What I said about the AFC the other day I could essentially just copy and paste, change "AFC" to "NFC" and call it a day. Because there are about 10 teams that realistically could make an argument that they expect to be in the playoffs, with about six of those believing they have a good chance to win the NFC title. And, after the Vikings came up a game short of doing it last year, a good number of people believe the Falcons might finally be that team that plays a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
Last year's playoffs are actually a perfect example of how you can never predict what's gonna happen in the NFC. Five of the six playoff teams, including all four division winners, were different than in 2016, which means 11 different teams have made the playoffs in the last two seasons (13 in three years). The only teams missing from that list are the Bears, Bucs and 49ers, while the only one to repeat is Atlanta, hence the confidence in the Falcons heading into the 2018 campaign.
There's also plenty of confidence in Philadelphia. With good reason. The Eagles won the Super Bowl with their backup quarterback, and they have an incredibly strong team returning. How will they follow up their championship? Will there be Wentz/Foles drama? And let's not forget, this team plays in the NFC East. Even in a down year, just getting out of the division is brutal.
Dallas missed the playoffs last season, but I don't think anyone would be surprised to see the Cowboys return to the postseason. They'll need a deep threat now that Dez Bryant is gone. But they're still good enough to contend for a wild card, if not the division title. Then there's the Giants, who can't possibly have as bad a season as they did last year. And, now that they have Saquon Barkley, they actually have a running game for the first time in years. Washington, meanwhile, is looking up at the rest of the division.
It's weird to say that the Green Bay Packers didn't just not win the NFC North last season, they missed the playoffs entirely! I'd expect their time on the sidelines to be short, however. A healthy Aaron Rodgers can carry Green Bay, and if the entire team is healthy, the Packers will reassume their place as an NFC favorite.
What does Minnesota have for an encore after last year's incredible run? Don't forget, the Vikings lost three different quarterbacks to free agency...and replaced them with Kirk Cousins! Minnesota could definitely return to the playoffs. The Bears' trade for Khalil Mack suddenly made them a lot more relevant. They're still not a playoff team, but they may manage to get out of the NFC North cellar, although Detroit could surprise us and actually challenge for the playoffs.
The most competitive division in football might once again be the NFC South. Atlanta is a popular choice, and it's easy to see why. The Falcons are just as loaded as they were when they should've won the Super Bowl two years ago. If they get off to a good start (unlike last season), they should be the division favorites. If not, they might struggle just to get a wild card. This division is that tight.
New Orleans and Carolina are ready to pounce if the Falcons stumble at all. Personally, I think the Panthers are the slightly better team, but you've got to wonder if all their off-the-field drama during the offseason will impact their play on it. Which is why I'd say the Saints are more likely to snag a wild card berth. Either way, I see them both finishing in 10-6/9-7 territory. Then there's the Tampa Bay Bucs, who'd be a borderline playoff team if they played in any other division. As it is, 7-9 is probably the best they can hope for in a division with those three teams.
Out West, meanwhile, the change that started last year will become even more pronounced this season. After years of Seahawk domination, Seattle is entering a rebuilding era. They're also rebuilding in Arizona, where Carson Palmer has retired. And the 49ers have gone from a pushover to a potential playoff team. There's never been more hype around a team that had one win at Thanksgiving of the previous season. But that's what getting a franchise quarterback and winning your final five games can do for you.
You've still gotta consider the LA Rams the favorites in the NFC West this season. Last season was just the beginning. They've got Jared Goff and Todd Gurley on offense, with Aaron Donald anchoring the defensive side of the ball. This is a GOOD team. And they'll look a lot better, too, since the NFL gave them permission to wear their 1980s throwbacks at pretty much every home game. No more gold numbers on the jerseys and white horns on the helmets! Now if they would just go back to the throwbacks full-time. That's the real LA Rams uniform.
Even making preseason playoff picks is a crap shoot in the NFC. I could easily see none of the six teams I'm about to mention making the playoffs. However, I'm going with the Eagles, Packers, Falcons and Rams as the division winners, and the Vikings and Panthers as the wild cards. As much as I want to jump on board with Atlanta, I think the pressure will get to them and the Falcons will lay an egg in the playoffs. I'm saying Eagles-Packers in the NFC title game, with Philadelphia returning to Super Bowl.
In an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl, the Eagles will face the Steelers in Atlanta. I think the Eagles meet the same fate as the Seahawks in their second straight Super Bowl, though. I don't mean the idiotic play call that results in a game-clinching interception. But I do mean the loss. I'm taking the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl LIII exactly 10 years after their last title.
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