2021 NFC Season Preview

By Peyton Schultze

With the Buccaneers and Packers returning with similar rosters, both teams expect to be contending for a Super Bowl berth in 2021 (via SI.com).

At last.

Football is back. Gearing up for a all-out sprint to the finish line over the next seven months, NFL teams have reported to training camp and are entering the first week of preseason games before the season officially kicks off with the Cowboys and Buccaneers on September 9th (NBC). With so much excitement in the air, football fans can rejoice in knowing that fans will return at full capacity at every stadium in the league to witness every momentum-shifting sack, back-breaking interception, and game-winning touchdown that happens on a weekly basis in the NFL.

So what to expect in the NFC? Will the Buccaneers repeat as back-to-back Super Bowl champions? Will Dak Prescott return from two injuries to lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs? Will the Saints be able to overcome Drew Brees’ retirement? Can Matthew Stafford prove to be the missing pieces in Los Angeles? And how will the Aaron Rodgers’ situation play out over the course of the season in Green Bay? The mood is bright throughout league circles, and every team has a newfound hope as the season begins of getting to the Super Bowl and hoisting the elusive Lombardi Trophy. With that said, here is our preview of all 16 teams in the NFC, featuring record predictions, team MVPs, and our biggest stories to watch throughout the season:

NFC West

1.Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are coming off somewhat of a disappointing year in 2021, but a pressure-filled offseason could create some urgency in the Seattle locker room (via NBC Sports).

Perhaps the most underrated team entering the 2021 season is…. a perennial Super Bowl contender? That’s the way it appears to be for the always-consistent Seattle Seahawks, who enter training camp with very little noise after an intense offseason filled with drama and turmoil throughout all parts of the organization. Rather than a complete overhaul in terms of on-the-field talent, head coach Pete Carroll opted to shift some things around with his coaching staff, including bringing in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to help get the most out of the skilled offensive talent. But in what looks like the best division in all of football this season, did Seattle do enough in the offseason to boost their chances of capturing another NFC West title?

That journey begins and ends with the spectacular talents of quarterback Russell Wilson, one of the game’s premier players. Wilson caused some heads to turn when trade rumors filled the offseason air in Seattle after the superstar signal caller made some choice comments, but Wilson is once again back in Seattle with plenty to work with on offense. With the outstanding duo of wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf once again at his disposal, Wilson should work well with Waldron to get the most out of an passing offense that has fizzled out over the course of the year in consecutive seasons. Yet one of the most important additions that Seattle had this offseason was by adding left guard Gabe Jackson, a player who can really contribute to stopping the recent trend of excessive inside pressure that Wilson has faced over the past several seasons. If Jackson can help shore up a shaky Seattle offensive line that has struggled with consistency outside of left guard Duane Brown, running back Chris Carson could have some huge running lanes and Wilson could finally get some long-overdue MVP votes.

Yet the Seahawks’ fate may really be determined on defense, where they ranked a putrid 31st in the league in passing yards allowed per game. Linebacker-and-safety hybrid Jamal Adams needs to play at a much higher level than he did a season ago if the Seahawks’ defense wants to put up some decent numbers, but safety Quandre Diggs and corners DJ Reed and Ahkello Witherspoon need to be much better as well. The Seahawks’ still boast a solid front seven, as led by future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner, but run-heavy schemes within their division will really test the depth of this defense. It is truly anyone’s guess on who will end up winning the wild NFC West, but favorable home matchups and an even-better Wilson may be what gets this team over the top in the end. Many people seem to be quick to write off this team after a shaky end to last season, but never count out the Wilson-Carroll combo to find a way to sneak to the top of the division.

Record: 12-5

Biggest Story to Watch: Will Wilson be able to recover from last year’s late-season struggles?

Offensive MVP: Wilson

Defensive MVP: Wagner

2. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

There may not be a player with more to prove in the 2021 season than Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford (via Downtown Rams).

Few teams have had more Super Bowl noise surrounding them in the offseason than Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams, who are all-in on winning a Super Bowl in the 2021 season. The main reason? After making the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, the Rams sent former signal caller Jared Goff to the Lions in exchange for longtime starter Matthew Stafford. With Stafford now in the building, many expect the Rams’ passing attack to truly blossom, but it will be fascinating to see if the new-look Rams are really able to meet their sky-high expectations in a crowded conference full of Super Bowl hopefuls.

With Goff now castoff over in Detroit, all eyes are on Stafford to produce in his first year as a Ram. Outside of a major injury to promising young running back Cam Akers that will likely keep him out for the season, Los Angeles once again returns a very solid supporting cast on offense that should give Stafford plenty of support. Chief among his help are two great wide receivers in the form of Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, who will make life very easy for Stafford in key passing situations. Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds, and tight end Tyler Higbee will be important players on this offense too, but the one situation to watch out for is LA’s running back group. With no clear name emerging in the starting race, it should be a toss-up between Darrell Henderson Jr. and Xavier Jones. Nevertheless, the Rams still hold a strong offensive line that excels in both the passing and running games, which could really help this offense get through any early struggles that may occur in Stafford’s first season. The Rams’ offense has real potential to explode in 2021, and it will be interesting to see just how much they develop over the course of the season.

Yet even though Coach McVay gets plenty of credit on his own for transforming the Rams’ offense during his tenure in Los Angeles, the heart and soul of the Rams in the past two years has been on the defensive side. Led by two of the game’s best defensive players in monster pass rusher Aaron Donald and lockdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have one of the game’s best defenses with plenty of starpower across the board. Yet after signing both players to major deals, the Rams may have one big problem: they lost some of their key depth from their #1 ranked defense from 2020. With players like John Johnson and Michael Brockers now elsewhere, the Rams will need to turn toward some lesser known names. In the secondary, Taylor Rapp and Darious Williams will have to step into prominent roles this season, and although it will be hard to once again rank first in the league against the pass, Los Angeles has potential to be lethal in the back end once again. In addition, the Rams brought back Leonard Floyd to add to a strong pass rush and front seven, with names such as Sebastian Joseph-Day and A’Shawn Robinson helping to clog holes on a weekly basis. So will the Rams be able to meet their sky-high expectations? They’re easily a top five roster on paper, but immense pressure in a loaded division means that they not only have to win the NFC West, but win the Super Bowl in order for the season to be a success. The Rams have their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy this season, and everyone will be tuning in to see just how far this stacked team can go this season.

Record: 12-5

Biggest Story to Watch: Can Stafford really take this offensive unit to the next level?

Offensive MVP: Stafford

Defensive MVP: Donald

3. San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is holding onto the starting job for now, and expect a solid year out of him if he can stay healthy (via Niner Noise).

With rookie quarterback Trey Lance now in the building and already turning heads at training camp, the hype train for a bounce back year from the 49ers has already left the station. It is hard to believe that basically this same group was in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs less than two years ago, but general manager (and recent Hall of Fame inductee) John Lynch has once again assembled a roster that is capable of pushing through the gauntlet known as the NFC, and possibly even sneaking by the Cardinals, Rams, and Seahawks for dibs at the top of the NFC West.

Even after the 49ers selected Lance, there was never really a doubt that the Niners would enter training camp with their incumbent in a position to remain the starting quarterback for at least this season. This is exactly the case with the often-injured Jimmy Garoppolo, who has reportedly looked good at training camp thus far and will still be surrounded by an excellent cast of characters on offense. Of course, tight end George Kittle is the main man on this offense, and he’ll be looking to bounce back in a huge way this season. In addition, look for the duo of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to take their game to the next level this season, especially if head coach Kyle Shanahan can get a ton of production on the ground to set up a deep, play-action passing attack. And speaking of a running game, Raheem Mostert looks like he will have some strong competition in the backfield this season with the addition of a sneaky good rookie in the form of Trey Sermon. If Shanahan can get this running game rolling again after an off-year in the 2020 season, the 49ers will boast one of the most terrifying offensive attacks in all of football behind an elite offensive line starring the always-dominant Trent Williams.

Yet the 49ers’ defense still has some major concerns coming off a very disappointing 6-10 season. A large portion of the blame for last year’s crash can be placed on some major injuries, which means good news for 49ers’ fans upon the return of stars like Nick Bosa. The third-year pass rusher returns to a disgusting defensive line headlined by Dee Ford, Javon Kinlaw, and Arik Armstead, which certainly looks like one of the strongest units in the NFL. In addition, especially after signing a major long-term extension, star linebacker Fred Warner will be roaming the middle of the field for the Niners as they look to get back to the top of the defensive ranks. Yet the 49ers biggest concern may be in the secondary. Their depth in the back end will certainly be helped out by an elite pass rush, but look for opposing teams to attack secondary pieces such as Jimmie Ward, Jason Verrett, and Emmanuel Moseley early and often. The 49ers’ primary concern, outside of figuring out what role Lance will have in 2021, has to be their immediate health. If this team can avoid the injury bug that bit them last year, they’re a surefire top ten team with a favorable schedule this season. But if that’s not the case and the 49ers stumble out of the gate, things could start to get very warm for key members in prominent roles in San Francisco.

Record: 11-6

Biggest Story to Watch: Can this team get all of their star players through 17 games?

Offensive MVP: Kittle

Defensive MVP: Warner

4. Arizona Cardinals

After a huge offseason with several new additions, the Cardinals face some serious pressure in the 2021 season (via Revenge of the Birds).

Before the 2021 schedule was analyzed and the NFC West rosters started to come more clearly into focus, the Arizona Cardinals were one of our playoff teams in a loaded conference. The Cardinals’ front office did what they had to do to address a young roster that showed some real promise in 2020: add some polished veterans to bring some key leadership and fill in some key holes through the draft. But with a very tough schedule on the way for the Birds, head coach Kliff Kingsbury could be on the hot seat if Arizona can’t find a way to finally get back into the playoffs after almost sneaking in last year. Does Arizona have enough to compete with the juggernauts in their division, or is another disappointing season on the way in the mighty desert?

Many people looked at Kyler Murray’s 2020 season with some disappointment while looking at his passing stats and fairly troubling turnover rate, but Murray is still a very young signal caller who is getting used to the pro game. Yet like Lamar Jackson, Murray truly turns from a good player into a great player when Kingsbury allows him to use his legs, where the Cardinals’ quarterback is extremely tough to tackle in the open field. Murray may be even better than ever this season, especially when he’s surrounded with an above average receiving core featuring talents such as DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, and rookie speedster Rondale Moore. This will allow the Cardinals to run out a spread offensive scheme that will open up the field for Murray, who will also be handing off to running backs James Conner and Chase Edmonds this year. Arizona was actually 7th in the league in rushing last year despite not having a 1000 yard rusher, and with Kenyon Drake now in Las Vegas, expect their three-headed monster of Murray, Conner, and Edmonds to have a very nice year of the ground behind an offensive line that should be improved with the addition of a key veteran center like Rodney Hudson.

But if the Cardinals are going to make some noise in the NFC this season, it will be through a defense that has some real potential of becoming a top-ten unit. General manager Steve Keim did a very nice job over the past several months in adding some real talent to last year’s 12th ranked defense, and many would expect Arizona to take another step forward this season. Why? Well, when you’re getting a top-five pass rusher in Chandler Jones back from injury while also adding one of the modern game’s greatest defensive players in JJ Watt, good things are bound to be on the way. The Cardinals also have some really nice linebacker talent in the form of rookie Zaven Collins and 2020 standout Isaiah Simmons, so Arizona looks like a more-than-capable unit with their front seven. Their real test comes in the secondary, especially after losing one of the best players in franchise history with Patrick Peterson. To fill his void, Arizona looks like they’ll be running out a corner duo of former Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler and Byron Murphy Jr., who will look to add some fire to a secondary that was better than you’d expect on paper in the 2020 season. Most of this comes from one of the game’s best safeties in the form of Budda Baker, a high-flying playmaker who is all over the field for the Cardinals. So with all this talent, you would expect the Cardinals to be a playoff team, right? If the Cardinals weren’t in the NFC West, this would be a playoff team, especially since a decent 2020 season actually hurt Arizona’s chances at a favorable schedule for this year. Arizona has some huge hurdles to climb, but don’t rule out their chances at a playoff bid quite yet.

Record: 9-8

Biggest Story to Watch: Can the Cardinals’ defense be a surprise top-ten unit?

Offensive MVP: Murray

Defensive MVP: Baker

NFC East

1.New York Giants

The Giants showed real promise in 2020 under head coach Joe Judge, but can they get to the top of the NFC East this season? (via The Athletic).

They came up just a little bit short of a playoff berth in the 2020 season, but there is no doubt that last year was a good sign for the future of football in the Big Apple. First-year head coach Joe Judge faced some scrutiny for his intense ways entering last year, but after the New York Football Giants ended the season on a high note featuring a promising mid-season run, all things point toward a solid year in 2021 if they can get some increased production on the offensive side of the football.

If New York wants to get back into the postseason for the first time since Eli Manning was under center, they’ll need a resurgent year from quarterback Daniel Jones. The former Duke product was surprisingly solid as a rookie, but took a slight step back last season despite being on an improved Giants’ roster. But for all of the doubts surrounding Jones entering the season, there is almost none surrounding the magnificent Saquon Barkley. Yes, Barkley missed most of last season with a serious knee injury, but he is one of the game’s top offensive players when he is healthy and on-the-field. His presence alone should help Jones be better than he was last year, as will the free agent acquisition of Kenny Golladay. The former Lions’ wide receiver joins a decent group of wideouts such as Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, while tight end Evan Engram will look to clean up some severe drops from a year ago. In addition, the other primary focus for this Giants’ offense will be on an inconsistent offensive line. New York was certainly better in 2020 than they had been in prior years with the addition of young left tackle Andrew Thomas, but in order for Jones to prove he is the answer at the position, he needs some key help in front of him in order to fix the turnover woes that have plagued him to start his young career.

Nobody really could have guessed just how solid this Giants’ defense would turn out to be in the 2020 season, but the team enters the new year with expectations of being a surefire top-ten defense. New York is very solid across the board, not even really boasting a primary star player who can single handedly change any game, which speaks to the coaching staff around them as led by defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Starting with the secondary, 2020 breakout stud James Bradberry leads a very solid group featuring solid talent such as Logan Ryan, Adoree’ Jackson, Xavier McKinney, and Jabrill Peppers. New York can really cause havoc at this level against some solid passing attacks in the NFC East, and they’ll get even more help against passers with players such as Leonard Williams, Danny Shelton, and Dexter Lawrence causing pressure in the pocket. New York even boasts a solid inside linebacking duo of Reggie Ragland and Blake Martinez, two players with potential to be near the top of the league in total tackles once again. The Giants have two things really going for them: being in a winnable division and facing a very favorable schedule over the course of the year. With those two factors in mind, the Giants really have a shot at winning this division if they can win key head-to-head games against the Cowboys and the Washington Football Team, but all eyes will be on if their supposed franchise quarterback truly proves he belongs as the starter in New York.

Record: 10-7

Biggest Story to Watch: Is Daniel Jones the future at the quarterback position?

Offensive MVP: Barkley

Defensive MVP: Williams

2. Dallas Cowboys

It’s a big year for running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2021, especially after a down year a season ago after his starting quarterback suffered a devastating leg injury (via Dallas Cowboys).

As usual in Big D, there’s already some real drama in the building before a single regular season snap has even taken place. Maybe it’s because America’s Team headlines HBO’s Hard Knocks this season, but the Cowboys appear to be preparing for another chaotic season in Dallas. Second year head coach and former Super Bowl champion Mike McCarthy hopes to clean up the mess left behind from a miserable 2020 season, but even in a wide-open division, serious doubt remains regarding whether or not the Cowboys can return to their former glory.

With the game’s most infamous general manager/owner in Jerry Jones growing more and more impatient as he grows older in age, there has to be some real urgency in Cowboys’ camp. However, the main focus of training camp has surrounded quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott had an eventful offseason, signing a massive contract extension to stay with the Cowboys despite being ruled out for most of last season with a broken ankle, and the positive noise surrounding a potentially huge performance this year started to give Cowboy fans some hope for 2021. Yet an early-camp shoulder injury has clouded some early reports out of camp, which shifts the focus to running back Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke might be the Cowboys’ best all-around player when healthy, and although he is coming off probably the worst year of his career, he figures to headline an outstanding skill position group featuring Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and a potential breakout star in CeeDee Lamb. All of these names figure to play a heavy role in the Cowboys’ success in 2021, even with the team’s offensive line starting to decline with age, which makes health their primary concern. Under McCarthy, the Cowboys should be a top-ten offense with the pass and the run. But with the possibility of Prescott missing time again, things could start to look very grim in a hurry.

Things have just started out on Hard Knocks, but it already looks like linebacker Micah Parsons may be one of the stars of the show. This is a great sign for a player who already figured to be near the top of the list for Defensive Rookie of the Year, especially as he joins a solid linebacking group with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. That group could easily be one of the best in all of football if healthy, even with some serious decline in production last year, which is useful considering their weaknesses on the defensive line. DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory are solid players who can get after passers, but Dallas’ lack of depth behind them could be a serious weakness. This puts even more pressure on a fairly decent secondary, which fixed some early inconsistencies with solid play down the stretch of last season. With names like Anthony Brown and Trevon Diggs matched up against top NFC wide receivers, the Cowboys have to hope they have enough on defense to face off against top passing attacks. The Cowboys are a borderline playoff team, but serious questions surrounding their health and their production on defense leave some real cause for concern. It would not be a surprise to see this team at the top of the division with how lethal this offense figures to be on paper, but be wary that Dallas could be due for another disappointing finish in 2021.

Record: 9-8

Biggest Story to Watch: Can this run defense bounce back after their humiliation a season ago?

Offensive MVP: Lamb

Defensive MVP: Parsons

3. Washington Football Team

Washington’s defense could cause some serious havoc in 2021, especially after a breakout season a year ago (via BBC).

Although Washington was a surprise playoff team in head coach Ron Rivera’s first season, a miserable division and questionable personnel-decision making on the part of the Eagles in the final week of the season played serious roles in getting the newly-named Football Team into the wild NFC playoffs. Sure, Washington gave a nice run against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but can anyone expect them to capture back-to-back NFC East crowns with such a young roster?

The quarterback carousel in Washington certainly made things difficult for the Football Team in 2020, but it looks like they will have a little more stability under center with the veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick ready to suit up in the nation’s capital. Fitzpatrick is a useful addition who will surely get receivers Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel the ball early and often, but there’s a reason that the longtime journeyman has not stayed with one team for a long period of time. If FitzMagic falters early, Washington will also have backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to turn to, who showed some real promise last season in relief duty. Nevertheless, outside of emerging tight end Logan Thomas, Washington’s offense will likely turn toward workhorse running back Antonio Gibson for plenty of offensive production this season. Gibson was exceptional in his first year with the team in 2020, and there is no doubt that he will be the primary weapon on offense if he can stay healthy for a full season behind a decent offensive line led by players like guard Brandon Scherff and tackle Charles Leno Jr. Washington’s offense could take a step forward this season with some very nice pieces, but limiting turnovers and getting some stability at the quarterback position will be major factors in determining their success.

But despite some serious offensive struggles at times over the course of the 2020 season, the one constant in Washington was a ferocious defense led by what may be the best defensive front in all of football. The ever-sensational Chase Young may be the headliner after a wipeout rookie year that saw him getting to opposing backfields at alarming rates, but he also gets plenty of help from players such as Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and the dynamic Montez Sweat. This outstanding group helps to fill some of the defense’s weaknesses in the second level, although Washington will deploy some very nice veteran players in the secondary such as Landon Collins and Kendall Fuller. Washington’s defense was flat out lethal when healthy last year in their ability to get to the quarterback and create turnovers in the secondary, but is a repeat performance guaranteed with improved squads in Dallas and New York? That remains to be seen, and although this defense has hopes of taking their game to a whole other level, quarterback concerns still remain a very scary proposition on offense. Washington is a team that could go either way and it would not surprise many people, but stand by on the massive hype surrounding this still-young team right now.

Record: 7-10

Biggest Story to Watch: Can Washington finally get some stability at quarterback with Fitzpatrick?

Offensive MVP: Gibson

Defensive MVP: Young

4. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles look like they’ll be facing a tough path toward the playoffs with so much change in the organization, from the head coach to the quarterback (via Bleeding Green Nation).

Chaos. The only word to really describe the state of the Philadelphia Eagles over the past year, especially after they parted ways with a former Super Bowl-winning head coach, traded what once looked like a franchise quarterback, and have settled on a strange roster full of aging talents and unproven youngsters. Will the Eagles shock everyone by somehow getting to the top of the NFC East, or does this look like a dumpster fire in the making?

For a team that appears to still be digging around the quarterback market with rumors surrounding Deshaun Watson, there can’t be too much confidence in the building in second-year signal caller, Jalen Hurts. The former Alabama and Oklahoma star showed some promise in his rookie year with some creative playcalling that played to his strengths, but Hurts will face some pressure with a limited cast around him. In the backfield, reports out of camp make it look like Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will nearly share a workload over the course of the season. Philadelphia still has some decent options on the offensive line such as Jason Kelce and Brandon Brooks, but a weak left side and increasing ages make the situation in the trenches look questionable at best. However, the prime focus for the Eagles’ offense will be an intriguing group of wide receivers. Last year’s Heisman winner, DeVonta Smith, joins a group of playmakers such as Greg Ward, Jalen Reagor, and tight end Dallas Goedert, who will all look to contribute in a big way with Hurts in charge of the offense. Yet all of their success (or lack thereof) on offense will likely be pinned on new head coach Nick Sirianni, who comes over from Indianapolis. If the Eagles start slow and don’t show any promise with Hurts under center, things could get ugly quickly in the City of Brotherly Love.

Meanwhile, the typically-solid Eagles’ defense appears to have aged a little bit as well. Eagles’ fans will point toward secondary concerns over the past five seasons as their primary worry, but with Steven Nelson joining Darius Slay and Rodney McLeod, the back end at least has some sort of prominence. Instead, the Eagles may have some real issues at linebacker, where a glaring hole in the middle will be tried to covered up by Eric Wilson and Alex Singleton. Nevertheless, at least the Eagles’ defensive line remains the biggest strength on this team. With Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett, Javon Hargrave, and Brandon Graham, Philly can rush the passer at a high rate. But with many of those longtime names seemingly on the decline in the latter stages of their careers (especially Cox and Graham), how much longer does this defense have together? At the end of the day, not only do the Eagles appear to have the weakest and oldest roster in the division, but they do not seem like a team with a sense of direction. With so much more clarity among the other three teams in the NFC East, the Eagles appear to be the team on the outside looking in when it comes to showing any sort of life in the division. That is a troubling sign for Eagles’ fans, who could be due for a very long season near the bottom of the conference.

Record: 2-15

Biggest Story to Watch: Can the Eagles’ offense find any sort of rhythm over the course of the year?

Offensive MVP: Smith

Defensive MVP: Cox

NFC South

1.Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay looks like a huge threat to win the NFC once again with a nearly-identical roster from their Super Bowl winning season (via Britannica).

Tampa Bay on top of the football world? That seems to be the case right now across the NFL, as the once-terrible Buccaneers appear to be the favorites to capture a championship in the coming season. A large portion of that credit goes to perhaps the game’s greatest player winning another world title in his first year in a new city, but the Buccaneers are giving the GOAT plenty of help for the second straight season with a premier offensive cast and one of the most lethal defensive units in football.

Where do you start with this team other than with Tom Brady? The now seven-time world champion took his quarterbacking talents to Florida a year ago after nearly two decades in New England, and despite playing on an injured knee for most of the season, somehow found a way to get the Bucs to the Super Bowl. Now, with head coach Bruce Arians gearing his offense up for another year that could see plenty of points, one can expect Brady to possibly be even better this season if he can stay healthy and get even more comfortable with this offense. That shouldn’t be too hard at all for Brady, especially when he has the game’s best wide receiving core right next to him. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and Scotty Miller make life easy for Brady on the outside, while the always-reliable Rob Gronkowski figures to play his role as a key third-down pass catcher and vital blocker in the run game. Tampa’s run game will likely be lead by Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones II for the second straight year, and with a solid offensive line featuring some solid players such as Tristan Wirfs and Donovan Smith, they could dominate defense through the air and on the ground. The Bucs’ offense won a Super Bowl last season, but there has to be some real intrigue that they may be even better this season.

But even with Tampa Bay being a Brady-led team featuring a high-flying offense, the Buccaneers’ defense has proven to be the difference maker in close games against top opponents. As demonstrated in the Super Bowl thrashing of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs last season, Tampa’s defense has real potential to cause havoc on a weekly basis. This defense certainly begins and ends with the game’s best linebacking duo of Devin White and Lavonte David, who lead a prominent attack that makes life miserable for opposing offense. With players off the edge like Shaquil Barrett and hogs in the middle like Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea, the Buccaneers’ front seven is nearly impossible to run the ball against. Tampa’s weakest unit may be in the secondary, but even they found some major success toward the end of the season a year ago. Antoine Winfield Jr. looked like an elite player at the safety position in his first season, while Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting posted strong postseasons after some inconsistencies earlier in the year. All of these dynamic players not only make the Bucs’ the best roster in the entire league, but also certainly the deepest. With that formula in place and with Brady still looking to add even more Lombardi Trophies to his collection, there is no doubt that Tampa Bay should be considered the league-wide favorites heading into the new year.

Record: 14-3

Biggest Story to Watch: Is there anyone who can stop this team in the NFC?

Offensive MVP: Brady

Defensive MVP: White

2. New Orleans Saints

Even with a new quarterback situation in the bayou, Alvin Kamara remains one of the game’s best offensive players (via Canal Street Chronicles).

Many people seem to predicting a sudden drop-off this season for the Saints following the retirement of one of the game’s best quarterbacks in the form of Drew Brees. Yet head coach Sean Payton has proven time and time again that he is not only one of the best playcallers in football, but simply one of the best head coaches as well. It’s Year 1 of the post-Brees era in New Orleans, and all eyes are on one of the most consistent teams in the league over the past decade.

Rare of almost any team in the league, this offense does not begin and end with the quarterback. Instead, running back Alvin Kamara is the lead focal point of the Saints’ offense, and his game-changing talents are truly impossible to cover. He’ll help make life easier for the odd quarterback transition in New Orleans, as the Saints shift from Drew Brees to Jameis Winston. There is no guarantee that Winston is the Week 1 starter with Taysom Hill still in the mix, but all signs point toward Winston suiting up to lead this team. If he can cut down his interception rate while maintaining his high-flying aggressiveness, this offense will not lose much after Brees’ showed real signs of decline in his final season under center. Winston unfortunately won’t be throwing to Michael Thomas for the first portion of the season after an odd fallout relating to an ankle injury, but receiver Marquez Callaway and tight end Adam Trautman have reportedly had excellent camps so far. Even with some question marks at receiver, the Saints still boast a very strong offensive line, led by three Pro Bowl-caliber players such as Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, and Ryan Ramczyk. New Orleans has some real question marks on offense, but with Payton still leading the charge, expect plenty of points on the board on a weekly basis.

However, despite some nice players on offense, the main reason that we aren’t buying a New Orleans disappointment is because of a solid defense that can surely still test some top tier opponents. New Orleans still has a dynamic linebacking duo in the form of Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander, and they figure to rank as one of the best defenses against the run as they were a season ago. Crowd-favorite Cam Jordan also seems to always have a nose for the big play on defense, and although he is getting older, he is still a dominant force that is difficult to contain. On top of that, with more and more experience, the Saints are hoping for an even bigger year from Marcus Davenport. If he can reach his full potential this season, the Saints will have a tough pass rush that can take over games. In the secondary, the Saints still have some vital pieces who make it tough for opposing receivers. With basically the same group from 2020 featuring Malcolm Jenkins, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Marcus Williams, and Marshon Lattimore, the Saints will be one of the top secondaries in the league once again after ranking 5th against the pass last season. Will this team likely be inconsistent? For sure. But the Saints still have enough pieces in place to keep them in the playoff mix this season, even if that doesn’t mean they are quite ready to still be contending for a Super Bowl. This will be a fascinating team to watch this season, and with all of the team around them in the NFC South looking better and better, the pressure is on in the Crescent City.

Record: 11-6

Biggest Story to Watch: Does Winston start each game and provide clarity for the future?

Offensive MVP: Kamara

Defensive MVP: Jordan

3. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta may have a decent amount of roster change this season, but they appear to still be a team capable of beating any team on any given week (via Atlanta Falcons).

Always one of the most unpredictable teams in the NFL, the Falcons enter the 2021 season with more questions than answers. But with a solid rookie class on the way and with a new offensive wizard taking the reigns as head coach, the Falcons may be able to sneak up on some teams in the NFC South with potential to even make a run back toward the playoffs in the latter stages of their star quarterback’s career.

There were rumors of the Falcons possibly selecting a quarterback in this year’s draft, but Atlanta’s best quarterback in franchise history in Matt Ryan returns for another season in 2021. Ryan will be helped out by the addition of new head coach Arthur Smith, who was the offensive coordinator of a phenomenal Titans’ offensive attack over the past few years. While the Falcons will not have the lethal running attack that those Tennessee teams had, they’ll at least have Mike Davis coming out of the backfield after a decent year in 2020 with the Panthers. Davis will be running behind a decent offensive line featuring names such as Jake Matthews and Matt Hennessey, but the primary focus of this offense will certainly be a strong passing game. Wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage will form a very nice wide receiving duo with potential to have 1000 yards each after future Hall of Famer Julio Jones departed from his longtime team, while rookie tight end Kyle Pitts expects to have an immediate impact for the Atlanta offense. As it seems to be year in and year out with Ryan under center, this offensive unit seems like it is in a position to put up huge numbers once again, and don’t be surprised if the veteran signal caller has one of his best years in recent memory.

The Falcons have been hurt by inconsistent defenses throughout the Ryan-era, and the same appears to be true entering 2021. Nevertheless, the Falcons still have some capable pieces that could point toward a much better season this year. This starts with a strong pass rush led by Dante Fowler Jr., Jonathan Bullard, and the always-ferocious Grady Jarrett, which helps in a division with some very good passing games. Speedy linebacker Deion Jones is still the man in the middle for the Falcons’ defense, while he’ll get some help at the second level with Foyesade Oluokun. Meanwhile, the secondary will be a huge emphasis after finishing dead last against the pass last season. There were some significant injuries in that department last season, surely, but the Falcons completely revamped that group by bringing in Duron Harmom and Erik Harris to join up with solid 2020 rookie AJ Terrell. It seems hard to believe that the Falcons were actually as bad as they were last year, which points toward a much more successful season in 2021. The NFC South is a very competitive division full of meaningful games that will decide Atlanta’s fate in the end, but expect a solid season from the Falcons that could have them in a fight for a playoff spot until the very end.

Record: 9-8

Biggest Story to Watch: Will the Falcons be able to replace the production left by Jones?

Offensive MVP: Ridley

Defensive MVP: Jarrett

4. Carolina Panthers

After a rough start to his career with the Jets, all eyes will be on Sam Darnold in his first year with the Panthers (via USA Today).

Head coach Matt Rhule showed promise in his first year as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach in 2020, signaling that the team may have a bright future ahead. But in a division full of contenders and with plenty of doubt surrounding their quarterback situation, one has to wonder just how many wins this team can actually pick up for as long as these serious doubts remain. The Panthers will be an interesting team to watch in 2021, even if they aren’t contending for much in such a brutal division.

With a new quarterback in town following Teddy Bridgewater’s trade to Denver, former Jet Sam Darnold has all the spotlight on him in 2021. Darnold was unsuccessful for the most part during his time in New York, but the Panthers acquired the former USC signal caller with hopes of giving him a fresh start with a good group of supporting talent. This begins and ends with one of the game’s best running backs in Christian McCaffrey, a true offensive superstar who hopes to overcome the injuries that plagued him a season ago. In addition, the Panthers have a solid wide receiving duo of Robby Anderson and DJ Moore, while Terrace Marshall Jr. may see plenty of reps out of the slot as well. The Panthers also have a decent offensive line led by center Matt Paradis and left tackle Cameron Erving, which is key if Darnold wants to perform at a high level in his first year with a new team. The key for the Panthers’ offense is to take care of the ball and stay healthy, which are two things that their new quarterback has struggled with so far in his career. Can he overcome those and lead his new team to a potential playoff spot?

While questions remain about Darnold and the offense, just as many remain on defense. The Panthers were not a very good defensive group by any means in 2020 with such a young cast of players, but there is a chance they’ll improve this season. The Panthers’ found a surprise gem in safety Jeremy Chinn last year, who now headlines a secondary featuring rookie Jaycee Horn and youngster Donte Jackson. Carolina also boasts a decent second level with Shaq Thompson and Denzel Perryman in the middle, who hope to improve a run defense that ranked a mere 20th in the league last year. However, the Panthers’ biggest concern on defense has to be on the defensive line. Carolina does have Brian Burns and Derrick Brown clogging the middle, but a lack of explosive pass rushers on the edge may make it easy for teams to move the ball down the field against this unit. At the end of the day, it seems clear that the Panthers are the worst roster in the NFC South from top to bottom, and Darnold has to prove himself as a capable NFL starter before we have any sort of confidence in this team moving forward. The skill positions on both sides of the ball are very solid, but this team will only go as far as their quarterback can take them.

Record: 4-13

Biggest Story to Watch: Is Darnold the answer at quarterback?

Offensive MVP: McCaffrey

Defensive MVP: Chinn

NFC North

1.Green Bay Packers

There was plenty of drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers in the offseason, but with him ready to go in training camp, Green Bay still looms as a Super Bowl threat (via USA Today).

There was not a more controversial team in the NFL over the past six months than the Green Bay Packers, who found themselves caught up in one of the most awkward player standoffs in recent memory. That just seems to be the way that quarterback Aaron Rodgers does business, even after winning the MVP award last season, but he is now back in training camp and appears ready to suit up for the 2020 season. This appears to be Rodgers’ last year in the green and gold, but can he cap off his time in Titletown with his second ring?

Both sides are to blame for the Rodgers/Front Office issue that has taken place in the past several months, but there is no denying that Green Bay is obviously a better team when #12 is under center. It may be even more tense in the organization now that Jordan Love is lined up to take more of the preseason snaps in the coming weeks, but head coach Matt LaFleur has done a nice job so far of trying to keep this locker room together amid so much drama. Yet when Week 1 finally kicks off, Green Bay’s offense will once again be one of the best in all of football. The three-headed monster of Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Aaron Jones remains as lethal of a threesome as possible in the NFL, and if all three can replicate their numbers from 2020, the Packers will be difficult to stop on offense. One can expect more prominent roles this from running back AJ Dillon and tight end Robert Tonyan (who was exceptional last season), but old faces such as Randall Cobb and David Bakhtiari remain in place for the 2021 season. One key area to watch on this offense is the receiving core behind Adams. Green Bay’s offensive line does a nice job of keeping Rodgers clean in the pocket, but Green Bay needs a true second receiving option since Adams will face so much coverage this season. Look for young players like Allen Lazard or Amari Rodgers to fill that void, as it may become especially vital as the season goes along and the playoff race heats up.

Green Bay will also return most players from a solid defense a year ago. New defensive coordinator Joe Barry takes over for the Pack this season, and he’ll be looking to take this group to a whole other level. Yet the pieces are in place for this unit, especially in the secondary. Players such as the always-dominant Jaire Alexander, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage will roam in the back end, while they’ll see some help in the second level with linebackers such as Kyrs Barnes and De’Vondre Campbell. However, the true strength of this defense may be their pass rush, where the outstanding duo of Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith still causes serious disruption for opposing quarterbacks. If that group can continue to get ample amounts of pressure while playing tight defense in the secondary, Green Bay could see a real rise in the defensive ranks this season. After so much offseason controversy, it would be shocking if Green Bay didn’t face any type of regression. In addition, Rodgers might’ve had his best season as a pro last year, and replicating that production seems very tough. Yet with a weak division behind them, Green Bay remains the favorite in the NFC North. That’s what happens when you still have one of the game’s best players under center in Lambeau Field, and even though their record may not be as strong as a year ago, they’ll contend for a championship this season in what may be “The Last Dance” for Rodgers and company.

Record: 10-7

Biggest Story to Watch: Will the Rodgers situation carry over into the regular season?

Offensive MVP: Rodgers

Defensive MVP: Alexander

2. Chicago Bears

Justin Fields has showed real promise throughout camp that he could finally end the Bears’ quarterback woes (via Chicago Tribune).

Chicago was a surprise playoff team in 2020 that barely snuck in before falling to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round, which made fans wonder just how much they would improve this roster this season. Well, with Mitchell Trubisky now out the door and with two new signal callers now in the building, Bears’ fans have some hope that they finally might be able to turn around the offensive woes that seem to have caused mayhem for this team for almost a decade.

Early signs out of Bears’ camp seem to indicate that former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields could be the real deal. While Fields has truly impressed in his first career training camp, including a very solid preseason debut, it does appear that head coach Matt Nagy will turn toward veteran gunslinger Andy Dalton to start the season barring any change of heart. Dalton isn’t perfect under center, but he might help to bring some stability to the position for the first time in years, and he can be counted to at least limit the amount of turnovers that have plagued this football team in recent years. Coming off an excellent 2020 season, running back David Montgomery figures to be a major part of this offense, while top-ten wide receiver Allen Robinson II may have even better stats this season with a competent quarterback under center. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney has also had some promising hype coming out of camp, while tight end Cole Kmet could easily become one of the better tight ends in football by the end of the year. Combining these players with a decent offensive line featuring solid blocks such as Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins points toward an improvement on offense, but the same question remains: can the Bears finally get the quarterback position right?

While the Bears’ defense has some big-time names that remain from their excellent defenses of three years ago, their 2020 production on that side of the ball was actually a little disappointing. This means the defense led by the all-world Khalil Mack must be better in the 2021 season, especially when they are complete at nearly every position. On the defensive line, Mack will be helped out by the excellent talents of Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks, two massive forces in the trenches who have game-changing ability. In addition, the Bears’ second level remains very solid with linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquon Smith, two players who are the true catalysts on this defense outside of Mack. Meanwhile, the secondary will face some added pressure following the departure of former cornerback Kyle Fuller. Eddie Jackson can always be counted on to be one of the game’s top safeties, but defensive backs Kindle Vildor and Jaylon Johnson will certainly be targeted early on in the season. The Bears’ roster has some real talent that is a mix of young and old, but quarterback questions and a very tough schedule make things hard to predict in the Windy City. It is hard to see this team being anywhere near the bottom of the standings, but it may be just as difficult to see this team near the top of the NFC North unless Fields or Dalton excels.

Record: 8-9

Biggest Story to Watch: Will Fields see any time, and will he prove to be the quarterback of the future?

Offensive MVP: Robinson

Defensive MVP: Mack

3. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota hopes to overcome some significant struggles on both sides of the ball from last season (via Daily Norseman).

Is there a more confusing team in the NFL than the Vikings? Mike Zimmer’s squad suffered a significant decline last season despite some improved offensive numbers, and there remains plenty of cause for concern after a shaky training camp that has had plenty of controversy in the air. It looks like an unpredictable season is on the way for the Vikings, which has potential to end with a pleasant surprise or a ferocious crash.

Few teams in the league have a better running back and wide receiver duo than the Vikings, who will deploy Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson on a weekly basis this year. Both players are some of the best at their respective positions in the entire league, and one can be sure that they’ll once again put up huge numbers this season if they can stay healthy. This is even before mentioning wide receiver Adam Thielen, who may take the cake as the game’s best second option on the outside right now. Yet the pressure lies on quarterback Kirk Cousins this season, who will need to have a huge year and get the Vikings back to the playoffs to have a secure job entering next season. Cousins has had to deal with some poor offensive lines that have struggled in pass protection in recent years, but there is no doubt that the highly-paid signal caller needs to lead this offense to huge success in the division to continue to deny his longtime doubters. The Vikings should really have one of the best offenses in the league on paper with Cook and Jefferson alone, which sets the tone for some real urgency throughout the organization regarding the 2021 regular season.

It was truly shocking to see a Zimmer-led defense with so many top tier names struggle as much as they did last year, which is a real cause for concern entering the new season. Yet the one thing the Vikings can bank on this year is the addition of future Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson, who hopes to find the fountain of youth on a new team. Pat Pete joins a secondary that should be improved with the always-solid Harrison Smith, as well as Xavier Woods and Bashaud Breeland expected to be serious contributors. The Vikings still have the nice linebacker duo of Anthony Barr and Erik Kendricks roaming the middle of the field, while Nick Vigil hopes to also make a key impact this season. But the Vikings’ biggest focus the season may be on improving the 27th ranked run defense from 2021, which especially relates to a defensive line that really started to decline last year. Minnesota still has Danielle Hunter to fall back on to get after the quarterback, but the team needs another key contributor to clog lanes in the middle and close the gaps that opened up far too often last year. The Vikings have a talented roster that should be a borderline playoff team this season, but it may already be closer to the end than the beginning for this former postseason mainstay.

Record: 6-11

Biggest Story to Watch: Can this defense improve from their disaster a year ago?

Offensive MVP: Cook

Defensive MVP: Smith

4. Detroit Lions

Detroit has plenty of roster change underway with new head coach Dan Campbell taking over (via Detroit Free Press).

For a team that has been surrounded by misery for decades now, it is nice to see the long-worn down Lions with some new optimism following some absurd offseason remarks from new head coach Dan Campbell. The former NFL tight end seems to have brought a new energy for better or for worse entering the new season, and although it may be the first year of a complete rebuild in Detroit following the loss of longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Lions may have a chance at some relevancy this year despite their win-loss record.

With Stafford out the door, former Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff expects to lead the way for these Lions in 2021. Goff was the culprit of much controversy during his time in Los Angeles due to on-and-off play, but a fresh start with a team that actually wants him could go a long way toward his development moving forward. But even though Goff will seriously struggle throwing the ball to a limited group of pass catchers outside of tight end TJ Hockenson and wide receiver Tyrell Williams, running back D’Andre Swift could be absolute force for Detroit this season. With a healthy Swift in line to be the primary ball carrier on offense, the Lions should be able to improve on their 30th ranked rush offense from a year ago as long as they can get some help from a shaky offensive line that was luckily able to add rookie tackle Penei Sewell to their core. The Lions lack a lot of excitement on offense right now, and it is hard to imagine this team putting up a lot of points on a weekly basis this season.

Although their offense looks like it could easily be one of the worst units in the NFL, the Lions defense can really only get better from their 32nd ranked defense from a year ago. The Lions dealt with a lot of chaos on defense in 2020, but do have some productive names who have real potential at making an impact. The Lions’ biggest strength certainly has to be at the linebacker level, where Detroit will have Jaime Collins and Alex Anzalone will be patrolling the middle of the field. With help on the edge from the uber-talented Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara, the Lions’ defense can also look forward to causing some trouble for opposing passers with a decent rush. In the secondary, second-year cornerback Jeff Okudah is the top headliner, with help from names like Wil Harris and Tracy Walker. If Detroit can somehow improve on their 30th ranked pass defense from a year ago, it could go a long way toward establishing some success for this team in the short-term and the long-term. It is hard to expect a playoff berth from this group of Lions in 2021, which means that this year should be all about rebuilding and finding which pieces are a fit moving forward.

Record: 3-14

Biggest Story to Watch: Do the Lions have enough pass catchers to put up points?

Offensive MVP: Swift

Defensive MVP: Flowers

NFC Playoff Predictions

Can Brady’s Bucs go back-to-back in 2021? (via USA Today).

#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-3)

#2 Seattle Seahawks (12-5)

#3 Green Bay Packers (10-7)

#4 New York Giants (10-7)

#5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

#6 New Orleans Saints (11-6)

#7 San Francisco 49ers (11-6)

Wild Card Weekend

#1 Tampa Bay BYE

#2 Seattle over #7 San Francisco

#3 Green Bay over #6 New Orleans

#5 Los Angeles R. over #4 New York G.

Divisional Round

#1 Tampa Bay over #5 Los Angeles R.

#3 Green Bay over #2 Seattle

Conference Championship

#1 Tampa Bay over #3 Green Bay