You can find my look at the AFC here.
The NFC is the Conference I believe will provide the SuperBowl winner again this season and they have two of the toughest Divisions in the whole of football in the NFC East and NFC North.
I am sure there are going to be a couple of big teams that miss out again this season after the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears all failed to reach the post-season in 2011.
Below are my projections for the NFC this season.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Record from last season in brackets
The last time any team managed to win back to back NFC East titles was back in 2004 and I project another winner this season. Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles loaded their roster with talent and Vince Young described them as the 'Dream Team', yet they flattered to deceive and had to win their final 4 games to avoid a losing season.
However, those wins have got the fans believing this could be a big season for them and they have kept most of their key players on the roster while adding in the likes of DeMeco Ryans (LB) to close some of the holes they had a year ago.
The biggest issue may be keeping Michael Vick healthy for the season, but we have seen how fragile he can be as he picked up a couple of injuries in the pre-season games. He will be good to go, but the Eagles need a full season out of him if they are to get to the SuperBowl.
A lot of that will be down to an Offensive Line that is most likely going to miss Jason Peters for the season, but they did look like an improving unit down the stretch in 2011.
The Defense finished in the top 10 in both yards per game and points per game last season and I think they may even improve on those numbers now that this unit has been together for a season. They get a lot of pressure on the opposition Quarter Back with their front 4, while the Linebackers should be improved with Ryans joining the team from Houston with his experience and leadership qualities.
The Secondary is talented and will be helped out by the pressure generated up front and the Eagles look a real threat in the NFC this season.
With the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys in the same Division, the schedule is always going to be tough, but Philadelphia have the easiest one of those three teams and that is why I believe they win the Division. After finishing 2011 with lots of momentum, I think the Eagles will push on this season and get around 3 wins more than last season to take their record to 11-5.
New York Giants (9-7)
When the New York Giants were swept by the Washington Redskins last season, they were left with a 7-7 record and knowing they would have to win 6 games in a row if they were to win their second SuperBowl in 5 seasons. The Giants won the battle of New York against the Jets, then beat Dallas to make it into the Play Offs and only saw their momentum keep building in wins over Atlanta, at Green Bay, at San Francisco and then knocking off the New England Patriots in the big game again.
However, the schedule makers have given the Giants no favours this season and that is why I believe they will actually fall down a position in the NFC East, although potentially getting back into the Play Offs.
Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Aaron Ross are some of the bigger names that have left the Giants this off-season and there are still some questions to address if they are to prove themselves a year after winning the SuperBowl.
The Offensive Line struggled to open up holes in the rushing game last season, while Victor Cruz is not the unknown player he was a year ago when becoming a top receiving threat for Eli Manning. The Defensive Line will also show the same level of play they got in the final 6 games and bring that for the whole season if the Giants are to improve in the yards per game and points per game they allow.
You don't win a SuperBowl without a lot of talent in the team so I don't want to do the Giants a disservice, but take away their final 6 games last season and I think there is a lot of inconsistency with their play and that may cost them the Division this season.
The schedule matches them with Philadelphia (twice), Dallas (twice), visiting San Francisco, Atlanta and Baltimore, while also hosting New Orleans, Green Bay and Pittsburgh... I have seen the Giants projected to win 11 games this season in some places, but I think they may be closer to their record from last season and go 9-7, although there are a couple of games that look really tight and could go either way.
It wouldn't be a huge surprise to me if they did manage up to 11 wins, but there is just as much a chance that they could go 7-9 with the games on slate so I am going to stick with my initial thoughts and say the Giants finish 9-7.
Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
One of my best friends is a Dallas Cowboy fan so this team has always been a 'second favourite' of mine behind the Miami Dolphins. They were close to making it to the Play Offs last season and would have made it if they hadn't had blown a big lead over the New York Giants in a home game earlier in the season, even if they did get another chance against the eventual SuperBowl Champions in New Jersey in Week 17 in a 'winner takes all' game.
The blowing of a big lead in the first game against the Giants was a symptom of the Cowboys season as they blew double-digit leads against the New York Jets and Detroit Lions as well as the Giants.
Dallas have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, although they need to maintain better health to get the full benefit of it. Miles Austin has a lingering hamstring injury that cost him games last season and continues to come up from time to time and there isn't the depth at Wide Receiver to have him missing for an extensive time.
Dez Bryant and Jason Witten are talented playmakers in the receiving areas for Dallas, but the Offensive Line will have to play better to protect Tony Romo after giving up 39 sacks last season. The line could be helped if DeMarco Murray can stay healthy as he looks a real threat with the ball in his hand and may force Defenses to just take a moment to think before getting after Romo, especially if Murray continues from where he left off last season at 5.5 yards per carry.
One of the poorest areas of the team last season was the Secondary that was badly exposed- Rob Ryan runs the Defense here and he uses his front 7 to pressure the opposition Quarter Back but the Secondary did not do a good job of limiting the big play. This is an area Dallas looked to strengthen and the signing of Brandon Carr from Kansas City and picking Morris Claiborne with their first pick in the Draft has seen that unit massively upgraded.
With a full off-season to work with Ryan, I expect the Defense as a whole will be an improved unit, but the schedule, like for the Giants, has not been Dallas' friend.
There are at least three or four games where I really think it could go either way, games where they are currently favoured or dogged by just 1 point. Much as I said with the Giants, Dallas could easily get into double-digit in wins, but may also end with a losing record for the second time in three seasons. I've projected the Cowboys in 3rd in the NFC East with an 8-8 record, but they could easily surpass this expectation.
Washington Redskins (5-11)
Washington have attached their future to Robert Griffin III by giving up a number of draft picks to move up to the Number 2 spot in the draft to take the Quarter Back. After years of uncertainty at this position RGIII is the man for Mike Shanahan and will decide whether the Head Coach is going to be here for the long term or not.
RGIII has been given some weapons like Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, but it isn't an overwhelming Offense around him and it does look a rebuilding year. There are big questions about the Running Back and the Offensive Line and it could be a rude awakening for Griffin in the NFL.
Looking at the Defense overall and I think they are a decent unit that should be able to keep Washington in games and give their new Quarter Back a chance to put some wins on the board. A lot will depend on whether the front 7 continue to get pressure and maybe improve on the 41 sacks that were recorded by the team last season.
The Secondary is inconsistent at best and are susceptible to the big play, especially if the opposition Quarter Back gets time to throw the ball. Brandon Meriweather comes in to play Strong Safety having spent a year in Chicago, but he is far removed from his performances that took him to the Pro-Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots.
They picked off the ball just 4 times last season, the worst record in the NFL, and will be heavily reliant on the likes of Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan causing problems in the backfield ahead of them if the Secondary is to keep improving statistically.
Washington are another one of the NFC East teams that has a stinker of a schedule and I am struggling to see them reaching the 5 wins they got to last season (remember they had to sweep the Giants to get to that number) and, barring any more surprise results, I think they will finish with a weaker record than last season, but the fans have to be patient in a year where they are getting the pieces together for future success.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers (15-1)
The Green Bay Packers looked like the best team in the NFL for the majority of last season, although the Defense was a big concern with the amount of yards per game they were giving up. That didn't stop people backing the Packers to once again win the SuperBowl, but they failed to win a Play Off game as they were knocked off by the eventual winners, the New York Giants.
This season, the Packers are once again the leading contenders in the NFC, although they are in the toughest Division in my opinion with three real Play Off calibre teams within the North.
I don't have too many concerns with the amount of points the Packers will score as they still have their key players in play on the Offense, while Greg Jennings is back having had injury problems last season. However, they will be looking to James Starks and the Offensive Line to create more holes in the running game as they do feel a better balance will only make Aaron Rodgers that much more productive.
With all the issues on the Defense in 2011, it was no surprise that the Packers spent their first five picks in the Draft on Defensive players and they took Nick Perry with their first pick. He should get playing time immediately, lining up opposite Clay Matthews in the Outside Linebacker position. Last season, they didn't get enough pressure on the opposite Quarter Back so Jerel Worthy may also be expected to have an immediate impact from the Defensive End position.
It is possible to pass on the Packers, but they do have some ball-hawking playmakers in the Secondary that may be able to continue creating turnovers as long as the front seven can get the pressure on the Quarter Back.
The schedule makes the Packers favourites to reach double-digits in terms of wins this season, although I don't think they get up to 15 like they did a year ago. I am projecting them to get up to 13 wins this season which should secure the Division as they take on teams from the weak AFC South and NFC West.
Detroit Lions (10-6)
There haven't been too many positive vibes going into a new season for the Detroit Lions fans in recent seasons and before last year they had ten losing seasons, nine of those with double-digit defeats. However, the end of the 2010 season had shown signs that the Lions were turning things around and that was the case in 2011 as they finished with 10 wins and also made the Play Offs for the first time since 1999.
Detroit may have lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round, but the positives of the season sees them enter 2012 as one of the top contenders in the NFC and another Play Off appearance is the least of their expectations.
As long as Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, this is an Offense that is going to score lots of points. He has a huge playmaker in Calvin Johnson and there is no doubt that the Madden 13 cover boy is the best Receiver in the game at this moment. Titus Young and Brandon Pettigrew are great complements to Johnson and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Stafford reach 40 touchdown passes again.
The one element of the Offense that needs to improve is the running game as the Lions did become a little one-dimensional down the stretch. Jahvid Best has had a number of concussion issues, but Mikel Leshoure is back from a torn achilles and these two players can help the Lions move the chains on the ground. That should improve the Offensive Line play and keep Defenses from zoning in on attacking Stafford.
The Lions Defense was a little poor last season in terms of numbers, but there is a lot of upside here, particularly in the front seven. The Defensive Line has a number of big, powerful pass rushers and it will be down to them to protect a Secondary that still looks the weakest unit of this entire team. If they can get to the Quarter Back, the Lions should be able to improve their numbers, but no pressure will see them being ripped apart as they were by Matt Flynn and Drew Brees in their final two games last season.
I have found it hard to separate the Lions from the Chicago Bears, but their schedule does look like it will provide another double-digit win season as long as their key players on the Offense can stay healthy. 5 of their 8 road games are very tough, while they haven't won more than 5 home games in a single season in the last ten years. However, they have the look of a team that will be able to put up big points and I am projecting another 10-6 season.
Chicago Bears (8-8)
The Chicago Bears were sitting at 7-3 in 2011 before the season fell apart thanks to two big injuries on the Offense that saw them lose both Jay Cutler and Matt Forte for the season. They lost five straight games at that point to miss out on the Play Offs, but these two players are back this season and the Bears look like a Play Off calibre team that could potentially challenge the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North title.
Chicago have Cutler and Forte back this season, but were obviously spooked by what happened last season as they signed Jason Campbell and Michael Bush to add depth to those positions. The biggest revamping this off-season has been at the receiving positions as Brandon Marshall was traded from the Miami Dolphins and Alshon Jeffery was second round Draft pick.
Marshall and Jeffery will have a big impact in the passing game for the Bears and the Offensive Line looks a little better than it has been in recent seasons and they look a really good Offense with a lot of balance in the way they can move the chains.
The Bears have been known for a tough Defense and this season figures to be no different, although they are looking for improvements in the pass rush after picking Shea McClellin first in the NFL Draft to line up opposite Julius Peppers. Brian Urlacher was considered a doubt for the opening games of the season, but he is set to start in his usual Linebacker spot and you have to think there will be an improvement to their numbers from last season in both points per game and yards per game allowed.
Chicago can't be disappointed in their schedule this year and that makes me believe, with their added talent in key positions, that they will be the third team in this Division to reach double-digits in terms of wins. I really can't separate them and the Detroit Lions, and their game in Week 17 may be a 'Play Off' game in all but name, and they are currently favoured in 11 games so a 10-6 record is the minimum I am expecting.
Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
This is only the third season since the Minnesota Vikings were a play or two away from playing in the SuperBowl, but expectations of anything like that are long gone in what will be a transitional season.
Minnesota are just 9-23 in the last two seasons since reaching the NFC Championship Game and they have a number of question marks on the 2012 squad that makes me pretty sure they are going to have their third losing season in a row.
Christian Ponder is the second year Quarter Back, but he is playing behind an inexperienced Offensive Line that struggled to keep him upright last season, while Adrian Peterson is coming off an ACL injury and may be limited in the early part of the season. The receivers are decent, but outside of Percy Harvin there are not a lot of players that can heavily concern Defenses.
Jared Allen will continue leading the Defensive Line after racking up 22 sacks last season, but the Secondary and the Linebacker units are weak or inexperienced and it just seems the fans are going to have to be patient with their team.
Being in the NFC North means the Vikings have six games that are tough right off the bat, but there are some winnable games on the slate as they play Jacksonville, Arizona, Tennessee and Tampa Bay at home and also visit a rebuilding Indianapolis and Washington. However, I think they will do well to surpass the 3 wins they earned last season and I think Minnesota will be a unanimous pick to finish in the basement of the North everywhere except their locker room.
New Orleans Saints (13-3)
Where else can you start with the New Orleans Saints projections for the 2012 season than with the bounty-gate scandal that has seen them lose Head Coach Sean Payton for the season as well as Linebacker Jonathan Vilma, while other players are suspended for the early games as is Interim Head Coach Joe Vitt.
There are two ways this season can go for the Saints with all that in mind- either they rally together and have another big year, or they fall apart without their leader and fail to make the Play Offs.
With Drew Brees running the show from Quarter Back, I am backing the former to happen!
Brees was magical last season as he broke the NFL passing record that was formerly held by Dan Marino and also threw 46 touchdown passes. He has lost Robert Meacham in the passing game and Carl Nicks has moved to Tampa Bay from the Offensive Line, but there is still a lot of talent here and Ben Grubbs is an effective replacement on the OL.
They also have the balance of an effective running game that Green Bay would crave and have a number of players that will form a committee with Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles all offering different things from the backfield.
New Orleans biggest question is the Defense due to the bounty-gate scandal, but I actually think they will be able to cover the absentees. It has always been possible to pass against the Saints, but they are a Defense that causes turnovers and they can be comfortable attacking the Quarter Back as the Offense does give them leads to play with.
I won't be surprised if they continue giving up over 350 yards per game as a Defense, but I still believe they will come together over the suspensions they suffered and get the job done.
No team has ever retained the NFC South Division title since its inception, but I am projecting the New Orleans Saints to do that this year. The schedule is tough, but New Orleans are very good at home and I can see them splitting their eight road games to finish at 11-5 this season, slightly down on 2011.
Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
This is Mike Smith's fifth season as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons and he has led the team to the Play Offs in three of his previous four seasons... However, the pressure is now on Smith to lead them to a win in the Play Offs after losing all three of those appearances.
Atlanta have a very solid Offense that may have improved from last season now that Julio Jones has spent a season in the NFL, and there aren't too many weaknesses on this side of the ball. The Offensive Line will protect Matt Ryan enough so he can make plays and Michael Turner is still effective at running the ball to give them balance.
The bigger question for the Falcons may be the Defense which will now have Mike Nolan as the Defensive Co-Ordinator, a Coach who prefers a 3-4 system with what was a 4-3 Defense last season.
Atlanta will look to get more pressure on the Quarter Back from their front 3 or 4, but they have new starters in Linebacker positions and they have signed Asante Samuel to boost the Corner Back positions who is a player that can be burned as he likes risking moves for the Interception.
The Falcons could be a top team again in the NFC if they can get used to what Mike Nolan wants from them, particularly considering the success Nolan had with the Miami Dolphins last season (finished as the Number 6 Defense for points per game allowed).
Atlanta have a weaker schedule than the New Orleans Saints this season, but I think they are more likely to falter in games against Divisional rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina than the Saints so have projected them to finish below New Orleans. They have reached double-digit wins in three of the four seasons that Mike Smith has been in charge here, but I have them finishing 9-7, although only a surprise win or two away from winning the Division.
Carolina Panthers (6-10)
2011 was all about Cam Newton and all he achieved in his rookie season as a Carolina Panther, but that has increased the expectations in his second season.
All the doubts about whether Newton was the right choice with the Number 1 overall pick in the Draft were quickly erased when he took the field and all despite the lockout. Newton can run the ball as well as he can pass and there are enough playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball to think he can avoid the Sophomore Slump.
He is well protected by a decent Offensive Line and there is every chance they can finish in the top ten of both yards per game and points per game as they were a season ago.
The problem for Carolina remains the Defense which doesn't get enough pressure on the Quarter Back nor stops the run effectively. There remains issues in the Secondary and in the Linebacker position and it was no surprise they finished 27th or worse in yards per game and points per game allowed in 2011.
Depth is another concen for the Defense and they may need Frank Alexander and Luke Kuechly to come in and have an impact immediately (both chosen in the first three Rounds of the Draft).
There is a lot of expectation that Cam Newton can continue the upward curve for the Panthers who improved from 2 wins in 2010 to 6 wins last season, but the schedule isn't really conducive to that. The Defense is still rebuilding so Carolina will need to put up a lot of points to win games and I have them reaching the same 6-10 mark as last season with a potential to improve to 7-9 if the Saints have qualified for the Play Offs and rest starters in Week 17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
Raheem Morris was fired as the Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the team crumbled down the stretch in 2011 falling from a 10 win team to a 4 win team. They now have had a complete overhaul of the Coaching staff, although much more is expected of this squad in 2012.
Josh Freeman struggled last season at Quarter Back, but he has been given some new weapons in the forms of Dallas Clark and Vincent Jackson. Doug Martin has also been picked up in the Draft to upgrade the Running Back position, while Carl Nicks was signed in Free Agency to improve the Offensive Line.
'Improve' is the word I have used a lot to describe the Offense and I expect that to be the case for a team that finished 27th in points per game last season.
Tampa Bay had the worst points per game allowed last season and were also 30th in terms of yards per game, but the Defense will be better if they can remain healthy. Mark Barron was their first pick in the Draft and Eric Wright was signed in Free Agency to improve the Secondary and these players will have to have an impact as the Buccaneers struggle to get enough pressure on the Quarter Back.
The coaching changes make it tough to evaluate how the Buccaneers will do this season, but the schedule does give them a chance to surpass last seasons 4 win year. They have improved units on the team that makes me think they can get up to as many as 6 or 7 wins this season, but it will depend on how they react to Greg Schiano in his first ever season as a NFL Head Coach.
Marshall and Jeffery will have a big impact in the passing game for the Bears and the Offensive Line looks a little better than it has been in recent seasons and they look a really good Offense with a lot of balance in the way they can move the chains.
The Bears have been known for a tough Defense and this season figures to be no different, although they are looking for improvements in the pass rush after picking Shea McClellin first in the NFL Draft to line up opposite Julius Peppers. Brian Urlacher was considered a doubt for the opening games of the season, but he is set to start in his usual Linebacker spot and you have to think there will be an improvement to their numbers from last season in both points per game and yards per game allowed.
Chicago can't be disappointed in their schedule this year and that makes me believe, with their added talent in key positions, that they will be the third team in this Division to reach double-digits in terms of wins. I really can't separate them and the Detroit Lions, and their game in Week 17 may be a 'Play Off' game in all but name, and they are currently favoured in 11 games so a 10-6 record is the minimum I am expecting.
Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
This is only the third season since the Minnesota Vikings were a play or two away from playing in the SuperBowl, but expectations of anything like that are long gone in what will be a transitional season.
Minnesota are just 9-23 in the last two seasons since reaching the NFC Championship Game and they have a number of question marks on the 2012 squad that makes me pretty sure they are going to have their third losing season in a row.
Christian Ponder is the second year Quarter Back, but he is playing behind an inexperienced Offensive Line that struggled to keep him upright last season, while Adrian Peterson is coming off an ACL injury and may be limited in the early part of the season. The receivers are decent, but outside of Percy Harvin there are not a lot of players that can heavily concern Defenses.
Jared Allen will continue leading the Defensive Line after racking up 22 sacks last season, but the Secondary and the Linebacker units are weak or inexperienced and it just seems the fans are going to have to be patient with their team.
Being in the NFC North means the Vikings have six games that are tough right off the bat, but there are some winnable games on the slate as they play Jacksonville, Arizona, Tennessee and Tampa Bay at home and also visit a rebuilding Indianapolis and Washington. However, I think they will do well to surpass the 3 wins they earned last season and I think Minnesota will be a unanimous pick to finish in the basement of the North everywhere except their locker room.
NFC South
Where else can you start with the New Orleans Saints projections for the 2012 season than with the bounty-gate scandal that has seen them lose Head Coach Sean Payton for the season as well as Linebacker Jonathan Vilma, while other players are suspended for the early games as is Interim Head Coach Joe Vitt.
There are two ways this season can go for the Saints with all that in mind- either they rally together and have another big year, or they fall apart without their leader and fail to make the Play Offs.
With Drew Brees running the show from Quarter Back, I am backing the former to happen!
Brees was magical last season as he broke the NFL passing record that was formerly held by Dan Marino and also threw 46 touchdown passes. He has lost Robert Meacham in the passing game and Carl Nicks has moved to Tampa Bay from the Offensive Line, but there is still a lot of talent here and Ben Grubbs is an effective replacement on the OL.
They also have the balance of an effective running game that Green Bay would crave and have a number of players that will form a committee with Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles all offering different things from the backfield.
New Orleans biggest question is the Defense due to the bounty-gate scandal, but I actually think they will be able to cover the absentees. It has always been possible to pass against the Saints, but they are a Defense that causes turnovers and they can be comfortable attacking the Quarter Back as the Offense does give them leads to play with.
I won't be surprised if they continue giving up over 350 yards per game as a Defense, but I still believe they will come together over the suspensions they suffered and get the job done.
No team has ever retained the NFC South Division title since its inception, but I am projecting the New Orleans Saints to do that this year. The schedule is tough, but New Orleans are very good at home and I can see them splitting their eight road games to finish at 11-5 this season, slightly down on 2011.
Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
This is Mike Smith's fifth season as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons and he has led the team to the Play Offs in three of his previous four seasons... However, the pressure is now on Smith to lead them to a win in the Play Offs after losing all three of those appearances.
Atlanta have a very solid Offense that may have improved from last season now that Julio Jones has spent a season in the NFL, and there aren't too many weaknesses on this side of the ball. The Offensive Line will protect Matt Ryan enough so he can make plays and Michael Turner is still effective at running the ball to give them balance.
The bigger question for the Falcons may be the Defense which will now have Mike Nolan as the Defensive Co-Ordinator, a Coach who prefers a 3-4 system with what was a 4-3 Defense last season.
Atlanta will look to get more pressure on the Quarter Back from their front 3 or 4, but they have new starters in Linebacker positions and they have signed Asante Samuel to boost the Corner Back positions who is a player that can be burned as he likes risking moves for the Interception.
The Falcons could be a top team again in the NFC if they can get used to what Mike Nolan wants from them, particularly considering the success Nolan had with the Miami Dolphins last season (finished as the Number 6 Defense for points per game allowed).
Atlanta have a weaker schedule than the New Orleans Saints this season, but I think they are more likely to falter in games against Divisional rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina than the Saints so have projected them to finish below New Orleans. They have reached double-digit wins in three of the four seasons that Mike Smith has been in charge here, but I have them finishing 9-7, although only a surprise win or two away from winning the Division.
Carolina Panthers (6-10)
2011 was all about Cam Newton and all he achieved in his rookie season as a Carolina Panther, but that has increased the expectations in his second season.
All the doubts about whether Newton was the right choice with the Number 1 overall pick in the Draft were quickly erased when he took the field and all despite the lockout. Newton can run the ball as well as he can pass and there are enough playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball to think he can avoid the Sophomore Slump.
He is well protected by a decent Offensive Line and there is every chance they can finish in the top ten of both yards per game and points per game as they were a season ago.
The problem for Carolina remains the Defense which doesn't get enough pressure on the Quarter Back nor stops the run effectively. There remains issues in the Secondary and in the Linebacker position and it was no surprise they finished 27th or worse in yards per game and points per game allowed in 2011.
Depth is another concen for the Defense and they may need Frank Alexander and Luke Kuechly to come in and have an impact immediately (both chosen in the first three Rounds of the Draft).
There is a lot of expectation that Cam Newton can continue the upward curve for the Panthers who improved from 2 wins in 2010 to 6 wins last season, but the schedule isn't really conducive to that. The Defense is still rebuilding so Carolina will need to put up a lot of points to win games and I have them reaching the same 6-10 mark as last season with a potential to improve to 7-9 if the Saints have qualified for the Play Offs and rest starters in Week 17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
Raheem Morris was fired as the Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the team crumbled down the stretch in 2011 falling from a 10 win team to a 4 win team. They now have had a complete overhaul of the Coaching staff, although much more is expected of this squad in 2012.
Josh Freeman struggled last season at Quarter Back, but he has been given some new weapons in the forms of Dallas Clark and Vincent Jackson. Doug Martin has also been picked up in the Draft to upgrade the Running Back position, while Carl Nicks was signed in Free Agency to improve the Offensive Line.
'Improve' is the word I have used a lot to describe the Offense and I expect that to be the case for a team that finished 27th in points per game last season.
Tampa Bay had the worst points per game allowed last season and were also 30th in terms of yards per game, but the Defense will be better if they can remain healthy. Mark Barron was their first pick in the Draft and Eric Wright was signed in Free Agency to improve the Secondary and these players will have to have an impact as the Buccaneers struggle to get enough pressure on the Quarter Back.
The coaching changes make it tough to evaluate how the Buccaneers will do this season, but the schedule does give them a chance to surpass last seasons 4 win year. They have improved units on the team that makes me think they can get up to as many as 6 or 7 wins this season, but it will depend on how they react to Greg Schiano in his first ever season as a NFL Head Coach.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
The San Francisco 49ers were the pick of the Division last season and there is nothing that has happened in the off-season to think that it will be any different in 2012.
Alex Smith is back to Quarter Back the team after their flirtation with Peyton Manning and he has been given some new weapons to work with as Mario Manningham and Randy Moss have signed to give him more options in the passing game.
Brandon Jacobs is in to help take the load off of Frank Gore's shoulders, but there have been a couple of changes to the Offensive Line, although nothing earth-shattering that will change the way they play the game.
The Red Zone efficiency of the 49ers was poor last season and led to David Akers hitting the most field goals in NFL history (and he had most attempts too at 52), but the arrival of someone like Moss may just open things up for Smith as he is a big body that will have to be respected by Defenses.
San Francisco's Defense remains one of the best in the NFL and they have exceptional talent on the Defensive Line and at Linebacker, units that just make the Secondary even better with the pressure they can create up front. As long as they stay healthy, I expect the 49ers may just finish in the top 5 of yards per game allowed and points per game.
The schedule is challenging at times for the 49ers, but they will get back into double-digits in number of wins this season and that will be enough for them to take the Division. I don't think the 49ers reach 13 wins though and are likely to be one of the teams involved in Wild Card Weekend.
Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
The Seattle Seahawks have finished 7-9 in each of their last two seasons, but it wasn't good enough to make the Play Offs in 2011 as it was in 2010. While they are still rebuilding the team to Pete Carroll's requirements, they may be one of the surprise teams in the NFC in the coming season.
I was very high on Russell Wilson after seeing the way he performed at Wisconsin last season, and I wasn't that surprised that someone took a chance on him in the Third Round as his leadership qualities and belief in his own game gave him every chance to make it in the NFL. However, I wasn't expecting him to be the starter when Seattle picked him up as they had signed Matt Flynn, the much sought after Free Agent Quarter Back, but Wilson has won the job and will go in Week 1.
He does have some good playmakers around him, but it is Wilson's mobility that might be his biggest asset as the Offensive Line is still inexperienced and gave up 50 sacks last season. Wilson will need the likes of Sidney Rice and Marshawn Lynch to stay healthy, but a rookie at Quarter Back behind this Offensive Line means they will have inconsistencies.
I am high on the Secondary in Seattle as they are the biggest in the NFL and do have the quality to match up with the big receivers we are seeing throughout the League.
It also seems to have been forgotten somewhere that this team finished 7th in Defense last year in terms of points per game allowed and 9th in terms of yards per game allowed. They made a surprise choice by picking Bruce Irvin with their first choice in the Draft, but he will help a team that only had 33 sacks last season.
That side of the ball looks like it has been upgraded this season on an already pretty productive unit and it will be down to the Offense to score enough points for them to protect.
Unfortunately for Seattle, they don't have a nice schedule and face FOUR games in the Eastern Time Zone. They also have a tough start to the season for Russell Wilson and the Offense and could be as bad as 1-7 at Week 8, but I still think they are an improving team that may just equal their 7-9 record for the third straight season with a little bit of luck and a couple of surprise results (remember they knocked off New York Giants in New York, Chicago in Chicago and also Baltimore and Philadelphia).
Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
The Arizona Cardinals were the SuperBowl runners-up in 2008, but the retirement of Kurt Warner in 2009 has left them in an uncertain state at Quarter Back and they are yet to have a winning season since his departure, something I don't expect will change this season.
John Skelton has won the Quarter Back job from Kevin Kolb as the Cardinals were another team that missed on the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. Skelton is a little inconsistent, but will have two big targets this season in Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd (first pick in Draft) and he will also be hoping to have a healthier Todd Heap back.
The Offensive Line remains a developing unit after they allowed 54 sacks in 2011 and they were reinforced with lower Draft picks so I still think that will be an issue for the team. However, Skelton may be able to get the ball out quicker with teams double-teaming Fitzgerald and Floyd being a 6 foot 3 target.
Arizona's Defense is still young and improving and were better in almost all key Defensive categories in 2011 than they were in 2010. Patrick Peterson could be a real shut down Corner Back in the Secondary that will have improved with his year of experience underneath him.
However, the uncertainty at Quarter Back will only take this team so far and that is one of their problems in the NFC West with San Francisco in the Division.
They haven't been given any favours in the schedule and that is why, coupled with the Quarter Back issues, that make have me projecting Arizona below Seattle and finishing with their second losing season in three seasons since Warner retired.
St Louis Rams (2-14)
After 'winning' the Number 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2009, the St Louis Rams were only one more loss away from finishing in that position yet again last season as they had the joint worst record in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. They brought in Jeff Fisher as Head Coach, but the New Orleans Saints' bounty-gate scandal filtered to them as Gregg Williams, who had been picked to run the Defense, was suspended for the entire season.
The overhaul of the Coaching staff is going to cause some teething problems for the Rams, but they do have a franchise Quarter Back here in the form of Sam Bradford as long as they offer him some protection. Last season, they gave up 55 sacks, the most in the NFL, and Bradford missed 6 games as he took a bit of a beating behind the Offensive Line at times.
Unfortunately for Bradford, the Offensive Line is being rebuilt so it could be another tough year for him behind Center. The Rams did take a couple of Wide Receivers in the Draft this year, but they have lost Brandon Lloyd so it seems the Offense will rely on the running game provided by Steven Jackson.
Jackson is a top running back, but is now in his ninth year in the NFL and has had injury problems, although he only missed one game last season. A lot of the Rams Offense is likely to go through him if Fisher's previous Head Coaching roles are anything to go by.
The Rams picked up two players for the Defense in the first three rounds of the Draft this season and there is some talent on this side of the ball. The Defensive Line has players like Chris Long and Robert Quinn who will provide pressure from the Defensive Ends while Michael Brookers will come and play in his rookie season in the middle of that line.
However, I still think there are issues in the Secondary that can be exploited, despite the addition of Cortland Finnegan and it could be another tough season for St Louis (who are rumoured to be moving to Los Angeles so how will the fans respond if they start losing?)
St Louis should be improved from a season ago and the schedule does get easier after finishing in the basement of the NFC West, while they have a Division where they will feel they can take 2 of their 3 home games at the least. I have projected them to at least double last seasons 2 win total, possibly finishing as well as 5-11 in a transitional season.
The NFC looks to be the deeper, stronger Conference of the two in the NFL this season and I think they are going to pick up another SuperBowl winner.
Green Bay should be the team that finishes with the Number 1 seed in the Conference, but they have some ghosts to exorcise after being bounced in their first game last season. I have then projected the Philadelphia Eagles, with their easier schedule compared with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, to finish Number 2.
New Orleans and San Francisco should round up the Division winners, but the Wild Card race could be really interesting all the way to Week 17 when Chicago visit Detroit and both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants face Divisional rivals.
It is really difficult to pick a winner of the Conference as injuries and momentum are factors I just can't predict, but Green Bay have sounded plenty focused in the off-season and may just make home-field advantage count this time around.
NFC Play Off Prediction: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and New York Giants
The NFC looks to be the deeper, stronger Conference of the two in the NFL this season and I think they are going to pick up another SuperBowl winner.
Green Bay should be the team that finishes with the Number 1 seed in the Conference, but they have some ghosts to exorcise after being bounced in their first game last season. I have then projected the Philadelphia Eagles, with their easier schedule compared with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, to finish Number 2.
New Orleans and San Francisco should round up the Division winners, but the Wild Card race could be really interesting all the way to Week 17 when Chicago visit Detroit and both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants face Divisional rivals.
It is really difficult to pick a winner of the Conference as injuries and momentum are factors I just can't predict, but Green Bay have sounded plenty focused in the off-season and may just make home-field advantage count this time around.
NFC Play Off Prediction: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and New York Giants
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