NFC preview: Eagles, Packers, Falcons, Seahawks picked to win
NFC EAST
(Predicted Order of Finish)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Las Vegas win total: 9.5 (Over -135)
Last season: 10-6
By the numbers: Chip Kelly has won 10 games in each of his two seasons as coach. ... Philadelphia ranked No. 3 in scoring offense (29.6), trailing only No. 1 Green Bay (30.4) and No. 2 Denver (30.1).
Players to watch: Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. Bradford missed last season in St. Louis because of a second knee injury. His health is always a question mark, making Sanchez the quarterback-in-waiting.
Player missed most: Jeremy Maclin. The team leader in receptions, yards and touchdown catches departed for Kansas City. Running back LeSean McCoy will be missed, too, but the additions of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews were aggressive moves to bolster a versatile backfield that also includes Darren Sproles. Murray, a straight-line power runner with a different style than McCoy, was the NFL rushing champ with 1,845 yards.
Key game: vs. Dallas, Sept. 20. The Cowboys won in Philadelphia last year, and this Week 2 game sets the tone for the division race.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Las Vegas win total: 9.5 (Under -120)
Last season: 12-4
By the numbers: Dallas had the No. 2 rushing offense in the league last season at 147.1 yards per game. ... Tony Romo ranked No. 1 in passer rating (113.2) while throwing for 34 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Players to watch: Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. The run set up the pass last season, but that could change. Bryant had 88 receptions and a league-high 16 touchdowns. Witten, still an elite tight end, had 64 catches and five touchdowns. Most of the Cowboys' big plays will come through the air.
Player missed most: DeMarco Murray. How do you replace a player who accounted for more than 36 percent of the offensive yards from scrimmage? The Cowboys have not answered that question yet. Murray was the main reason for Dallas being the league's surprise team last season.
Key game: vs. New England, Oct. 11. Dallas went 4-4 at home and 8-0 on the road last season.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Las Vegas win total: 8 (Under -135)
Last season: 6-10
By the numbers: The Giants ranked 23rd in rushing offense and 30th in rushing defense last season. ... Tom Coughlin enters his 12th year as coach, and it might be his last if the defense does not improve.
Players to watch: Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz. Eli Manning put up big numbers last season, passing for 4,410 yards and 30 touchdowns, with Beckham as his go-to target. Cruz is coming back from a knee injury. It can be a dynamic receiving duo.
Player missed most: Antrel Rolle. The veteran safety was allowed to leave for Chicago, a move the Giants might regret. What was a bad defense looks even worse on paper.
Key game: vs. Dallas, Oct. 25. The Cowboys swept both games last season while New York was going through a seven-game losing streak.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Las Vegas win total: 6 (Over -140)
Last season: 4-12
By the numbers: Alfred Morris rushed for 1,074 yards, ranking 11th in the league last season. ... Washington ranked 20th in total defense, 24th against the pass.
Players to watch: DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed. The Redskins appear to be facing a major problem at the quarterback position, but at least they have a big-play wideout and an emerging tight end to help their rotating crew of misfit QBs.
Player missed most: Brian Orakpo. A powerful pass-rushing linebacker, Orakpo signed with Tennessee as a free agent. Despite his loss, the defense looks improved on paper.
Key game: vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 4. Both games last season were decided by a field goal. Washington, the worst team in the division, needs to close the gap on the favorite.
NFC NORTH
(Predicted Order of Finish)
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Las Vegas win total: 11 (Under -150)
Last season: 12-4
By the numbers: Green Bay went 8-0 at home last season, with double-digit victories over division opponents Chicago (55-14), Detroit (30-20) and Minnesota (42-10). ... Aaron Rodgers put the ball in the air 520 times, passing for 38 touchdowns with five interceptions.
Players to watch: Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji. The Packers need to improve a run defense that ranked 23rd in the league. Matthews made a bigger impact after moving to inside linebacker. Raji anchors the line after missing last season with an injury.
Player missed most: Jordy Nelson. The most costly injury of the preseason was to Nelson, who had 98 catches for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. Green Bay was set to return 11 starters on offense until losing Nelson. The good news is the Packers have receiver depth, and Randall Cobb can be Rodgers' new go-to guy.
Key game: vs. Seattle, Sept. 20. The Packers are looking for some payback after collapsing late in the NFC Championship Game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Las Vegas win total: 7.5 (Over -215)
Last season: 7-9
By the numbers: Running back Adrian Peterson missed 15 games last season. ... Teddy Bridgewater completed 64.4 percent of his passes as a rookie. ... Minnesota ranked 14th in total defense, seventh against the pass.
Players to watch: Peterson and Matt Asiata. The Vikings should have one of the league's top rushing attacks with two hard-charging backs. Better balance on offense will help Bridgewater's development.
Player missed most: None. Minnesota filled all of its needs and then some in the offseason by wisely using the draft, free agency and trades. Mike Zimmer's second season as coach appears promising.
Key game: vs. Green Bay, Nov. 22. This game could reveal if the Vikings are truly a rising team in the division, as anticipated.
DETROIT LIONS
Las Vegas win total: 8.5 (Under -150)
Last season: 11-5
By the numbers: Detroit ranked 28th in rushing offense and No. 1 in rushing defense, allowing 69.3 yards per game. ... The Lions won two games by one point last season, getting lucky to beat Atlanta (22-21) and New Orleans (24-23).
Players to watch: Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Stafford passed for 22 touchdowns last season, a low number. Johnson had eight touchdown receptions, another low number. Stafford and Johnson need to pick up those numbers or the team will take a step back.
Player missed most: Ndamukong Suh. The dominant — and often dirty — defensive tackle took his talents to South Beach.
Key game: vs. Denver, Sept. 27. The Lions could come home 0-2 after opening on the road against San Diego and Minnesota.
CHICAGO BEARS
Las Vegas win total: 6.5 (Over -110)
Last season: 5-11
By the numbers: The Bears ranked 27th in rushing offense and 30th in total defense last season. ... Jay Cutler threw 18 interceptions and was sacked 38 times. Cutler enters his seventh season in Chicago with his fifth offensive coordinator.
Players to watch: Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffery. Forte was 12th in the league with 1,038 yards rushing and added 102 receptions. Jeffrey had 85 catches, 10 for touchdowns.
Player missed most: Brandon Marshall. The Bears let Marshall go to the Jets and tried to replace him by drafting speed receiver Kevin White in the first round, but White is sidelined with an injury.
Key game: vs. Green Bay, Sept. 13. The Bears were embarrassed twice by the Packers last season.
NFC SOUTH
(Predicted Order of Finish)
ATLANTA FALCONS
Las Vegas win total: 8.5 (Under -125)
Last season: 6-10
By the numbers: Julio Jones was No. 3 in the league with 1,593 yards on 104 receptions. ... The Falcons ranked No. 32 in total defense and pass defense last season.
Players to watch: Jones and Matt Ryan. Atlanta's hopes were riding on Ryan's arm last season, when he passed for 4,694 yards and 28 touchdowns. Ryan and Jones headline the show again, but they should get more help from the ground attack.
Player missed most: None. The Falcons lost Mike Smith, but he won't be missed. New coach Dan Quinn will build a stronger defense and surely be better in game management.
Key game: at New Orleans, Oct. 15. Do the Falcons deserve to be division favorites?
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Las Vegas win total: 8.5 (Over -140)
Last season: 7-9
By the numbers: New Orleans lost five home games last season. ... Drew Brees was No. 2 in the league in completion percentage (69.2) and had 33 touchdown passes, but he also threw 17 interceptions. ... The Saints ranked 31st in total defense.
Players to watch: Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks. The new-look New Orleans offense will run more, with Ingram being the workhorse, and Cooks is expected to be Brees' main receiver.
Player missed most: Jimmy Graham. Brees said he was stunned when the Saints traded their star tight end to Seattle for center Max Unger. Graham had 85 catches and 10 touchdowns.
Key game: vs. Dallas, Oct. 4. The Saints, who face a brutal early schedule, must re-establish their home-field advantage.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Las Vegas win total: 8.5 (Under -160)
Last season: 7-8-1
By the numbers: Carolina ranked 10th in total defense, finishing the regular season with a 34-3 victory at Atlanta for a four-game win streak.
Players to watch: Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson. Carolina's defensive front is a strength. Kuechly, a middle linebacker, led the league with 153 tackles. Thompson, an outside linebacker, was a first-round pick.
Player missed most: Kelvin Benjamin. A 1,000-yard receiver as a rookie, the 6-foot-5-inch Benjamin was lost to a knee injury this month, putting quarterback Cam Newton in a tough spot.
Key game: vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 25. After hosting the Eagles, the Panthers will host the Colts and Packers. Good luck with that three-game stretch.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Las Vegas win total: 6 (Over -130)
Last season: 2-14
By the numbers: The Buccaneers ranked 30th in total offense and 25th in total defense last season, a formula for getting the No. 1 draft pick.
Players to watch: Jameis Winston and Doug Martin. Winston, the rookie quarterback from Florida State, is walking into a good situation with two big wide receivers, Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Martin will be given a shot to revive a ground attack that was declared dead last year.
Player missed most: Josh McCown. His stay as the franchise quarterback lasted one dismal year, and he won't really be missed.
Key game: vs. Tennessee, Sept. 13. Winston and the Buccaneers will be favored to beat the Titans and No. 2 pick Marcus Mariota. Tampa Bay could top last year's win total by mid-October.
NFC WEST
(Predicted Order of Finish)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Las Vegas win total: 11 (Over -125)
Last season: 12-4
By the numbers: The Seahawks play nine games — five on the road — against teams that reached the playoffs last season. ... Seattle ranked No. 1 in rushing offense at 172.6 yards per game and No. 1 in total defense, allowing 267 yards per game.
Players to watch: Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham. Lynch was the league's No. 4 rusher with 1,306 yards and had 13 touchdowns. Graham was the major addition of the offseason, with the Seahawks hoping the big tight end can elevate the 27th-ranked passing attack and give quarterback Russell Wilson a red-zone weapon. If you watched the Super Bowl, you recall the Seahawks do like to pass from the 1-yard line.
Player missed most: Byron Maxwell. Seattle let Maxwell, a good cornerback, walk to Philadelphia. With Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas recovering from injuries, the secondary is a little shaky.
Key game: at Dallas, Nov. 1. The Cowboys rolled into Seattle and surprisingly lowered the boom on the Seahawks last season.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Las Vegas win total: 8 (Under -180)
Last season: 6-10
By the numbers: The Rams ranked 28th in total offense. ... Jeff Fisher is 20-27-1 in three years as coach and ended last season with a three-game losing streak.
Players to watch: Nick Foles and Todd Gurley. Foles, who had success in Philadelphia, will quarterback an offense built for speed. Gurley, a talented running back recovering from a knee injury, was a first-round pick.
Player missed most: Jake Long. The former No. 1 overall pick (by Miami in 2008) was released after knee injuries sabotaged the offensive tackle.
Key game: vs. Seattle, Sept. 13. The Rams have the look of a team on the rise. The Seahawks will test that theory in Week 1.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Las Vegas win total: 8.5 (Under -125)
Last season: 11-5
By the numbers: The Cardinals started 9-1 last season. ... Was this team a fluke? Arizona ranked 24th in total offense and total defense.
Players to watch: Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald. Palmer is returning a from a knee injury, and will the 35-year-old quarterback stay healthy? Fitzgerald has lost a step but still can get the job done. There is depth at wide receiver with John Brown and Michael Floyd.
Player missed most: Antonio Cromartie. The cornerback spot will remain solid if Patrick Peterson makes a comeback from a down year.
Key game: vs. Seattle, Jan. 3. The Cardinals host the Packers and Seahawks in the season's final two weeks.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Las Vegas win total: 6.5 (Under -130)
Last season: 8-8
By the numbers: Colin Kaepernick was sacked 52 times, the second-highest total of any quarterback last season. ... Former coach Jim Harbaugh won 44 games in four seasons.
Players to watch: Kaepernick and Carlos Hyde. Most analysts expect Kaepernick's play to decline without Harbaugh mentoring him. Hyde is a tough runner who can carry the load on the ground.
Player missed most: Frank Gore. A workhorse runner and team leader, Gore is gone to Indianapolis. But he's just part of a long list of departed players that includes linebackers Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis.
Key game: vs. Minnesota, Sept. 14. A win on the season's first Monday would offset some of the 49ers' gloom and doom of the offseason.
