The NFC North was a major disappointment during the 2013 NFL season. The Green Bay Packers won the division, but they did it with an unimposing 8-7-1 record. This, of course, came after the group had three teams with double-digit wins the year before.
NFL.com’s Adam Schein recently wrote the following about the 2014 NFC South:
“I get paid to have an opinion. That’s how I make a living. The words “I don’t know” usually don’t fly in my world. However, I’m asking for an exception.
2014 AFC West Division Outlook – Denver’s Division to Lose
The NFL season is right around the corner – the draft and rookie camps are a thing of the past. Although position battles have yet to be determined there are some definite favorites in each division based on projected roster alone – the AFC West is absolutely no exception.
NFC West Division Outlook – Seahawks and 49ers Poised for Another Showdown
Summer is officially upon us – the NFL draft is over and teams have already held rookie camps. Yes folks, the NFL season may seem far away but it will creep up on us quicker than we can expect. Simply put – it is never too early to start talking about the teams we should keep our eyes on.
Super Bowl Props – Something For Everyone
The NFL does a miraculous job in keeping everybody hyped for the annual event – women, children and football fans from all over the globe. Be it the halftime show, the commercials or the Spectacle itself, the Super Bowl is like no other sporting event on the planet.
Both of these teams were in the playoffs a year ago but both are 0-1 heading into week 2 and in trouble. Whichever team exits 0-2 is going to be really behind the eightball to make it back to the playoffs and both play in competitive divisions.
Minnesota is on the road for yet another divisional game. Last week they lost at Detroit and a loss this week would be especially damaging because it would drop them to 0-2 and two games behind at least Chicago in the NFC North.
Buffalo almost started the Doug Marrone/E.J. Manuel era with a surprising win over the Pats last week while the Panthers almost smothered the hype around the Seahawks.
Things didn’t go the way the Atlanta Falcons planned in their opener against New Orleans. They didn’t play that terribly poorly but the result was the same, they just have trouble beating the Saints in that building and it looks like having Sean Payton on the sidelines is going to make a difference for New Orleans.
Every team in the AFC North lost their opening game last week but not all of those losses were of equal concern. Baltimore went into Denver with the best of intentions but didn’t have an answer for Broncos QB Peyton Manning, it looks like few will this season.
This is definitely not among the marquee matchups but based on the oddmakers outlook it looks like everyone is expecting a very close contest between these two teams to start the season.
NFC North divisional battle to start the season for both of these clubs with different sets of expectations based on last year’s performance.
Though it is not a feature game in terms of television this should be one of the better contests of the opening week. Cincinnati enters the season on the hunt for a third straight visit to the postseason while Chicago is looking to quickly erase last year’s second half collapse.
Its week 1 and these familiar opponents are ready to do battle even if there are a lot of unfamiliar faces on both sides of the ball for both teams.
These two teams met last year in the playoffs, a game famously won by the Ravens on their way to winning the Super Bowl last season. Less than a year later there will be a lot of new faces on the field when they kick off the NFL season on Thursday Night.
Are you ready for some football? The NFL is back with the first game of the preseason this weekend. It’s the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton.
