Now we got the AFC out of the way, let's look at the conference that isn't an iteration of Groundhog Day. There are multiple contenders, however even the best of the bunch come in with question marks
The contenders
Rams: This team should still be in the thick of the race yet again, with Sean McVay, one of football's brightest young minds leading the offense and Aaron Donald a dominating defensive force leading the charge. Question remains the health of Gurley and how they bounce back from Super Bowl 53.
Eagles: Nick Foles is gone so Wentz will have to stay healthy for this team to have a chance. However this team has great talent and great coaching that with Wentz healthy they should be Super Bowl contenders
Bears: The last 2 years the NFC Championship has been won by a 2nd year up and coming offensive head coach. This year Matt Nagy is a 2nd year up and coming head coach. They also have a ferocious defense. Only questions are if Mitch Trubisky can throw a football and if they can find a kicker who can kick through the kicking net
Saints: They are one of the most talented teams in the NFL, question is, how will they deal with the devastation from the past 2 years and how will Drew Brees perform at age 40?
Definite playoff contenders
Falcons: Last year every defensive player worth anything got injured before they had a chance to be competitive. This team has enough talent to return to the playoffs if they remain healthy. The fact that they got rid of Steve Sarkisian who was awful as OC increases their playoff odds.
Seahawks: Pete Carroll as head coach and franchise cornerstones in Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner should help lift a young core of players to be competitive again
Something is there, but big question marks remain
49ers: They had talent and potential last year and now have even more with Nick Bosa arriving to potentially spark the defense after they got ravaged by injuries and went 4-12 as a result. Question is can Jimmy G stay healthy and live up to the hype? Can this team avoid the injury bug?
Packers: This all depends on Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers returns to form, you may be able to return to the playoffs before choking again, if not, well, you'll have another winning season. You finally fired Mike McCarthy but missed an opportunity to get an upgrade and instead hired the OC from the Titans (did you see that offense last year?)
Panthers: Maybe if Cam Newton returns to MVP form they'll have a chance to compete but as he drifts farther from that season I'm counting less and less on that
Vikings: They have talent, question is, can Kirk Cousins stop choking against every team worth a damn he faces?
Overrated
Cowboys: People are hyping this team up as a Super Bowl contender because "Cowboys" but Jason Garrett is your head coach and Dak Prescott is your QB so you have no chance. Plus Zeke Elliot appears to be prepared to sit the out the season without an insane contract
No chance at the playoffs
Lions: Other than Matt Patricia being obnoxious and them trying and almost certainly failing to imitate the Patriots, I have nothing to say about this team
Bucs: Bruce Arians may be able to get Jameis to play better, but you have no chance with this defense in this tough division
Redskins: Haskins will probably need a great year just for this team to win more than 5 games this year. For the record I didn't get the Haskins hype and don't he'll pan out as a franchise QB
Bottom of the Barrel
Cardinals: This team is completely directionless, so utterly devoid of any direction it's not even funny. They fired their head coach after one year (albeit understandable he was way in over his head) and gave up on their QB after one year after trading a nice haul to get him. Now they've got a head coach who had a losing record in college and they drafted an overrated, overhyped, skinny QB prospect no. 1 and put him behind a shitty O-line. Oh and their best player is suspended 6 games
Giants: This team is utter trash. This team literally has no one other than Saquon Barkley Every notable WR (and their corp wasn't good to begin with) is hurt or suspended to start the year. Every capable player not named Saquon they didn't ship out during the season was shipped out in the offseason. It's so bad Eli Manning is 3 years past being a functional QB in the NFL yet he still is probably one of the best players on the team. This team is a laughing stock
Unlike the AFC, this conferene should be interesting this year. I will be curious as to who comes out on top this year