Just like the AFC the NFC in 2020 is full of challengers and even more powerhouse teams this year than in years past. I think it is anybody’s game in some cases. Here are the 16 teams we need to go over.
Dallas Cowboys: Last year was such a disappointment that JerryBoy fired his buddy Jason Garrett and had him exiled to the Giants. Their newest head coach is a former Super Bowl Champion coach in Mike McCarthy. The talent on Dem Boys needs zero introductions like Dak, Zeke, Amari Cooper, Demarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander-Esch, and the list goes on and on. This year they drafted CeeDee Lamb, and Trevon Diggs. The only issue for Big D is that their big free agent signing this offseason in Gerald McCoy is out for the season with a horrific injury. This will either be the greatest team that Cowboys fans have seen since 1995, or the greatest failure in franchise history. YIKES!
New York Giants: There comes a time for each team that one side of the ball plays well while the other side is a mess. Case and point the G-Men. Yes I can see the Potential of Daniel Jones Saquan Barkley, Darius Slayton, Evan Engram, Sterling Sheppard, and a new look offense line anchored by a first round beast in Andrew Thomas. The defense did sign Blake Martinez but I still think the Giants are a year or 2 away from being back in the NFC East contention.
Philadelphia Eagles: I have never seen a team trying to clone several powerhouses in the NFL than the Iggles. The good news for Philly was that most of their injured players from last year are back like Zach Ertz, Desean Jackson, Brandon Graham, and then there is the newly acquired Darius Slay as well as Javon Hargrave. Like I was saying the Eagles cloned the Ravens by hiring Marty Moringweig as the Offensive Coordinator and drafted Jalen Reagar, and Jalen Hurts because of the Chiefs and Saints. Honestly they are true COPYCATS!
Washington Football Team (Hogs): This organization is once again a mess. The NFL not only forced them to change their team name, but removed several statues from FedEx Field and RFK Stadium. The only positive things that this team in which I call the Hogs has potential on defense because they drafted a generational talent in Chase Young, and get their potential savior in Alex Smith back. Even if he is back they will be busting out those glorious tanks again unless Smith turns back the clock.
Chicago Bears: Last year we saw one of the greatest failures in franchise history and the idea is for Da Bears to not let it happen again. Part of the problem last year was the retirement of Kyle Long which meant that the offensive line was exposed. What did the Monsters of the Midway do to fix this… ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Even if the Defense led by Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson is once again one of the best in the NFL, Chicago will need Mitchell Trubisky to return to 2018 form but even if that doesn’t happen they have the Legend of Nick Foles to bail them out like he did in Philly.
Detroit Lions: This year is probably the last chance the Lions have at a playoff berth with this core. If everything goes south Matt Patrica and Matthew Stafford are likely gone at the end of the year. Detroit did make a few moves to avoid this possibility: They traded for Desmond Trufant, Duron Harmon, and Jamie Collins, as well as drafting a lockdown corner in Jeff Okudah with the 3rd pick in the draft. If everything goes to plan they could be in playoff contention, the problem is that their biggest test happens to be this team.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers once again have the makings of a team that is bound to go deep in the playoffs again, but also they are building for the future as well with the selection of Jordan Love to potentially replace Aaron Rodgers as the headmaster in CheeseTown. The defense is once again stacked and if Rodgers regresses he doesn’t have to do all of the work. My only issue with Green Bay isn’t the teams in their division but the other juggernauts in the NFC.
Minnesota Vikings: A franchise that has known nothing but pain once again dealt with it because of the biggest cap crunch in the NFL this past spring. Not only that their big signing this offseason in Michael Pierce has also opted out. At least Gary Kubiak is now calling the shots on offense and everyone except for Stefon Diggs is back. The pass heavy side of the ball is going to be what either kills or takes the Vikings to the next level. I just don’t know. Then they traded for a stud pass rusher in Yannick Ngaukwe, that should get them back to their defensive dominance.
Atlanta Falcons: I don’t understand why this team gets ridiculous hype from their fans and media every single year. They once again kept Dan Quinn, and most of their coaching staff, traded a second round pick to Baltimore for a highly touted tight end in Hayden Hurst to replace Austin Hooper, drafted Isaiah Terrel, signed Darqueze Dennard, and of course the cherry on top the Sundae in Todd Gurley to replace DeVonta Freeman. But right this team lives and dies by Matt Ryan Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. That is a lot to ask for.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers are the 2020 NFL season’s version of a team that is opening the mystery box and thinks they can compete with what they have. Here is what they have. A newly acquired Teddy Bridgewater, and Robby Anderson, MVP Candidate Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, and Kawann Short. Not to mention fellow new acquisition Tahir Whitehead and first round pick Derrick Brown. Matt Rhule did a tremendous job turning around bad organizations over his coaching career and it might continue now in Carolina. The issue is that the NFC South is stacked.
New Orleans Saints: This is the typical New Orleans statement from their fans, “Oh we got robbed by the refs this year, but next year we will win it all.” They have been saying this since their championship in 2009. They are once again blessed with a team that has high-end talent and potential. The main examples were the signings Emmanuel Sanders, Nigel Bradham, and Malcolm Jenkins back in the city where his career began. The only issue in the Big Easy is how long does Drew Brees have left in him? I think this year might definitely be the last chance that the Saints have in the Brees-Sean Payton era to win their second championship. All I can say is DON’T WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Say hello to perhaps the most hyped team in the NFL entering the 2020 season and there are plenty of reasons for this.
- They are hosting the upcoming Super Bowl.
- They signed the GOAT in Tom Brady (Who cares if he is 43!)
- They somehow acquired Rob Gronkowski as well to join his old pal.
- They acquired a top flight RB in Leonard Fournette.
- They don’t have to deal with Jameis Winston.
- The defense except the secondary is better.
- Brady has as many weapons this year as he had in 2007.
This is the making of a Super Bowl contender yes, but how will they do against the Saints and other powers in the NFC. There lies the question.
Arizona Cardinals: I think there is a lot to look forward to in the desert when it comes to Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” Offense. Kyler Murray, Larry Fitzgerald, Kenyan Drake, Christian Kirk, and of course the big prize in DeAndre Hopkins. The defense on paper looks pretty good as well I guess. Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, Patrick Peterson, Budda Baker, and a generational talent in Isaiah Simmons. I think they are still a couple years away from Super Bowl Contender form because of the talent throughout the NFC West, but you have to like the Cards chances.
Los Angeles Rams: Ladies and Gentlemen of all ages Welcome to perhaps the NFLs version of a team that is the typical LA celebrity. The Rams are a team that has had so much potential but once their flaws are exposed they go crashing down to earth. Last year was the perfect example. This year’s version of the main LA franchise has a core that is either locked into awful contracts like Jared Goff, Robert Woods, Tyler Higbee, Aaron Donald, and Jalen “Chef” Ramsey. Or youngsters that have yet to develop. If there is a year where the Rams will live up to Coach McVay’s expectations this is it. If not, they will be an easy target for a loaded NFC West.
San Francisco 49ers: I know last year hurts 49er faithful, seeing the Chiefs raise the Lombardi Trophy that should have been yours only drives you to get back up and go for that same goal. This team has the defense and run game to do so, as well as Jimmy G. George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert, and perhaps the best O-Line in the NFL with the addition of Trent Williams to replace Joe Staley. The defense needs no intros for how they destroy opposing offenses. Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander, Richard Sherman, Jimmie Ward. They once again loaded for another chance at joining the Patriots and Steelers with 6 Lombardis but there just happens to be a challenger that they know too well that can stop them.
Seattle Seahawks: It looks like the return of The Legion of Boom vs. The 9er Gang has once again returned to Must C TV. The Seahawks themselves got their next Earl Thomas in Jamal Adams if he isn’t a headcase, Russell Wilson is determined to win his first MVP of his career in every sense of the word, and Chris Carson will be back from a torn ACL. There also is Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Greg Olsen, and on defense Bobby Wagner and Shaquill Griffin lead the way plus another big time pickup in Quinton Dunbar if he can behave himself. If there is anything that Pete Carroll can do it is build a Super Bowl Contender. Because he knows how to do just that.
Now if you want the full predictions to a jam-packed crazy NFL season that is on the horizon here it is.
NFC East
Eagles 10-6 #4
Cowboys 10-6 #7
Hogs 5-11
Giants 5-11
NFC North
Packers 11-5 #3
Bears 9-7
Vikings 9-7
Lions 5-11
NFC South
Saints 12-4 #2
Buccaneers 12-4 #5
Falcons 8-8
Panthers 6-10
NFC West
Seahawks 13-3 #1
49ers 11-5 #6
Cardinals 8-8
Rams 6-10
AFC Playoffs
Wild Card
#2 Ravens over #7 Browns
#3 Patriots over #6 Bills
#5 Steelers over #4 Titans
Divisional
#2 Ravens over #3 Patriots
#5 Steelers over #1 Chiefs
Championship
#2 Ravens over #5 Steelers
NFC Playoffs
Wild Card
#2 Saints over #7 Cowboys
#6 49ers over #3 Packers
#5 Buccaneers over #4 Eagles
Divisional
#5 Buccaneers over #2 Saints
#1 Seahawks over #6 49ers
Championship
#1 Seahawks over #5 Buccaneers
Super Bowl LV
#2 Ravens over #1 Seahawks
MVP: Russell Wilson: Seahawks
COTY: Bruce Arians: Buccaneers
OPOY: Lamar Jackson: Ravens
OROY: Joe Burrow: Bengals
DPOY: Nick Bosa: 49ers
DROY: Patrick Queen: Ravens
CBPOY: Ben Roethisberger: Steelers
Bragging Rights Sports 