NFC EAST

Cowboys benefit from quarterback Dak Prescott’s return, but so would the performance of running back Zeke Elliott and the offensive line’s bounce back after subpar play last season. Hiring defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could turn around this subpar defense if they’re going to vie for a division title.

Washington had a magical season after Alex Smith’s return from a potential career-ending injury. Unfortunately, the offense was anything but good and Smith, receiver Terry McLaurin, and athlete Antonio Gibson were the catalyst of the offense. The Football Team’s defense will always put them into playoff contention, but the offense needs quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s magic to have an opportunity.

The Giants were 6-6 in games decided by 10 points or less and a Washington loss away from claiming the seventh seed. During the offseason, they made upgrades at the receiver position with Kenny Golladay, first round pick Kadarius Toney, John Ross III from the Bengals, and Kyle Rudolph from the Vikings. It should help quarterback Daniel Jones improve, but he needs better protection from the offensive line after allowing 50 sacks (29^th in the league). Hopefully Saquon Barkley is 100% by the fall to further improve the offense.

The Eagles punishment after Week 17 involved Doug Pederson’s firing and quarterback Carson Wentz being traded to the Colts, but injuries were also the highlight for the past three seasons now. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is the starter but how sure is he leading the team? Also, can the offensive line find a way to stabilize consistently for one season?

NFC WEST

The Rams traded quarterback Jared Goff and three picks (two 1^st rounders) to the Lions for veteran Matthew Stafford. It could mean the Rams have little to no patience on their return to the Super Bowl at home. Stafford has a chance to put his name back across the league with a playoff return, his first playoff win in his career and maybe more. The team had less impact on injuries during COVID-19 season, so that adds to their chances for their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons.

The Seahawks held their breath after Russell Wilson expressed disgruntlement about the lack of protection and not having a voice in what this team needs. Everything finally simmered down…for now, but make no mistake that Wilson wants better protection. The team should improve in most areas, but the offensive line and Wilson’s durability…and patience at age 32 will be tested in 2021.

49ers dealt with injury after injury…after injury for two of three seasons. They had the most injured players and replacements in NFL history last season. Yet somehow, they managed after finishing 6-10 without key players like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle, and defensive end Nick Bosa for the majority of the season. Most that are still on the roster returns, but health is an issue and must be address if the team expects a Super Bowl return. Also, drafting quarterback Trey Lance in the 3^rd pick pressures Jimmy G to step up this season.

The Rams weren’t the only team to benefit with a veteran Georgia players. The Cardinals added former Bengals receiver A.J. Green. They also received former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who looks to bring more pressure to a defense that was already 4^th in the league in sacks. He should also help with a struggling run defense. Coach Kliff Kingsbury is in his 3^rd year and went from five wins to eight, but his seat is slowly but surely warming up and not a relaxing kind either. If the team doesn’t win a couple of more games and/or makes a playoff appearance, Kingsbury’s name will hang over his first name by the end of the season.

NFC NORTH

Packer nation are hoping that Aaron Rodgers announces his return. For now, he’s centering himself with several activities, including just recently playing golf in Montana with Tom Brady, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson. In my opinion, the team should be fine knowing that they have plenty of players back for another playoff run as long as the offensive line and receivers not named Davante Adams stays healthy.

The Vikings offense played well last season and running back Dalvin Cook made his case for being the best back in the game (1557 yards and 16 touchdowns). However, their defense took a big step back in most categories, especially the front that used to be the strength. Coach Mike Zimmer is on the hot seat and Kirk Cousins’ job is on the line after the team drafted Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond.

The Bears made the playoffs due to their defense, the run game, and the misfortunes of other NFC teams. They were 7-2 against non-playoff teams and 1-7 against playoff teams (1 win over Super Bowl champ Buccaneers). The Bears drafted Justin Fields his presence on the field remains to be seen until something happens with Andy Dalton. The Bears’ schedule beefed up and their playoff return would mean winning more meaningful matchups.

The Lions sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff and three picks (2 first rounders). How the Lions improve with the quarterback remains to be seen. He appeared in six playoff games and won three, including playing in a Super Bowl. However, the last time a quarterback not named Stafford appeared in a playoff was Gus Frerotte in the 2000 Wild Card vs. Washington. The last quarterback to win a playoff game is Erik Kramer in the 1992 divisional round vs. Cowboys. It’s not possible they can succeed this season.

NFC SOUTH

The Buccaneers return everyone from last year’s Super Bowl victory and Tom Brady is still outplaying father time as we know it. The team is expected to repeat, but the challenge now is staying healthy and for some players not to let the spotlight go to their heads. Can they avoid a midseason stumble like last season when they started 7-2, went 1-3 before winning out and the whole thing? It all depends on the offense’s consistency while staying healthy.

The Saints lose an all-time quarterback and leader in Drew Brees. The attention shifts to either Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, and fourth round pick Ian Book. Otherwise, the rest of the offense is solid and dangerous with Alvin Kamara leading the way. Same goes for the defense, but the linebacker spot is vulnerable unless Pete Werner, rookie linebacker from Ohio State, instantly solidifies that spot.

The Falcons believe Matt Ryan could still play, so they went after tight end Kyle Pitts in the 4^th pick to take pressure off Julio Jones and assist Calvin Ridley and the rest of the receiving core. The offensive line could be an issue without center Alex Mack, and this defense must improve in a lot of areas to bounce back. The team must learn to play the whole game and not give up leads so consistently.

The Panthers received Sam Darnold from the Jets and should help improve the offense a bit. However, he must clean up his turnover issues that plagued him since his last season with USC. What’s worse is the offensive line allowed 36 sacks last year and Darnold dealt with a questionable offensive line since his last season at USC too. For now, the team is still in rebuild mode.

AFC EAST

The Bills should make another deep playoff run and return to the AFC championship. Their only issue comes from the ground game and they were exposed against the Chiefs. When the run game is not on, the passing game becomes predictable for good defenses. Signing running back Matt Breida could bring life back to the run game.

Coach Bill Belichick was questioned during the season while finishing 7-9 with no playoffs. But maybe good ol’ Belichick schemed during his down year and went all in with 316 million reasons ($316 million to be precise) to sign key free agents contracts, and impactful rookies in the draft. Cam Newton returns, but him and his Auburn cohort Jarrett Stidham compete with Alabama rival rookie, Mac Jones for the starting job. There’s no reason the team won’t finish at or above .500. However, it comes down to who they play, how they play, and what leverage they have in the AFC playoff standings.

Miami finished 10-6 for the first time since 2016 but didn’t make the playoffs. The defense is reliable despite the total yards allowed. They were fifth in the NFL in points allowed, tied first in interceptions, and third in turnover differential. The offense must capitalize on opportunities given if they want to be a dark horse playoff team this upcoming season. With quarterback Ryan Fitzmagic gone to Washington, Tua Tagovailoa must prove he’s Miami’s long-term quarterback.

The Jets have plenty of positives and optimism. Hiring Robert Saleh is a good one but lets hope he realizes he is the head coach now. He turned the 49ers defense into a formidable one in his last 3 seasons, whether they were starters, backups, reserves, etc. He’s also great with players and has the personality to reshape the team to his liking. They’re also happy to draft Zach Wilson as their future quarterback. Expect the team to rebuild for a little while but let’s hope all those positives turns into good competition on the field.

AFC WEST

The Chiefs release both offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz (both were out due to injury before Super Bowl). However, they gain big by signing former Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (who didn’t allow a sack or QB hit last season). The offense will be the juggernaut of the team, but the defense must make slight improvements for a Super Bowl return, including the linebacker position.

The Chargers have their quarterback, and their offense should be better. The offensive line looks to improve after bringing in former Packer center Corey Linsley and drafting Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater. Defense was vulnerable to late game situations consistently, which led to the team’s four straight losses after their first five games of the season. If new coach Brandon Staley can shore up those issues, the Bolts could vie for a playoff spot.

The Broncos have the roster to compete for the playoffs. Although, the quarterback situation is unknown. Folks were not impressed with Drew Lock and his starting job is at risk after the team brought in Teddy Bridgewater. Teddy’s performance with the Saints and Panthers could make him a safe bet as a starter. The fate of their playoff lives alone comes down to that position.

The Raiders had one of best offenses in 2020. However, they had one of the worst defenses. The season was an ebb and flow and here’s why: At one point, they were 6-3, including a huge upset over the Chiefs. But then, KC returned the favor with a win, and the Raiders lost five of their last seven games to finish 8-8. Their defense was a big reason for it. They hired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to make steady improvements. Their playoff hope hinges on that sides improvement, but also keeping running back Josh Jacobs healthy, and quarterback Derek Carr leading with admiration.

AFC NORTH

Lamar Jackson posted his first career playoff win in dramatic fashion over the Titans, but he didn’t throw a touchdown pass while throwing two interceptions total in two playoff games. Passing improvement is priority number one for Jackson if the Ravens want to make a deep playoff run. The coverage must come up with more interceptions if they’re going to compete with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and other top AFC quarterbacks.

The Browns’ road to the playoffs was an interesting. They were off to a 9-3 start (their best start since 1994), went on a 4-game winning streak twice in one regular season for the first time since 1967. A win over Pittsburgh in the regular season finale secured their second-to-last spot in the playoffs over the Colts and 10-win Dolphins. Netting wins over teams like Washington, the Colts, the Titans, the Steelers twice in the end, and nearly one touchdown away from a big upset over the Chiefs in the divisional round showed the Browns were no joke in 2020. But, can quarterback Baker Mayfield produce similar stats and more this season? Can their defense improve against the pass and cause more disruptions in the backfield, especially against the AFC’s top quarterbacks?

Questions swirl around the NFL about Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ upcoming season. Some think they’ll have a down year due to their age group, but with their offense and how their season concluded. The game against the Titans in late October, along with schedule adjustments due to COVID, slowly but surely exposed the offense. In comes Washington and their havoc defensive line, that were the talk of the season, further exposed and ended their 11-win unbeaten run before the team lost four of their last five games, including back-to-back losses to the Browns in Week 17 and Wild Card game. Now their whole season hinges on the offense and Ben’s motivation for potentially his last run of his career.

There’s potential for Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense. The offense could be better but the offensive line must protect their quarterback better after Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury. Running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine could be that 1-2 punch since their Oklahoma days. Cincy’s defense needs better pass rush if they want any chance against any team this season, and signing defensive end Carl Lawson could help turn things around.

AFC SOUTH

The Colts proved to be a well-balanced team on both sides. Phillip Rivers is now retired and when it looked like they were moving to a whole new quarterback, Carson Wentz signs with them and reunites with his former offensive coordinator from Philly, head coach Frank Reich. He should be back on track after his injury last season, and he’s familiar with how Reich runs the offense. Their 3^rd down percentage and passing defensive efficiency must improve for the Colts to be a serious threat in the AFC.

The Titans lost to the Ravens and 2,000 yard back Derrick Henry finished the game with only 40 yards. After leading 10-0 in the first quarter, they had no response except a field goal in the 4^th quarter and Tannehill’s late interception ended their run. Unfortunately, Henry had no help behind him in the ground game and it shows that this team needs more than one player to put in the workload, especially when Tannehill’s not playing consistent. Their defense (which allowed 27.4 points per game in the regular season) held up strong to give this team a fighting chance, but a lot must be evaluated if they want to return to the playoffs.

I always thought Trevor Lawrence would be the future of Clemson once he took over. Three playoffs later, he plays two national titles and wins one over Alabama when Tua Tagovailoa was the Tide’s quarterback. Now he’s the Jaguars’ guy for the next few years and the organization assures that all goes well. Hiring coach Urban Meyer could be an interesting one, although, not many college coaches succeed in the NFL. But if Meyer can win with two different teams, he could do the same for the Jaguars in a weak division.

While the Jaguars are optimistic, the Texans are not. Whether or not Deshaun Watson’s dealing with 22 civil lawsuits involving sexual misconduct, he wanted out of Houston and will not return to play. J.J. Watt left for Arizona and leaves a huge void on defense and leadership in the locker room. The rebuild could be awhile since the organization’s existence in 2002. Davis Mills, rookie quarterback from Stanford, will be groomed by Tyrod Taylor, but is he ready for the big stage and changes after just one and a half years in college?