NFC Team Rankings, 1 Week Out
(These teams are in order of how I project them to finish at the end of the season)
It's a shame that all of this happened to the Vikings, when Teddy Bridgewater went down yesterday after the team was totally set up for their first true Super Bowl run since Brett Favre. Now, the Vikings have a major Hill to climb (get it?), with QB Shaun Hill as probably the best option out there for the Vikings. Losing Bridgewater isn't everything, and this team can still make the playoffs, but a dynamic and successful Bridgewater is what could put them over the top. Shaun Hill is a classic backup, a poor man's Ryan Fitzpatrick. Sorry, Minnesota, but you've just opened up the playoff race, a lot.
16) SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: I'm sorry, but I won't talk about Kaepernick here, I feel he can do whatever he wants and what he is doing is not my business. I've always disliked the guy, but I'm a Packers' fan and that might be because of bias. The rest of the team still doesn't look good, and that defense is essentially NaVorro Bowman and 10 plug-ins (not really, but you get the picture). Offensively, they lack skill position talent everywhere, and although Carlos Hyde is decent, he won't factor too much because the Niners will have to throw a lot when playing from behind.
15) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: I like some of the pieces the Eagles have, and I like the trade for WR Dorial Green-Beckham, but it's not enough to bump them up the list. The quarterback drama, plus having a new head coach, is what is going to cause season long problems for the Eagles. They have a shot at the postseason, but only because of how weak the division is.
14) DALLAS COWBOYS: Surprise, this article isn't just about YOU, Cowboys' fans. I'm not on the Dak Prescott hype train, since most of what he's done is in the preseason. Sorry, ALL of what he's done is in the preseason. And, usually, you don't go anywhere with rookie quarterbacks, or even first-year starter quarterbacks. When the Packers first threw out Aaron Rodgers, they went 6-10. Plus, you have a rookie running back too, and the defense has more backups starting weeks 1-4 than starters due to suspension. Maybe a late-season push happens, but don't let the media fool you into getting your hopes up this season.
13) LOS ANGELES RAMS: They still haven't officially announced first overall pick Jared Goff as the starter yet, and it's leaning toward it might actually be the incumbent Case Keenum. That said, lack of skill players at the receiver position make this Rams' team look the same as it always has. Good defense, good ground game, can't score. By the way, how is Tavon Austin getting $55 million dollars? Is that what an average of 475 yards and 3 touchdowns is worth?
12) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Another coaching change, a second season for Jameis Winston, and an improved defense. I'm still not buying any of the Florida teams making the postseason, and Tampa Bay is the one I've least "bought-in" to. They should end up having a fine season, but with Carolina, Atlanta and Drew Brees in the division, it's not their time yet.
11) CHICAGO BEARS: This is where Bridgewater's injury starts taking affect. The Bears, obviously, are in the Vikings' division, and they have some pieces that many believe that can make the postseason (although most of them are in Chicago). Don't sleep on this team, but when you're not, you can see all of the roster holes (tight end, receiver, quarterback, defense) that make them look like they will draft in the top 10 again.
10) DETROIT LIONS: I'd have put the Bears in front of this team, but what I've been hearing through multiple outlets is that the Lions' offense looks sharp, despite Calvin Johnson retiring. The strength of the Lions is the defense, and with Bridgewater out, I wouldn't be surprised to see this team getting second in the north. Then again, it's preseason, and the Lions will likely be the Lions again.
9) ATLANTA FALCONS: I think this team is an 8-8 team again, although they will get there nothing like they did last season. They won't start 5-0, and won't finish 3-8. They'll go week in, and week out playing with consistency, which is what this franchise needs to catch up to Carolina again. The defense should be better, it's the offense that needs to surround Julio Jones and Matt Ryan with more weapons.
8) WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Man, when you have to sign a 35 year old defensive end this late, it must mean the front office doesn't feel comfortable with the pass rush. Plus, Kirk Cousins might just have been a "hype train" last season, and we don't know yet if he is just a one-hit wonder. Likely, he will be rather consistent, but the rest of the Redskins don't scream "playoff team" to me.
7) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: I like this team to have a bounce-back season, and the defense looks like it has improved. The addition of Coby Fleener gives them their most athletic tight end since Jimmy Graham, and the receiving corps looks deeper than in recent years. Plus, RB Tim Hightower is with the team for a full season. I still don't like Drew Brees & Co. better than Minnesota, but I do think they push them hard for a playoff spot.
6) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: See above
5) NEW YORK GIANTS: The Giants offense is going to be dangerous, although not at the level of some of the teams above them. They also spent their life savings on defense this offseason, so that side of the football should improve? This team will win the division at 9-7, and will mainly do so because the defense won't be awful and the offense will put up 28 points per game. I think this defense can allow 27 or less sometimes, right?
4) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Losing Marshawn Lynch hurts, and Thomas Rawls may or may not be the real deal. The passing game is the strength of the offense, but they have to learn how to keep the clock moving, as Marshawn Lynch was probably the best player on Seattle's defense the past few seasons. He kept them rested, by working the clock and therefore keeping them off the field. The defense should still be solid, but they have had some losses there as well, including NT Brandon Mebane. This is still a clear-playoff team.
3) CAROLINA PANTHERS: I don't think anything better than 13-3 is realistic for them, and now that they are well-hyped and over-confident, they have a big bulls-eye on their back. Plus, the secondary looks really, really thin on paper, although the front seven should be capable of holding down the fort. They should win the south easily, but I wouldn't be surprised if they ran into some sort of trouble during the season.
2) GREEN BAY PACKERS: This is the team that gets the biggest "blessing" from the Bridgewater injury, as they are now the clear favorites for the NFC North. It's now the Packers to lose, but it's been that way since they won the Super Bowl. If they can sweep the NFC North this season, they might end up with the 1 seed. They have a relatively easy schedule, with the toughest game now (after at Minnesota) being at Washington. It also helps to be on the hype train when watching the Packers dominate the preseason without Rodgers, then Rodgers comes in, plays two drives, and gets a touchdown. Good work this offseason, Pack!
1) ARIZONA CARDINALS: This team looks solid and deep everywhere, and hopefully for them WR John Brown can come back from his concussion successfully. It's almost at this point not being a matter of IF they will make the postseason, but how far will they go? That relies on Carson Palmer, and showing that he actually has a clutch gene in his body, although he did show it at home against Green Bay. That said, they are even more the favorites to go to the Super Bowl with Minnesota appearing to no longer be a threat.
