New York Giants 2012 NFL Season Win Totals 9.5, 2011 Record 9-7 The defending champs needed a running back and got one, just probably not the one they wanted. The world champs, led by perennially underrated general manager Jerry Reese, have had a great off season. From trading for linebacker Keith Rivers to signing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers on the eve of the draft, the Giants have not made a big splash, but have rather done their usual stellar job of allowing less-than-key components of the roster to walk (think Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs) and filling those holes with young talent.
New England Patriots 2012 NFL Season Win Totals 12, 2011 record 13-3
Photo courtesy of the San F ranciso F orty Niners .
The Patriots drafted defense in the first six rounds. Smart move. The Patriots got more explosive on the outside with their free-agent acquisition of wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and spent the draft getting better on defense. Adding Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower, along with defensive end Jake Bequette, should help upgrade a Patriots defense that gave up way too many yards last year. As long as they have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, they remain Super Bowl contenders.
The San Fr ancisco 4 9ers return 11 starters on defense under coach Jim Harbough.
San Francisco 49ers
a bit different this off season, as the team hired a new offensive coordinator in the volatile Todd Haley to replace “retired” Bruce Arians. The Steelers also bid adieu to a trio of veteran mainstays in Hines Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith. Throw in another excellent draft orchestrated by general manager Kevin Colbert, and the Steelers should be right in the thick of the playoff race this December.
Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Season Win Totals 9.5, 2011 Record 8-8 They drafted only one additional weapon for Peyton Manning, running back Ronnie Hillman. Will Brock Osweiler pan out as “the project quarterback”? This team has been saddled with some extremely big expectations by signing Manning, and while the league’s only four-time MVP could very well end up taking the Broncos to a Super Bowl, the Broncos will be tested right out of the gate, facing the Steelers on Sunday Night Football in front of the entire country. It will be interesting to watch how this team responds to the pressures that landing Manning has brought it.
Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Season Win Totals 9, 2011 Record 10-6 Draft class featured no first-round pick, a second-round guard, a third-round tackle and no drama. The Falcons went through some coaching upheaval on both sides of the ball this spring, hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators. On defense, Mike Nolan figures to be an upgrade over the departed Brian VanGorder. On offense, Mike Mularkey left to become head coach of the Jaguars, who turned around and sent Dirk Koetter to run the Falcons offense. Head coach Mike Smith has won a bunch of games during his time in Atlanta, but he has yet to win a playoff game. Can Smith get this team over the hump and deep into the playoffs? Or is he some kind of second coming of Dennis Green or Mike Sherman—coaches who could win plenty of regular season games, but whose teams folded when the spotlight was on them?
New Orleans Saints 2012 NFL Season Win Totals 10, 2011 Record 13-3
Randy Moss reported to camp and said the 49ers are ahead of schedule. This team has the “we have unfinished business” vibe to it. Returning all 11 starters to a defense that dominated nearly every week, head coach Jim Harbaugh has added some weapons to the offensive side of the ball in hopes of scoring a few more points a game. While Randy Moss, Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham grabbed headlines, the thinking here is that former Oregon running back LaMichael James, who the Niners grabbed in the second round of the draft, will turn out to be a key component of the 49ers’ offensive improvement.
The NFL’s delay in announcing bounty punishment for Saints players is punishment in itself. The best thing this team did this off season was hire defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who will be a vast improvement over the departed Gregg Williams. While the Saints have been grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons, from “Bounty Gate” and Mickey Loomis’ alleged wiretapping of opposing teams to the continued standoff in contract negotiations with their franchise quarterback. It can’t be denied that this is still an extremely talented offense. While Sean Payton’s suspension has the potential to hang like a dark cloud over this team all season, the Saints will still win their fair share if they can maintain composure in the face of distractions.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dallas Cowboys
2012 NFL Season Win Totals 10, 2011 Record 12-4
2012 NFL Season Win Totals 8.5, 2011 Record 8-8
The Steelers might have extended QB Ben Roethlisberger’s career a few more years by upgrading their offensive line. Things were
The Cowboys made a huge move by jumping up to get LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne—the best defensive player in
2012 NFL Season Win Totals 10, 2011 Record 13-3
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