It's getting closer and closer to another football season. Isn't that a grand feeling? With training camp finally arriving, now might be a good time to get another full slate of predictions in. Just like last year, I will split this into three parts; covering both conferences and the playoffs. Leading off in the forecast is the NFC.
NFC East:
1. New York Giants- 10-6
The Giants return to the playoffs two years removed from winning their fourth Super Bowl. The East is perhaps the weakest division in an otherwise powerful conference. Eli Manning is the key to this offense, as should any quarterback be, but him especially to follow up and prove he is consistent. The running game will be solid with a real feature back in David Wilson starting, and the receivers will be solid again this year if they can stay healthy. Defense may hold a problem, but if the front four stay healthy and consistent, they will be fine.
2. Dallas Cowboys- 7-9
Seven victories may be too many for a team in transition on defense, but it is the ceiling. Switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense is very difficult to have succeed in the first season of installment, regardless of how good the defensive coordinator is. Tony Romo is still an underrated quarterback and will carry this offense and will probably be the reason the Cowboys will make it this far.
3. Washington Redskins- 7-9
This season for the Redskins will depend solely on the health of Robert Griffin III. He as of right now has been cleared to play, but he was banged up pretty bad last season, and that could affect things. Running game remains solid because Mike Shanahan will always have his team run successfully, and the defense is still solid. However, Griffin's health is still the key. With him, this team perhaps makes another run at the playoffs. If not, it will be a struggle for Washington to reach a .500 record.
4. Philadelphia Eagles- 4-12
Oh boy is it going to be another long year in Philadelphia. After a decade and a half of playing under Andy Reid, the Eagles have switched to a new regime under former Oregon coach Chip Kelly. Micheal Vick is getting older and can't seem to stay healthy, and is also not the certain starting quarterback to begin with. Jeremy Maclin's ACL tear puts a lot more pressure on Desean Jackson on proving he is among the best receivers. Despite the addition of left tackle Lane Johnson, the offensive line is still a weak point. And so is the defense, which is now in the process of switching to a 3-4. Mychal Kendricks and Demeco Ryans are the only realy bright spots of the defense, but the roster is overall unappealing on this side of the ball.
NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers- 12-4
Regardless of what people think of the defense, this division is the Packers' until another team rises up and takes it from them. It also helps when the best quarterback in the league is on this team. Aaron Rodgers will easily give this team double digits in the victory column every season. The focus for Green Bay should be giving Rodgers some protection as he is the most sacked quarterback in the league the last couple of years. Defensively, the keys will remain to be if a pass rusher opposite Clay Matthews emerges and the linebackers can turn out to be very good as a unit. Despite the problems on defense and the offensive line, you can pencil the Packers to be contending every year as long as they have Mike McCarty as head coach and Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
2. Detroit Lions- 10-6
Last season was a struggle in Detroit, falling apart from a 10-6 season to a dismal 4-12 season that ended on an eight game losing streak. Things are looking up for the team however after a promising offseason. The running game and defense should see some nice improvements. The key is quarterback Matthew Stafford to perform better than last year. Stafford's poor play was a key problem last season and for the Lions to find success, he has to perform up to his capabilities. The Lions are one of two teams that I predict from the NFC to finish with ten wins but miss the playoffs, mostly because this conference is loaded with good teams.
3. Minnesota Vikings- 9-7
Minnesota follows up a surprising 2012 playoff campaign with a respectable 9-7 record. Adrian Peterson set the bar extremely high after his MVP season where he came nine yards short of Eric Dickerson's rushing record. How does he follow up that season? Well, for his sake and the sake of the team, it would be finding more of a balanced offense where Peterson isn't carrying the team. Quarterback Christian Ponder must take control and be an NFL quarterback rather than just a game manager. Newly acquired receivers Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarelle Patterson should help him in that regards, but it is up to Ponder to prove he has arm strength to be successful in the passing game. The defense is very solid with stars like defensive end Jared Allen and linebacker Chad Greenway being the key cogs.
4. Chicago Bears- 6-10
Another team in the middle of transition. After nearly a decade under Lovie Smith, the Bears
have brought in former CFL coach Marc Trestman. Jay Cutler has the talent to be an NFL quarterback, but in seven NFL seasons, he has yet to prove he can lead a group of men. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery do make a respectable receiving corps despite their off-field issues. The offensive line is still not great despite making moves to bring in Jermon Bushrod for left tackle and drafting Kyle Long to play guard. The defense is now old and has to run under a new scheme. There is talent in Chicago, but a transition year and lack of leadership on offense will hurt the team for now.
NFC South:
1. Atlanta Falcons- 12-4
The Falcons have been dubbed the most complete team in the NFC. I do have to disagree, but I won't deny that Atlanta is among the top of the conference. Matt Ryan cashed in this offseason with a big contract, that he very well earned. Julio Jones has emerged as a top five wide receiver, and will show that yet again this season. The Falcons have new motivation to win for tight end Tony Gonzalez, whom will probably retire at seasons end. The defense is solid along the front seven, but nothing that would stand out as great. Overall, the pressure just keeps mounting in Atlanta to produce a championship, as this season will be dubbed a Super Bowl or bust.
2. New Orleans Saints- 11-5*
The return of head coach Sean Payton from a year long suspension boasts the question if the Saints can return to normalcy and dominate the league. Payton and quarterback Drew Brees do make the best quarterback-coach combinations in the NFL, so the Saints should come back and possibly with a vengeance. The key will be the defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan, and yes another team switching schemes to a 3-4. However, the Saints weren't a good defense a couple years ago when they were among the league's best teams. So all this defense has to is get a stop here and there and the offense will protect them.
3. Carolina Panthers-8-8
I really wanted to give the Panthers a winning season. They made very good moves the last two years to make this defense pretty good. However, Cam Newton's maturity will hurt. Great talent, but his attitude has little leadership qualities. The season, and head coach Ron Riveria's job depends on if Newton can grow up and become a quarterback rather than an athlete. But other than that, the team is starting to become pretty good. The front seven has seen some drastic improvments and should keep the Panthers close in many games. The strength of the division and the NFC will hurt Carolina the most in the hunt for the playoffs.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- 7-9
Tampa Bay is one of the teams that I am not buying the hype surrounding them. The team may have drastically improved the secondary with additions of cornerback Darelle Revis via trade, safety Dashon Goldson via free agency, and cornerback Johnthan Banks via the draft. However, they ignored a weak pass rush and that is what will hurt the Bucs severely. The offense is either really good, or just mediocre. No denying how good running back Doug Martin is, but how good his supporting cast will be the hinges of success for the Buccaneers in 2013.
NFC West:
1. Seattle Seahawks- 13-3
The Seahawks have put together a fantastic team under head coach Pete Carroll. Russell Wilson was by far the steal of last year's draft and should get even better this year. The biggest addition to the team, WR Percy Harvin, will perhaps miss the entire 2013 season due to hip issues. That doesnt change the fact the Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league. The running game is perhaps the best with Marshawn Lynch leading the way. The defense will get a boost in terms of pass rush by adding defensive ends Cliff Avril and Micheal Bennett. With those additions, this defense is going to be lights out and needs to be with quarterbacks like Colin Kaepernick and Aaron Rodgers in the NFC. Seattle fans are going to have a team to enjoy this year.
2. San Francisco 49ers- 11-5*
Coming off an appearance in the Super Bowl in which the franchise lost for the first time in the big game, the 49ers look to repeat the success the team has had the last two years. Colin Kaepernick goes into training camp as the starter this year after being Alex Smith's backup his first two seasons. During the playoff run, Kaepernick proved that he can be the second coming of Steve Young both throwing and running the football. Only problem is is now he has to go through an entire season as the starter as opposed to only half a season. Going through an entire season grind is a different animal to the human body and will be tough to for Kaepernick to have success for 16 games rather than just seven games. The defense is still very solid, so there is not much to discuss there.
3. St. Louis Rams- 10-6
The Rams are my darkhorse pick this year to be a very good team that could surprise the NFL. Sam Bradford finally has a few weapons around him in Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, both drafted out of West Virginia. Both receivers bring great speed and athleticism that the Rams have lacked since they drafted Bradford. The defense is perhaps the most underrated unit in the league. Chris Long is just as good, if not better, than his father, hall-of-famer Howie. Long and opposite end Robert Quinn make for a fearsome pass rush. First round pick Alec Ogletree will make a great addition next to stalwart James Laurenitis and make the corps among the best. If the Rams can stay consistent, sky's the limit for this team. Unfortunately, as of right now, the Rams are the other 10-6 team to miss the playoffs.
4. Arizona Cardinals- 3-13
Fans in Arizona has had plenty of tough seasons. 2013 won't be any different. Still uncertainty at quarterback, as they are depending on a washed-out Carson Palmer and career backup Drew Stanton. Larry Fitzgerald is still one of the best receivers, and only time will tell if 2013 will be a great campaign for him. The offensive line is still one of the weakest in the NFL, despite the selection of North Carolina guard. Perhaps the dumbest move of the offseason was the Cardinals not retaining defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton, who left to be Cleveland's defensive coordinator, was mentored by Dick Lebeau and put together a good unit in Arizona. His loss will be felt by the Cardinals defense for certain.
*denotes wildcard team
Playoff seedings:
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Green Bay Packers
4. New York Giants
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. New Orleans Saints
