NFC WEST

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Post Super Bowl, I pegged the Cardinals to improve with Kyler Murray healthy and competing again (and even snuck them in as the last seed in the first NFC playoff projections). I’m not saying they’ll be most improved; I’m saying they’ll compete against some of their schedule. However, they must defeat an NFC West team to be competent enough. Seattle’s their best option for third place.

NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS

I don’t have a problem with New York’s defense or draft picks. I have a problem believing they will get far with Danny Dimes. Saquon Barkley was supposed to be the franchise player to build around. Instead, they put everything, including a contract extension, on Daniel Jones last season. That didn’t go well and now they’re out a running back. Devin Singletary ain’t a bad option, but I doubt he’ll carry the team when the offense failed to eclipse 30 points in all their 17 games last season. The only way up is their offensive line making overall improvements and cutting down on a whopping 85 sacks (most allowed in a season and second most in NFL history).

NFC NORTH

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

I predicted the Vikings taking a step back last season, but I didn’t expect Kirk Cousins to get hurt though. Now, he’s at Atlanta and they also lose one of their best defenders in Danielle Hunter to Houston. However, don’t worry about what happened in the second half of last season. They may have been without Cousins, but guys like Dobbs and Mullens weren’t the answer, and the negative touchdown/interception ratio took away the defense’s points allowed average. Minnesota went from allowing 18.6 in 13 games to allowing 30 on average in the last four games. They could surprise in 2024 with their defense still well-balanced with most of their offense intact. Can Sam Darnold get the most out of his second chance with less turnovers or can J.J. McCarthy be the future of Minnesota?

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Let’s give the Panthers another year…or two…or maybe three. Maybe their defense gives them multiple opportunities to win, but the offense must find ways to execute their opportunities. We’re still waiting for the offensive line to improve. The running backs are ok, but the lack of push by the O-Line complicates things. The receiving corps is meh at best, even with Adam Thielen. I still like Bryce Young as their quarterback, but Tepper should’ve never assumed this young offense was going to be winners right out of the gate.

AFC WEST

ANY TEAM NOT NAMED THE CHIEFS

It could be the Raiders, Chargers, or Broncos. But who’s willing to give??? On one hand, the Raiders defense and skills positions will get them over the hump, the Broncos have a solid roster to put some of their AFC West opponents and beyond in their place, and the Chargers have one of the most underrated rosters in the NFL that could surprise with Jim Harbaugh at the helm. On the other hand, how far can a Raiders QB go with a tough schedule? Denver may have the quarterback of the future, but we’ve heard this line before and its bad luck these days to bank on a young quarterback immediately. While Los Angeles may have a talented defense and a talented quarterback, what about the rest of their roster that has more questions than answers?

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

They have defense and special teams. That is all🤷

AFC NORTH

ANY TEAM NOT NAMED THE RAVENS

It’s really hard to tell who will finish second place and who will finish in last place. It’s not a bad thing because this division is the toughest in the NFL. For all we know, the last place team will make the playoffs and they all have a say in qualifying. Don’t tell three-quarters of the AFC East I said that…

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE TITANS

Tennessee isn’t that bad of a team. They lost seven one-score games that could’ve easily put them in the playoffs. The team will look different though. Derrick Henry’s replaced with two running backs that could mold into him and it still wouldn’t compare. Will Levis is a better option now that Tannehill’s gone but he must lead the offense against a seemingly improved AFC South. D-Hop and Calvin Ridley are widely talented, but I’m not sure they’re enough to get them far into their schedule. While I believe in their defense, there’s just too many questions on the offense to believe they’re a playoff contender. Mike Vrabel’s a big loss, but Mike Callahan was a good offensive coordinator for Cincinnati. He may do something with Tennessee’s offense to help their defense out. The climb to the top of the AFC South is difficult, but it’s not impossible with how the division is.