NFC NORTH
AARON
RODGERS
JAY
CUTLER
TEDDY
BRIDGEWATER
MATTHEW
STAFFORD
BEARS HAVE MANY HOLES TO
FILL
LIONS MOVE ON WITHOUT
MEGATRON
CAN THE VIKINGS KEEP PACE IN
THE NFC NORTH?
Coach: John Fox
2015 Record: 6-10
In 2015 the Bears did not have a
1,000-yard rusher or receiver. That
doesn’t bode well for quarterback Jay
Cutler, who continues to be asked to
carry the load in what has become a
competitive division. Leading rusher
Matt Forte is gone and Chicago fans
are hoping that John Fox can get the
defense turned around. The Bears
drafted heavy on defense and expect
three rookies, including Miami safety
Deon Bush, to start.
HEALTHY PACKERS BAD NEWS
FOR OPPONENTS
Coach: Jim Caldwell
2015 Record: 7-9
Calvin “Megatron” Johnson’s early
retirement took Detroit by surprise. To
fill the void at receiver, the Lions signed
free agent veteran Anquan Boldin and
also Marvin Jones, giving quarterback
Matthew Stafford formidable targets.
They had a good draft that included
taking Ohio State offensive tackle
Taylor Decker to help protect Stafford.
A playoff team in 2014, things could be
going in the wrong direction if they don’t
improve their running game and plug
defensive holes.
Coach: Mike McCarthy
2015 Record: 10-6
Even with Aaron Rodgers keeping
them in the playoff picture, the Packers
had their weaknesses, mainly injuries,
exposed in the postseason. Last year
with receiver Jordy Nelson among the
injured, they settled for a wild card
berth. Nelson’s return and a healthy
Eddie Lacy should benefit Rodgers,
arguably the league’s best quarterback.
Meanwhile, the defense led by veteran
linebacker Clay Matthews, can still get it
done. The Pack still has the upper hand
in the NFC North.
Coach: Mike Zimmer
2015 Record: 11-5
The Vikings are a team on the rise (at
least they were in 2015), thanks to a
maturing Teddy Bridgewater and the
defensive-minded coaching of Mike
Zimmer. Building on that momentum
becomes paramount and while the
defense improved, the offense stalled
at times, even with Adrian Peterson
carrying the ball. Drafting Ole Miss
wideout Laquon Treadwell is a good
start in putting a better supporting
cast around Bridgewater, who needs
to be less conservative.
NFC SOUTH
MATT
RYAN
CAM
NEWTON
DREW
BREES
JAMEIS
WINSTON
FALCONS IMPROVED DEFENSE SHOULD
BOOST OFFENSE
SUPER BOWL OR BUST FOR NEWTON
AND THE PANTHERS
BREES STILL AMONG THE BEST OF NFL BUCS BUILD ON WINSTON’S ROOKIE
QUARTERBACKS
CAMPAIGN
Coach: Dan Quinn
2015 Record: 8-8
With quarterback Matt Ryan throwing
deep balls to receiver Julio Jones,
the Falcons can score at any time.
Running back Devonta Freeman
emerged with a 1,000-yard season
and the Falcons had the seventh best
offense in the league but only finished
at .500. They addressed their defense
in the offseason by re-signing Adrian
Clayborn, grabbing Derrick Shelby
from Miami and taking Florida safety
Keanu Neal in the first round of the
draft.
Coach: Ron Rivera
2015 Record:15-1
There’s only one way to improve on
a 15-1 season and a Super Bowl
loss and that is to win the Super
Bowl. That’s a lofty goal for franchise
quarterback Cam Newton and the
Panthers, who were sixth in defense
and eleventh in offense in 2015. Taking
some running pressure off Newton
makes him more dangerous while the
defense remains intact. Their divisional
opponents may be improving but
barring injuries, the division should
belong to the Panthers.
Coach: Sean Payton
2015 Record: 7-9
Quarterback Drew Brees led a potent
offense in 2015 that at times looked
like the Saints of old, before the
bounty scandal and ensuing 2012
suspensions. But while their offense
was the second best yardage wise in
the NFL, the defense was the second
worst. They did their best to address
that during the offseason, drafting
Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon
Rankins in the first round and
signing free agent linebackers Craig
Robertson and James Laurinaitis.
Coach: Lovie Smith
2015 Record: 6-10
Statistically the Bucs were one of the
NFL’s best in 2015, finishing fifth in
offense and 10th in defense. It just
didn’t reflect in the standings. If they
can improve on that in any way, they
could be a playoff team. Quarterback
Jameis Winston should be able to build
on a commendable rookie season and
coach Lovie Smith is always working
on constructing a better defense. This
could be a fun team to watch as the
season progresses.
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2016
NFL PREVIEW
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