Here’s an NFC breakdown with the first eight weeks of the NFL season in the books.
East
Cowboys: 4-3 (C )
This is one of the teams that can’t be figured out week to week.
Eagles: 4-4 (C)
Along with the Cowboys, the Eagles are good one week but bad the next.
Giants: 2-6 (D)
Daniel Jones has played well since the team benched Eli Manning. If Saquon Barkley can continue to run effectively, this team has a chance to challenge for the division title.
Redskins: 1-7 (F)
This team was doomed from the start. They should start Dwayne Haskins and let him take his lumps to gear up for next season.
North
Packers: 7-1 (A)
Aaron Rodgers has been the best quarterback in the league so far. I see that continuing throughout the second half of the season.
Vikings: 6-2 (B)
This may be the most complete offensive team in the league. Dalvin Cook is running at will and Kirk Cousins has the ability to air it out. Their offense will keep up with the best of them.
Lions: 3-3-1 (B-)
While they have played better than the Lions of old, they haven’t been able to translate this into wins. They went blow for blow with the Packers, Vikings, and Chiefs, only to lose all three of those games.
Bears: 3-4 (D)
The elite defense from a year ago has been vulnerable quite a bit this season. Add that to the digression of Mitch Trubisky and this team is lucky to be a game under .500.
South
Saints: 7-1 (A+)
Like many, I thought this team was doomed when Drew Brees went down with an injury. But Teddy Bridgewater and a defense that has stepped up when needed kept them perfect in Brees’ absence. He returned last week, geared up for the second half of the season.
Panthers: 4-3 (B)
Christian McCaffrey has carried this team on his back, more so since Cam Newton has been out. But the team hinges solely on McCaffrey. If he’s successful, they win. If the opposing defenses shut him down, they lose.
Buccaneers: 2-5 (D)
Jameis Winston has finally proven that he isn’t the guy. The team failed to give him a contract extension prior to the season. He costs his team with too many giveaways.
Falcons: 1-7 (F)
While I thought Matt Ryan digressed last season, this season he has looked even worse. This team is gearing up for a top-five pick, where they very well could draft his replacement.
West
49ers: 7-0 (A+)
The Niners are hands down the best team at midseason. They have an effective running game regardless of the back. Jimmy Garoppolo has not made many mistakes with the football. And they have a top-notch defense led by rookie Nick Bosa. Coach Kyle Shanahan has his team feeling like they can’t lose, which so far they have proved to be true.
Seahawks: 6-2 (A)
Russell Wilson and the offense have been clicking all season. The defense has also played well. This is a team to be wary of in the second half of the season.
Rams: 5-3 (B-)
This is the team that went to the Super Bowl last season. Todd Gurley has looked like a fraction of himself. Jared Goff has also had his struggles. The elite defense from last season has been vulnerable to big plays. Hopefully for their sake, Jalen Ramsey will continue to solidify the back end of that defense.
Cardinals: 3-4-1 (C)
Kyler Murray’s first year has been just that. At times, he has shown he deserved to be drafted first overall. Other times, he looks like an inexperienced rookie quarterback. I think he will be fine, and he will learn a lot from his rookie season.
Predictions
Division-winners
Giants 9-7
Packers 13-3
Saints 13-3
49ers 14-2
Wild Card
Vikings 11-5
Seahawks 10-6
