SEPTEMBER 16 – SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 NFC NORTH PREVIEW has developed into a consistent threat. work well with highly regarded offen- gy Ansah is a bright spot. A slimmed-down Eddie Lacy anchors sive coordinator Norv Turner, the Vikings the running game. The defense has been should be back in the hunt for a playoff CHICAGO BEARS A look at the NFC North heading into the an issue over the years, but coordinator spot. The defense is rock-solid. • Coach: John Fox, 2nd 2016 NFL season, with teams listed in Dom Capers has a worthy unit that fea- predicted order of finish tures prominent pass rushers Julius Pep- season (6-10, .375) DETROIT LIONS • Last season: 6-10, pers and Clay Matthews, as well as former • Coach: Jim Caldwell, 3rd GREEN BAY first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and 4th place season (18-14, .563) • Outlook: The Bears believe they have reliable cornerback Sam Shields. • Last season: 7-9, 3rd PACKERS one of the best one-two receiver com- place • Coach: Mike McCarthy, MINNESOTA VIKINGS binations in the NFL with Alshon Jef- 11th season (104-55-1, .653) • Outlook: Caldwell got a reprieve after recovering from a dreadful start last sea- fery and Kevin White now that White is • Last season: 10-6, 2nd place • Coach: Mike Zimmer, 4th season (18-14, .563) son, as new GM Bob Quinn retained the ready to play after missing last year with • Playoffs: beat Washington, 35-18; lost to • Last season: 11-5, 1st place veteran coach. Quarterback Matthew a leg injury. That’s good news for quar- Arizona, 26-20 (OT) • Playoffs: lost to Seattle, 10-9. Stafford is one of the NFL’s more prolif- terback Jay Cutler, who quietly had an ef- • Outlook: Aaron Rodgers remains at or • Outlook: With Teddy Bridgewater gone ic passers, but he lost the retired Calvin ficient year in 2015 with 21 touchdown near the top of NFL quarterbacks, and for the season with a knee injury, GM Johnson as his primary target. The Lions passes and only 11 interceptions. Fox that alone bodes well for a team that Rick Spielman took the bold step of trad- signed Bengals free agent Marvin Jones still is patching things together on de- has been a consistent playoff team since ing for Sam Bradford rather than going to fill his spot, and Golden Tate is back. fense, especially with a re-tooled group Rodgers took over for Brett Favre. Rodg- with journeyman Shaun Hill as the start- The Lions also signed reliable veteran at linebacker. There’s very little pass rush, ers gets wide receiver Jordy Nelson back ing quarterback. The Vikings are clearly Anquan Boldin. The defense is average, though, so this could be another long year from a knee injury, and Randall Cobb in a win-now mode, and if Bradford can although fourth-year defensive end Zig- for the Bears. NFC WEST PREVIEW ARIZONA CARDINALS • Coach: Bruce Arians 4th season (34-14, .708) A look at the NFC West heading into the 2016 NFL • Last season: 13-3, 1st place season, with teams listed in predicted order of finish • Playoffs: Beat Green Bay, 26-20 (OT); lost to Carolina, 49-15, in Conference Championship. • Outlook: There’s plenty of Super Bowl talk in Arizona, and the outspoken Arians doesn’t mind a bit. He’s uber- confident in his team and his quarterback, Carson Palm- er, despite Palmer’s mediocre performance in last year’s playoffs. Palmer had four touchdown passes and six in- terceptions in two playoff games, and he imploded in the NFC Championship Game against the Panthers. His con- fidence seems intact, but you can’t ignore what happened last year, or the fact he has only one playoff win. Larry Fitzgerald remains a vibrant receiver at age 33, and tail- back David Johnson was terrific last year as a rookie. The defense is outstanding on the back end with cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Tyrann Mathieu, and Calais Campbell is a terrific defensive end. But this group isn’t yet in a class with the Seahawks. LOS ANGELES RAMS JANE TYSKA/BAY AREA NEWS GROUP/TNS • Coach: Jeff Fisher, 5th season (27-36-1, .430) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) • Last season: 7-9, 3rd place attempts to pass as he's pressured by the Oakland • Outlook: Football is back in Los Angeles for the first time Raiders' James Cowser (47) during a play which re- in more than 20 years, and while Rams fans there are ec- sulted in a safety for the Raiders in the second quar- static to have their team back, they may have to be patient ter of preseason action at the Coliseum in Oakland, before they see a consistently successful team. Jared Goff was the centerpiece addition in the offseason, but the No. Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. 1 overall draft pick will start the season with a clipboard, as Fisher opts for the more experienced Case Keenum, the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS former Texans backup. Todd Gurley had a terrific rook- ie season once the tailback returned from a knee injury, • Coach: Pete Carroll, 7th season (60- and receiver Tavon Austin has re-upped on a long-term 36, .625) deal. Aaron Donald is the start of the defense, and Robert • Last season: 10-6, 2nd place Quinn is an excellent pass rusher. • Playoffs: Beat Minnesota, 10-9; lost to Carolina, 34-21. • Outlook: The Seahawks remain an elite team with the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS core of their Super Bowl championship group mostly intact. There is one notable exception, though: tailback • Coach: Chip Kelly,1st season Marshawn Lynch, who retired after last season. The Se- • Last season: 5-11, 4th place • Outlook: Kelly gets his second coach- ahawks are counting on 2013 second-round tailback 2016 ing opportunity after being fired by the Eagles with one Christine Michael to pick up the slack, and Michael game left in the 2015 season. He inherits a weak team with had a promising preseason. Quarterback Russell Wil- plenty of limitations at quarterback. Blaine Gabbert starts son remains the dominant player on offense, and he over Colin Kaepernick, who still hasn’t recaptured the has developed into a sensational player. He’s willing to form that helped him get to the Super Bowl after the 2012 run, but he’s more interested in getting the ball down- season. Torrey Smith leads a so-so receiver group, and field in the passing game, with Jermaine Kearse and PREVIEW Carlos Hyde is the top running threat. Kelly’s up-tempo Doug Baldwin his primary targets. The defense has lost offense may not result in immediate production. The de- a couple of key players through free agency, but the Se- By Bob Glauber | Newsday fense has been hurt by the recent retirements of Patrick ahawks still have Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Mi- Willis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith, leaving Navorro chael Bennett and Cliff Avril. This is still a very good Bowman as the best player on that side. The 49ers drafted team that will be in contention for the division and the former Oregon star DeForest Buckner to improve the de- Super Bowl. fensive line. free agency by bringing in defensive tackle cornerback Josh Norman. NFC SOUTH PREVIEW Robert Ayers, cornerback Brent Grimes NFC EAST PREVIEW and linebacker Daryl Smith. This is a team PHILADELPHIA A look at the NFC South heading into the that looks ready to take the next step and A look at the NFC East heading into EAGLES 2016 NFL season, with teams listed in jump into the playoff conversation. the 2016 NFL season, with teams list- predicted order of finish ed in predicted order of finish • Coach: Doug NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Pederson, 1st season CAROLINA • Last season: 7-9, 2nd place • Coach: Sean Payton, NEW YORK • Outlook: The blockbuster trade that PANTHERS 11th season (87-57, .604) GIANTS sent Sam Bradford to the Vikings for a • Coach: Ron Rivera, • Last season: 7-9, 3rd place • Coach: Ben McAdoo,1st 6th season (47-32-1, • Outlook: Payton signed a season first-round pick in 2017 and a fourth- .594) long-term contract in the offseason, and • Last season: 6-10, 3rd place rounder in 2018 signals the Eagles are • Last season: 15-1, 1st place Drew Brees isn’t going anywhere, so this • Outlook: McAdoo takes over for Tom ready to cast their lot sooner rather • Playoffs: Beat Seattle, 31-24; beat Ari- team will once again revolve around its Coughlin, who parted ways with the Gi- than later with No. 2 overall pick Car- zona, 49-15 in Conference Championship; two biggest personalities. The question ants after 12 seasons that included two son Wentz. That means this could be lost to Denver, 24-10 in Super Bowl. now is whether there’s enough of a sup- Super Bowl championships. It’s an ex- a rough transition period for first-year • Outlook: The defending NFC champions porting cast to get the Saints back into cellent situation for McAdoo because head coach Doug Pederson, but the Ea- go into the season with just about the same playoff contention. Brees remains one of the Giants still have a franchise quar- gles believe Wentz’s huge upside even- team that went to the Super Bowl, with terback in Eli Manning, and GM Jerry one notable exception. The Panthers opt- the league’s elite quarterbacks, and look tually will translate into plenty of playoff for 2014 first-round receiver Brandin Reese spent big in free agency to fix a ed to rescind the franchise tag from top- woeful defense.