New Orleans is the hardest team for me to project, personally. They have such talent at the skill positions and a legitimate defense, but they don't have a strong QB since Brees left. Winston performed remarkably well prior to injury, although he was not being asked to do much (averaged 23 attempts per game with a league average of 35). In fact, his attempts were so low that he'd have been dead last in the NFL. BUT... he made the most of those opportunities, posting 14 TDs against only 3 INTs (very un-Jameis like) for a 102.1 QB rating. Over a full season at that clip, he'd have posted 2,841 yards, 34 TD (8.7%), and 7 INT (1.9%) or, as it's also known, Deshaun Watson's best season ever. If he can regain that form, I'd expect New Orleans to challenge Tampa for the division crown.
AFC North: Baltimore AFC South: Indianapolis AFC East: Buffalo AFC West: Los Angeles Wildcards: Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas City Just Missed: Tennessee NFC North: Minnesota NFC South: Carolina NFC East: Philadelphia NFC West: Los Angeles Wildcards: Green Bay, San Francisco, Tampa Bay Just Missed: Detroit -------------------------------------------------------- OTHER ACCOLADES -------------------------------------------------------- MVP: Justin Herbert, QB (LAC) OPOY: Justin Jefferson, WR (MIN) DPOY: Myles Garrett, EDGE (CLE) CPOY: Christian McCaffrey, RB (CAR) ROY: Aiden Hutchinson, EDGE (DET)
I'm buying. More likely it would be Arizona on the "just missed" NFC side, but I've got a soft spot for Detroit.
I believe they will be better, just dont think Playoff better. I respect Campbell and they have improved a lot since last year, but when you slice and dice it... it still the Lions, lol.
So gross. I didn't truly understand how bad of a coach he was until I started to take a bit of interest in Carolina. Oof.