2014 NFC Predictions
NFC South: The Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, and Panthers make up this division, and it is one that could be highly competitive. The Falcons have shown great things with Matt Ryan as their quarterback, and they look like they will do at least a little better than their horrendous year last year. The Saints still have Drew Brees leading the offense and Sean Payton as their head coach, so they are destined to have some good games. The Buccaneers do not show as much promise as the other teams in this division, although they may surprise some people. The Panthers had a great year last year, but their receivers this year are pretty terrible. I will pick the Falcons to barely edge out the Saints and Panthers.
NFC North: The division with the Lions, Packers, Bears, and Vikings is a good one. The Lions obviously have one of the most explosive offenses, with Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson leading the team. The Packers have been one of the best teams in recent memory, and with Aaron Rogers still leading the team, they should have another good year. The Vikings will have to give up on their goal of winning four games this year, as Adrian Peterson's absence will result in another bad year for them. The Bears are very similar to the Lions, as they have a strong quarterback, a well built yet quick running back, and one of the best receivers in the league. I do think both teams will fall short of beating out the Packers for the playoff spot.
NFC East: The Eagles, Redskins, Cowboys and Giants make up this division. The Eagles appear to be a team that could have a pretty good year, especially with Lesean McCoy at running back. The Redskins are looking really awful this year, with Robert Griffin III turning out to be a bust and with the defense allowing to many touchdowns. The Giants, like the Redskins, are going to be terrible this year because Eli Manning is continuing to make a strong campaign for worst quarterback in the league. The Cowboys have the potential to win the division, with Demarco Murray showing so far that he is a decent running back, and with the defense showing that they can play. I still have the Eagles taking the division title, and Tony Romo blowing it for the hundredth time.
NFC West: The 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, and Cardinals make up one of the strongest divisions in the league. The Seahawks are an obvious choice, for their well rounded offense and near perfect defense cannot be matched by any team. The Rams are the worst team in the division, mostly because they are not that good. I could not name a single player on the Rams. The 49ers are one of the best teams in the league, with Kaepernick leading the offense and Patrick Willis still leading the defense. The Arizona Cardinals had a surprising season last year, yet still missed the playoffs. They still have Larry Fitzgerald leading the team, and they have the young star Patrick Peterson playing great defense. The Seahawks will win the division, and the Cardinals will beat the 49ers for second place.
Playoffs: My predictions for the playoff standing are: 1) Seahawks at 14-2. 2) Packers at 12-4. 3) Falcons at 11-5. 4) Eagles at 10-6. 5) Cardinals at 11-5. 6) 49ers at 10-6. I think the Seahawks will blow past the Packers in the Conference Championship game, but lose to the Patriots in the Superbowl.
