Lot of faces have changed places since the end of last season. We start with the coaches as Atlanta (Arthur Smith), Detroit (Dan Campbell), Houston (David Culley), Jacksonville (Urban Meyer), LA Chargers (Brandon Staley), NY Jets (Robert Saleh), and Philadelphia (Nick Sirianni) all have new head coaches.
We also have players switching places as well. Matthew Stafford and Jared Geoff were traded for each other. Carson Wentz got traded to the Colts, Sam Darnold to Carolina, Teddy Bridgewater to Tennessee, Julio Jones to Atlanta have all been via the trade market. Andy Dalton (Chicago), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Washington), Mitchell Trubisky (Buffalo), Tevin Coleman (Jets), Wayne Gallman (San Francisco), Mark Ingram Jr. (Houston), Phillip Lindsay (Houston), Sammy Watkins (Baltimore), Nelson Agholor (New England), Corey Davis (Jets), Will Fuller (Miami), A. J. Green (Arizona), and Kenny Golladay (Giants), are just a few of the big names that have changed teams this offseason
So here we go. Here's how we see the NFL season going down for 2021!
NFC West:
1. Los Angeles Rams: 12-5*
2. Seattle Seahwaks: 12-5 (WC)*
3. San Francisco 49ers: 11-6 (WC)*
4. Arizona Cardinals: 6-11
A second place finish in the West last year for the Rams will now be flipped on its head to a first place title win, thanks to having all the weapons back from last year and adding a solid starting QB in Matthew Stafford. No promise how long Stafford will be able to be THE guy in Los Angeles, but he gives the Rams the presence under center they really need. The Seahawks are going to be without KJ Wright for the first time, since he signed on with a new team, so it changes the dynamics of the Seahawks defense, But with Russell Wilson still under center, Seattle should still be a bigtime threat. What's going to get the 49ers back into the fold is health. Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Jaquiski Tartt are all back and healthy and that's going to make a big difference. Still be tough to compete with Seattle and LA but the healthy guys back will be a big improvement for the Niners. As for the Cardinals, it going to be an interesting season in the desert. They added JJ Watt and AJ Green, but how well is Kyler Murray going to progress? With the wheels falling off for the Cards at the end of last year, tihey hoping to not have it repeat the same again this year.
NFC South:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12-5*
2. New Orleans Saints: 9-8
3. Carolina Panthers: 8-9
4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-14
Very different look to the South this year. The top is going to remain the same as the Buccaneers are going to be really hard to play against again this season. The champs brought back almost the entire roster from last season, which was a high powered offense and one of the best defensive units in the entire league. Don't be surprised if the Bucs have another deep playoff run in them again this year. The dropoff here comes behind the champs. The Saints are going to try to win the division again for the fifth year in a row, but its going to be a tough task without having Drew Brees under center. Having Jameis Winston take over is a bit of a roll of the dice, but there still enough weapons here, New Orleans can still finish with an above .500 record. New QB under center for the Panthers could lead to a higher standard. Sam Darnold now gets a fresh start in a new city, gets reunited with an old friend in Robbie Anderson, and gets a healthy Christian McCaffery to hand the ball off to. Panthers may miss the playoffs, but it will be a big improvement from last year. Big question in my mind is what does Matt Ryan have left in the tank for the Falcons? Sure he has a new weapon to work with in Kyle Pitts at tight end and he still has Calvin Ridley to throw to as well. Other then that, there leaves a lot to be desired in Atlanta.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers 13-4*
2. Chicago Bears: 8-9
3. Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
4. Detroit Lions: 4-13
We can argue this till we are blue in the face, but facts are, this North division is still the Packers division And this is going to be done with an angry Aaron Rogers, who's got something he wants to prove to Packers management. Also, the Pack have one of the most dynamic offenses in the game today, making it even harder for them to beat. The rest of the division is tough to pick. The Bears have the defense that can keep them around .500 this year, as it has the talent to be a top ten defense. Questions remain in Chicago on the other side of the ball. Nick Foles will be starting under center and how healthy and effective is he going to be? Receivers could be good but otherwise, meh. Same thing can kind of be said for the Vikings as well. Still have a massive threat in Dalvin Cook running the ball, but Kirk Cousins still has to really prove he was worth that contract and then some. The Vikings are good but not quite where they need to be to get over the hump. Then you have the Lions, who are going to be in the basement this year. Stafford gone and in comes Jared Geoff, trying to get himself back on the right track. Even so, he's got no real weapons to work with. Gonna be a long year in the Motor City.
NFC East
1. Washington Football Team: 10-7*
2. Dallas Cowboys: 9-8 (WC)*
3. New York Giants: 8-9
4/ Philadelphia Eagles: 6-11
This division was a tough one to try and figure out between the top three teams. What sticks out about Washington was, and is, a dark horse in this division. Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking over under center in DC and could still have a little more magic left in those legs and that arm of his. They may not have the flashiest team in this division, but Washington has a balanced team and could do it again this year. Next best team to challenge them this year are the Cowboys, who if healthy could disrupt a lot of people plans. The boys get the services back of Dak this year. Zek looking to have a bounce back year and when they have Lamb and Cooper in the receiving game, the Boys could be good. Just depends on the defense. IF all stays the course, it will be enough to help the Boys make the playoffs. Another big test is going to come from the Giants, who have some of the same questions. Big Blue could be good on the defensive side of the football, its just the offense has some things to look at. Daniel Jones is going into his 3rd year, now with a healthy Sequan Barkley in the back field and Kenny Golliday joining a pretty good receiving core. New York is just hoping it can mesh well. Then there's the Eagles, who could be in for a long season. Jalen Hurts now gets fully control in Philly and he's got a new weapon to work with in DeVonta Smith. But outside of him and Zach Ertz, the pass catching game doesn't look too good, neither does the run game. Gonna be a long year in the city of brotherly love.
AFC West:
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 13-4*
2. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7 (WC)*
3. Denver Broncos: 9-8
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 6-11
The Chiefs are the defending champions of the AFC West, and they'll be back on top of the mountain again this year. The core group of the AFC Champions is still here in tact, with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce leading the offensive charge. Darius Harris leads the defensive unit which is still as solid as it was a year ago, so don't be surprised if KC has another deep run in them. This is a Chargers team that's coming off an under .500 season a year ago, but will be able to build off that. Justin Herbert has some weapons to be able to work with. New Head Coach Brandon Staley can give Herbert what he needs to not only be good, but take his game to the next level. This team is taking steps in the right direction. In a battle for the lower half of the division, the Broncos are the one team that can finish right or around .500. Teddy Bridgewater takes over under center and has Melvin Gordon and Jerry Jrudy to work with, so that's something to go off of. And having Von Miller leading the defense could keep them in a few games. They seem like they could be a possible hit and miss team. Then there's the Raiders, bringing up the rear, re loading their team with talent. Carr and Mariotta are going to be figuring out who's under center this year. They have weapons with Drake in the backfield and Ruggs catching passes but it doesn't leave much hope. Vegas defense leaves something to be desired.
AFC South:
1. Tennessee Titans: 10-7*
2. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-12
4. Houston Texans: 2-15
Big changes were made for the Titans, a team that's already got high hopes for this season. Ryan Tannehill has plenty of weapons to work with on offense. Derek Henry is back as one of the best running backs in the league and Julio Jones was added as another major threat in the passing game. The defense in the music city isn't exactly elite, but they are very good never the less and will keep things going quite well for the Titans. The Colts are coming off the playoff appearance last season, and are now looking to Carson Wentz to help build off what they saw last season. For the pass game to do anything, they have to rely on Mo Alie Cox and when he healthy TY Hilton. If healthy, they should be able to complement the run game of Nyheim Hines and Marlon Mack. Defense looks like it could hang around a bit and keep the team in a few games, but not much to write home about. Then there's the Jaguars, who are looking to the future with Trevor Lawrence now under center. Carlos Hyde and Marvin Jones are going to be the primary weapons for Lawrence to work with. There's no doubt that the Jacksonville defense can keep them in a lot of games, the question is can the offense match suit? Finally the Texans, who look to move on to life without JJ Watt in the lineup on defense. Meaning there's a huge hole in that front seven to be filled in over in Houston. The defense could be a problem for the Texans, which might not be able to say the same about the offense which totally retooled. Tyrod Taylor is starting the year under center with Watson hurt. He got two new running backs and a couple new deep threats to work with. But there's no promises and it could be a long season in Houston.
AFC North:
1. Cleveland Browns: 12-5*
2. Baltimore Ravens: 11-6 (WC)*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7 (WC)*
4. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11
Pending a massive fall off, the Browns should be the team to take this division this year. This defense, lead by Myles Garrett, is poised to be a top ten, even a top five, defense again this season. On the offensive side of the ball, Baker Mayfield has weapons a plenty. His got Beckham and Laundry as his top targets to throw to, and with Chubb running the ball behind him, its going to be a good year in Cleveland. As for the Ravens, this is going to be a return to force in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson has good targets to throw to in Watkins and Andrews, while Gus Edwards will be running the ball. It all depends on the play of Jackson, who's looking to bounce back to his MVP form. This defense could be good in Baltimore, scary good. This could be a return to a winning season for the Steelers this year. Rothlesberger has four rookies to work with this year, his 19th year in the NFL. New running back in Najee Harris gives s a ground game to balance with Ju Ju. Chase and Ray Ray catching passes. The defense can still be good and with Mike Tomlin running the ship, you know that Pittsburgh is going to be in the fight. As for bringing up the rear of the division is the Bengals, who are still working on building themselves up in the right direction. Joe Burrow's back and healthy but he's lost weapons on his side of the ball. He got Boyd to throw to still but no Green. Mixon is back in the backfield which is good, but that's about it. This defense has taken a step backwards and this is going to be a long season in Cincy.
AFC East:
1. Buffalo Bills: 12-5*
2. Miami Dolphins: 10-7
3. New England Patriots 9-8
4. New York Jets: 5-12
This one is easy to pick, it's the Bills division, the rest are just living in it. Buffalo added to its defense by bringing in Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham, which is going to make a good defense even better. Josh Allen has plenty of targets in Diggs and Beasley back in the fold, and now he has Matt Braida in the backfield with Singletery. Buffalo is going to be very tough to beat again this season and will be right in the thick of things as one of the best teams in the entire conference. Behind them we see a change as the Dolphins will finally take a step to the next level. Tua Time is in full effect in Miami, and even with Will Fuller and Allen Hurns out at the start of the year, they will be back and will jump right into the mix with a decent offense. Miami's defense will surprise a few people and make some noise. At least enough to be able to get them to ten wins on the year. The biggest drop off is going to be the Patriots, who are still getting used to life without Brady. Cam newton was a total bust and isn't on the team anymore, so now the starting job falls on Mac Jones. Jones is getting a revamped offense to now work with. Nelson Agulor is going to be the primary pass catcher, and with him, James White and Hunter Henry, they will make a little noise. The Patriots will be able to put up some fight but its going to be tough this year. Closing out this division is going to be the Jets, who if the stars align MIGHT be able to be a close to .500 team this season. Zach Wilson takes over at QB and the rookie has Keenan Cole, Tevin Coleman and Corey Davis to go along with Crowder and Mims. The defense has Shaq Lawson and a returning CJ Mosely so they might surprise you. But for new head coach Robert Salah it's going to be a rough introduction to the new market.
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