Post by NFL on Aug 9, 2021 21:37:33 GMT -5
** NFC East **
Projected Standings:
1. Washington Football Team
The 2020 champions are back and looking to repeat here in 2021. They were able to add Julio Jones but it wasn't necessary as their offense (2nd) already ranks as one of the best in the league. The defensive (12th) side of the ball is not quite as strong but it wasn't last year either and it did not matter. Washington is one of three NFC teams with the best odds of winning the conference.
2. Dallas Cowboys
After in improbable NFC Championship game run in 2020, Dallas is once again in the mix for a playoff spot. It's hard to see this team advancing further than they did last season after a quiet offseason, but there is certainly room for growth in the regular season for the Cowboys. The offense (10th) carried them last season and it looks like it will again as the defense ranks just around league average (17th).
3. New York Giants
New York is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and while it may not happen this season, the Giants are looking more and more like a playoff roster, especially on the defensive (14th) side of the ball. Beyond Stafford and Swift, the offense (26th) is not very deep at this point, but lots of young talent on the Giants' roster could change that as we move through the season.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
An annual playoff contender, the Eagles look like their run of postseason appearances may be in jeopardy. A quiet offseason included the additions of Trey Sermon, Kwity Paye, & JJ Watt, but there are still a number of holes in this roster that just don't look like they are going to be filled prior to the season. A couple of small upgrades to positions on both the offense (21st) and defense (27th) could put Philadelphia back in the postseason race.
** NFC North **
Projected Standings:
1. Chicago Bears
Very few roster moves for Chicago this offseason but playing in the NFC North is very similar to playing in the AFC South. Fortunately we have at least one good team in this division and that's the Bears. Their offense is elite (5th) and it makes up for the shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball (22nd). Their only real divisional competition in Green Bay and the Packers have some ground to cover if they truly want to compete with Chicago.
2. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is one of only four teams in the NFC without a postseason appearance and it looks like 2021 could be their year if they are willing to make some moves to improve. Neither side of the ball is particularly impressive with the offense (17th) sitting around league average and the defense (23rd) ranked a but further down than that. As of now, the Packers are projected to play the easiest schedule in the league, which is a huge advantage for a team with potential playoff aspirations.
3. Detroit Lions
Detroit is still chasing the Super Bowl they lost in 2018 and they really have had no choice but to do so without any picks or cap space the past few seasons. If the Lions can play their cards right, they'll be able to clear out a lot of their remaining salary and start fresh in 2022, but with next to no young talent, it looks like a long rebuild for Detroit. The offense (13th) looks like it can be competitive but the defense (32nd) is the worst unit in the league and lacks any real production outside of impending FAs Dre Greenlaw & Josh Sweat.
4. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has just started their rebuild and is about two years ahead of where Detroit is right now. After losing the 2019 Super Bowl, Minnesota tore things down and started from scratch and that is evident when looking at their current roster. The offense (29th) and defense (30th) are both at the bottom of the league and Minnesota actually takes the cake as the worst roster in the league overall.
** NFC South **
Projected Standings:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Orleans has been running the NFC South for three years now but Tampa Bay has put together their best roster in three years and finally looks to have taken the leap to division favorites. They rank in the top three in the NFC and should absolutely compete for a spot in the Super Bowl this season. They are only one of two teams with top five offenses (4th) and defenses (3rd).
2. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are still a very strong playoff team but it looks like their championship window may be closing, at least on the defensive (11th) side of the ball. It's a strong group but many of them are playing out expiring contracts and it's hard to see New Orleans being able to retain many of them. If the Saints are able to make some improvements at RB, LB, & S then it's much more likely that they extend that window through the 2021 season.
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are far from a playoff lock but after two wins in the past two seasons, the Falcons are a lock to improve here in 2021. The team is very young overall but the defense (6th) is deep and truthfully has the potential to challenge any other team for the top spot. The offense (23rd) is inexperienced as well but has plenty of upside and Atlanta is hopeful they can unlock some of that this season and push for their first playoff berth.
4. Carolina Panthers
Green Bay & Atlanta are two NFC teams with the potential to make their first playoff appearance, but Carolina still looks to be at least a year away. The roster is filled with lots of options but not many of which will help completely turn this roster around in just a season. The offense (19th) & defense (24th) have some intriguing options but let's check back in on the Panthers next season.
** NFC West **
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks head into week one as the top ranked team in both the NFC and the league as a whole. Seattle's offense (3rd) and defense (2nd) are both impressive and should easily carry them to their first playoff appearance since 2018. Assuming they can stay healthy, there is no reason the Seahawks should not be competing for a Super Bowl in 2021.
2. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco did a bit of retooling in the offseason and look like they may be able to steal a wildcard spot like they did in 2019. The offense (18th) and defense (13th) are both sitting around league average so it should not take much improvement for the 49ers to push for a playoff spot in the NFC this year.
3. Los Angeles Rams
After two consecutive division titles and three consecutive eight win seasons, it looks like the Rams will be vying for a wildcard spot rather than a division title. The roster is not as strong as it has been in previous seasons, particularly on the defensive (26th) side of the ball. The offense (16th) is still pretty solid but sits around league average this season.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is the fourth NFC team without a playoff appearance to date, but similar to Carolina, it seems they are better suited to push for one next season and not in 2021. The offense (14th) has a lot of upside and projects to be a top unit moving forward but the same cannot be said for the defense (31st) at this time. It is one of the weaker units in the league, but is not a priority to fix before week one as the Cardinals don't need to force themselves into playoff contention this season.
Projected Standings:
1. Washington Football Team
The 2020 champions are back and looking to repeat here in 2021. They were able to add Julio Jones but it wasn't necessary as their offense (2nd) already ranks as one of the best in the league. The defensive (12th) side of the ball is not quite as strong but it wasn't last year either and it did not matter. Washington is one of three NFC teams with the best odds of winning the conference.
2. Dallas Cowboys
After in improbable NFC Championship game run in 2020, Dallas is once again in the mix for a playoff spot. It's hard to see this team advancing further than they did last season after a quiet offseason, but there is certainly room for growth in the regular season for the Cowboys. The offense (10th) carried them last season and it looks like it will again as the defense ranks just around league average (17th).
3. New York Giants
New York is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and while it may not happen this season, the Giants are looking more and more like a playoff roster, especially on the defensive (14th) side of the ball. Beyond Stafford and Swift, the offense (26th) is not very deep at this point, but lots of young talent on the Giants' roster could change that as we move through the season.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
An annual playoff contender, the Eagles look like their run of postseason appearances may be in jeopardy. A quiet offseason included the additions of Trey Sermon, Kwity Paye, & JJ Watt, but there are still a number of holes in this roster that just don't look like they are going to be filled prior to the season. A couple of small upgrades to positions on both the offense (21st) and defense (27th) could put Philadelphia back in the postseason race.
** NFC North **
Projected Standings:
1. Chicago Bears
Very few roster moves for Chicago this offseason but playing in the NFC North is very similar to playing in the AFC South. Fortunately we have at least one good team in this division and that's the Bears. Their offense is elite (5th) and it makes up for the shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball (22nd). Their only real divisional competition in Green Bay and the Packers have some ground to cover if they truly want to compete with Chicago.
2. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is one of only four teams in the NFC without a postseason appearance and it looks like 2021 could be their year if they are willing to make some moves to improve. Neither side of the ball is particularly impressive with the offense (17th) sitting around league average and the defense (23rd) ranked a but further down than that. As of now, the Packers are projected to play the easiest schedule in the league, which is a huge advantage for a team with potential playoff aspirations.
3. Detroit Lions
Detroit is still chasing the Super Bowl they lost in 2018 and they really have had no choice but to do so without any picks or cap space the past few seasons. If the Lions can play their cards right, they'll be able to clear out a lot of their remaining salary and start fresh in 2022, but with next to no young talent, it looks like a long rebuild for Detroit. The offense (13th) looks like it can be competitive but the defense (32nd) is the worst unit in the league and lacks any real production outside of impending FAs Dre Greenlaw & Josh Sweat.
4. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has just started their rebuild and is about two years ahead of where Detroit is right now. After losing the 2019 Super Bowl, Minnesota tore things down and started from scratch and that is evident when looking at their current roster. The offense (29th) and defense (30th) are both at the bottom of the league and Minnesota actually takes the cake as the worst roster in the league overall.
** NFC South **
Projected Standings:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Orleans has been running the NFC South for three years now but Tampa Bay has put together their best roster in three years and finally looks to have taken the leap to division favorites. They rank in the top three in the NFC and should absolutely compete for a spot in the Super Bowl this season. They are only one of two teams with top five offenses (4th) and defenses (3rd).
2. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are still a very strong playoff team but it looks like their championship window may be closing, at least on the defensive (11th) side of the ball. It's a strong group but many of them are playing out expiring contracts and it's hard to see New Orleans being able to retain many of them. If the Saints are able to make some improvements at RB, LB, & S then it's much more likely that they extend that window through the 2021 season.
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are far from a playoff lock but after two wins in the past two seasons, the Falcons are a lock to improve here in 2021. The team is very young overall but the defense (6th) is deep and truthfully has the potential to challenge any other team for the top spot. The offense (23rd) is inexperienced as well but has plenty of upside and Atlanta is hopeful they can unlock some of that this season and push for their first playoff berth.
4. Carolina Panthers
Green Bay & Atlanta are two NFC teams with the potential to make their first playoff appearance, but Carolina still looks to be at least a year away. The roster is filled with lots of options but not many of which will help completely turn this roster around in just a season. The offense (19th) & defense (24th) have some intriguing options but let's check back in on the Panthers next season.
** NFC West **
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks head into week one as the top ranked team in both the NFC and the league as a whole. Seattle's offense (3rd) and defense (2nd) are both impressive and should easily carry them to their first playoff appearance since 2018. Assuming they can stay healthy, there is no reason the Seahawks should not be competing for a Super Bowl in 2021.
2. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco did a bit of retooling in the offseason and look like they may be able to steal a wildcard spot like they did in 2019. The offense (18th) and defense (13th) are both sitting around league average so it should not take much improvement for the 49ers to push for a playoff spot in the NFC this year.
3. Los Angeles Rams
After two consecutive division titles and three consecutive eight win seasons, it looks like the Rams will be vying for a wildcard spot rather than a division title. The roster is not as strong as it has been in previous seasons, particularly on the defensive (26th) side of the ball. The offense (16th) is still pretty solid but sits around league average this season.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is the fourth NFC team without a playoff appearance to date, but similar to Carolina, it seems they are better suited to push for one next season and not in 2021. The offense (14th) has a lot of upside and projects to be a top unit moving forward but the same cannot be said for the defense (31st) at this time. It is one of the weaker units in the league, but is not a priority to fix before week one as the Cardinals don't need to force themselves into playoff contention this season.