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Binge Sports: Bye-Bye Bye Weeks, Part 2: Breaking Down the NFC (AND ANOTHER FAN VOTE!)

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Welcome to the NFC portion of the Binge Sports breakdown of the final five weeks of the NFL regular season. If you missed yesterday’s AFC breakdown, click HERE to check it out and cast your votes.

The NFC South is looking to screw some deserving team out of a playoff berth, much like the Cardinals were left out last year. Let’s take a look at how things may shake out in the NFC and don’t forget to vote for who you think will win each division.

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eagles PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

CURRENT STANDING: 8-3, T-1st in NFC East

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @DAL, SEA, DAL, @WAS, @NYG

BREAKDOWN: The Eagles were the favorite coming into the season and the next three weeks will tell the tale of their 2014 campaign. With two games against the team they’re currently tied with atop the division, the Dallas Cowboys, and a game against the defending champs, it’s go time for Philly. We’ll see how it starts tomorrow.

 

cowboys DALLAS COWBOYS

CURRENT STANDING: 8-3, T-1st in NFC East

REMAINING SCHEDULE: PHI, @CHI, @PHI, IND, @WAS

BREAKDOWN: Obviously, as you read above, the two games with the Eagles over the next three weeks will go a long way in deciding which direction this division is going to go. The Cowboys haven’t had luck in Chicago recently, Indy will be fighting for their playoff position, and they’ve already lost to the Redskins. If the Cowboys can get three of the five, I like their chances to get in.

 

giants NEW YORK GIANTS

CURRENT STANDING: 3-8, tied for last in NFC East

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @JAC, @TEN, WAS, @STL, PHI

BREAKDOWN: This breakdown was going to be longer, but it’s been intercepted. Damn right that’s an Eli joke. The Giants are terrible.

 

redskins WASHINGTON REDSKINS

CURRENT STANDING: 3-8, tied for last in NFC East

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @IND, STL, @NYG, PHI, DAL

BREAKDOWN: The team name isn’t the only controversy in D.C. anymore. RGIII is in danger of losing his job. The saving grace for them this year could be to keep the rival Cowboys out of the playoffs in Week 17.

[yop_poll id=”152″]

 

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packers GREEN BAY PACKERS

CURRENT STANDING: 8-3, 1st in NFC North

REMAINING SCHEDULE: NE, ATL, @BUF, @TB, DET

BREAKDOWN: If I had to put money on it right now, I’d bet on the Packers to go to the Super Bowl. They’ve been annihilating opponents recently. Aaron Rodgers has never looked better, but a big test looms this weekend with a game against Tom Brady and the Patriots. But the three games after that should be a breeze. It’ll be interesting to see what the significance of the Detroit game is in Week 17.

 

lions DETROIT LIONS

CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, 2nd in NFC North

REMAINING SCHEDULE: CHI, TB, MIN, @CHI, @GB

BREAKDOWN:  After all these years, the talented Lions are finally playing up to their potential. They’ve got four division games left out of their five remaining contests and if they can get three of those, a Week 17 matchup with Green Bay could decide the division. A wildcard spot may seem more likely at this point.

 

bears CHICAGO BEARS

CURRENT STANDING: 5-6, 3rd in NFC North

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @DET, DAL, NO, DET, @MIN

BREAKDOWN: The Chicago Bears are quite the disappointment this season. They’ve got a ton of weapons on both sides of the ball and a 5-6 record at this point is not what Bears fans were hoping for. Jay Cutler has taken a lot of heat. With five games to go, two of which are against a team they’re chasing in the standings, can the Bears make a final push for the playoffs? Maybe, but winning the division is certainly out.

 

vikings MINNESOTA VIKINGS

CURRENT STANDING: 4-7, last in NFC North

REMAINING SCHEDULE: CAR, NYJ, @DET, @MIA, CHI

BREAKDOWN: The Vikings have had to endure all of the Adrian Peterson drama this season, so 4-7 at this point is probably about right. I’ve seen some things I like with Bridgewater, so we’ll have to see how the AP situation works out and how they do in the offseason. But 2014 is done.

[yop_poll id=”153″]

 

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falcons ATLANTA FALCONS

CURRENT STANDING: 4-7, T-1st in NFC South

REMAINING SCHEDULE: ARI, @GB, PIT, @NO, CAR

BREAKDOWN: This division is disgraceful and it’s a shame that one of these teams is actually going to make the playoffs. Seriously, look up. 4-7 is leading a division. And somebody’s going to get screwed, whether it’s the Cowboys, Eagles, Niners, Seahawks, or whoever. But let’s talk about the Falcons. They’re a mediocre football team at best and should get crushed the next three weeks.

 

saints NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

CURRENT STANDING: 4-7, T-1st in NFC South

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @PIT, CAR, @CHI, ATL, @TB

BREAKDOWN: I really thought the Saints would be better than this. They’re not just losing games, but they’re losing games at home. Sure, Drew Brees is putting up yards, as he always does, but they can’t really stop anybody. Experience may just win them this division.

 

panthers CAROLINA PANTHERS

CURRENT STANDING: 3-7-1, 3rd in NFC South

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @MIN, @NO, TB, CLE, @ATL

BREAKDOWN: The Panthers have certainly taken a step backwards. I think the loss of Steve Smith hit them harder than they ever thought it would. Sure, Cam Newton has all the talent in the world, but I just don’t think he’s ready to be the leader of a team just yet. Hopefully, that will come, but with 3 wins after 11 games, they’re still in the playoff hunt. Pathetic.

 

buccaneers TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

CURRENT STANDING: 2-9, last in NFC South

REMAINING SCHEDULE: CIN, @DET, @CAR, GB, NO

BREAKDOWN: And with only two wins after 11 games, the Bucs are still in the playoff hunt as well. But they’ve got a very tough schedule coming in. But hey, get to 5 wins and who knows? Could you imagine the backlash if a 5-11 team would get in the playoffs while a 10-win team could go home?

[yop_poll id=”154″]

 

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cardinals ARIZONA CARDINALS

CURRENT STANDING: 9-2, 1st in NFC West

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @ATL, KC, @STL, SEA, @SF

BREAKDOWN: The injury to Carson Palmer certainly hurt the Cardinals, but they’ve done fine in his absence this season. They’re a sneaky 9-2 and don’t get a ton of press in this division, but as of right now, they’re the number one seed in the entire NFC. They’ve got three division games to finish the season, which is never easy, especially in the most competitive division in the NFC this year.

 

49ers SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in NFC West

REMAINING SCHEDULE: SEA, @OAK, @SEA, SD, ARI

BREAKDOWN: The 49ers schedule coming in isn’t the easiest but they’ve got some advantages. They’ve got a short week this week to prepare for the defending champs, but at least they’re at home, always a good thing for a Thursday game. They get a game against Oakland. Enough said. They do have to go to Seattle and everyone knows it’s difficult to win there. But they get two home games to finish up, but they’re against playoff-caliber teams. Should be interesting.

 

seahawks SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

CURRENT STANDING: 7-4, T-2nd in NFC West

REMAINING SCHEDULE: @SF, @PHI, SF, @ARI, STL

BREAKDOWN: This season probably isn’t what the defending champion Seahawks had in mind, but they’re still in the playoff picture. But their next four games are against teams fighting for playoff positions and three are on the road, where they’re much more vulnerable. They do finish at home against the Rams, but they’ve already lost to them once. It’ll be a fight to even have a chance to defend their title.

 

rams ST. LOUIS RAMS

CURRENT STANDING: 4-7, last in NFC West

REMAINING SCHEDULE: OAK, @WAS, ARI, NYG, @SEA

BREAKDOWN: I know the Rams aren’t going to make the playoffs this year, but damn are they fun to watch. I’ve always liked Jeff Fisher and at some point, he’s going to get this team to the playoffs. Having a constant at quarterback will be nice and I don’t think it’s going to be Sam Bradford.

[yop_poll id=”155″]

 

Okay, so how do you justify the votes you just made. Comment below or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris.

 

 

 

 

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Binge Media Sports: 2014 NFL Preview: AFC East/NFC East

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And here we go. Welcome to the first of a series of previews as Binge Media Sports coverage of the 2014 NFL season begins. Each preview will give you a look at eight teams, four from the AFC and four from the NFC.  I’ll tell you how they did last season, followed by a quick look at the highlights (and lowlights for some) of the team this year. We are having some issues on the site with the voting options, but as soon as the boys sober up from Lawlapalooza, I’m hopeful we can get it taken care of. I’ve been told to leave the title of the poll up, so the plug-in team can see what they’re dealing with, so know that I’m not a moron and just forgot to list the teams. I may end up making the vote its own post later next week, so just keep checking in. But let’s move ahead with at least the previews. We’ll start today with the teams in the AFC and NFC East. Enjoy.

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bills BUFFALO BILLS

LAST SEASON: 6-10, FINISHED 4TH IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: Wide receiver Sammy Watkins is the biggest addition to a Buffalo (not Toronto, sorry Bon Jovi) team that is still looking to break through just to get to .500. It’s been almost a decade since they’ve done that. The question remains whether or not last year’s first round pick, QB EJ Manuel can get Watkins the ball. He’s still got some improving to do, but a nice 1-2 running back combo in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson may open up the field a bit.

The defense is on the rise. CB Stephen Gilmore comes back from a broken wrist and could very well become a top corner in the entire NFL if he can play to potential. On the line, they’re still waiting for the Mario Williams signing to pan out, but the real beast is Kyle Williams. He’s made three of the last four Pro Bowls and d0uble teams on him could allow everybody else to step it up.

 

dolphins MIAMI DOLPHINS

LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED TIED FOR 2ND IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: The Dolphins are looking to get beyond the Richie Incognito drama that plagued them last year. They’ve started that process by completely overhauling the offensive line to protect QB Ryan Tannehill, who got knocked around in the 2013 campaign. WR Brian Hartline seems to have become his favorite target, even though they still have Mike Wallace, who still has to be laughing at all the money he was given. A new system that allows Tannehill to move around a little more should help everybody.

The defense is the strong suit of this team. A solid line that includes Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, who finished with 11 1/2 sacks in just his second year, mixed with a decent secondary should keep Miami near the playoff hunt throughout the season.

 

patriots NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

LAST SEASON: 12-4, WON THE AFC EAST, LOST AFC CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE DENVER BRONCOS

2014 PREVIEW: Even with the hodgepodge of receivers he had to work with last year, QB Tom Brady still led the Pats to the second best record in the AFC and a spot in the AFC Championship, eventually losing to rival Peyton Manning. It seems that no matter who they put on the field, they find a way to get things done. If the injuries can remain limited, especially to Shane Vereen and Rob Gronkowski, the offense should be very sharp.

The dangerous thing about New England this season is the upgrade on the defensive side of the football, the biggest addition being perennial All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who signed after a very short time in Tampa. He can change the way an entire offense plays, which may help if they run into the Broncos again in the playoffs. I’ll go ahead and cast my vote here. The Patriots will win this division and are a strong contender for the Super Bowl. (How happy did I just make Jack?)

 

jets NEW YORK JETS

LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED TIED FOR 2ND IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: J.E.T.S., J.E.T.S., J.E.T.S., JETS, JETS, JETS!!!!! That’s about as excited as anyone can get about the green and white this season. Sure, they brought in some big names to fill the back page in Michael Vick and Chris Johnson, but neither are anywhere near their prime. Instead, Jets fans get Geno Smith and Chris Ivory, who just aren’t ready to compete for this division.

The defense doesn’t help much. Muhammad Wilkerson is a monster and 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson is up and coming, but the secondary is atrocious. They’ll squeak out four or five wins, but is that enough to save Rex Ryan’s job again?

[yop_poll id=”144″]

 

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Before I write anything, just know that I root for the Dallas Cowboys, but I’m still a professional, so I’ll still talk about the positive aspects of the other teams that I despise so much in this division. I just wanted you all to know how painful it is for me. Let’s continue.

 

 

cowboys DALLAS COWBOYS

LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED 2ND IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: The offense is there. Bash Tony Romo all you like, but the guy puts up numbers. TE Jason Witten may be the most consistent player on this team and maybe one of the most consistent in the league. Year after year, he continues to produce. The maturity of wideout Dez Bryant has made him one of the best receivers in football, and he could have his best year yet. RB DeMarco Murray could be an All-Pro if he could only stay healthy, but that’s a really big if. Throw in arguably the best offensive line in the league, and the Cowboys could put up 35 a game.

The problem is that they’ll give up 36. After the worst year in franchise history on that side of the ball, something has to change. Just when the offense would do something great, the defense would do something equally awful to hinder any momentum. Throw in the fact that DeMarcus Ware moved to Denver, and there could be real trouble in Big D. People have been waiting for years for this team to realize its potential, and we may have to continue to wait. The talent is there, but the coaching is not. As a fan, I hope they surprise me, but if I had any big money to throw around, the easiest bet in football right now is an 8-8 finish.

 

giants NEW YORK GIANTS

LAST SEASON: 7-9, FINISHED 3RD IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: The Giants are moving to a West Coast offense. What? After ten years of playing in a system, Eli Manning looks to bounce back after a dreadful 2013. It will be interesting to see if this new style can limit his interception total. He’s got some good receivers in Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle to get the ball to.

The defense could go either way depending on injuries. Jason Pierre-Paul is getting older and didn’t have a great year last year, so he’ll be looking to get the defensive line back on track. They didn’t get to the quarterback much last year, which you have to do in this division. The secondary isn’t spectacular, but can be very efficient. But here’s the thing about New York. Every time I count them out, they end up going on a run and sneaking into the playoffs. We’ll see if the new schemes can get them back on track.

 

eagles PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LAST SEASON: 10-6, WON THE NFC EAST, LOST IN THE WILD CARD ROUND TO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

2014 PREVIEW: Head coach Chip Kelly surprised everyone last year by making a smooth transition to the NFL. He won’t be able to sneak up on teams anymore, but they’re still going to be very good. Quarterback Nick Foles became a star last year, yes you read that right. In his ten starts, he threw for 27 touchdowns while only throwing 2 picks. Mix that kind of passing efficiency with a strong 1-2 punch at running back and you’ve got a recipe to win football games. LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles can change an entire game with the ability to run and catch passes out of the backfield. Look for this offense to score a ton of points.

The defense isn’t terrible either. It could certainly be better, but part of the reason that they give up so many yards is because the offense scores so quickly. But some free agent signings like Malcolm Jenkins and the improvement on the corners of Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams could move them in the right direction. The Eagles have to be considered the favorite in this division. (I just threw up in my mouth a little.)

 

redskins WASHINGTON REDSKINS

LAST SEASON: 3-13, FINISHED 4TH IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS

2014 PREVIEW: The biggest topic in the offseason was actually just the team name itself. On the field, all eyes will obviously be on Robert Griffin III. New head coach Jay Gruden is looking to limit how much RG3 runs the ball, but we’ll have to wait and see if that becomes a reality. He’s a hell of an athlete, but he’s got to learn how to throw the football. Former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson gives him another option opposite Pierre Garcon. Injury will always be a question for Griffin, but they’ve got a great backup in Kirk Cousins, who may still end up on another team.

Defensively, the ‘Skins need to improve. There’s really no other way to say it. The numbers aren’t as bad as the rival Cowboys’, but something needs to change. They take a ton of chances on defense and have a tendency to get burned. I think they’ll get more than the three wins they got last year, but not by much.

[yop_poll id=”145″]

8 down, 24 to go. Next time I’ll take a look at the North Divisions, so I know my loyal Illinois readers will be excited about the Bears preview, but I’ll also be looking at the Packers, Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens, and Browns. There will certainly be plenty to discuss with those teams.  Again, I really hope our voting system gets fixed quickly and I’ll let you know as soon as it does. If you want to leave a vote in the comments section, feel free to do so and we can punch it in later, and I know I’ll have at least one Pats vote (yes, Jack, I’m talking to you). But if you’re thinking upsets or otherwise, let me know below or follow me and tweet @THElukenorris.