New York Giants – This defense has a track record of under-performing during the regular season, but with an explosive offense I expect the Giants to avoid a similar Super Bowl hangover from their 2007 victory and take this division. Record: 11-5. Player-to-Watch: Salsa man Victor Cruz had an unprecedented rookie campaign, but can he have the same success when everybody sees him coming?
Dallas Cowboys – This team has underperformed in the Romo era and has weapons on offense in Demarco Murray and Dez Bryant, but can their improved secondary do its part to carry this team to a division crown and into the playoffs? Record: 7-9. Player-to-Watch: Morris Claiborne was their big offseason investment and must have an impact early to make the secondary as potent as the dline.
Philadelphia Eagles – IF Vick stays healthy, IF McCoy has another monster year, IF their secondary can earn their pay, and IF their rookies can put some bite into the defenses bark than this team can roll through this division, but that’s a LOT of “IF’s”. Record: 6-10. Player-to-Watch: Despite promising defensive talent from last year’s draft and this year’s draft all eyes fall on Vick to lead this team and he must remain healthy.
Washington Redskins – With a front 7 among the best in the NFL this defense will keep the Redskins in games, but this team’s fate will depend on how quickly RG3, Garcon, and the rest of this offense can mesh. Record: 8-8. Player-to-Watch: Pierre Garcon (No this isn’t a typo, I did not mean to write RG3) had an average season last year catching passes from Curtis Painter and Kerry Collins and could have a 1,000+ yard 10+ touchdown season.
Chicago Bears – Jay Cutler returns to find more firepower on a team that, many forgot, was 7-3 last season before losing Cutler and Forte and should take a wild card in a division that is arguably the deepest and most competitive in the League. Record: 11-5. Player-to-Watch: It will be very interesting to see what Devin Hester can do when operating out of a more conventional slot receiver position.
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers and company will come out hungry after a disappointing early exit in the playoffs and his defense will perform better than last year leading to another division title. Record: 13-3. Player-to-Watch: Cedric Benson could make this passing attack MoRE potent if defenses have to respect their ability to run the ball.
Detroit Lions – Stafford is unlikely to have a repeat of last year, despite the addition of Ryan Broyles at receiver, simply because the competition in this division will be up from last year and they still have questions at their running back spot. Record: 9-7. Player-to-Watch: Suh needs to mature as a leader and control his emotions to give coach Schwartz a defensive player to continue to build around.
Minnesota Vikings – Christian Ponder will continue his trial by fire and should be helped by the addition of Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith in the secondary, but don’t expect much from this team, except growth, in 2012. Record: 4-12. Player-to-Watch: This team’s season hinges on the knee of Adrian Peterson and fans must hope he did not rush back from his ACL injury.
New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees will continue his record rampage as he attacks the record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass and the maturation of Mark Ingram, as well as the suspension lift of Vilma, will help. Record: 11-5. Player-to-Watch: With the departure of Meachem, Marques Colston is the unquestioned #1 receiver and needs to perform like it.
Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan has not one, but 2 #1 receivers in Jones and White and appears ready to throw his name into consideration among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and winning one of the toughest divisions will accomplish that. Record: 12-4. Player-to-Watch: Julio Jones could emerge as a top 3 receiver in the NFL and elevate this offense to the best in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton and this offense will put up points with one of the best RB tandems in the league and the return of Jon Beason should make this team anything but an easy win. Record: 6-10. Player-to-Watch: Jon Beason is the leader on this defense and gives them a different dynamic when healthy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman should enjoy the additions of RB Doug Martin, WR Vincent Jackson, and TE Dallas Clark and could sneak up on a lot of teams given their defensive additions through the draft. Record: 7-9. Player-to-Watch: Now that Vincent Jackson is where he wants to be we could see him put his best foot forward and re-emerge as one of the NFL’s elite receivers.
San Francisco 49ers – After reaching the NFC championship last year this team has high expectations and Alex Smith should have greater ease getting back there thanks to significant upgrades in the receiving corps and added depth at running back. Record: 13-3. Player-to-Watch: Michael Crabtree should make a big jump this year now that he feels like he has some help in the receiving corps around him.
Arizona Cardinals – There is little hope for this team as they have significant questions at quarterback and, outside of Larry Fitzgerald, lack a lot of dynamic playmakers to help them compete with a division that has gotten much stronger. Record: 5-11. Player-to-Watch: Michael Floyd could learn from Fitzgerald and put up surprising numbers to help this team exceed expectations.
St. Louis Rams – Jeff Fisher has a tall task of turning around a team that has had little to cheer about recently, but additions on the defensive side of the ball should let him begin building this team in a similar fashion to the defensive-minded Titans of the early part of this century. Record: 3-13. Player-to-Watch: Janoris Jenkins is the kind of player Fisher will build this defense around, and for good reason, as he could become one of the stars of this year’s draft class.
Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson is getting the headlines but it will be the defense that gives this team a chance to make some noise thanks to the commitment to upgrading it through the draft with Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner. Record: 8-8. Player-to-Watch: Russell Wilson has tremendous upside as he was not even expected to start this year.
Dallas Cowboys – This team has underperformed in the Romo era and has weapons on offense in Demarco Murray and Dez Bryant, but can their improved secondary do its part to carry this team to a division crown and into the playoffs? Record: 7-9. Player-to-Watch: Morris Claiborne was their big offseason investment and must have an impact early to make the secondary as potent as the dline.
Philadelphia Eagles – IF Vick stays healthy, IF McCoy has another monster year, IF their secondary can earn their pay, and IF their rookies can put some bite into the defenses bark than this team can roll through this division, but that’s a LOT of “IF’s”. Record: 6-10. Player-to-Watch: Despite promising defensive talent from last year’s draft and this year’s draft all eyes fall on Vick to lead this team and he must remain healthy.
Washington Redskins – With a front 7 among the best in the NFL this defense will keep the Redskins in games, but this team’s fate will depend on how quickly RG3, Garcon, and the rest of this offense can mesh. Record: 8-8. Player-to-Watch: Pierre Garcon (No this isn’t a typo, I did not mean to write RG3) had an average season last year catching passes from Curtis Painter and Kerry Collins and could have a 1,000+ yard 10+ touchdown season.
Chicago Bears – Jay Cutler returns to find more firepower on a team that, many forgot, was 7-3 last season before losing Cutler and Forte and should take a wild card in a division that is arguably the deepest and most competitive in the League. Record: 11-5. Player-to-Watch: It will be very interesting to see what Devin Hester can do when operating out of a more conventional slot receiver position.
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers and company will come out hungry after a disappointing early exit in the playoffs and his defense will perform better than last year leading to another division title. Record: 13-3. Player-to-Watch: Cedric Benson could make this passing attack MoRE potent if defenses have to respect their ability to run the ball.
Detroit Lions – Stafford is unlikely to have a repeat of last year, despite the addition of Ryan Broyles at receiver, simply because the competition in this division will be up from last year and they still have questions at their running back spot. Record: 9-7. Player-to-Watch: Suh needs to mature as a leader and control his emotions to give coach Schwartz a defensive player to continue to build around.
Minnesota Vikings – Christian Ponder will continue his trial by fire and should be helped by the addition of Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith in the secondary, but don’t expect much from this team, except growth, in 2012. Record: 4-12. Player-to-Watch: This team’s season hinges on the knee of Adrian Peterson and fans must hope he did not rush back from his ACL injury.
New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees will continue his record rampage as he attacks the record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass and the maturation of Mark Ingram, as well as the suspension lift of Vilma, will help. Record: 11-5. Player-to-Watch: With the departure of Meachem, Marques Colston is the unquestioned #1 receiver and needs to perform like it.
Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan has not one, but 2 #1 receivers in Jones and White and appears ready to throw his name into consideration among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and winning one of the toughest divisions will accomplish that. Record: 12-4. Player-to-Watch: Julio Jones could emerge as a top 3 receiver in the NFL and elevate this offense to the best in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton and this offense will put up points with one of the best RB tandems in the league and the return of Jon Beason should make this team anything but an easy win. Record: 6-10. Player-to-Watch: Jon Beason is the leader on this defense and gives them a different dynamic when healthy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman should enjoy the additions of RB Doug Martin, WR Vincent Jackson, and TE Dallas Clark and could sneak up on a lot of teams given their defensive additions through the draft. Record: 7-9. Player-to-Watch: Now that Vincent Jackson is where he wants to be we could see him put his best foot forward and re-emerge as one of the NFL’s elite receivers.
San Francisco 49ers – After reaching the NFC championship last year this team has high expectations and Alex Smith should have greater ease getting back there thanks to significant upgrades in the receiving corps and added depth at running back. Record: 13-3. Player-to-Watch: Michael Crabtree should make a big jump this year now that he feels like he has some help in the receiving corps around him.
Arizona Cardinals – There is little hope for this team as they have significant questions at quarterback and, outside of Larry Fitzgerald, lack a lot of dynamic playmakers to help them compete with a division that has gotten much stronger. Record: 5-11. Player-to-Watch: Michael Floyd could learn from Fitzgerald and put up surprising numbers to help this team exceed expectations.
St. Louis Rams – Jeff Fisher has a tall task of turning around a team that has had little to cheer about recently, but additions on the defensive side of the ball should let him begin building this team in a similar fashion to the defensive-minded Titans of the early part of this century. Record: 3-13. Player-to-Watch: Janoris Jenkins is the kind of player Fisher will build this defense around, and for good reason, as he could become one of the stars of this year’s draft class.
Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson is getting the headlines but it will be the defense that gives this team a chance to make some noise thanks to the commitment to upgrading it through the draft with Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner. Record: 8-8. Player-to-Watch: Russell Wilson has tremendous upside as he was not even expected to start this year.