The Falcoholic
The preseason is over. The rosters are set, and the ultimate dream for all 32 teams is still alive. But make no mistake, this is no longer about dreams. It’s about reality. And in this reality, only a handful of teams are truly built to hoist the Lombardi in February. Everybody else is fighting. Fighting for relevance, fighting for their jobs, fighting for their next window of opportunity.
Let’s get into it.
Until further notice, everything runs through Philly. Jalen Hurts is locked in, Vic Fangio is back, and this may be the NFC’s most complete roster. The bully is back on the block.
Don’t let last February fool you: Kansas City is still among the cream of the crop. As long as Andy Reid is calling plays and Mahomes is slinging the rock, the Chiefs will be in the AFC title picture.
While the Eagles may have the most complete roster in the NFC, that title goes to the Ravens in the AFC, and it may be the most complete roster in all of football. Mix that with Lamar Jackson still in his prime, and you have dynamite…but can they finally finish the job in February?
Josh Allen may be the most dynamic weapon at quarterback in football, and he was finally recognized for it last year with his first MVP. Now, it’s time for the Bills, with a younger, faster, and deeper roster, to prove they can get to the big game.
Injury hastened the breakout of Jordan Love last year. This year, with the arrival of new weapon Matthew Golden on offense and future Hall-of-Fame edge rusher Micah Parsons on defense, the sky is the limit for Green Bay.
The only thing that could stop Detroit last season was injury; This year, it was a major brain drain with both their offensive and defensive coordinators snagging head coaching jobs. But they still have the core players in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, and Aidan Hutchinson, and they still have Dan Campbell…is that enough?
C.J. Stroud is a star. Will Anderson, Jr. is primed for a breakout. This entire team believes in what DeMeco Ryans is preaching, and the rest of the AFC South is still trying to find itself. Let’s go Houston. It’s time.
Burrow is still Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase is still one of the baddest receivers on the planet. Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson are both back. The offense will be fine…will the defense?
Losing Liam Coen hurt, but the Bucs still have Baker Mayfield and a heck of an offensive arsenal that surrounds him, headlined by Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and new addition Emeka Egbuka. If Todd Bowles’ defense can be serviceable, you can make it six straight years for the defending NFC South champs.
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