Week One | Week
Two | Week
Three | Week
Four
NFC WEST
Arizona
Cardinals
The
Cardinals had a number of deficiencies during 2012, but they have
largely been addressed going into 2013. Carson
Palmer was signed to provide stability at quarterback and the
veteran is settling in nicely. John
Abraham joined the defensive line to give them a legitimate
threat of a pass rush. Unfortunately, linebacker Daryl Washington
will miss the first four games of the season having violated the
league’s substance abuse policy. Tyrann
Mathieu was drafted in April to bring a second young playmaker
to the secondary, and scouts are raving about his abilities already.
Against the Packers in the opening preseason game, the entire defense
looked good, coming up with stops, sacks, a turnover, and surrendering
fewer than 225 yards. Other draft signings to the offensive line
will provide improvement to the starters and to depth positions,
both of which were in much need of it. Eric Winston provides additional
improvement to one of the league’s worst offensive lines, where
he has already secured the right tackle starting role. Rashard
Mendenhall is projected as the starting running back, jumping
ahead of Ryan
Williams who is once again battling knee injury issues; neither
played against Green Bay, which allowed rookie Stepfan
Taylor to display the skills that made him so good in college.
The final development from camp shows a new wrinkle to the offense,
where starting corner Patrick Peterson has seen time at wide receiver,
plus as the wildcat quarterback in Arizona’s “Pat Cat” formation,
though this didn’t show up on the stat sheet from preseason game
one. Improvements all around make the Cardinals a team to watch
this season.
St. Louis
Rams
Some
of the biggest offseason moves in the NFL were made by the Rams.
They signed left tackle Jake Long, which allows Rodger Saffold
to move to the right side, giving the O-line two solid bookends
to combat the pass rushers of the NFC West. The interior of the
line is in good shape, but to backup those spots they drafted
Barrett Jones, who is recovering from surgery but should be available
fairly soon. Speaking of draft picks, the Rams chose two West
Virginia wide receivers in Tavon
Austin and Stedman
Bailey. They will be challenging a group which includes Chris
Givens, Brian
Quick, and Austin
Pettis, all of whom have unrealized potential but possess
good skills. In a similar situation is free agent signing tight
end Jared
Cook, a big, physical, fast player who flashed brilliance
in Tennessee but never played with the dominance he probably could
have. Long time running back Steven
Jackson left the team, leaving behind Daryl
Richardson, Isaiah
Pead, and rookie Zac
Stacy. Richardson is projected as the starter, especially
after Pead lost a fumble on his first carry of the preseason.
The defense has top talent at defensive tackle, both cornerbacks,
both defensive end spots, and one or two linebacker positions,
in addition to drafting Alex Ogletree in the second round. The
safety position is the biggest liability, but if the front seven
can continue to pressure opposing quarterbacks, they may be able
to hide their shortcomings. The team is improved from last year,
but they still have a fair way to go to catch up with the top
talents of their division. Ultimately they will go as quarterback
Sam
Bradford goes. Last year he lacked weapons on offense, but
that is not the case for 2013. This may be a career-making or
-breaking year for the Rams quarterback. He was on time and on
target during the first preseason game, which certainly isn’t
a bad place to start.
San Francisco
49ers
The
outlook for the 49ers this season is phenomenal. When healthy,
they have arguably the best lines in football, both offense and
defense. Well, they’re healthy, and backups Tank Carradine (rookie
defensive tackle) and Daniel Kilgore (third-year center) are excellent
insurance policies. Defensively they boast the best interior linebacker
duo in the NFL in Navorro
Bowman and Patrick
Willis, and the other members of the front seven aren’t far
behind. The only glaring problem is with the secondary, especially
following the injury to Chris
Culliver, who will miss the season with a torn ACL. Starting
cornerbacks Carlos
Rogers and Tarell
Brown have limited depth behind them and are joined in the
back four by rookie safety Eric
Reid, who is better in run support than in coverage. On offense
you can expect to see a lot of quarterback Colin
Kaepernick and running back Frank
Gore. Michael
Crabtree (ACL) is out for most of the season, so at wide receiver
new acquisition Anquan
Boldin will pair with Mario
Manningham or newly signed Austin
Collie. Tight end Vernon
Davis will look to continue the success he saw in the postseason
last year, and reports out of camp even tells of his lining up
at wide receiver on occasion to get him more involved in the passing
game. San Francisco will go as their lines go, and aided by their
linebackers and offensive backfield, the team has a chance to
make it back to the Super Bowl this year, hopefully finishing
what they started in 2012.
Seattle Seahawks
Along
with the 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks are clearly the other top
team in the NFC West. On offense, their only significant issue
is the injury to Percy
Harvin, who himself was an offseason addition to the team.
Everyone else on that side of the ball is be back and it’s not
like the offense was an issue last year. The only significant
addition was Harvin, but it is clear they improved throughout
the year as young players gained experience and the team meshed.
This year is likely to once again heavily feature the running
game of Marshawn
Lynch, with quarterback Russell
Wilson contributing on the ground in addition to his passing.
If he can avoid a sophomore slump, the Seahawks should be just
fine, if not better. On defense two outstanding pass rushers were
added in Cliff
Avril and Michael
Bennett, and cornerback Antoine
Winfield was added to an already stellar backfield. By comparison,
the linebackers may be the weak spot on defense, but K.J.
Wright and Bobby
Wagner would be a powerful duo as part of any three-man unit.
On paper the Seahawks may be the favorite to represent the NFC
in the Super Bowl this season.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
The
Falcons came into 2012 with huge expectations and 2013 will be no
different. They were able to once again talk Tony Gonzalez out of
retirement, and in the offseason they signed Matt Ryan to a $103.75-million
contract extension. The most significant change on the offensive
side of the ball is the addition of Steven Jackson from the Rams
and the release of Michael Turner. History suggests Jackson is in
for a downturn, at 30 years old, but so far in the preseason he
looks as good as ever. Defensively John Abraham is no longer around,
but Osi Umenyiora of the Giants steps into his place. Reports suggest
he’ll be a hybrid DL/OLB. Their biggest area of need was addressed
through the draft, as they selected two cornerbacks with their first
two picks. Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant have been battling
for the second starting cornerback role in camp, and early evaluations
suggest Alford currently is ahead; veteran Asante Samuel holds the
top cornerback position and should have another good year. The biggest
problem going forward could be a lack of depth at linebacker; the
starters are decent, but after them things thin out very quickly.
It became evident during the first preseason game that the offensive
line isn’t that great either, especially in run blocking.
The starters were beaten too many times, and to make things worse,
right tackle Mike Johnson landed on the injured reserve list, thinning
out the O-line even further.
Carolina Panthers
Injuries
have devastated the Panthers in the past, and one of the biggest
stories at the beginning of camp was about Coach Rivera adjusting
their routines to try to avoid a third consecutive season of putting
16 players on injured reserve (a franchise record set in 2011 and
tied again in 2012). So far it seems to be working. Except for with
Jonathan
Stewart, that is, who is carrying injury issues over from last
season. The running back battle between him and DeAngelo
Williams currently favors Williams. Offensively all of the weapons
are there, and if Brandon
LaFell continues to improve, the Panthers will be hard to stop.
Quarterback Cam
Newton still needs to prove he can constantly make good decisions
and perform well both as a runner and as a passer. His one glaring
mistake (resulting in an interception for a touchdown) against the
Bears in the first preseason game shows he’s not the polished passer
he wants to be. The offensive line had its share of problems and
injuries last year, and with the exception of veteran guard Geoff
Hangartner (released), they are all expected to be the starters
again this season. This doesn’t look good on paper beyond center
Ryan Kalil, but the continuity may help them to perform better than
the sum of their parts. Defensively the draft added two great talents
on the D-line, bringing additional stopping power and pressuring
abilities to an already great front seven. The only real weakness
has been in the secondary; cornerback Chris
Gamble retired and two veterans were brought in to fill that
void, but neither they nor the talent currently in Carolina can
replace the production of Gamble. The biggest obstacle for the Panthers
is their divisional opponents. Facing Drew
Brees and Matt
Ryan twice each year is a daunting task which further highlights
their deficiencies in the secondary. If the Panthers can avoid major
injuries this year and their secondary can take a huge step forward,
the NFC South battle could become a tight three-way race.
New Orleans Saints
Thankfully for the Saints, 2012 and the suspensions related to the
bounty scandal are over, meaning Coach Peyton is back to leading
the team and running the offense from the sideline. The plethora
of weapons at Drew Brees’ disposal is still astonishing, and aside
from losing wide receiver Devery
Henderson and their third-string running back, they are all
back and healthy. Joe
Morgan was expected to fill in for the departed Henderson and
is one of the few exceptions to a healthy roster; he has been lost
for the season with tears in his meniscus and ACL. Kenny
Stills appears to be his replacement. Stills played well, ran
clean routes, and his speed gave the Chiefs starters trouble during
their first preseason game. The weak link in the offense is the
O-line, especially at the tackle positions. But with strength in
the middle and the quick release of Brees, these deficiencies will
be minimized. When you look at the Saints defense you understand
why they score so many points: out of necessity. This offseason
they switched to a 3–4 system, hoping that something finally starts
to work. Against Kansas City the defense wasn’t good early, but
as the game progressed it seemed like they adjusted appropriately,
albeit against the Chiefs' backups. New Orleans should be decent
along the D-line with defensive ends Cameron
Jordan and Akiem
Hicks—who is holding the spot until rookie John
Jenkins is NFL ready—on either side of defensive tackle Brodrick
Bunkley. The linebackers are suspect at best, but the return
of Coach Peyton may help that this year. Rookie Kenny
Vaccaro was drafted to play safety and should be an immediate
upgrade, while new signee Keenan
Lewis should be a reliable cornerback across from Jabari
Greer. If the defense can make a few stops each game, the offense
ought to be able to carry the team throughout 2013. But a formidable
defense would make the Saints nearly unstoppable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The
2012 Buccaneers were a tale of two teams, roughly broken into the
first and second halves of the season. Quarterback Josh
Freeman led the team to reasonable success for the first nine
games, but after that his inconsistency once again caught up with
him and things took a turn for the worse. Thankfully the Buccaneers
have a stellar wide receiver duo in Vincent
Jackson and Mike
Williams to go along with breakout running back Doug
Martin. The offensive line is a mixed bag that suffered detrimental
injuries last season, and even at its best it isn’t a great unit.
Davin Joseph is healthy but may not be at 100 percent following
a tear in his patellar tendon a year ago; Carl Nicks appears to
be ready after missing the second half of 2012 with a toe injury;
both guards have great potential if they’re healthy. The biggest
change may come at right tackle if Gabe Carimi can make an impact
after being considered a first-round bust for the Bears. And the
fact that he’s competing for a starting job speaks volumes about
the depth of the exterior of the O-line. Two key defensive linemen,
Michael Bennett and Roy
Miller, won’t be with the team this year, but lockdown corner
Darrelle
Revis joined the secondary following ACL surgery and is expected
to start come Week 1. Johnthan
Banks, another cornerback, was brought in through the draft
and reports out of camp suggest he’s going to make an immediate
impact. Mark
Barron and former 49er Dashon
Goldson will be at safety, giving Tampa Bay a quality back four.
Between injuries and departures, the front seven appears to be in
trouble, and even at full strength they’re fairly pedestrian. The
lack of pass rush ability will hurt the Buccaneers this season if
the defense can’t create more pressure than expected.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
The
Bears parted ways with Lovie Smith in favor of former CFL coach
Marc Trestman, who brings with him a high-powered offense well
suited for Jay
Cutler’s big arm. A few retirements saw some big names leave
the defense, particularly Brian
Urlacher and Sedrick Ellis (who signed, never showed up at
camp, then retired), but the drafting of Jon
Bostic and signing of Jamaal
Anderson, respectively, will help to minimize the void left
by those two. The rookie linebacker picked off Cam
Newton and returned it for a touchdown against Carolina in
the first preseason game. D.J.
Williams of the Broncos was also signed to be a part of the
linebacking corps in Chicago, giving them great depth in the front
seven once again. The draft also added guard Kyle Long to join
an offensive line in need of a boost; he should make an immediate
impact as part of a rotation or as the outright starter. Jermon
Bushrod from the Saints was signed to a big contract to play left
tackle, moving J’Marcus Webb to the right and hopefully improving
an O-line that gave up far too many sacks last year (they gave
up seven to the Panthers). Early reports out of camp suggest the
offense of Cutler, Brandon
Marshall, free agent acquisition Martellus
Bennett, Matt
Forte, and Alshon
Jeffery will give other prolific NFC North teams a run for
their money. Against Carolina, rookie wide receiver Marquess
Wilson showed that his success in training camp wasn’t a fluke
as he exploded for a 58-yard touchdown catch in addition to four
other receptions for 24 more yards. The Bear’s defense is what
could set them apart from their division in 2013. Aside from the
changes at the linebacker level, Chicago will look remarkably
similar on the defensive side of the ball this season, including
running a similar system despite the coaching change. If Coach
Trestman can successfully implement his offense, he may have a
phenomenal team in his hands.
Detroit Lions
The
Lions are an unfortunate mix of very good and very questionable,
which makes predictions extremely difficult but also allows for
a large degree of optimism this season. Improvements were made
to the running game by adding Reggie
Bush, and in limited carries he looked good in the first preseason
game. The young secondary has looked very good in camp and the
emergence of wide receiver Ryan
Broyles in training camp gives Matthew
Stafford another quality option to target who isn’t named
Calvin
Johnson. The strongest unit in Detroit may be the defensive
line, where draft picks were spent to enhance an already fearsome
defensive tackle combo. Defensive end Ziggy
Ansah had several tackles and also picked off a screen pass
from Jets QB Mark Snachez and returned it for a touchdown, all
while competing across from an All Pro offensive tackle. Big question
marks remain on the Lions offensive line, where two average veterans
are joined by three players (one rookie) with no starting experience.
The linebacker position is also worrisome since unproven or underwhelming
players make up the entire squad. Special teams have received
a lot of attention in camp, where a rookie kicker with a huge
leg is challenging David
Akers for the starting role and a rookie punter is proving
he was worth a fifth-round draft pick. So much attention being
paid to special teams likely speaks volumes about the performance
and quality elsewhere. At this point it doesn’t appear that there
is enough depth on the offensive line or in the defensive back
seven to consistently challenge for the top spot in the NFC North,
especially if there are any injuries. But in the meantime it appears
the starters have more than enough potential to be competitive
most weekends in the NFL.
Green Bay
Packers
The
Packers entered the offseason believing they only needed a few
pieces to get back to the Super Bowl, and prior to the start of
the preseason it appeared as though they’d found them. The major
change came to the offensive line, drafting two rookies to contribute
and vie for starting positions while simultaneously lining up
most of the returning players differently. Early in the preseason
it looked like things were coming together. Injuries to rookie
J.C. Tretter (out six months) and veteran Bryan Bulaga (lost for
season) leave the Packers scrambling to revamp a revamped O-line,
however, though it appears rookie David Bakhtiari may be able
to step in without being a liability. The first-team O-line protected
well in the first preseason game against Arizona and played better
than expected. Injuries have also reached wide receivers Jordy
Nelson and Randall
Cobb, but early indications are that they’ll be ready for
Week 1. Running backs Eddie
Lacy and Johnathan
Franklin are two good young backs who could each contribute;
it seems that Lacy currently has the edge, but Franklin was the
only one to see the field against Arizona. On defense the team
isn’t much different aside from Charles
Woodson leaving and pass rusher Dante Jones being drafted.
The secondary has no appreciable depth, as seen by the absence
of Traymon Williams allowing opposing wide receivers time and
space all over the field. Like last season, there are stars at
every level of the defense, but injuries will leave vulnerable
the positions where the talent isn’t particularly reliable.
Minnesota
Vikings
Beyond
Adrian
Peterson the strength of the Vikings lies along the line of
scrimmage. The defensive line got an upgrade through the draft
with Sharrif
Floyd, who will join Kevin
Williams and thee outstanding pass rushing defensive ends.
The offensive line drafted two future replacements, but for 2013
the line will look much like it did last year. One wrinkle is
the four-game suspension of Demarcus Love for violation of the
league’s PED policy; his appeal was not upheld. The Vikings addressed
holes in the secondary through draft picks to hopefully make up
for the release of Antoine Winfield, and the linebackers were
bolstered with the addition of Desmond Bishop from the Packers.
Wide receiver Greg
Jennings, another ex-Packer, was signed following the trade
of Percy Harvin to the Seahawks. Against the Texans in the first
preseason game neither team played many of their star talents,
so it’s hard to determine how the team has gelled. Rookie wide
receiver Cordarrelle
Patterson, however, has big play ability. He could be dangerous
across from Jennings if he can elevate his offensive play to that
of his special teams contributions. After the relative success
of the offseason moves, the largest remaining question mark is
once again at quarterback. Christian
Ponder has been consistently inconsistent, showing moments
of true leadership and NFL ability, only to be followed up with
questionable performances and poor decision-making. His performance
against Houston did nothing to demonstrate he’s markedly better
than last season, but backup quarterback Matt
Cassel clearly isn’t the future of the franchise. The skill
and potential seem to be there for Ponder, but until they are
realized, the Vikings will be limited by their young signal caller's
success (or lack thereof).
NFC EAST
Dallas
Cowboys
The
Cowboys brought in Monte Kiffin to run the defense instead of
Rob Ryan and transitioned the team to a 4-3 system better suited
for their roster talent. The front seven boasts star-level pass
rushers and some of the most forceful run stoppers on the league,
and the only real question is how well DeMarcus Ware can adjust
to being a down lineman rather than a standup outside linebacker.
Their secondary, with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, can cause
problems for a number of opposing offenses, but the safety position
is the likely weak point of the entire defense. Injuries happen
every year, but last season seemed particularly cruel to Dallas
defenders. Unfortunately, defensive end Tyrone Crawford has already
been lost to a torn Achilles tendon. If widespread injuries can
be avoided this season, the defensive unit should be a good one
in 2013, especially if the play of some of the young talent in
the Hall of Fame Game can continue. The offense is another story.
DeMarco Murray battled the fumbles last season, wide receiver
Miles Austin needs to find some consistency, and his star counterpart
Dez Bryant must continue to improve his off-field maturity. Also,
Dan Bailey needs to not be iced by his coach, and though no icing
occurred in their first preseason game, he did have a 26-yard
FG attempt blocked. Perhaps most importantly, Tony Romo is looking
to make good on his new monster contract, and in the preseason
game against Oakland he looked pretty good—not great, mind
you, but he played well enough in two series. All of those things
can be addressed and a number have already started to resolve
themselves. But even so, they pale in comparison to the problems
faced by the offensive line. Training camp injuries and additional
casualties from the Hall of Fame Game leave rookie Travis Frederick
as the only cause for optimism in keeping Romo safe from opposing
defenders, and that’s not saying much. Against a star-needy
squad in the Raiders, they held their own. As the offensive line
situation works itself out, the fate of Dallas will become more
clear. For now it’s muddy at best.
Philadelphia
Eagles
The
Eagles have been in the news more than most teams this offseason,
though little of it has been positive. Longtime coach Andy Reid
lost his job in favor of Oregon’s Chip Kelly, who will bring
with him the up-tempo offense he helped make famous at the college
level. That’s about all of the good news. Michael Vick and
Nick Foles are vying for the starting quarterback role but each
comes with limitations; age and turnover issues first, inexperience
and immobility second. Coach Kelly won’t name a starter
until right before Week 1 of the regular season. Star wide receiver
DeSean Jackson is quick but not great in the middle of the field,
Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn each tore their ACLs and are
done for the year, Riley Cooper has off-field issues to sort out,
and beyond them Jason Avant is the only other wide receiver with
appreciable game experience. The tight end position by comparison
is one of strength, and that will work well with Kelly’s
offense, which often runs multiple-tight end sets. The offensive
line, all things considered, looks pretty good if left tackle
Jason Peters is ever fully healthy. Running back LeSean McCoy
is perfectly suited for the new offense, so if the O-line is there
and the wide receivers are solid enough, he should be a star regardless
of who eventually wins the quarterback battle. Unfortunately for
Philadelphia, the defensive side of the ball doesn’t bring
much certainty. A new 3–4 scheme (or some variation thereof)
will feature recent signee Isaac Sopoaga at nose tackle flanked
by Fletcher Cox on one side, and then the question marks start
to roll in. Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, and Mychal Kendricks
will certainly be essential pieces of whatever scheme is used.
The secondary has potential but is often injured, though the ceiling
is set fairly low for the serviceable tandem of cornerbacks Cary
Williams and Bradley Fletcher. Safeties Patrick Chung and Kenny
Philips will be backed up by rookie Earl Wolff, whose draft profile
suggests he isn’t the brightest individual by any standard.
This year may bring moments of greatness, but the overall results
for the Eagles will likely be disappointing due to the large number
of uncertainties heading into the season.
New York
Giants
If
the Giants had a different coach and played in a different division,
their outlook on the year would be much worse. Playing in the
NFC East under Coach Caughlin may once again be their saving grace.
Eli Manning is one of the top talents in the NFL, but he didn’t
play like it for the majority of the second half of last season.
Part of that was due to the injuries to Hakeem Nicks, who is already
battling injury issues early this preseason. Nicks' counterpart,
Victor Cruz, signed a large contract this offseason after holding
out of the first part of team activities. The emergence of wide
receiver Ruben Randle and signing of tight end Brandon Meyers
will certainly help, but each come with flaws and their upsides
aren’t spectacular. The running back duo of David Wilson
and Andre Brown is solid, each making up for what the other lacks.
Much of the same offensive line remains intact from last year,
aside from the addition of rookie Justin Pugh, who can play guard
but will likely be starting at right tackle. The defense, once
formidable and overpowering, drastically underperformed last year.
Defensive end Osi Umenyiora is now with the Falcons, but Jason
Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck are back and ready for a bounce-back
year. The center of the D-line is solid with the addition of Cullen
Jenkins, and rookie Johnathan Hankins will be behind Jenkins and
Linval Joseph as the season begins. Improvements were needed with
the linebacker corps, but the signing of Dan Connor likely won’t
cut it. The secondary isn’t much better, but they do possess
playmakers, even though they aren’t great in coverage. Still,
in the high-flying NFC East, a weak secondary is likely to be
a liability if the offence can’t compensate.
Washington
Redskins
Redskins
fans can rejoice; it seems that Robert Griffin III is healthy
and ready to begin the 2013 season, even though he’s being
held out of preseason games as a precaution. As a true dual-threat
quarterback, he brings additional elements to his team that make
it hard for opposing defenses to prepare for, just so long as
he’s on the field. Kirk Cousins is a solid backup should
RG3 go down again, but he’s certainly not the talent Griffin
is. In the first preseason game he showed he was calm under pressure
and displayed accuracy, efficiency, and the ability to quickly
go through his progressions and make the right reads. The offensive
line is largely a point of strength, and between them and his
dual-threat quarterback, running back Alfred Morris should have
plenty of opportunities for solid performances. Mike Shanahan
is known for his running back “shenanigans,” but Morris
has displayed the ability to take and hold the starting role all
for himself. The wide receiver and tight end positions are far
less certain, with a lack of depth behind wideout Pierre Garcon
and tight end Fred Davis, who are both returning from injury.
Griffin has the ability to be a good passer but it doesn’t
seem that he has the receiving threats to take advantage of it.
Last year the story of Washington’s defense was one of injuries,
especially early in the season. At the start of this season, all
of the critical players appear to be healthy and ready to resume
their solid performances. Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker are great
pass rushers from the front seven, and the other starters are
solid themselves. The secondary features cornerbacks Josh Wilson
and an aging DeAngelo Hall in addition to safeties Reed Doughty
and the often injured Brandon Meriweather. Rookie safety Philip
Thomas was drafted to provide depth and to potentially grow into
a starting role. In the NFC East the Redskins will be competitive,
and the explosive nature of their offense allows them to win games
they otherwise shouldn’t, making them a potentially dangerous
playoff matchup.
|