As part of our Belated Preview Series, we will continue to make our best predictions based on a small sample size, rather than preseason hullabaloo, in order to gain a more complete analysis of the teams we are previewing. With the NFL's week 1 now in the books, we figured now was the best time to share our league preview:

POST WEEK 1 DIVISIONAL PREDICTIONS:

AFC EAST:

1. New England Patriots: In the least documented development of the off season, Pats' future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady is suspended for the first 4 games of the season stemming from his involvement with "deflategate" in early 2015. However, Belichek and the Patriots have shown no signs of relenting their grip on the division this season as the Gronkless Pats marched into Glendale on Monday night and beat the extremely talented Arizona Cardinals 23-21. Ringer QB Jimmy Garoppolo was solid in the win and proved that not only can he play in the NFL, but he can win too. Expect the Pats to win their division for the 200th time in a row.

2. New York Jets: The Jets finally signed QB Ryan Fitzmagic after months of drama surrounding his new contract. Their defense is again the strength of the team and second year coach Todd Bowles will rely on them if he wants to improve on their 9-7 record from a year ago, in which they narrowly missed the playoffs. The Jets' biggest off season acquisition was Matt Forte from Chicago who adds a new dynamic to their power run game. He looked impressive in their season opening loss to the Bengals, and will continue to be a focal point of the offense going forward. The 23-22 opening loss to the Bengals was a tough pill to swallow for Big Green, but they have the talent and experience to contend for a wild card spot in December.

3. Buffalo Bills: Outspoken second year coach Rex Ryan will rely on dynamic dual threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor to again lead the offense this year. Taylor is a capable QB, but unfortunately has few other offensive weapons to work with since explosive receiver went down week 1 and will be sidelined for a while. The Bills defense is BIG, and got bigger and meaner in the draft with the additions of DE Shaq Lawson, LB Reggie Ragland, and DT Adolphus Washington who they took with their first 3 picks respectively. They will need to keep opposing offenses out of the end zone to give their stagnant offense any chance of winning. Rex's biggest criticism in New York was that he was more of a defensive coordinator than a head coach, and that his offensive schemes were too simple and predictable to be successful. Unfortunately for Bills Mafia, it looks like little has changed for Rex since he moved upstate (13-7 week 1 loss to the Ravens) and Buffalo should expect another mediocre season this year.

4. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins believe they have their franchise QB in Ryan Tannehill, but I just don't think he's the messiah to lead them to the promise land. Coming off a 6-10 record last season, first year coach Adam Gase has a major project to try and get the Fins back to the playoffs. They let workhorse running back Lamar Miller leave for Houston and picked up Arian Foster as his replacement, who was a shell of his former self in their 12-10 season opening loss to the Seahawks. Miami's passing attack relies heavily on the production of Jarvis Landry, though they did bring in unproven play maker Kenny Still to add another receiving option for Tannhehill. Their defense stood strong against the Seahawks, only allowing 12 points, and put the Dolphins in a position to win the game, but the offense was totally outmatched by the aggressive Seattle defense. If Tannehill, Foster, and Landry can't produce points this year, it will be a very long season for the 15 Dolphins fans in Miami.

AFC NORTH:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: The perennial playoff bound Steelers will once again contend for the division crown this season, even with pro-bowler La'Veon Bell sidelined for the first 3 games of the season due to another suspension. Offense has never been the concern for head coach Mike Tomlin, who hopes Ben Roethlisberger and stud receiver Antonio Brown can continue to connect for record numbers. When fully healthy (or not suspended) Pittsburgh boasts arguably the best offensive unit in the league. Defense, especially their secondary, was inconsistent last year, but in their season opening thumping of the Redskins Monday night, they looked dominant. Linebacker Ryan Shazier is poised for a breakout year as he teams up with Bud Dupree and James Harrison to form one of the best play-making linebacker groups in the NFL. The AFC North is one of the best and deepest divisions in the NFL, but if La'Veon can return with minimal rust, they should win the division and even compete for the conference title in January.

2. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have made the playoffs the last 5 seasons and will be Pittsburgh’s biggest challenger for the the division crown. 13th year head coach Marvin Lewis’s elusive first playoff win rests in the hands of 5th year quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense will again be the strength of their team, and the offense will need to be more consistent if they want to get the playoff win monkey off their backs. Wide receiver A.J. Green is there best offensive weapon, and if Lewis can figure out ways to get the ball in his hands they have a good chance to win any of their games. Establishing a consistent run game with Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard will take pressure off of Dalton and Green and allow the offense to take the pressure of of Green. The Bengals opened their 2016 season with a good 23-22 win at the Jets, but the offensive line was a glaring problem for them all day. If Cincinnati can plug his O-line holes then Cincinnati should not only compete for a wild card spot, but has a good chance to win the division.

3. Baltimore Ravens: 4 years removed from their Super Bowl victory, the Ravens have failed to reach the playoffs. Joe Flacco’s giant 6 yr, $120 million contract has not translated into more postseason success and their offense seams to have no direction. The Ravens’ defense is strong once again, but the offense struggled against the Bills in their week 1 13-7 win. The complete lack of a running game puts added pressure on an overrated Flacco and his mediocre core of receivers. Their aging receiving core, anchored by Steve Smith and Mike Wallace, would have put the group near the top of the league 5 years ago, but now will struggle to beat defenses deep. Baltimore is not a bad team by any means, but the AFC North is just too tough of a division for them to win this year. They will need to develop some semblance of a ground game if they have any hopes of the wild card. My guess is they finish somewhere between 6-10 and 9-7.

4. Cleveland Browns: Oh boy, where do we begin? The team that drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round. The team that drafted Trent Richardson 2nd overall. The laughing stock of the league has attempted to gut their entire front office and roster and rebuild from scratch. The Browns have only 3 of their draft picks between 2004 and 2014 currently on their roster. They have no running backs, no receivers, and Robert Griffin III, who they brought in this off season to be their starter, will miss extended time after injuring his shoulder in the season opener. You can’t write this stuff folks. If the NFL instituted relegation the Browns would be in the second division of professional football. As to be expected, the Browns got rocked by rookie QB Carson Wentz in his NFL debut for the Eagles as he went 22 of 37 for 278 yards en route to the 29-10 victory for Philadelphia. Literally the only thing Browns fans have to look forward to this season is that Josh Gordon will be back week 5 after his year long+ suspension. But if I was a Brown’s fan I wouldn’t hold my breath, because by that time who knows who’ll be Cleveland’s quarterback. 

AFC SOUTH:

1. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts live and die by Andrew Luck and this was all too apparent last season when Luck went down with a lacerated kidney that kept him out of 9 games and Indianapolis finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. There's no doubt that Andrew Luck is one of the top quarterbacks in the league when he's healthy. He's built like a tight end at 6'4 240 lbs., can make all the passes, read the defense as well as anyone, and can run, but all of that is irrelevant if his offensive line can't protect him. Indianapolis has addressed their woeful offensive line in last April's draft by selecting 4 linemen including 2 of their first 3 picks. The Colt's offense can score quickly when healthy, and if their defense continues to give up big yards and a lot of points like last year, then they will be forced to continue this. Indianapolis' porous defense was again on display in their week 1 39-35 shootout loss to Detroit, in which Luck went 31-47 for 385 yards and 4 TDs and 0 interceptions in the losing effort. I generally wouldn't pick a team whose defense allows 30+ points regularly to win their division, but the Colts' offense is potent and the AFC South may be the weakest division in football so I think they have the inside track here.

2. Houston Texans: 3rd year head coach Bill O'Brien appears to have the Texans on the upswing after winning the division last year with a 9-7 record that he salvaged from a 2-5 start and lack of a quarterback. This year it appears that O'Brien and the Texans have found their franchise quarterback in former Denver man Brock Osweiler, who they promised $72 million over 4 years to, even though he has only started 7 games since he entered the league in 2012. He will have some help though, as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is one of the league's best and can make any QB look good, and they drafted speedy receiver Will Fuller out of Notre Dame to add another deep threat. The Texans let aging running back Arian Foster go this summer, but picked up underrated workhorse back Lamar Miller from Miami. O'Brien will hope that Osweiler will have some of his pressure relieved by the Texans' defense, who boast arguably the best player in the league in the insufferable J.J. Watt who, together with Vince Wilfork and Jadaveon Clowney form a scary. play-making, defensive front. Their secondary is still sketchy at best, but will be aided 10-fold by Watt and Co. getting pressure in the backfield. The Texans have the coaching and personnel to win this division or compete for a wild card spot, but I've got them second right now because it's too early to get a read on just how good Osweiler is.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: After years of being the doormat of the NFL, the Jags looked promising last season despite going 5-11. 3rd year QB Blake Bortles looks to take a step forward in his development and he has already shown he's a gunslinger. He's surrounded with play-making receivers Maquise Lee and the Allens - Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. 2nd year running back T.J. Yeldon looks promising too and he will split carries with bruising back Chris Ivory, who they brought in this off season from the Jets, to soften up the defense. Head coach Gus Bradley has clearly made improving the Jags defense a priority as they used 6 of their 7 draft picks this year on defensive players, including their first 5. The Jags spent a lot in free agency to bolster their defense as well, picking up star DT Malik Jackson from Denver, and free safety Tashaun Gipson and corner back Prince Amukamara to strengthen their secondary. Bradley's changes seemed to be working in week 1 against the Packers, despite losing the game 27-23. Bortles threw for 320 yards in the losing effort and the game came down to the wire. Green Bay is Vegas' pick to win the Super Bowl and keeping it tight with them should be a confidence builder for Jacksonville going forward.

4. Tennessee Titans: This was a close call between the Titans and Jags, because I like what they're doing in Nashville, but Tennessee is still a few years away from really challenging for a playoff spot. They've found their franchise QB in Marcus Mariota and snagging DeMarco Murray from the cancer that is the Philadelphia Eagles will rejuvenate his career. Selecting beast Bama back Derrick Henry in the second round may end up being the steal of this year's draft. Along with Antonio Andrews, the Titans boast one the best running back committees in the league, but desperately need to acquire some receivers for Mariota. Kendall Wright is their current number 1, and he is injured indefinitely to begin the season. Their defense is a group of relative no-names, but played very well against Adrian Peterson and the Vikings in Week 1. Despite losing 25-16, Tennessee's defense held Minnesota to no touchdowns on the day (Vikings scored 2 defensive TDs) and kept AP in check with just 31 yards rushing on 19 attempts. The Titans are not as pathetic as they used to be, but just don't have the depth or receiving threats to be considered in the playoff conversation this year.

AFC WEST:

1. Denver Broncos: This pick is really by default. I would not have picked them to finish first before the season started (hence why we do belated predictions), but Denver had the most impressive win in the division week 1 over the Panthers 21-20. The post-Peyton era has begun for the defending Super Bowl champions and at the helm is first year starter Trevor Siemian. While Head Coach Gary Kubiak will probably be the first to admit that Siemian is not their long-term replacement for Peyton Manning, Siemian held his own against the vaunted Carolina defense, eager for Super Bowl revenge, in the season opener. It doesn't hurt that he has two extremely talented receivers to throw to in Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, and if C.J. Anderson can run the ball consistently it will take a lot of pressure off of Siemian on third downs. Peyton's retirement and Osweiler's exit freed up quite a bit of cap room for the Broncos, and GM John Elway wasted no time paying his defense. Denver's defense, led by All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller and book ended by DaMarcus Ware, proved that it is the league's best again in the season opener by viciously attacking reigning MVP Cam Newton. Wade Phillips' unit will be able to keep the Broncos in any game this year, and if Siemian can do enough to beat Carolina, he should be able to muster up enough offense beat most teams in the league. I'm not sold on a Denver repeat this year, but with their defense and coaching, they should be able to win their division.

2. Oakland Raiders: A bit of a controversial pick taking them over the Chiefs, but head coach Jack Del Rio has Oakland on the right trajectory...finally. QB Derek Carr is the real deal and second year receiver Amari Cooper could become one of the best in the league. Latavius Murray is a very solid back and should add balance to the Raider offense. Their defense. led by Pro-Bowler Khalil Mack is nasty and one of the more underrated units in the league. They were tested in week 1 on the road against the high octane pass-happy Saints offense, but Carr and Co. orchestrated a tremendous come back win in emphatic fashion. Coach Del Rio proved he has some serious balls when he called for a two-point conversion for the win after scoring with 47 seconds left to draw within 1. Carr and Crabtree converted and put the NFL on notice that Oakland is for real. I think every red-blooded American has a soft spot for the Raiders and I think this is the year they finally go back to the playoffs.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs are a very solid team and Andy Reid is a very solid coach, but I just don't think Kansas City has done enough to upgrade their offense to improve from last season's 11-5 record. Sure, 11-5 is a very impressive record and most fans would love to say their team won a playoff game, but when you have a defense that boasts 6 pro-bowlers you begin to expect more. Obviously the Chief's defense is the strength of their team and one of the best unites in the NFL, but their offense lacks far behind their defensive counterparts. With star running back Jamaal Charles injured to begin the season, the Chiefs will struggle to find production. Spencer Ware has proved a capable backup, but in week 1 he was their only offensive threat. Quarterback Alex Smith seems to have a phobia of throwing to his receivers and instead prefers the safety of check downs to Ware and stud tight end Travis Kelce. I'm shocked that Andy Reid has not entered to quarterback market to find a replacement for Smith. Not only is Smith aging (32 years old), but he has proven that he is not a consistent passer. Albeit, he does have little to work with, Jeremy Maclin is his only real competent receiver, but these issues should have been addressed in the off season. Kansas City is currently 1-0 after a comeback OT win over divisional rival San Diego, but their offensive deficiencies were glaring in the first half, falling behind 21-3 by the half. Comeback wins are great, but playing a complete game is better. Kansas City is good, but they won't repeat their 11-5 record and will be lucky to make the playoffs again.

4. San Diego Chargers: Charger's QB Phillip Rivers is probably the least likeable person in the NFL. That said, he's pretty good at throwing the football, but San Diego will need a lot more than just Rivers playing well to have any chance at making the playoffs this year. Wide Receiver Keenan Allen has been the Chargers' number one offensive weapon the last 2 years, but tore his ACL in their week 1 overtime loss to Oakland and will miss the remainder of the season. Travis Benjamin has now, by default, become Rivers' number 1 target and I expect the San Diego offense to sputter because of it. 2nd year running back Melvin Gordon has yet to prove he's worth his 1st round selection in 2015, although he did score 2 TDs in week 1. Danny Woodhead is a capable back, but his size limits the amount of carries he gets and should be primarily used on 3rd down and passing situations. The once prolific Charger offense should be a shell of its former self this year and their defense is above average at best. San Diego plays in a tough division and it could be a very long year for Charger faithful.

NFC EAST:

1. New York Giants: In what is likely to be another war of attrition in the NFC East, I believe that the New York Giants have the best chance of coming out on top. The Giants have finished a disappointing 6-10 the past 2 seasons and first year coach Ben McAdoo is eager to reverse that trend. Eli Manning is coming off a career year in which he set personal bests in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He has a lot to be excited about this year with a finally healthy Victor Cruz, stud rookie Sterling Shepard, and All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to throw to. The Giants spent a lot of money this off season to address their defensive deficiencies, particularly along the defensive line and secondary. They brought in free agent defensive end Olivier Vernon to bolster their awful pass rush and DT Damon Harrison to strengthen their front four. The Giants also shelled out some dough to bring in free agent corner back Janoris Jenkins from St. Louis/L.A. and drafted corner Eli Apple with the 10th overall pick and safety Darian Thompson in the 3rd round to add depth and talent to their porous secondary. The off season moves by McAdoo and Co. appear to be working as they outlasted an injury and suspension ridden Cowboys team 20-19 on the road to start the season. Eli was solid, throwing for 207 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception, while the defense held Dallas' rookie backfield to just 1 touchdown on the day. Perhaps the biggest bright spot in the Giants week 1 win was the effectiveness of the running game. The Giants haven't had any semblance of a consistent ground game since the 2008 Super Bowl team, so it was refreshing to see the offensive line get good pushes and the backs consistently pick up positive yardage. Rashad Jennings led the way with 75 yards, in maybe his best game as a Giant, and Vereen followed with 38 yards on 6 carries. If the Giants continue to have a successful ground game, Eli will have the space downfield to distribute the ball to his 3 talented receiving weapons. This Giants offense has the potential to be the most lethal in the Eli era and should put up big numbers this season.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: The Chip Kelly experiment is finally over and it ended in flames. The Eagles' starting backfield from a year ago of Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray have left the city of brotherly love for greener pastures and the Carson Wentz era has begun. The 1st year head coach/QB tandem of Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz kicked off their season with a 29-10 dominating win over the lowly Browns. Wentz went 22 of 37 for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns in his debut and quickly established that receiver Jordan Matthews is his favorite target, completing 7 of 14 passes to him for 114 yards and a tuddy. Ryan Matthews paced the Eagles on the ground with 77 yards on 22 carries and a TD. Their defense looked strong, albeit against a terrible Browns offense. Pro-Bowler Fletcher Cox is the heart of their defense and their front line is talented, but question marks remain about their secondary. The Eagles are a good team and have the potential to challenge for the NFC East title, but there are too many question marks about a rookie QB right now to make them the division favorites.

3. Dallas Cowboys: With the injury to Tony Romo, the Cowboys are destined to another year of mediocrity. The Romoless Cowboys opened their season up with a 20-19 home loss to their division rival Giants. Led by their rookie backfield of QB Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliot, the Cowboys actually played relatively well. Dallas controlled the time of possession and utilized the best offensive line in the league to set their offensive tone. Prescott was well protected and avoided getting sacked, and showed good pocket presence and elusiveness. His arm strength remain a question mark as he was unable to connect on any deep passes. Zeke Elliot rushed for 51 yards in his debut, and other than his red zone touchdown, failed to make any real decisive impact on the game. Dez Bryant was held to only 1 reception for 8 yards against the vastly improved Giants secondary. The Cowboys defense played decently well considering their best pass rusher Randy Gregory is suspended to start the season. All in all, Dallas won't be the worst team in the league with Prescott as their signal caller, but they won't be the best team either. I see this team finishing comfortably out of the playoff picture with an 8-8 record at best.

4. Washington Redskins: The reigning division champions returned to the gridiron Monday night with a thumping 38-16 home loss to the Steelers. It looks like Kirk Cousins' performance last year was a fluke and the Skins will once again return to the cellar of the NFC East. Big money free agent corner back Josh Norman was relegated to playing on only one side of the field in their season opener, allowing All-Pro wide out Antonio Brown to run wild on opposite corner Bashaud Breeland. The defense had no answer for Big Ben and Co. as they asserted their dominance over the Redskins. Washington's offense looked equally pitiful as their running back tandem of Matt Jones and Chris Thompson combined for only 55 rushing yards. DeSean Jackson finished with 6 receptions for 102 yards, but most of his catches came late when the game was already out of reach. Cousins looked baffled by a Steelers defense that was above average at best last year. He flung 2 picks to show everyone he's not worth the $20 million he's getting paid this year. The Redskins looked awful week 1 and they wont sniff the playoffs this season.

NFC NORTH:

1. Green Bay Packers: With Aaron Rodgers at the helm it's always tough to bet against the Packers. Green Bay is determined to retake the division crown from Minnesota this year and got things going in the right direction with their season opening 27-23 win at Jacksonville. Even though Rodgers and the offense didn't play particularly well, knowing your team can pull out sloppy victories is reassuring for the Cheese Head faithful. Rodgers finished just 20-34 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions, and a slimmer Eddie Lacy gained 61 yards on 14 carries. Green Bay's defense is led by Clay Mathews and their front 7 looked solid against the Jaguars, but their secondary looks vulnerable to giving up the big play. The Packers are the book makers' pick to win the Super Bowl this year, but they will have to play cleaner pass defense if they want to make that dream a reality. Green Bay should win the division this year, but the NFC North is always competitive and they will likely face some tough challenges along the way.

2. Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson, the face of the franchise, is gone, but Matt Stafford and the Lions are determined to prove that one man doesn't make or break their season. Stafford and the Lions came out week 1 and beat the Colts on the road in a shootout 39-35. The Lions showed resiliency as they nearly gave up a 21-3 lead when the Colts went up 35-34 with just 37 seconds left in the game, but Stafford led Detroit down the field and set up Matt Prater's game winning 43 yard field goal with just 4 seconds left. The Lions' offense doesn't seem to have skipped a beat without Megatron as Stafford passed for 340 yards and 3 TDs with no picks and connected on 31-39 attempts. Stafford is keen to get new addition Marvin Jones and tight end Eric Ebron more involved this year, as both were favorite options for Stafford on Sunday. They also ran the ball more effectively than in seasons past as Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick combined for 108 yards on 19 carries. Detroit's defensive line is the strength of their defense, led by Haloti Ngata and Ziggy Ansah, but their secondary looked suspect. Andrew Luck diced up the Lions' secondary in the second half and almost pulled off the improbable come back. Detroit looks better than many expected through week 1 and if they can continue their offensive efficiency they could give Green Bay a run for their money.

3. Minnesota Vikings: The reigning NFC North champions were dealt a devastating blow right before the season started this year when starting QB Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee in practice. Minnesota picked up Eagles' tormented step child Sam Bradford in exchange for draft picks and showed that they want to win now. Head coach Mike Zimmer wants to build on last seasons' playoff birth and division title even if it means it's without his former first round draft pick QB. However, Zimmer didn't think that Bradford was ready to start week 1 against the Titans, so Shaun Hill took the opening day reigns in their 25-16 victory. All-Everything running back Adrian Peterson was held to just 31 yards on 19 carries as the Titans stacked the box. Hill managed the game effectively enough, throwing no TDs but not turning the ball over either. Second year receiver Stefon Diggs is the Vikings' biggest play-maker in the passing game and expect him to get a lot of targets this season. Minnesota's defense were the heroes on Sunday, returning 2 fumbles for touchdowns to open up the game. If the Vikings can begin to trust rookie receiver Laquon Treadwell in the passing game and alleviate some of the offensive pressure from Peterson and Diggs this team has a chance of returning to the playoffs. If Bradford can play to his potential and the defense can continue to attack like they did week 1, they might even be able to defend their division crown.

4. Chicago Bears: Being a Bears fan wont get any easier this season. Jay Cutler somehow still has a starting job in the NFL and until they get rid of him the Bears will go nowhere. Workhorse back Matt Forte has gone to the Jets and second year back Jeremy Langford will try to fill his shoes. Chicago kicked off their 2016 campaign with a 23-14 loss to Houston, in a game where they held the lead at halftime, before once again disappointing their fans and getting shut out in the second half. The lone bright spots for the Bears were the continued offensive production of receiver Alshon Jeffery, who finished with 4 receptions for 105 yards, and the NFL debut of their 2015 first round pick, Kevin White, who caught three balls for 34 yards. The Bears shouldn't be as bad as they always end up, and should be able to challenge for a wild card spot with John Fox in charge, but their QB is Jay Cutler so they'll finish bottom of the division.

NFC SOUTH:

1. Carolina Panthers: Last season's Super Bowl runners up will look to return the promise land behind the giant shoulders of reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton. Many people wrote off Newton and the Panthers last year when star receiver Kelvin Benjamin went down for the year in the preseason. The Panthers responded by going 15-1 during the regular season enroute to an NFC Championship and eventual loss to the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Benjamin is back and healthy this year and will join Ted Ginn and Greg Olsen to add another receiving threat for Carolina. Luke Kuechly leads the talented defensive unit, who will again be one the best in league, even with the departure of Josh Norman. Newton and the Panthers got into a less than ideal start to their NFC title defense last Thursday when they fell 21-20 to the Broncos in a Superbowl rematch. The Panthers led 17-7 at halftime, but the Bronco defense turned up their pressure on Newton in the second half, holding their offense to just 3 points. The Broncos, behind C.J. Anderson, came alive in the 4th quarter scoring 14 points in the final stanza to eak out the 1 point win. Head coach Ron Rivera will need to figure out how to protect Cam better if he wants him to survive the season. The Broncos have figured out that you need to bring constant pressure to rattle Cam and the rest of the league is sure to follow. As long as Carolina can keep Cam healthy and Newton continues be a pass-first QB, instead of a scrambler, the Panthers will be the best team NFC South. 

2. New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees again leads the high-octane Saints air attack this season, looking to rebound from a disappointing 7-9 finish last year. Wide Receiver Brandon Cooks can expect big numbers this season as he has emerged as Brees' number one target and running back Mark Ingram will be called upon to keep defenses honest on the ground. New Orleans' potent offense was on full display on Sunday as Brees passed 423 yards and 4 touchdowns in the season opener, but the defense continues to give up big plays and the Saints fell to the Raiders at home 35-34. The Saints pitiful defense was their achilles heel last year and head coach Sean Payton will need to find an answer quickly if he wants to avoid a repeat of last year's disappointment. That said, the Saints offense is that good and should be able to keep them in any game this season. The Saints are good, but their sketchy defense could cause serious problems for them this season. They will be in the wild card hunt, but Carolina will take the division.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston continues to improve every game. Jameis, along with dynamic running back Doug Martin and stud receiver Mike Evans form a formidable group of offensive weapons for first year head coach Dirk Koetter. The Bucs finished 6-10 last season but proved they can put up points. They will look to increase their win total this year and the playoffs are, for the first time in a while, a realistic possibility. Tampa Bay opened their season with an important 31-24 win over divisional rival Atlanta. Jameis paced the Bucs offense with 282 yards passing and 4 touchdowns with 1 pick and Mike Evans finished the day with r receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Their underrated defense, led by Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David, was solid against the Falcons, sacking Matt Ryan 3 times and holding last season's breakout star back Devonta Freeman to just 20 yards rushing on 11 carries. I believe that Tampa is a sneaky pick to steal the division, but it is a bit of a long shot. If Jameis and the offense can continue to click, and their defensive front can continue to get pressure on the QB and stop the run, the Bucs have a good shot at at least a wild card spot.

4. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are eager to put their disappointing 8-8 season behind them and get back to the playoffs. Matt Ryan looks to get back on track and head coach Dan Quinn hopes running back Devonta Freeman can replicate the rushing numbers from his breakout season last year. Julio Jones is a top 5 receiver in the league and the Falcon's brought in Mohamed Sanu to add another target for Ryan. However there are still lingering questions about Atlanta's defense and the group, as a whole, is not in the top half of the league. The Falcons stumbled out of the starting gate opening weekend, falling 31-24 to divisional foe Tampa Bay. Ryan was solid in the opener, passing for 334 yards and 2 TDs with no picks, but the running game never got going, with Freeman and Tevin Coleman combining for just 42 yards on 19 carries. Jameis picked apart the Falcon secondary, even though corner back Desmond Trufant was able to pick him off once. Atlanta will have their hands full this year and it will be a stretch for them to make the playoffs. I see them going anywhere from 6-10 to 8-8 and again missing the playoffs.

NFC WEST:

Arizona Cardinals: The reigning division champs will look to defend their title and have most of their key players back. The Cardinals got to be an elite team through their dedication to a 'defense first' mentality and this year will be no different. The Cards picked up defensive end Chandler Jones from New England to replace Dwight Freeney and are undoubtedly ecstatic about the return of play-making All-Pro safety Tryann Mathieu who is back from a torn ACL he suffered last year. Newly acquired safety Tyvon Branch teams up with Mathieu, Deone Buchanon, and stud corner Patrick Peterson to form arguably the best secondary in the league. Arizona's front 7 is equally scary as Jones, Kevin Minter, Calais Campbell, and Frostee Rucker lead the vaunted unit, who have high expectations this year. Carson Palmer is back under center and his old buddy Larry Fitzgerald is back to pad his career receiving stats. John Brown and Michael Floyd will provide additional passing options for Palmer, who will also have relief in the ground game as beast back David Johnson is poised for a breakout season. The Cardinals' goal is a Super Bowl this year, but their campaign didn't start out as planned as they fell 23-21 to a Brady and Gronkless Patriots squad in their home opener. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro shanked a field goal that would have won the game as time expired, but I expect head coach Bruce Arian's to use this loss as a motivational tool. The Cardinals were the best team in the division last year and have only gotten better. The NFC West is grueling, but Arizona has the coaching, QB, and defense to defend their crown.

2. Seattle Seahawks: The insufferable Seahawks, led by their uber chill head coach Pete Caroll and celibate weirdo QB Russell Wilson, are the most detestable team in the NFL. From Richard Sherman's constant blabbering to their loser "12th man" fan base these is literally nothing to like about the Seahawks besides Kam Chancellor. Russell Wilson is the most overrated QB in the league and now that Marshawn Lynch has retired, their offense will struggle to find a rhythym. Their best receiver is unimpressive Doug Baldwin, and they signed Jimmy Graham last year, but apparently Pete Carroll still hasn't figure out how to utilize the 6'7 tight end. Seattle's defense is big and strong and will need to bring their best every game, because I'm not sold at all on their offense. It looks like the Seahawks are adjusting to life post-Marshawn a little slower than expected. Russell Wilson and co. struggled mightily in their season opener, needing a late come from behind touchdown to earn the 12-10 win over lowly Miami. Seattle has created Super Bowl expectations for themselves because of their success that last few years,  but if their offense continues to struggle like this, they won't sniff the playoffs no matter how dominant their defense is. They were extremely lucky to sneak out their 2 point home win in week 1, and will need to figure out their offense if they want to go back to the playoffs. They benefit immensely from the NFC West being far weaker this year than it's been the past few seasons.

3. San Francisco 49ers: Since the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh "mutually" parted ways, the Michigan Wolverines football program has been on a dramatic upswing while the Niners have digressed. After playing in 3 straight NFC Championship games from 2011-2013, San Francisco has posted an 8-8 record, and last year went just 5-11. They have attempted right the ship by bringing in former Oregon and Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. Blaine Gabbert has been named starting quarterback in San Francisco and he is joined in the backfield by bruising back Carlos Hyde. Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis are long gone and Gabbert may have trouble finding reliable receiving options this season. As of right now, it looks like former Jet Jeremy Kerley is the Niners' number one receiver. As much as the 49ers don't look like much on paper, they came out and proved why you play the games on the field. A 3 point underdog at home, to their newly transplanted division rival L.A. Rams, the 49ers came out utterly dominated them from the first whistle until the end of the game, 28-0. In what ended up being the most lopsided score of the entire weekend, Gabbert and the Niners' offense moved the ball effectively as Hyde finished with 88 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns against the vaunted L.A. defensive front, and Gabbert went 22 for 35 for 170 yards and a TD and added 43 yards on the ground. San Francisco's defense was equally, if not more impressive, posting the only shutout of week 1 and forced 3 turnovers and recorded 2 sacks. I didn't think much of the 49ers before the season started, but their defense, led by veteran linebacker Navarro Bowman, is very talented. They had a good week 1 team win, but I will need to see more of the same out of Blaine Gabbert before I think they can be included in the playoff discussion.

4. Los Angeles Rams: The Rams are back in L.A. and no team deserves a professional football team less than Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a transplant city where everyone is into fashion and entertainment, not sports. People will argue with me about this, but I will never trust anyone who tells me they are an 'LA' Rams fan. That said the L.A. Rams must be trying to get a reality TV show made about them because they are already a mess - like Cleveland Browns type mess. After giving up an arm in a leg in this years draft to take Jared Goff 1st overall, he apparently "isn't ready yet" according to overrated head coach Jeff Fisher, and didn't even dress for their season opening embarrassment in San Francisco, where they were systematically broken 28-rock by their divisional rivals to the North. The L.A. Rams looked like the worst team in the league in their season debut, and until they can prove themselves otherwise, that's where I have them ranked. Career backup QB Case Keenum started the  opener for the Rams and was abysmal, going 17-35 for 130 yards with no touchdowns and 2 picks. Todd Gurley looked mortal, and overrated, rushing for just 47 yards on 17 carries. I mean, for god's sake Kenny Britt is their best receiver. Their defense, especially their defensive front, is entirely overrated as they got diced up by San Francisco's 'dual threat' QB Blaine Gabbert and Carlos Hyde found holes with ease. I don't even want to keep thinking about the L.A. Rams right now because they looked so awful on Monday night, not that anyone in L.A. actually cares. The Rams were on the butt end of the biggest week 1 blowout so no, I don't seem them finishing anywhere but last in their division. Some homecoming this is turning out to be.