NFL Football, NFC Preview: Eagles Masters. San Francisco’s first challenger

Philadelphia is still the NFC’s northern star after representing it in the last Super Bowl. But the competition is fierce: San Francisco is the first contender, Dallas, Seattle and, look, Detroit are candidates for the third wheel. Compared to the AFC, the NFC does not feature brilliant defenders, but features full-fledged teams with tough defense. Less special effects, but a lot of pulp.

NFC Vostok

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In the city of brotherly love, a piggy bank was broken to last Jalen Hurts: 5 years, 255 million. He capitalized on a great last season, but extending it meant losing valuable players, most notably defenseman Javon Hargrave and defenseman Gardner-Johnson. Philadelphia’s strengths remain the offensive line, led by experienced center Jason Kelsey, as well as the outstanding AJ Brown-Devonta Smith wide receiver pair that made the Hurts a great player beyond his passing merits.

The Dallas Cowboys will still be in the playoffs. And from the Super Bowl? Dura, with Dak Prescott at quarterback, had 15 interceptions last season. A pair of veteran rookies, wide receiver Brandin Cooks and defenseman Stephon Gilmour, will help the Texans, whose forte remains Micah Parsons, the catcher quarterback. Saying goodbye to Zeke Elliott was inevitable. The New York Giants enjoyed the taste of a playoff win under Coach Daball. Daniel Jones is the center’s present and future, and he’s excited about the arrival of tight end Darren Waller, but Saquon Barkley could run for the last year in the Big Apple, and it’s going to be harder to prove himself than it is to go back. Washington is the company’s ugly duckling. From the Chiefs, Eric Bienemi arrived as offensive coordinator for the Commanders, but Sam Howell does not appear to be racing. Rivera, the head coach, is risking his job.

NFC north

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Take a deep breath and get ready to learn the hard but unmistakable truth: The Lions are a team that can be beaten in the division. Even if they haven’t won it since 1993, back then it was called NFC Central. After all, “it can’t rain forever,” even in freezing Detroit. The Lions have won 8 of their last 10 games, bolstered their minor Achilles heel, drafted explosive running back Jameer Gibbs, and made Jared Goff a smart quarterback with “only” time to pitch. And the line is good. The current champions are the Minnesota Vikings. But there was too much quality to count on reaffirmation: the pillars were Dalwyn Cook, Adam Thielen, Za’Darius Smith and Eric Kendricks. Kirk Cousins ​​remains a homework accountant, not a heavenly vision, despite Justin Jefferson being an unusual target.

The Green Bay Packers, without Aaron Rodgers, will confirm that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” To lose a quarterback like that is to condemn yourself to an immediate curse and call the Pats for confirmation. Jordan Love wears shoes that are too big for him, especially with the revamped offensive line and inexperienced receiving body. However, the Bears are confident in a further qualitative leap from Justin Fields, a terrific athlete who needs to learn how to serve. He was given a rescue receiver, DJ Moore: will that be enough to make Chicago’s attack less predictable?

nfcsouth

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Clay pot conference. Someone will have to win it and thereby win a place in the playoffs, but this risks turning into a war between the poor. New Orleans Saints is the safest second hand store. Derek Carr will never be a great quarterback, but he’s no worse than the Winston, Simian and Hill who have come and gone before him. Chris Olav is a wide receiver with a lot of potential, and on defense there are veterans who know how (to win): Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyranne Mathieu. The Carolina Panthers have named University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young the winner of the Heisman Trophy with the first pick in the 2023 draft. It won’t be as tall as the position prototype, but it works. And to speed up his transition to the pros, they put veterans like Adam Thielen and Miles Sanders next to him.

The Tampa Bay Books were left without a head and tail after the departure of Tom Brady. Under coach Bowles, they reused Baker Mayfield as a ferry guard. It looks like the exchange will take Mike Evans, who is accepting the flag, somewhere else along the way. The Atlanta Falcons have Desmond Ridder at quarterback and we’re off to a bad start. A running game with Bijan Robinson should work, but it will take more to complete the attack.

NFC West

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The San Francisco 49ers are a team worth beating. If they manage to stay sane for once, they’ll be the favorites to go to the Super Bowl. Striker trio Kristan McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are not afraid of opponents. And former “Mr. Inappropriate” Brock Purdy is an energetic and combative defender. He appears to have recovered from an injury sustained in past playoffs as safety coach Shanahan brought Sam Darnold into the bay as insurance. The arrival of Javon Hargrave is proof that the rich get richer: the defense is scary.

Seattle was the opening of last season. Coach Carroll is the devil: he does not age aesthetically and as a football coach. He raised Jeno Smith, pampered a pair of Metcalfe-Lockett wide receivers and a tandem of up-and-coming Wollen-Witherspoon full-backs. “Old” Bobby Wagner is back home. The Los Angeles Rams have revolutionized and rejuvenated their ranks, but they still have the Stafford-Kupp-Donald backbone. Just to be competitive, not to win. Arizona Cardinals are a disaster: Josh Dobbs is a recovering deputy for Kyler Murray, well… They let Zach Allen go, who knows why. The top picks for the #1 pick in the 2024 draft.