NFL Divisional Finals Preview and Predictions: By Kyle Balfour

NFC Season Preview
- Kyle Balfour

With the off-season now in the dust, and the pre-season drawing to a close this week, it's time for the meaningful stuff (pre-season don't mean squat. The 2008 Detroit Lions went 0-16 that season, yet were undefeated in pre-season. Pre-season is for skimming the roster into a final set, and testing out game plans and players. Oh, and copious amounts of injuries before the season even begins...) So now, without any further delays, it's time to see who I favour for securing their respective divisions.

So NFC first, as I'm biased (Tomlin will off-set this favouritism, though, so it's cool).

NFC North - Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and the Green Bay Packers.

I see the Packers taking the division this season. I don't see the Lions being able to recreate the luck they had last season, the Bears are going to be bad, and the vikings need good consistency if they want any type of success.

NFC South - Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This is a tough one. On one hand, the Falcons still have an incredible offence, despite blowing a SuperBowl the likes of which no one has done before, nor will ever forget; on the other hand, I like the Bucs slowly, but surely gelling into a formidable team with a solid core of players. With so many changes to the staff, I see this season as an experimentation within the Panthers. Still got the players, but we'll see if they can overcome the demons of previous years. Saints are gonna be meh.
Ah, screw it, I'll go with the Falcons! Don't blow it, this time!

NFC East - New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

*Warning! Incoming Favouritism!* I see the Giants taking it this year, and for good reason. New and exciting running game to test out, the most formidable wide receiver core in the league (barring injuries...), I see it happening this year! The Eagles seem competent provided the Carson Wentz Wagon doesn't fall apart like it did last season; the Cowboys are without prize rookie running back Ezekiel Elliot for 6 games, so Dak Prescott will have to adapt; and the Redskins are a mess this season, both on and off the field.

NFC West - Los Angeles Rams (man, that's weird to type...), San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals.

I say that due to the lack of competition in this division, the Seahawks will win, however not with an overall impressive record. Seattle's just been spinning its wheel the last few seasons, so hopefully Russell Wilson can recreate the magic of only a few years ago. Hopefully the 49ers can provide good competition after a strong draft and finally end the success drought the off-season a few years ago brought upon them. As for the rams: new location, same mediocre team. Finally, as for the Cardinals, as long as Carson Palmer is QB, this team is going nowhere. A hollow shell of his former self, riddled with injuries, unfortunately is bringing down and wasting David Johnson, the best RB in the league, and Larry Fitzgerald, a certified hall of fame recipient wide receiver had he been on ANY other team.

So there it is, the NFC summed up. Coming up next, the AFC roundup, and also wildcard spots.

Thanks for reading! - Kyle