Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 1
Aug 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater(5) calls a play in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Previous: . Minnesota Vikings. 8. team. 60. . (0-0)
The Vikings start the season as a Wild-Card sleeper. QB Teddy Bridgewater had an excellent rookie season, and looks to enter the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks this year. With the return of Adrian Peterson, and offensive weapons such as Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Wallace, the Vikings will have a great offense. Of course, the biggest roadblock to success will be playing in the vaunted NFC North, and squaring off against the Packers and Lions twice a piece this season. Mike Zimmer has his squad primed for a breakout year, so don’t be surprised if the Vikes are still playing come January.
. (0-0). Previous: . Philadelphia Eagles. 7. team. 54
We will soon find out if Head Coach Chip Kelly is a madman or a genius in the way he has constructed the Eagles roster this season. At 10-6 last season, the Eagles deserved a playoff spot but were beaten out by the Arizona Cardinals. With Sam Bradford healthy (at least for now), DeMarco Murray and a solid receiving corps in place, the Eagles will once again contend for a Wild-Card spot.
Arizona Cardinals. 6. team. 32. . (0-0). Previous:
Carson Palmer is back for the Arizona Cardinals this season after missing most of second half of last year due to injury. Michael Floyd will hopefully be ready by Week 1, and the team is a sleeper to win the NFC this year. The Cards had a great start last season but were derailed by numerous injuries. That shouldn’t happen again this season. Bruce Arians’s club will have a tough time in the NFC West, but with a little luck, could make a push for the division crown.
. (0-0). Previous: . Detroit Lions. 5. team. 50
If you’re a fan of either UGA or Georgia Tech, how can you not love the Matthew Stafford/Calvin Johnson connection on offense? The Lions feature one of the best 1-2 punches in the league, and though they lost star DT Ndamukong Suh in Free Agency to the Miami Dolphins this offseason, their defense should not take that big of a hit, especially with Haloti Ngata and Nick Fairley still up front. The biggest problem with the Lions is that they play in the NFC North, and will have to play the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings twice. That is their biggest roadblock this season.
Next: Tier I: Division Champions