NFC East

During the spring of 2016, the New York Giants were intent on rebuilding the entirety of their defense. The Giants spent $200 million and enter this new season with a revamped defense. The result of this lavish spending will be the NFC East crown. The Washington Redskins took the division in 2015 but the team’s inconsistency might hurt them this year. While the Giants and Redskins are battling for a playoff berth, the Cowboys will attempt to remain afloat under the leadership of rookie Quarterback Dak Prescott. The division is rounded out by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have more concern with the progression of top pick Carson Wentz than their final win-loss record. Ultimately, the Giants will make the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and squeeze the last football out of Eli Manning.

AFC East

With Tom Brady suspended 4 games for the egregious act of potentially deflating footballs, it would be assumed that the AFC East title is open for the taking. However, the Miami Dolphins are continuing their streak of playing lethargic football and the Buffalo Bills find new ways to eliminate themselves from the playoffs each year. Thus, it will ultimately be a race between the New York Jets and New England Patriots. It could go down to the wire, but Gang Green will finally break New England’s streak. But no one will complain if we get to see another New York-New England playoff matchup.

AFC North

The Steelers have one of the best offenses in the NFL- assuredly the most explosive. While Cincinnati has dominated the past few years, the losses of explosive depth in Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones will prove costly as the season progresses. The Ravens are not ready to compete again. They still must remain vigilant on their rebuilding process to regain dominance. While no opponent can be underestimated in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns cannot strike fear into a mouse. The Steelers will take the North, led by the best receiver in football, Antonio Brown.

NFC North

The NFC North appeared to be a hard fought contest throughout the season. Now, with the season-ending injury of Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater, it appears that the Green Bay Packers are the clear front runners. The Detroit Lions are much improved but will not be able to withstand the season-long excellence of the Cheese Heads. The Bears are nearly eliminated by default because Jay Cutler remains on the roster. Their hopes rest in the prayers that Cutler ends his charitable cause of throwing interceptions to all the defensive players in the league.

AFC South

The Houston Texans believed that Brock Osweiler’s 8 games played in 2015 merited a $72 million contract but that does not mean it will instantly translate into wins. Houston has provided Osweiler with a multitude of offensive weapons but it remains to be seen how well he can utilize them. The Colts are hoping to keep Andrew Luck’s jersey clean. He ate a lot of turf last season, and all hopes rely on his performance. Indianapolis still cannot figure out how to surround a franchise quarterback with a respectable team but Luck has proven that he can shoulder the responsibility. The unknown variable of this division is the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars have built a talented roster but they will have to overcome their reputation of only beating lesser teams. The Titans need to build around Marcus Mariota and hope he grows as a passer. They won’t contend this year. This division is a toss up but the Texans have the best balance of offense and defense. Houston will be in the playoff once again in 2016.

NFC South

The NFC South is Cam Newton’s to lose. Newton and the Panthers will be challenged by all this season. Everyone wants a piece of the trash-talking Super Bowl participants. The emergence of Jameis Winston will power the Buccaneers to contention. However, there is not enough talent on Tampa Bay to sustain long term success over the course of a rigorous season. The Falcons look to bounce back after an embarrassing 2015 campaign that saw them start 5-0 only to lose the next 8 games. Matt Ryan must regain his 2012 form for any hope down south. Joining the Buccaneers and Falcons, the Saints are another NFC South organization that cannot put together a respectable defense to pair with a dynamic offense. The Panthers may have let go of elite defender Josh Norman but the reigning NFC Champions are ready for another run.

AFC West

Similar to the AFC South, this division does not have a clear leader. The Raiders have been receiving all of the praise during the offseason, with good reason. General Manager Reggie McKenzie has delivered Oakland with a franchise quarterback, the most elusive entity in all of sports, and a fearsome defense. Oakland still has to prove its worth. They have a great roster on paper, but it will it correlate to wins? The reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos boast a stellar defense for a consecutive year. Their season will only go as far as their quarterback play. The Broncos have a stout defensive unit but it is unlikely that they can perform at an all-time great level like they did during their Super Bowl run. The division also includes the competitive Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs will put up a fight once again but will be looking at the wildcard, not the division crown. The Chargers round out the division. The Chargers attempt to salvage what is left of Philip Rivers’s career while rebuilding. However, the Oakland Raiders will steal the division this year as star wideout Amari Cooper looks to build on his stellar 1,000 yard rookie season.

NFC West

Once seen as a division full of juggernauts, the NFC West is slowly starting to erode. The Seattle Seahawks might have the worst offensive line in the league. They traded stud lineman Max Unger for Jimmy Graham a few seasons ago, yet Graham still cannot find himself into the offensive game plan. Russell Wilson is going to get beat up often this year.

The 49ers are led by Blaine Gabbert. That in itself is a huge uphill battle. San Francisco is in full rebuild mode. They are not a threat in the division.

Like the 49ers, the Los Angeles Rams will be bottom dwellers in the league and the division. The number one overall draft selection, Jared Goff, will spend most of this season on the bench. This will allow him to not be damaged by the Rams’ horrid offensive line and offensive skill players. The move from St. Louis to Los Angeles will not be enough to make the Rams interesting in 2016.

The Arizona Cardinals were one of the best teams in the regular season in 2015. Not so much in the post-season. However, they do have most of their team returning. They have the most complete team in the division, but fans should be worried after Jimmy Garoppolo, in his first NFL start, carved up the defense like a Thanksgiving ham. Larry Fitzgerald, the heart and soul of the Cardinals, will carry the team for the umpteenth year into the playoffs. This could get ugly.

Editor’s Super Bowl Picks:

Jacob Wasserman – Pittsburgh Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals

Josh Laufer – Green Bay Packers over the Kansas City Chiefs

Jake Ross – Arizona Cardinals over the Denver Broncos