This week, we’re going to do the ridiculous and predict the entire 2022 regular season, playoffs and the Superbowl…in August.
Hey preseason is in full swing, so there is lots of solid tape to help make these 100% accurate and totally well-informed prognostications.
First up is the NFC, which in my predictions has a few elite teams, and lots of awful ones. Barring injury, there shouldn’t be too many surprises here.
Without further ado, the 2022 full season predictions for the NFC!
NFC North
Green Bay – 14-3 – Imagine if you had a back-to-back MVP at QB. Now, imagine he has become fully self-actualised in the offseason. Add in a soft division, and a killer defence, and the Pack are easy NFC North champs.
Minnesota – 10 – 7 – The Vikes are perennially decent, and this year seems no different. Other than the signing of Za’Darius Smith, the offseason was relatively quiet. New head coach Kevin O’Connell has one of the best offensive skill position groups in the NFC to work with, but the question is will it be enough to overcome a mediocre O-Line and a steady, but aging defence?
Detroit – 5 – 12 – Dan Campbell’s gritty group will see marked improvements on both sides of the ball, but there is still a lack of talent on the defence. Jared Goff has flashed, but unless he breaks out, look for the Lions to go elsewhere in 2023 with an excellent QB crop available in the draft.
Chicago – 2 – 15 – Oh man…poor Justin Fields. The worst offensive roster in the league, will see an average defensive unit have to stay on the field a lot. If Fields plays 17 games, it would be a miracle, but maybe his competitiveness and athleticism can overcome a talent dearth in the Windy City. I doubt it.
NFC South
Tampa Bay – 14 – 3 – People are doubting the Brady show, with his last-minute un-retirement and recent leave of absence from the team. But let’s be realistic: T-Bay has an elite defence at every position group, weapons on weapons for TB12, and an experienced new/old coach in Todd Bowles. As long as they stay healthy, expect Tampa to roll through the NFC.
New Orleans – 11 – 6 – The loss of Sean Payton cannot be quantified, but a healthy Jameis Winston paired with Kamara, rookie Chris Olave and a (hopefully) healthy Michael Thomas could mean that Nawlins can do some damage in a wide-open NFC. The defence under Dennis Allen has been great for half a decade. Expect this to set the tone in the South.
Atlanta – 4 – 14 – 2nd Year head coach Arthur Smith has Marcus Mariota as his starting quarterback with promising young rookie Desmond Ridder an outside chance to win the job. That said, Smith’s offensive genius that made Ryan Tannehill into an efficiency machine needs support from some talent. The Falcons do not have this talent. The defence is a disaster, and I expect regression as both Tampa and NO have their way with their lowly division rivals.
Carolina – 2-15 – Over under 5 games for Matt Rhule to lose his job? I have the Panthers losing their first NINE games, as they see Cleveland, New Orleans, San Francisco, the Rams, and Tampa Bay in that stretch. Even if C Mac is healthy, and Baker can somehow make this offence watchable, that schedule is rough. The Rhule era under highly involved owner David Tepper has been an unmitigated disaster. Please have mercy!
NFC West
LA Rams – 12-5 – The defending champs have reloaded again for another run at the Super Bowl, but there are some question marks going into the season. Can Matt Stafford’s stubborn elbow heal in time for the start of the regular season? Will Cooper Kupp’s historic performance continue into this season? Is the addition of the incredibly talented Allen Robinson and a healthy (?) Cam Akers going to allow the Rams offence to take care of business? One thing is for sure, Aaron Donald and the defence are dynamic, and should wreak havoc in the NFC.
San Francisco – 9-8 – The front seven is excellent and should match up well against the rest of the division, but the secondary has serious depth questions. Speaking of questions: Who is Trey Lance? The second-year man is being given the reins of Kyle Shanahan’s offence which has proven to be a quarterback’s ambrosia. But is Lance, who has shown flashes of brilliance mixed in with an obvious lack of experience capable of putting the team on his back against the likes of the Rams, or the AFC West powerhouses for out-of-conference play? It will be one of the stories of the season across the NFL.
Arizona – 5 – 12 – Maybe the heat in the desert is frying the brains of the Zona management group, but the Kyler Murray contract mess shows there are some issues in Glendale. Kyler’s talent is undeniable, and I think the study clause has blown issues about his dedication out of proportion. One thing is for sure: the Cards need help. Their team lack depth on both sides of the ball and will be playing from behind a lot. If Kyler cannot overcome the controversy and a lack of pieces around him, expect a house-cleaning starting with the firing of GM Steve Keim and HC Kliff Kingsbury. Or don’t…who knows with this dysfunctional franchise.
Seattle – 3 – 14 – Is this the last dance for Pete Carroll? The first ballot Hall of Fame coach has done nothing but win in Seattle, but his successes of late have been fewer and farther between. Carroll and GM John Schneider decided that Russ Wilson was no longer a part of the Seahawks future, but they may have decided their own futures as well. Trusting the team with Drew Lock and/or Geno Smith is playing a dangerous game, though rumour has it that they may be looking at trading for a QB. Unfortunately, the rumours are that that QB is Sam Darnold…sorry to the 12th man, but this year looks painful.
NFC East
Philadelphia – 11-6 – Philly’s loading up again, and GM Howie Roseman continues to show his ability to maximise his assets. With the acquisition of AJ Brown, the Eagles are giving QB Jalen Hurts a true audition as their franchise guy. While he has the attitude and athleticism that can allow him to be successful, does Hurts have the accuracy and ability to move the ball through the air? The team is deep, and in the East, sometimes that all it takes to win the division.
Dallas – 10 – 7 – The Cowboys looked like the NFC Champs in the first half of the 2021 season, with Dak Prescott bouncing back from injury well and the talented skill group dominating. The Boys have lost some of the talent but should still be able to move the ball well with Zeke Elliot and Tony Pollard providing great versatility from the backfield. My biggest question for them is whether HC Mike McCarthy is really Jerry Jones’ man. Dallas’ first half is pretty rough, with TB, Cincinnati, the Rams and the Eagles in the first 6 weeks. It will be interesting to see Jones’ patience if the Silver and Blue stumble out of the blocks.
NY Giants – 7- 10 – No new head coach has got more hype this season than Brian Daboll, and with good reason. His work with developing Josh Allen into an elite QB has Giants fans excited for what he could do with Daniel Jones. While his selection at number 6 in the 2019 draft was a big misstep among many for the G-Men in the last half decade, Jones’ tools are still intriguing. On occasion, he makes throws at an elite level, and his sneaky athleticism is Allen-esque. That said, he also makes a habit of turning the ball over. An underrated defence may be able to keep them in the division, as long as Daboll can use his midas touch on Jones to limit mistakes.
Washington – 6 – 11 - How frustrating must it be for the fans of the Commanders? There is some very good talent on this team, especially on the D Line. But the Dan Snyder spectre just won’t go away. HC Ron Rivera and team president Jason Wright have been saying all the right things, but the culture in the building is constantly being undermined by a corrupt administration going all the way to the top. Could Wentz and the Commanders surprise some people? Sure, but more likely, they will be what we think they are. A broken franchise.
Stay tuned for more ignorance with the AFC season predictions up tomorrow.
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