In the 2018 NFC, the Cowboys, Bears, Saints, and Rams captured their respective division crowns. Entering 2019, a few of those teams are due for regression. Here are some predictions for the 2019 NFC division champions.
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
With Carson Wentz coming back fully healthy in 2019, the Eagles have a world of potential at their feet. The Eagles will look to replicate the 2017 campaign which saw them win 13 games and secure the number one seed in the NFC. Offensively speaking, the Eagles have a variety of weapons including Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, and Miles Sanders. On the defense, the Eagles have a variety of great players such as Fletcher Cox and Malcolm Jenkins.
The main competition comes from the Dallas Cowboys. However, the Cowboys are in limbo with the current contract situation regarding Ezekiel Elliott. Without Elliott, the Cowboys’ chances of winning the division decrease dramatically, but with Elliott, they will be neck-and-neck with the Eagles until Week 17.
NFC North: Chicago Bears
The Bears had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2018. Led by Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson, the Bears surrendered the fewest points in the entire NFL. Moving into 2019, there will be some regression on the defense as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left for Denver. However, this defensive regression should be covered up by offense of progression as Mitchell Trubisky enters his second year as the full-time starter. Alongside Trubisky, the Bears offer Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Tarik Cohen, and David Montgomery to bolster the offensive attack.
Realistically speaking, the Vikings and Packers will offer challenges at the Bears, but the Bears have a better defense than both units and have potential to be just as good offensively as Minnesota and Green Bay.
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were division champions in 2016, but since that season they have stumbled to back-to-back third-place finishes within the division. In 2018, the Falcons were marred by injuries on both sides of the ball, losing key pieces on the offensive line, the defensive front seven, and secondary. In 2019, they will look to be dominant offensively once again with quarterback Matt Ryan alongside running back Devonta Freeman and wide receiver Julio Jones. On defense, Deion Jones will lead the line and hope for progression from the remainder of the defense.
The competition comes from the New Orleans Saints, the 2017 and 2018 NFC South champions. The Saints posted a strong rushing defense with solid secondary pieces including Marshon Lattimore. On offense, the Saints are a true juggernaut in the NFL. Led by perennial MVP candidate Drew Brees, star running back Alvin Kamara, and elite receiver Michael Thomas, the Saints will be a force to be reckoned with during the entire season. However, the Saints regressed slightly near the end of the season and perform fairly poorly in the playoffs, losing at home to the Rams in the NFC championship game. If the Saints suffer any drop-off, the Falcons will surely seize the day and walk into a home playoff game.
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have won the NFC West each of the last two years. They go into the 2019 season with a slight question mark at the running back spot concerning Todd Gurley‘s health. However, the Rams seemed to answer the call and drafted Darrell Henderson out of Memphis. With running back locked down, the Rams’ offense will continue to be very good in 2019. Led by Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods, the Rams should once again surpass 30 points per game.
Defensively, the Rams were a sieve in parts of the 2018 season, especially against the Kansas City Chiefs. The main competition will come from the Seattle Seahawks, although the San Francisco 49ers could pose a threat if their defense improves beyond what a reasonable assumption would put them at. The Seahawks have one the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Russell Wilson and a variety of star players on offense and defense.
