I have been making my way through the NFL the past few weeks by reviewing the futures odds to win each of the eight division races this season as part of a series for Doc's Sports. My journey comes to an end this week with the preview and predictions for the division most near and dear to my heart; the NFC East.
This division has been tagged as the NFC least on more than one occasion over the past three seasons and when 10 wins is good enough to win the title that is going to happen. None the less, this division contains some of the highest profile teams in the league led by America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Jerry Jones's bunch has hardly lived up to this designation with three-straight 8-8 records while losing the last game of the year with the NFC East title on the line. The prospect for a reversal of fortunes this season does not look to good with a defense that has been devastated with a major loss of key personnel through free agency and injuries. This is after this unit finished the 2013 season ranked near the bottom of the NFL in a number of major categories.
The Redskins' ride from worst-to-first-to worst the past three seasons has paved the way for Jay Gruden to take over the reins as head coach. Much of their success this season is pinned to the play of quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has been on his own personal roller-coaster ride in his first two seasons in the league.
The New York Giants added two more Super Bowl titles to their impressive team resume in the past seven seasons but they were a non-factor last year with losses in their first six games. Something tells me that this will not be the case in 2014 as New York works its way back into the mix for a division crown. For the fourth season in a row the NFC title has a good chance of coming down to the final week with Philadelphia on the road against the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
It is probably no big surprise to anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis that I am going with the Eagles has my pick to repeat as division champions. I had them going 8-8 in Chip Kelly's first year at the helm and the Birds exceeded my expectations by two games. I am upping the ante to 11 wins in 2014 against a projected win total of nine games with most major sportsbooks. I have the Eagles getting that crucial 11th win to secure the division title with a victory against the Giants in that Week 17 showdown.
The following is a link to my complete preview and predictions for the NFC East as originally posted on Doc's Sports. Be sure to check back over the next two weeks for individual previews for all four teams in the NFC East.
2014 Odds to Win NFC East with Picks and NFL Predictions
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
2014 Odds to Win NFC North with Picks and NFL Predictions
My trip through the 2014 NFL division previews and predictions for Doc's Sports takes me to the NFC North this week. The Green Bay Packers have dominated the Black and Blue Division of the NFL for over two decades with a winning record in 18 of their last 22 seasons. The Packers have laid claimed the division title the last three seasons so it is no big surprise that they are heavy favorites to make it four in a row this year.
I would have to agree with the Oddsmakers on that call as long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains healthy. Green Bay stumbled to a 2-5-1 record in his absence last season due to injury and the team had to scratch and claw its way to a NFC North title with an overall record of 8-7-1.
The Chicago Bears are expected to give the Packers the most trouble this season after going 8-8 last year. It is the second year of the Marc Trestman era in Chicago and its already potent offensive attack should only get better. The question mark here is can the Bears' defense regain the form that made it one of the most formidable units in the league just a few years back?
Detroit is a franchise that just cannot stand success, most likely because it is not used to achieving it. The Lions have posted just three winning seasons since 1996 and while they had things rolling last season with a 6-3 start, a second-half collapse led to a 7-9 record overall.
Minnesota could only manage four victories last season after going to the playoffs in 2012 with a record of 10-6. The Vikings' projected win total for this season has been set at six games, but that could be a reach with far more questions than answers especially at the quarterback position.
The following is a link to my complete preview of the NFC North as originally posted on Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC North with Picks and NFL Predictions
I would have to agree with the Oddsmakers on that call as long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains healthy. Green Bay stumbled to a 2-5-1 record in his absence last season due to injury and the team had to scratch and claw its way to a NFC North title with an overall record of 8-7-1.
The Chicago Bears are expected to give the Packers the most trouble this season after going 8-8 last year. It is the second year of the Marc Trestman era in Chicago and its already potent offensive attack should only get better. The question mark here is can the Bears' defense regain the form that made it one of the most formidable units in the league just a few years back?
Detroit is a franchise that just cannot stand success, most likely because it is not used to achieving it. The Lions have posted just three winning seasons since 1996 and while they had things rolling last season with a 6-3 start, a second-half collapse led to a 7-9 record overall.
Minnesota could only manage four victories last season after going to the playoffs in 2012 with a record of 10-6. The Vikings' projected win total for this season has been set at six games, but that could be a reach with far more questions than answers especially at the quarterback position.
The following is a link to my complete preview of the NFC North as originally posted on Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC North with Picks and NFL Predictions
Friday, July 18, 2014
2014 Odds to Win NFC South with Picks and NFL Predictions
Going back to 2002 when the NFL realigned its format to eight divisions containing four teams each, nobody in the NFC South has been able to claim the division title two years in a row. Carolina won it last year with a better than expected record of 12-4 and New Orleans was second at 11-5. After that things dropped off a cliff with Atlanta and Tampa Bay each winning just four games.
As stunning as the Panthers climb to the top of the division last season might have been after going 7-9 the year before, the biggest shock in the NFC South was the Falcons fall from grace after winning 13 games in 2012. Worst to first runs in this division are not all that uncommon, which adds some solid value to Atlanta's chances for a quick turnaround from last year's misfortunes.
With the exception of the 2012 season when head coach Sean Payton was serving out a year's suspension levied by the NFL, New Orleans has been the most consistent team in the NFC South with a winning record in five of his seven seasons with the team. The Saints are once again favored to win the division title this year and my personal best bet to get it done.
The following is a link to breakdown of all the teams in the NFC South in terms of their chances to win the division title this season as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC South with Picks and NFL Predictions
As stunning as the Panthers climb to the top of the division last season might have been after going 7-9 the year before, the biggest shock in the NFC South was the Falcons fall from grace after winning 13 games in 2012. Worst to first runs in this division are not all that uncommon, which adds some solid value to Atlanta's chances for a quick turnaround from last year's misfortunes.
With the exception of the 2012 season when head coach Sean Payton was serving out a year's suspension levied by the NFL, New Orleans has been the most consistent team in the NFC South with a winning record in five of his seven seasons with the team. The Saints are once again favored to win the division title this year and my personal best bet to get it done.
The following is a link to breakdown of all the teams in the NFC South in terms of their chances to win the division title this season as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC South with Picks and NFL Predictions
Thursday, July 10, 2014
2014 Odds to Win NFC West with Picks and NFL Predictions
The NFC West has been a two-team race the last few seasons between two of the best teams in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers have gone to three-straight NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl, while Seattle has been in the playoffs three of the last four seasons and last year's ride ended with a Super Bowl title in a romp over Denver.
The Oddsmakers are giving the Seahawks the slight edge to win the division again this season over their bitter rivals, but nobody is paying any attention to an Arizona team that won 10 games last season. Even St. Louis has shown better consistency over the past two seasons with back-to-back 7-9 campaigns.
The chances that the Cardinals or the Rams upset the applecart this season with a stunning run to the NFC West title are slim at best, but this division is going to far more closer than expected with all four teams staying in the title race heading into the final few weeks of the season.
The following is a link to my preview and predictions for the NFC West in 2014 as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC West with Picks and NFL Predictions
The Oddsmakers are giving the Seahawks the slight edge to win the division again this season over their bitter rivals, but nobody is paying any attention to an Arizona team that won 10 games last season. Even St. Louis has shown better consistency over the past two seasons with back-to-back 7-9 campaigns.
The chances that the Cardinals or the Rams upset the applecart this season with a stunning run to the NFC West title are slim at best, but this division is going to far more closer than expected with all four teams staying in the title race heading into the final few weeks of the season.
The following is a link to my preview and predictions for the NFC West in 2014 as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win NFC West with Picks and NFL Predictions
Friday, July 4, 2014
2014 Odds to Win AFC East with Picks and NFL Predictions
This week I wrap-up my tour of the four divisions in the AFC with my preview and predictions for the AFC East. Picking the winner of this division is bit of a no-brainer considering just how dominant the New England Patriots have been under the guidance of head coach Bill Belichick. He has been at the helm in New England for the past 14 years and while the Patriots went 5-11 way back in 2000 during his first season with the team they have not posted a losing record since then. The most impressive stat besides five Super Bowl appearances and three world titles is 12 seasons of at least 10 wins.
Considering that none of the other three teams in this division have posted a winning season in any of the past three years, its pretty safe to say that New England is going to add another division title to its impressive resume in 2014. The one team that might be able to make some noise in the AFC East is the Miami Dolphins. Much of their success will hinge on the continued development of third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He has already shown signs of becoming a legitimate franchise quarterback in the NFL and this season will be a key test to see if he can keep progressing in the right direction.
The following is a link to my preview and official picks for the AFC East this season as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win AFC East with Picks and NFL Predictions
Considering that none of the other three teams in this division have posted a winning season in any of the past three years, its pretty safe to say that New England is going to add another division title to its impressive resume in 2014. The one team that might be able to make some noise in the AFC East is the Miami Dolphins. Much of their success will hinge on the continued development of third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He has already shown signs of becoming a legitimate franchise quarterback in the NFL and this season will be a key test to see if he can keep progressing in the right direction.
The following is a link to my preview and official picks for the AFC East this season as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.
2014 Odds to Win AFC East with Picks and NFL Predictions
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