NFL Preview 2024: NFC Edition

NFL Preview 2024: NFC Edition

The NFC could be wide open this year with several teams vying for the top spot. The Niners are the defending NFC Champions but they will be tested. Let’s take a look at the win total over/unders for the NFC

National Football Conference

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (9.5 wins) - The Cowboys cleaned up the contract business of CeeDee Lamb while at the same time calling out quarterback Dak Prescott to up his game. There is concern at running back with only aging Ezekiel Elliott as a viable #1. They have an above-average secondary, a solid special teams unit and playmakers, however. Win Total - Over, this team will be celebrating a second straight division title. A Super Bowl..hmm, not so sure.

New York Giants (6.5 wins) - The Giants passed on a quarterback in the draft and hope that Daniel Jones can finally stay healthy for a full season and head coach Brian Daboll can coach him up again as he did in 2022. They have a solid pass rush, a new DC emphasizing stopping the run. This team could be sneaky good. Win Total - Over, the Giants will pick up some of the wins missing from another NFC East stalwart.

Philadelphia (10.5 wins)—The Eagles have some issues. The quarterback and head coach don’t get along, they are switching OCs yet again, and some key vets have retired. QB Hurts will have to prove he can be a top-of-the-line quarterback. He looked like one in 2022, but last year, not so much.Win Total: Under, the Eagles will step back a bit this season. The playoffs will be dicey, but they’ll benefit from some bad teams in the NFC.

Washington Commanders (6.5) - The Commanders should be very competitive this season, especially with rookie QB Daniels under center. Still, this is a tough division and they’ll have their hands full winning more than two division games. Win Total: Under, I think the Commanders will benefit from another high draft pick to add talent to this roster.

Predicted Finish: 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Philadelphia Eagles 3. New York Giants and 4. Washington Commanders

NFC North

Chicago Bears (9.5 wins) - The pressure is certainly on #1 pick Caleb Wiliams. The Bears win total over/under is hefty for a team with a first-year starter. That said, the Bears have talent everywhere around him. If the defense can hold up, this is a playoff team. Win Total: Over, it’ll be close but the Bears can get to 10 wins. This is the best division in the NFC.

Detroit Lions (10.5 wins) - The Lions were poised to head to their first-ever Super Bowl with a 10-point halftime lead in the NFC Title game. Then the 49ers steamrolled them. This team is ready and able to win right now. Win Total: Over, this team could be the class of the NFC and 12 wins is a real possibility.

Green Bay Packers (9.5 wins) - Jordan Love delivered and more last year on the team’s way to 9 wins and then an upset route of Dallas in the playoffs. They upgraded at RB with Jacobs this year and still have the deepest WR group in the conference. Can the defense hold up? Win Total: Over, the Packers will battle the Bears for second place in the division and both teams should make the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings (6.5 wins) - The Vikings drew the short straw battling three likely playoff teams in this division with a new QB. The question might very well be if head coach Kevin O’Connell can survive a last-place finish. Win Total: Under. This division has too much firepower and too much talent for the Vikings to sneak up on anyone. Darnold has never proven to be a #1 quarterback and I dont’ see it happening this season.

Predicted Finish: 1. Detroit Lions 2. Chicago Bears 3. Green Bay Packers and 4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (9.5 wins) - This looks like the class team of the NFC South. They have Cousins at QB, a dynamic RB in Robinson and an improved defense. They’ll win the division more comfortably than some might think. Win Total: Over. This looks like the only playoff team in a fairly weak division.

Carolina Panthers (5.5 wins) - I don’t see much improvement in this team. I’m not sure that Bryce Young ever lives up to the status of a #1 pick. They struggled to put up points last season and struggled to protect Young. Both things will be a problem again this season. Win Total: Under. The Panthers could be battling for the #1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

New Orleans Saints (7.5 wins) - The Saints have hung arond the middle of the pack for a number of years but this could be the year the wheels fall off. QB Carr did not adjust well to a new system last year and the defense is getting long in the tooth. Win Total: Under. The Saints will be pushed to get to 7 wins this season.

Tampa Bay Bucs (7.5 wins) - Baker Mayfield delivered last year and got the Bucs into the playoffs and a first round win. He will have a hard time repeating that feat this season with an aging wide receiver group and a defense that is getting older as well. Win Total: Over. The Bucs aren’t a playoff team but I think they’ll sneak over this total with 8 wins.

Predicted Finish: 1. Atlanta Falcons 2. Tampa Bay Bucs 3. New Orleans Saints and 4. Carolina Panthers

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals (6.5 wins) - This is a tough team to figure out. They will have QB Murray back for a full season and exciting rookie wideout Harrison Jr. But do they have the kind of defense that can keep them in games? Win Total: Under. I’m not sold on Murray as a difference-maker at QB. He’ll make exciting plays but consistency is not his friend.

LA Rams (8.5 wins) - The Rams look like a playoff team this season. They have a veteran QB, a true #1 running back, and a top-flight duo at WR. The defense is young and hungry as well. Hmm, could this team welcome back Aaron Donald late in the year if he thinks they have a shot? Just speculating. Win Total: Over. The Rams have a legitimate shot at unseating the 49ers atop the division.

San Francisco 49ers (11.5 wins) - The signs are there for a slight dip in play for the 49ers. They’ve made three straight deep runs in the playoffs without pulling out a title. They have had contract squabbles and RB McCaffrey is already a bit hobbled. Win Total: Under. They’ll sneak into the playoffs but this team won’t reach 11 wins.

Seattle Seahawks (7.5 wins) - New coach in Mike Macdonald but the same defensive mindset. The Seahawks usher in a new coaching staff and hope they can retain the winning mentality brought by former coach Pete Carroll. Win Total: Under. The Seahawks look like a team that will take a small step back this season. The division is tougher than it has been in recent years and even Arizona isn’t a cupcake win this year.

Predicted Finish: 1. LA Rams 2. SF 49ers 3. Seattle Seahawks and 4. Arizona Cardinals

Most Overvalued NFC Team 2024: Philadelphia Eagles - 10.5 wins is too much to ask of a team that has in-fighting and a locker room that may struggle without some key veterans on hand. Runner-up: SF 49ers (11.5)

Most Undervalued NFC Team 2024: Los Angeles Rams - The Rams look like a double-digit win team for sure this year with depth on defense and an offense that is loaded with talent. Runner-up: New York Giants (6.5)