season. The Philly game is a short week because it is a Thursday night game. Those can be tricky. They also have to go to Pittsburgh in Week 13. That schedule can produce enough potholes to trip them up and push them out of the playoffs once again.
Prediction: 10-6 and Winners of the NFC East
2) Dallas Cowboys:
What I Like: Although Tony Romo got hurt in preseason and will miss 6-10 weeks, Dak Prescott has looked terrific in the preseason, and he could help keep the Cowboys afloat until Romo comes back. I'm not anointing Prescott but his performance in the preseason reminded me of what Russell Wilson did in the preseason when he was a rookie. It was that impressive. I think Prescott could be good enough and give this team a spark and keep them from imploding in the first two months of the year. I love the addition of RB Ezekiel Elliot in the draft. They have Dez Bryant coming back from an injury riddled year, and they still have TE Jason Witten, and WRs Terrence Williams and Cole Beasley. I also love the addition of Alfred Morris in free agency. Throw in the fact that they have the best offensive line in the entire NFL and their offense should be explosive once again. Their defense is basically the same as last year, but with their offensive firepower, they should be able to be just good enough on defense to win a lot of games. If they get anything out of 2nd rounder Jaylon Smith, then that will be a plus for them on the defensive side. Their schedule is friendly and I like how they end their season with TB and Detroit at home and at Philly in Week 17. If Prescott helps them hold serve until Romo comes back, then they can still make a run to the playoffs.
What I Don't Like: Tony Romo staying healthy was the biggest storyline heading into the season for this team, and now he is out for 6-10 weeks to start the year. As impressive as Dak Prescott was, you have to be concerned with starting a rookie 4th round pick to start the year. It could be a mess just like they were in last year when Romo went down in Week 2. Also, you can't be happy with the suspensions their defense is dealing with to start the season. Three starters on defense are suspended to start the year: Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Rolando McClain. That is a tough blow for them to start the season. Their schedule is friendly but their division is always competitive and the AFC North is a tough group to deal with. They have tough trips to Green Bay in Week 6, at Pittsburgh in Week 10, and at Minnesota in Week 13. If they don't get off to a good start, then the finger pointing will start and head coach Jason Garrett will be on the hot seat.
Prediction: 9-7 and a Wild Card Berth
3) Washington Redskins:
What I Like: You have to love the way QB Kirk Cousins played last year. He played like a top-10 QB and got the Redskins into the playoffs at 9-7. If Cousins can play like that again, they can win this division again. They added CB Josh Norman to their secondary, and their defense has enough playmakers like Ryan Kerrigan to be a solid group. On offense, Cousins has some weapons in Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and the emerging star at TE Jordan Reed. They drafted WR Josh Doctson in the 1st round of the draft, and they have Matt Jones at RB. They definitely have some solid pieces to build around on offense. Three of the toughest games on their schedule are at home: Pittsburgh in Week 1, Green Bay in Week 11, and Carolina in Week 15.
What I Don't Like: Can you count on Cousins playing the way he played in 2015 again in 2016? I'm not so sure. If he doesn't play like a top-10 QB, then they might not have a chance of making the playoffs at all. That is a lot of pressure on Cousins. Their schedule is brutal at times too. They open up with Pittsburgh, Dallas, and at the Giants in Weeks 1-3. They have to go to London to play the Bengals in Week 8. Then, they have a three straight road games at Dallas, at Arizona, and at Philly in Weeks 12-14, and the Dallas game is a short week because it is on Thanksgiving. That is a rough stretch right there. They also have a trip to Baltimore in Week 5. Their schedule could literally doom their season.
Prediction: 8-8 and 3rd place in the NFC East
4) Philadelphia Eagles:
What I Like: The Eagles made a lot of moves in the offseason and dumped a lot of the mistakes from the Chip Kelly era off their plate. They locked up their top players like DT Fletcher Cox, LB Mychal Kendricks, S Malcolm Jenkins, and TE Brent Celek. They signed Chase Daniel to compete at QB. They still have solid offensive playmakers like Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. And, they made the big splash by trading up to #2 in the draft and selected QB Carson Wentz. There is some young talent on this roster. They get Green Bay, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh all at home, and they finish the season with two home games in Weeks 16 and 17 with the Giants and Dallas.
What I Don't Like: I still don't understand the move to re-sign Sam Bradford for big money, sign Chase Daniel to compete at QB, and then trade a shitload of picks to move up to grab Carson Wentz. Why not just let Bradford go, sign Daniel and select Wentz? Then, they decide to trade Bradford to Minnesota a week before the season starts. Then, they decide they want to start Carson Wentz as soon as he is recovered from a rib injury. Clearly, this is a team built for next year and not this year. I am also not sold on the hiring of Doug Pederson as head coach. Again, you are relying on a first time head coach to navigate this team through a very tricky spot and they are clearly the weakest team in a competitive division. It could get ugly this year. Throw in the suspension of OT Lane Johnson, and you have a mess on the offensivel line. Their schedule is rough from Weeks 5-11 when they have 5 road games and 2 home games. Those road games feature games at Washington, at Dallas, at the Giants and at Seattle. Their 2 home games are against Minnesota and Atlanta. They could be done by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.
Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the NFC East
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers:
What I Like: As much as the Packers looked pretty ordinary on offense last year, they still have Aaron Rodgers, and he is still a top-3 QB in this league. They are getting WR Jordy Nelson back from an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2015 season. The combination of Nelson and Randall Cobb to go with TEs Richard Rodgers and newly signed Jared Cook should help kickstart this offense once again. If they can get more consistency from Davante Adams at WR and RB Eddie Lacy, then this offense should be really explosive in 2016. On defense, they still have some playmakers in DT Mike Daniels, Clay Matthews, and Julius Peppers. The Packers lost all of their divisional games at home last year, and I just can't see anything like that happening once again this year. Their schedule gives them a chance to get off to a good start. From Week 3 on September 25th to Week 7 they have four home games and their bye week. They play Detroit in Week 3, their bye in Week 4, and then a three game homestand from Weeks 5-7 in which they play the Giants, Dallas, and Chicago. The Bears game is on a short week because it is on a Thursday night. They also finish with three out of their last five at home. I would expect the Packers to bounce back from their 10-6 season in 2015 and be a legitimate contender in the NFC in 2016.
What I Don't Like: I'll say this till I'm blue in the face: Mike McCarthy is not a big time coach. If he didn't have Aaron Rodgers as his QB, he would be coaching somewhere else. I just don't trust McCarthy week-to-week in these games. I am a little worried about the Packers and the fact that they took a step back last year and looked more vunerable than ever. Is that just a one-year exception? We will find out this year. Their schedule does get tricky in November. They have a three game road trip from Weeks 9-11 when they travel to Tennessee, Washington, and Philly. How much of the gap did Minnesota really close on them last year? Those are some questions that you have to ask when you are looking at this team.
Prediction: 12-4 and winners of the NFC North
2) Minnesota Vikings:
What I Like: This is a young team that went 11-5, slayed the big-bad Packers, won the NFC North and should have beaten the Seahawks in the Wild Card round if it wasn't for Blair Walsh missing a chip shot field goal. Although Teddy Bridgewater is out for the year with a torn ACL in a freak non-contact injury during a walkthrough near the end of the preseason, they still have Adrian Peterson, and young weapons like WR Stephon Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph. They didn't give up on their season and they made the bold move to trade for Sam Bradford a week before the season started. I liked their draft that included WR Laquan Treadwell and CB Mackensie Alexander. Their defense young and talented. It features young studs like Everson Griffen, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Xavier Rhodes, and Harrison Smith. They added some veteran depth with the addition of S Michael Griffin. They have the excitement of opening a new stadium, and I think that will give them a boost after they were stuck playing at the University of Minnesota the last few years. Their schedule is pretty ordinary. Most of their tough out of division games are at home. They host the Giants, Houston, Arizona, Dallas, and Indy. One of the biggest advantages they have going for them is head coach Mike Zinmer. He did a great job last year, and he looks like he could be a big-time coach in this league.
What I Don't Like: Teddy Bridgewater going down to injury really cast a dark cloud over the excitement for this team. They had a lot lined up in front of them, and they had the making of a team that could take the next step, and then they lose their young QB like that in the preseason. I know they made the trade for Bradford, but can you really rely on him being the answer for this team and helping it make the playoffs? Now, he has to come in and be a savior and that might be too much to ask of him. Anytime a young team like this overachieves and make the playoffs when no one expects them to do it, you worry about the possibility of a setback season the next year. You worry this could happen to the Vikings in 2016. They are not sneaking up on anyone this year. Everyone will be ready for them. You have to worry if defenses are now going to be able to exploit him this year. He only threw 14 touchdowns last year. The one part of their schedule that is tough is that they have to play Green Bay, Carolina, the Giants, and Houston all within the first five weeks of the season. If they get off to a slow start, then they are in trouble.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC North
3) Chicago Bears:
What I Like: They retooled their defense by adding LBs Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman and DE Akiem Hicks. The also added OLB Leonard Floyd in the first round of the draft. John Fox should be able to make strides with this defense in Year Two. On offense, Jay Cutler is coming off one of the most solid years of his career, they have WR Alshon Jeffrey, and they solidified their offensive line with the addition of OT Bobby Massie and the selection of OG Cody Whitehair in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. They finish up with four of their last six games at home, so maybe a strong finish could get them in to the playoffs. You felt at points last year that Fox and his staff were just kind of taking one on the chin and getting ready to improve in 2016. Maybe that philosophy will pay of this year.
What I Don't Like: Jay Cutler has a really good year in 2015, but he loses his OC Adam Gase for 2016. That can't be a good thing for Cutler this year. They also lost Matt Forte and they are relying on Jeremy Langford to carry the load at RB. That is a downgrade from Forte. Outside of Jeffrey at WR, who really scares you on offense? Their defense is still a work in progress, and as much as I think Fox is good head coach during the week, he isn't the greatest gameday coach by any stretch. I think overall the talent on the roster puts them significantly behind the Packers and the Vikings in the division. I think they will be improved, but it looks like they are not ready to be a playoff team in 2016.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC North.
4) Detroit Lions
What I Like: I like how the Lions fought back last year. They were 1-7, and they battled back to finish 7-9. That says a lot about Jim Caldwell and their staff. They still have QB Matt Stafford, and they added WR Marvin Jones in free agency to go along with Golden Tate and TE Eric Ebron. If they can get production from RB Ameer Abdullah then this offense could be productive. You almost forget that they have Haloti Ngata, Ziggy Ansah, and DeAndre Levy on defense. Their schedule helps them in the middle when they have a three game homestand with Philly, LA, and Washington coming to town from Weeks 5-7. They might be the ultimate darkhorse this year because no one is giving them a chance to do anything this year.
What I Don't Like: Losing Calvin Johnson to retirement was a big blow because not only is he the best player on the team, but he is one of the best players in the league and of his generation. Whatever the Lions lacked in other spots on their team, they always could rely on Stafford to Calvin. Now, that is gone. Also, when you think about it, do you still trust Jim Caldwell as the head coach? I didn't think so. Outside of their divisional games, a lot of their road games are very difficult. Those games feature at Indy, at Houston, at New Orleans and at Dallas. That is a tough slate of away trips. It is not hard to make a case for another down year by the Lions.
Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the NFC North
NFC South
1) Carolina Panthers:
What I Like: The Panthers have the reigning MVP and the NFL's ultimate weapon in Cam Newton. Newton can dominate in ways that other QBs can't, and he is good enough to win 10 games by himself every season. They still have Jonathan Stewart at RB, Greg Olsen at TE, and they get Kelvin Benjamin returning at WR after he missed all last year with a knee injury. The Panthers compliment Newton on offense with Luke Keuchly on defense-another young star in his own right. Don't forget about Kawann Short, Kony Ealy and the heart of the defense: Thomas Davis. The Panthers schedule doesn't look too daunting with the NFC West as their other NFC opponents, and after opening at Denver on the opening night of the season, they host SF and Minnesota and then travel to Atlanta and then host Tampa Bay. They should get off to a good start. They are clearly the most talented team in their division. They probably won't go 15-1 but another double-digit win season should be easily attainable.
What I Don't Like: The teams that lose the Super Bowl can have a hangover the following season. The Panthers were 15-1, dominated the league all year long, and were six point favorites to win the Super Bowl and they got thumped by the Broncos. That can have a very negative affect the next year. You also wonder if the Panthers offensive scheme was exposed by the Broncos defense and if that will have any affect on how teams play them in 2016. Is there enough around Newton to help them flourish? You have to also think about losing CB Josh Norman in free agency. Perhaps the Norman defection will have a significant impact on their team as well.
Prediction: 11-5 and winners of the NFC South
2) Atlanta Falcons:
What I Like: This was a team that was 6-1 last year before finishing 8-8. I still have faith in QB Matt Ryan, and they added Mohammed Sanu to go with Julio Jones at WR. They also added C Alex Mack to bolster their offensive line. Devonta Freeman had over 1,500 all purpose yards last year and 14 touchdowns. They definitely have weapons to be a force offensively. They finish with four out of their last six games at home. Arizona, KC, San Fran, and New Orleans all come to Atlanta in that stretch. That should help them out. I still Dan Quinn and the energy he brings as a head coach. The Falcons haven't made the playoffs since they lost the NFC Championship Game at home to the Niners in 2012. I think they are due to get back in the mix this year.
What I Don't Like: Ryan only threw 21 TDs last year and he threw 16 interceptions. If he repeats that performance in 2016, then the Falcons are in deep trouble. Does anyone on that defense scare you as far as a pass rush is concerned? Are they the team that finished the year 2-7 instead of the team that started 6-1? Their schedule is very difficult to start. They have to go to Oakland in Week 2 and then they host Carolina, head to Denver, and travel to Seattle in Weeks 4-6. They have to play Green Bay in Week 8, and will head to Tampa Bay on a short week to play on Thursday night in Week 9, and they have a trip to Carolina on Christmas Eve in Week 16. If they get off to a rough start, then the season could come crashing down really quick.
Prediction: 9-7 and a wild card berth
3) New Orleans Saints:
What I Like: Drew Brees is still their QB and as long as he is there, it gives them a shot to be competitive. I like the addition of TE Coby Fleener in free agency, and they have Brandin Cooks at WR. Did you realize Cooks had 84 catches for over 1,100 yards and 9 TDs last year? I like the Mark Ingram, Tim Hightower, C.J. Spiller trifecta at RB as well. Their defense was awful last year, so they added James Laurinaitis and Nick Fairley and they brought back Dennis Allen to be the defensive coordinator. They added SS Vonn Bell to go along with Kenny Vaccaro in the secondary. The one key move they didn't make was to overreact and get rid of HC Sean Payton. He is still one of the better head coaches in the NFL, and he can turn this franchise back around. Their last six games feature very manageable matchups against the Rams, Detroit, Tampa twice, and at Atlanta. They could very easily find themselves in playoff contention in Week 17.
What I Don't Like: Maybe the Brees-Payton combination has just run its' course. Perhaps they are just a little stale, and the team should have moved on from both and started a rebuild. Remember the days when an opposing team would go into the SuperDome and get bombed by the Saints? Those days are over.You have to worry if their offense has enough in the tank to get it done. Can they really fix that defense in one year? They are clearly behind the Panthers in the division, and they might be even with the Bucs and the Falcons. Their schedule is tough in the first part of the year. They host the Raiders in Week 1, and travel to the Giants in Week 2. Weeks 6 through 11 feature the following games: home to Carolina, at KC, home to Seattle, at San Fran, home to Denver, and at Carolina. The Carolina game is on a short week as a result of Thursday Night Football. There is a chance they could go 1-5 in that stretch. If that happens, then their season is in trouble.
Prediction: 8-8 and third place in the NFC South
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
What I Like: You have to like the progress of Jameis Winston as his rookie year went on. He looks like he can be a top-10 QB shortly in this league. With Mike Evans and Doug Martin, it gives the Bucs three young potential stars at the skill positions on offense. They also have cornerstone pieces on defense with Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David on defense, and the by taking CB Vernon Hargreaves in the 1st round of the draft and DE Noah Spence in the 2nd round, they might have added some young talent to the defense People forget that they were 6-6 with four games to go last year and in the thick of the wild card chase. They are not that far off from the Saints and the Falcons in their division. Their schedule gives them a three game homestand in Weeks 8-10 when they host Oakland, Atlanta, and Chicago, and that could give them an edge heading into the latter part of the season.
What I Don't Like: As an organization, you can't keep switching head coaches and expect to build a winning franchise. The Bucs have played that game with their head coach and they pulled the plug on Lovie Smith after they finished 6-10 last season. They turned to Offensive Coordinator, Dirk Koetter, to take over as Head Coach, but he has no head coaching experience in the NFL. It is not like that let Smith go, and replaced him with a proven NFL HC. I really worry about that move in the short term for this team. You do worry about Winston taking a step back because sometimes QBs struggle even more in their second year than in their rookie year. I don't like their schedule at all. They start with back-to-back road games at Atlanta and Arizona. They host Denver in Week 4 and travel to Carolina in Week 5. They go to KC in Week 11, host Seattle in Week 12, and finish with these three games: at Dallas, at New Orleans, and home against the Panthers. Perhaps the Bucs are a year away from contending for a playoff spot
Prediction: 5-11 and last place in the NFC South.
NFC WEST
1) Seattle Seahawks:
What I Like: How can you bet against this franchise that has a solid front office, coaching staff, and core group of players? Talent for talent this roster is still one of the best in the NFL. Think about this core that is still in tact for this team: Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett, Luke Willson, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas. This team is loaded and ready for another run at the Super Bowl. When you look at their schedule, they open with Miami at home, head to LA in Week 2 and then host SF in Week 3. They finish with LA at home in Week 15, Arizona at home in Week 16, and travel to SF in Week 17. They also get to host Carolina in Week 13 on SNF. This team is the favorite in the NFC to get to the Super Bowl.
What I Don't Like: You worry about them going into the season a little too overconfident. They are certainly a brash and cocky group, and you wonder how that will play out if things don't go their way at some point in the season. The last two years they were able to bounce back from slow starts and finish strong, but you can't do that every year. People forget that they were 2-4 last year before going 10-6. I still worry about their offensive line and they lost LT Russell Okung to free agency. The retirement of Marshawn Lynch could have an impact because they are losing their identity. The "Beastmode" thing was their backbone, and with Lynch gone for good, you wonder how that affects not only the offense but the entire team.
Prediction: 12-4 and Winners of the NFC West
2) Arizona Cardinals:
What I Like: You have to love job that Bruce Arians has done as head coach for this franchise. His players love to play for him, and the team has been one of the better teams in the league the last few years. You also have to love how he has transformed Carson Palmer's career. Palmer threw for over 4,600 yards and 35 TDs last year. With Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, and Michael Floyd, they have nice trio of receivers for Palmer and that offense. They added DE Chandler Jones in free agency, and they drafted a guy with top 10 talent all down at 29 in first round in DT Robert Nkemdiche. With Jones providing the pass rush and CB Patrick Peterson being one of the best corners in the league, this team has enough balance to be dominant once again. Five of their first seven games are at home and they get a break by hosting the Pats in Week 1 without Tom Brady. The tools are all there for this team to breakthrough and make a Super Bowl appearance.
What I Don't Like: Every year there is one team that looks so good on paper, but they just take a step back for a variety of reasons. The Cardinals could be that team this year. You have to worry about Palmer's age and if he tops out. Remember how bad he was in the playoffs last year? If Palmer falters in 2016, then the Cardinals are in trouble. I still don't think they can match the Seahawks as far as talent goes. Five of their last seven games are on the road and their out of division road games feature trips to Buffalo, Carolina, Minnesota, Atlanta, and Miami. I think they are a talented and well-coached team, but my gut thinks they take a step back this season.
Prediction: 8-8 and second place in the NFC West
3) Los Angeles Rams:
What I Like: I like that they went with a rebuild on offense and decided to move up to #1 overall in the draft and select QB Jared Goff. I'm sure that Goff will have his struggles this year, but I think in the long run he will be a good NFL QB. They have one of the best young RBs in the NFL in Todd Gurley and the sky is the limit for him, and WR Tavon Austin is always a threat when he gets the ball in his hands. On defense, they have one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL in DT Aaron Donald and they still have a solid young core in DE Robert Quinn, LB Alec Ogletree, and CB Trumaine Johnson. They are built the way that Head Coach Jeff Fisher likes to play: Run the ball and play solid defense. Plus, you have to love the fact that the Rams moved back to Los Angeles. The "Los Angeles Rams" just sounds right, so maybe that karma will be a good thing for the franchise.
What I Don't Like: Jeff Fisher has been around a long time, but when was the last time that Jeff Fisher has won a playoff game? When was the last time that a Jeff Fisher-led team has even made the playoffs? He might be one of the most overrated coaches in the NFL. Outside of Austin and Gurley, who scares you on that offense? Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks don't really put a lot of fear in opposing defenses. They lost a lot key pieces in free agency as well. TE Jared Cook, DT Nick Fairely, CB Janoris Jenkins, LB James Laurinitis, and DE Chris Long all departed in the offseason. Their schedule is not friendly for them at all. In Weeks 3 and 4, they travel to Tampa and Arizona. Then, they host Buffalo in Week 5, then they go to Detroit, and then they have to go all the way to London to play the Giants in Week 7. After a bye week, they get Carolina at home in Week 9, then have to travel all the way back to the East coast to play the Jets in Week 10. Then, they have to travel back East again to take on the Pats in Week 13, and they finish with a trip to Seattle in Week 15 and host Arizona in Week 17. It seems like this team is content on rebuilding with a fresh start in LA, and they look like a team that is not ready for playoff contention this year.
Prediction: 5-11 and third place in the NFC West
4) San Francisco 49ers:
What I Like: I don't mind them going after Chip Kelly to be their Head Coach. I think it was a very bold move that this franchise needed to make after screwing up and jettisoning Jim Harbaugh two years ago. Maybe Kelly can reboot Colin Kaepernick's career and give this team a lift. People forget how much star power Kaepernick just a couple of seasons ago. Maybe starting Blaine Gabbert is the right move and will stabilize this team as the season starts. This team is also the ultimate sleeper going into the season. Nobody believes they will be any good, and we have seen many times how a team that is given no chance to compete in an upcoming season comes out and surprises everyone. I'm sure that is going to give the 49ers a lot of motivation heading into the season.
What I Don't Like: They never addressed the QB position in the offseason, and that could be a fatal mistake. They are starting the season with Gabbert and if he falters they will turn to Kaepernick, but neither guy is the answer. Plus, you have to deal with the whole Kaepernick-National Anthem saga, and it is just a mess all around. Their biggest free agent acquisition: G Zane Beadles. That doesn't bode well either. There is just not enough talent on this roster to compete this year-especially in their division with the Seahawks and Cardinals. Looking at their schedule and it doesn't help them early on. They host LA in Week 1, then they head to Carolina and to Seattle in Weeks 2 and 3. Then, they host Dallas and Arizona in Weeks 4 and 5. Then, they have to travel to Buffalo in Week 6. They could easily be 1-5 to start the year. They host the Pats in Week 11 and four of their last six games are on the road and they finish with Seattle in Week 17. I just don't see how the 49ers are going to be a factor at all in 2016.
Prediction: 4-12 and last place in the NFC West
NFC Standings:
East
1) Giants: 10-6
2) Dallas: 9-7 *Wild Card
3)Washington: 8-8
4) Philadelphia: 5-11
North
1) Green Bay: 12-4
2) Minnesota: 8-8
3) Chicago: 8-8
4) Detroit: 5-11
South
1) Carolina:11-5
2) Atlanta: 9-7 *Wild Card
3)New Orleans:8-8
4) Tampa Bay: 5-11
West
1) Seattle: 12-4
2)Arizona: 8-8
3) Los Angeles: 5-11
4) San Francisco: 4-12
NFC Playoff Seeds:
1) Seattle
2) Green Bay
3) NY Giants
4) Carolina
5) Dallas
6) Atlanta
NFC Playoffs
Wild Card Round:
3-NY Giants over 6-Atlanta: The G-Men get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and pull the upset over the defending NFC Champions on the road in Atlanta.
5-Dallas over 4-Carolina: The Cowboys find the way into the playoffs and pull off the upset over Carolina in Round 1.
Divisional Round:
1-Seattle over 5-Dallas: The Seahawks get back to their third NFC Championship Game in four years as they dispatch the Cowboys at home.
2-Green Bay over 3-NY Giants: The Packers advance to their second NFC Championship in three years with a victory over the Giants in Lambeau.
NFC Championship Game:
2-Green Bay over 1-Seattle: The Packers avenge their crushing loss to the Seahawks in the 2014 NFC Championship Game, and they advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2010 season.
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