2017 NFC Preview: Atlanta Falcons look for Super Bowl redemption
DALLAS COWBOYS
Coach: Jason Garrett (8th season).
Last season: 13-4 (1st in NFC East, lost to Green Bay 34-31 in NFC divisional game).
Key additions: CB Nolan Carroll, DE Taco Charlton, CB Chidobe Awuzie, DE Damontre Moore.
Key subtractions: QB Tony Romo, CB Brandon Carr, S Barry Church, CB Morris Claiborne, DT Terrell McClain.
Looking ahead: The Cowboys were stung when running back Ezekiel Elliott was hit with a six-game suspension for domestic violence allegations that predate his sensational rookie season in Dallas last year. That said, Dallas still has plenty of firepower and should take the division title again this season. Whether the Cowboys can go any farther than that, however, is the big question.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Coach: Ben McAdoo (2nd season).
Last season: 11-6 (2nd in NFC East, lost to Green Bay 38-13 in NFC wild-card game).
Key additions: WR Brandon Marshall, DE Dalvin Tomlinson, TE Evan Engram.
Key subtractions: OL Marshall Newhouse, DT Johnathan Hankins, WR Victor Cruz, RB Rashad Jennings.
Looking ahead: The Giants should remain a strong contender for the top spot in the division after winning 11 games last season. The offensive line is a big question mark, and if Eli Manning gets the time to work his magic, New York should put up plenty of points. A tough schedule could be Big Blue’s undoing and opening with three of four away from the MetLife Stadium might be trouble.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Coach: Doug Pederson (2nd season).
Last season: 7-9 (4th in NFC East).
Key additions: WR Alshon Jeffery, WR Torrey Smith, RB LeGarrette Blount, DL Chris Long.
Key subtractions: CB Nolan Carroll, WE Dorial Green-Beckham, DT Bennie Logan, CB Leodis McKelvin.
Looking ahead: The Eagles had questions coming into last season with a rookie quarterback, but Carson Wentz got off to a great start. Another year in should help Wentz as should a number of offensive additions. The Eagles might not be as flashy as the Cowboys or Giants, but this is a solid team that could surprise and be a challenger in a tough division.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Coach: Jay Gruden (4th season).
Last season: 8-7-1 (3rd in NFC East).
Key additions: WR Terrelle Pryor, LB Zach Brown, DL Terrell McClain, DL Jonathan Allen.
Key subtractions: DL Chris Baker, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Pierre Garcon.
Looking ahead: Something always seems to be going on in Washington, and none of it — aside for an explosive offense — seems to be much good for anything. Kirk Cousins enters another season filled with drama and will be under the franchise tag again this season. On the field, Washington bolstered its defense and could have seven new starters after finishing the year near the bottom of the league statistics.
CHICAGO BEARS
Coach: John Fox (3rd season).
Last season: 3-13 (4th in NFC North).
Key additions: QB Mike Glennon, QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Kendall Wright, WR Victor Cruz, CB Prince Amukamara.
Key subtractions: QB Jay Cutler, WR Alshon Jeffery.
Looking ahead: The Bears had plenty of injury problems last year — including Cutler — and are trying to turn the page and become more competitive in a tough division. Chicago went out and spent some serious coin on Tampa Bay free agent Glennon, then traded up in the draft to snag Trubisky. A tough defense might have to keep the Bears going again this year.
DETROIT LIONS
Coach: Jim Caldwell (4th season).
Last season: 9-8 (2nd in NFC North, lost to Seattle 26-6 in wild-card game).
Key additions: OL T.J. Lang, OL Rick Wagner, WR Kenny Golladay, LB Jarrad Davis.
Key subtractions: OL Larry Warford, LB DeAndre Levy.
Looking ahead: The good news is Detroit had a playoff team, only the postseason fun didn’t last very long as the Lions were smoked by the Seahawks. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is working on the final year of his deal and as he goes, so go the Lions. If Stafford stays upright, Detroit has a chance to make another run at the playoffs as it could actually be a better team on the field but finish third in the division.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Coach: Mike McCarthy (12th season).
Last season: 12-7 (1st in NFC North, lost to Atlanta 44-21 in NFC title game).
Key additions: TE Martellus Bennett, OL Jahri Evans, CB Kevin King, DL Ricky-Jean Francois.
Key subtractions: DL Julius Peppers, CB Sam Shields, RB Eddie Lacy, TE Jared Cook, RB James Starks.
Looking ahead: The Packers worked through some personality problems last year and ended up a win from the Super Bowl. Despite some changes to the roster, Green Bay has the expectations to roll into Minnesota for the big game this year. The Packers should again be dominant on offense, and the defense looks better, at least on paper. If all goes well for the Pack this year, they could be headed to the Super Bowl again.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Coach: Mike Zimmer (4th season).
Last season: 8-8 (3rd in NFC North).
Key additions: RB Dalvin Cook, OL Mike Remmer, WR Michael Floyd.
Key subtractions: RB Adrian Peterson, OL Matt Kalil, WR Charles Johnson.
Looking ahead: Quarterback Sam Bradford was a late addition to the team when Teddy Bridgewater went down in the preseason and should give the Vikings a boost this season as Minnesota shored up its offensive line. Losing Peterson most definitely hurts, but with an improving defense, Minnesota should have at least enough to beat out Detroit and take its chances in the playoffs.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Coach: Dan Quinn (3rd season).
Last season: 13-6 (1st in NFC South, lost to New England 34-28 in Super Bowl).
Key additions: DT Dontari Poe, WR Andre Roberts.
Key subtractions: DE Dwight Freeney, OL Chris Chester.
Looking ahead: The Falcons best hope they don’t suffer the same fate as last season’s Carolina Panthers, who went from a disappointment in Super Bowl 50 to watching the playoffs from their couch. The Falcons, moving into their palatial new stadium, remain the best team in this division and can either rebound from the disaster in Houston when the blew a 25-point lead against the Patriots or slide on back to the pack.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Coach: Ron Rivera (7th season).
Last season: 6-10 (4th in NFC South).
Key additions: RB Christian McCaffrey, DL Julius Peppers, CB Captain Munnerlyn, OL Matt Kalil.
Key subtractions: WR Ted Ginn Jr., OL Michael Oher, S Tre Boston.
Looking ahead: After last year’s debacle, the Panthers are primed to return to the postseason as long as Cam Newton stays healthy. The Panthers got Newton some help on offense, and with a softer schedule, Carolina should be at least in position to challenge Atlanta and get back into the playoffs. Bringing in McCaffrey from Stanford should be exciting.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Coach: Sean Payton (12th season).
Last season: 7-9 (3rd in NFC South).
Key additions: RB Adrian Peterson, WR Ted Ginn Jr., LB A.J. Klein, CB Marshon Lattimore.
Key subtractions: DT Nick Fairley, S Jairus Byrd, WR Brandin Cooks.
Looking ahead: The Saints should score some points. With Drew Brees having some guys to throw to and Peterson joining Mark Ingram in the backfield, New Orleans should be fine on that side of the ball. The problem is elsewhere. The Saints have had terrible luck on the injury front in losing Fairley and lineman Terron Armstead. The Saints’ young defense also needs to grow up if they can compete in a tough division.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Coach: Dick Koetter (2nd season).
Last season: 9-7 (2nd in NFC South).
Key additions: WR DeSean Jackson, DL Chris Baker, K Nick Folk, TE O.J. Howard.
Key subtractions: K Roberto Aguayo, S Bradley McDougald, WR Russell Shepard.
Looking ahead: The Bucs had a fun summer what with the struggles of Aguayo playing out on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series. Tampa Bay was a fun pick for the training camp show as this is a young team with plenty of personalities. But will that translate into victories? Tampa Bay opens in Miami and should continue its upward trajectory. After five consecutive losing seasons, the Bucs made a run last year and should be exciting to watch this time around.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Coach: Bruce Arians (5th season).
Last season: 7-8-1 (2nd in NFC West).
Key additions: LB Karlos Dansby, S Antoine Bethea, LB Haason Reddick.
Key subtractions: DL Calais Campbell, CB Marcus Cooper.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals crashed after a few strong seasons and look to get back on track and make a run on the Seahawks. Veterans Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are back for at least one more year and will try to replicate the success they had in 2015 when they won 13 games. Arizona lost a lot on the defensive side with five starters gone.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Coach: Sean McVay (1st season).
Last season: 4-12 (3rd in NFC West).
Key additions: WR Robert Woods, LB Connor Barwin, OL Andrew Whitworth, C John Sullivan.
Key subtractions: DL William Hayes, WR Kenny Britt, WR Brian Quick, QB Case Keenum.
Looking ahead: The Rams crashed in their first season back in Los Angeles, winning just four games and firing coach Jeff Fisher in the process. Quarterback Jared Goff is back after a tough rookie season, and running back Todd Gurley is looking to bounce back after a rough sophomore campaign. The Rams should be much improved on offense thanks to the guidance of McVay, but Los Angeles is still a ways away from competing with Seattle.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Coach: Kyle Shanahan (1st season).
Last season: 2-14 (4th in NFC West).
Key additions: QB Brian Hoyer, WR Pierre Garçon, DL Elvis Dumervil.
Key subtractions: QB Colin Kaepernick, QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Torrey Smith.
Looking ahead: San Francisco goes back to the drawing board after firing Chip Kelly, hiring former Marlins’ prospect John Lynch as GM and bringing in Shanahan to be the fourth coach in as many seasons. Expect the 49ers to be much improved offensively after last season’s disaster, but they have a lot of work to do on the other side of the ball. San Francisco has been hard at work reworking the roster, so expecting any big turnaround this year isn’t very realistic.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Coach: Pete Carroll (8th season).
Last season: 11-6-1 (1st in NFC West, lost to Atlanta 36-20 in NFC divisional game).
Key additions: RB Eddie Lacy, OL Luke Joeckel, CB Shaquill Griffin.
Key subtractions: OL Bradley Sowell, LB Mike Morgan.
Looking ahead: If the Seahawks can keep their off-field problems in check, this remains a talented team with the tools to win the NFC West and challenge for a Super Bowl once again. Seattle should win the division without much of a problem, but the goal of the Seahawks is obviously much bigger. Those expectations could be realized if Russell Wilson remains healthy and the running game becomes a force.
This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 3:58 PM with the headline "2017 NFC Preview: Atlanta Falcons look for Super Bowl redemption."