My 2022 NFL Preview (NFC)

When you get down to the bottom of this post and see my NFC playoff teams, you'll notice something.  They're the exact same teams as last season!  I didn't deliberately set out to have them all be the same, but as I went through each team's schedule and began picking winners for each game, it kinda just happened.  And there's a reason for that.  It's because those seven teams are simply better than the other nine in the NFC!

Unlike in the AFC, where there are a few really good teams, a few really bad teams, and everyone else sort of in the middle, the NFC is an exercise in extremes.  There are a lot of NFC teams that will probably be really bad.  Which means the usual suspects will once again run away with their divisions and only have to worry about their playoff seed.  The exception is the NFC West, which landed three playoff teams last season and very well could again this year.

Still, there has to be somebody who can break into that playoff group, right?  Who might that team be?  Well, if I had to pick anybody, I'd say maybe Minnesota or New Orleans, but even they would need a lot of things to go right, and I just don't see it.  In fact, I have the seven playoff teams all winning at least 10 games and the nine non-playoff teams (including the Saints and Vikings) all losing at least 10.

NFC East: This looks like a two-horse race between the Cowboys and Eagles.  Dallas has, arguably, the most talent in the league.  I've been saying this for a few years now.  So far, they've had nothing to show for it, though.  Last year's playoff berth by the Eagles was a bit of a surprise, but this year it certainly won't be.  In fact, I see these two duking it out for the division title all season.

As for the Giants and Commanders, I think they'll both be better this season.  The problem is, when you weren't that good to begin with, "better" sometimes only means "slightly less bad."  Still, improvement could be a key for both of those teams.  The Giants have been so bad for a while that they just need a glimmer of hope.  Having both Saquon Barkley and Kayvon Thibodeaux stay healthy all season could go a long way in providing that hope.  The Commanders, meanwhile, finally have an identity again after two years as the "Football Team" (a "name" which, as you know, I didn't even acknowledge).

NFC North: We all know how things in the NFC North are gonna go.  The Packers are gonna wrap up the division title at midseason and coast to their inevitable home playoff loss (whether it's in the NFC Championship Game or earlier).  Part of me thinks that a little adversity during the season might actually be good for them, and playing in a more competitive division would certainly help.  But that's really more on the other three NFC North teams than it is on Green Bay.

Minnesota might actually have a slight chance of being disruptive, but the Vikings are more that annoying sleeper team that'll make every game close and randomly beat somebody good than a legitimate contender.  Still, if anybody can crack the NFC playoff puzzle, it'll be them.  It certainly won't be the Bears or Lions!  Chicago will do the same thing it does every year: think they're good while not actually having an offense.  And do we really need to talk about the Lions?  Didn't think so!

NFC South: If you've seen any of those football preview magazines, you know what two teams they're highest on.  Buffalo and Tampa Bay.  The magazines have a lot more faith in the Bucs than I do.  Yes, it seems like Brady being in the Super Bowl is inevitable (and this year is an odd-numbered game...there hasn't been an odd-numbered Super Bowl without him since Super Bowl XLVII...10 years ago!).

While I'm not willing to go there on Tampa Bay, winning the division should be fairly easy, if for no other reason than because they're much better than the other three teams.  New Orleans has a shot to be competitive and may challenge for a wild card, but the Falcons and Panthers are in complete rebuild mode.  Of course, Baker Mayfield could resurrect his career in Charlotte and the Falcons could ride their defense to some close, low-scoring wins.  Ultimately, though, I think they're more likely to contend for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft than a wild card.

NFC West: What's funny about the NFC West is that we spent how long just assuming Seattle would make the playoffs at the very least?  Now, it's the exact opposite.  The Seahawks won't just be at the bottom of the division, they'll be at the bottom of the standings in the entire NFL!  Sure, they'll snag a couple home games because of how difficult the trip up there is, but there's no chance they're making the playoffs.  Not in this division.

Honestly, of the three teams that made the playoffs last season, I'm not sure who's best.  It's probably Arizona, but the Cardinals need to learn how to win a road game if they want to make it three straight Super Bowl home games for the NFC team.  The Rams went all-in for their home Super Bowl win last season, and it worked!  They're not as good as they were last year, but a repeat is definitely possible.  And the 49ers, meanwhile, are the biggest wild card of anybody.  I've got them making the playoffs again simply because they're better than the other teams, but I can see them finishing 7-10 just as easily as I can see them finishing 12-5.

Playoffs: Packers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Cardinals (division champions), Eagles, Rams, 49ers
Green Bay's schedule is the most favorable, which is why I have the Packers getting the 1-seed at 15-2.  Tampa Bay, Dallas, Arizona and Philadelphia all come in at 13-4, so it comes down to the tiebreakers, which will just determine seeding.  Ultimately, though I see all three division champions winning their wild card game, with that Cowboys-Rams Sunday night game being the best game of the entire playoffs!

So, my NFC Divisional Playoffs are Arizona at Green Bay and Dallas at Tampa Bay.  Going to Lambeau in January proves too much for the Cardinals, especially since the Packers specifically made it a point to address the special teams issues that resulted in their loss to the 49ers in last season's playoffs.  And, call me crazy, but I've got the Cowboys going into Tampa and winning to clinch their first NFC Championship Game berth since 1996.  They have to win with this group eventually, right?

NFC Champion: Dallas
I know, I know.  Come February, I'm gonna look back at this and feel like an idiot!  Or feel like a genius!  There are a lot of things that need to go right for the Dallas Cowboys to finally end their NFC Championship drought.  And there are a lot of good teams in the NFC that they'll need to get by.  I think this may be the year they finally do it.

Super Bowl LVII: Dallas vs. Buffalo
The Bills are a popular preseason Super Bowl pick, so that one shouldn't come as a surprise.  And, yes, I'm probably going out on a little bit of a limb with Dallas.  I just happen to think that the Bills and Cowboys are the most talented teams in each conference.  That doesn't guarantee anything, of course, but it's enough for me to say they're my picks to meet in a Super Bowl for the third time.

Super Bowl LVII Champion: Buffalo Bills
All of those people picking the Bills might be on to something!  They've never won the Super Bowl.  I see that changing this season.  Thirty years after getting embarrassed by the Cowboys at the Rose Bowl, they beat Dallas in Arizona to hoist their first Lombardi Trophy.