1. Detroit- the Lions, under 1st year HC Dan Campbell, finished 3-13-1 but lost 5 games by 4 points or less in 2021, QB Jared Goff finished the year strong leading the team to wins over Minnesota, Arizona, and Green Bay and threw for 3,245 yards and 19 TD’s on the season despite missing 3 games due to injury, Goff will once again have Pro Bowl TE T.J Hockenson along with a quality back in D’Andre Swift, after finishing 31st in points allowed the front office used six of its seven draft picks on defense taking Michigan star DE Aidan Hutchinson in the first round, the schedule is favorable early with 3 out of the first 4 games are at home and only 1 against a team who finished last season with a winning record
2. Carolina- the Panthers were hit hard by injuries last season losing both RB Christian McCaffrey and QB Sam Darnold for extensive time while also using 13 different starting offensive line combinations, when healthy the team actually looked the part jumping out to a 3-0 start and sitting at 5-5 in mid-November before dropping 7 straight to end the year, the offensive line which struggled mightily should see significant improvement after drafting NCST OT Ikem Ekwonu in the first round while also picking up free agents Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett, bringing in Baker Mayfield, who has been named the starter, gives coordinator Ben McAdoo 2 viable options at QB, South foes Atlanta and New Orleans are both rebuilding and the schedule offers a number of winnable games outside the division
3. Minnesota- Kevin O’Connell, the former offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion Rams, takes over as HC for the Vikings who finished 8-9 last year but lost 2 games in OT and 4 others by 4 points or less, the offense returns QB Kirk Cousins who threw for 4,221 yards and 33 TD’s, one of the leagues young star receivers in Justin Jefferson (1,616 yards, 10 TD’s), and workhorse running back Dalvin Cook, the defense which fell off drastically the past 2 years will be under new coordinator Ed Donatell who helped the Broncos finish 2nd in the league in points allowed in 2021, the secondary which allowed 252.9 yards per game last year will be helped out by the addition of 3 draft picks including Georgia safety and 1st round pick Lewis Cine
4. Denver- Russell Wilson brings a championship pedigree to Denver as well as much needed stability to the QB position after the franchise went thru 11 different starters following Peyton Manning’s retirement, Wilson and new HC Nathaniel Hackett, who served as Aaron Rodgers offensive coordinator in Green Bay, will have the luxury of 2 talented backs in Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams who combined to rush for over 1,800 yards and 12 TD’s, the defense, which finished third in points allowed in 2021, is led by Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons who finished second in tackles with 80 to go along with a team leading 5 INT’s, the front end of the schedule is manageable which will benefit Wilson and the new staff
5. Washington- the Commanders have a new name, a new look, and a new QB in Carson Wentz, despite all of the criticism directed his way Wentz has averaged 3,318 yards passing, 24.8 TD’s, and only 8.6 INT’s the past 5 seasons, he will benefit from working alongside third round pick at RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Alabama) and first round pick at WR Jahan Dotson (Penn State), as well as a reshuffled offensive line that added OG Andrew Norwell (Jacksonville) and OL Trai Turner (Pittsburgh) along with 7th round pick G/T Chris Paul from Tulsa, 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the year Chase Young is still recovering from a torn ACL, which occurred in Week 10 of last season, but hopes to be ready around Week 5, the schedule is extremely favorable with Jacksonville and Detroit the first 2 weeks as well as a 4 game stretch on the back end that includes Houston, Atlanta, and New York back to back
Best Bet- Detroit OVER total wins
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