2035 EFL Preview

NFC

After a bumpy off season the new EFL year is upon us, and there have been some major changes that should shake things up in both conferences. There were some surprises last season and I expect a lot more this year as there were several coaching changes that should have a huge impact on the league. I expect the usual suspects to duke it out for the playoff spots this year, but there are some up and coming coaches who are gradually improving. Hopefully with a few more seasons under their belts they can make an impact in the post season. This is how I see the divisions playing out this year.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia – This is really a two horse race division with the edge going to Philadelphia based strictly on the talent of their players. They are talented across the board with a big addition coming in the form of OLB Joseph Lanier, perhaps the only player on the team to have a larger fro than coach Benny Guzman. Philly really seemed to improve last year, until they reached the playoffs, and then returned to form. Can they get over the hump? That’s yet to be seen.

Dallas – Dallas made a late run for the Empire Bowl last season, before succumbing to eventual champion Minnesota. When Dallas shows up to play, they can hang with any team in the league, but will they show up? They didn’t make many waves in free agency and added a solid DT through the draft in Darren Lightfoot. They should field a solid but not spectacular offense and defense again, but the success and failure of this team lies in the hands of coach Walter Strickland alone.

Washington – I don’t expect much more than another average year for Washington. Coach Stephen Reese will win a few over the weak teams, and lose to the rest.

New Jersey – Come opening day coaches Michael Inman and Scott Moore should be able to parlay their 12 days of collective PSE experience and weak roster into a 0-16 record.

NFC NORTH

Chicago – Dominant coach, dominant players, dominant playbook, weak division. I don’t expect anything less than a first round bye in the playoffs. After a disappointing upset in last years playoffs, I see Chicago rebounding and going deep in the post season. The strength of this team is the defense and look for new CB William Williams to contribute to perhaps the stingiest defense in the league.

Detroit – Normally, Minnesota would be a lock for the runner up position in the division, but after losing head coach Gary Robles, Detroit is poised to make a move. Coach Thomas Zuniga is gradually improving and if the training staff has been doing their due diligence, Detroit should have a winning record.

Green Bay – There is only one direction that Green Bay can go and that is up. After firing one and done coach Johnny Lopez, they have greatly increased their chances at a winning season by hiring former USC assistant Eugene Carey. Green Bay has good talent left over from a previous administration and if Lopez didn’t screw things up too bad, a good team talent-wise should take the field. I would pick them to edge out Detroit for second place, but an 0-16 record is hard to overcome.

Minnesota – How quickly can a team go from first to worst? About one week. Don’t expect much from Minny this season as a completely new coaching staff, with a combined 7 days experience between the three of them, will be at the helm. They would probably be better off letting the gameplan make the calls.

NFC SOUTH

Tampa Bay – The best(maybe) team in this very bad division is probably the best way to describe Tampa Bay’s chances. They won the division last year despite taking a step back on both sides of the ball. They didn’t do much in free agency, but rookie linebacker Gerald Spencer should contribute immediately.

Atlanta – Just a step behind Tampa, if behind them at all. Atlanta could just as easily win this underwhelming division. Will the addition of veteran RB Charles Mayse be enough to take them past the first round of the playoffs? Doubtful. Perhaps the addition of veteran coach Robert Addison will help them more than anything.

New Orleans – This should be a better year for New Orleans. They have an up and coming coaching staff that is gradually improving. If given a few more years to develop a playbook and hone their playcalling skills, they should contend for the top spot in the division. I don’t think they’re ready to make that leap yet, but given the division, it wouldn’t surprise me. They weren’t very active in free agency, but their draft pick cornerback Terrance Scanlan should help a defense that gave up 30 points a game last season.

Carolina – The addition of coach Robert Jennings was the best move this team has made in several seasons. If their players weren’t so bad they could probably do something. Give Carolina a few seasons and they should be competitive again.

NFC WEST

St. Louis – The NFC west could very well challenge the NFC south for worst division in the EFL honors. I’m giving a slight edge to St. Louis simply because they won this weak division last season. None of the moves they made in free agency will do much if anything to help them win this season. Rookie QB Donte Clagg is a good pickup, but he’s still a rookie QB, and will have a steep learning curve. I’d give them 3 to 1 odds of making the playoffs.

San Francisco – Any team in the west could win it, so San Fran could be a playoff team. They have a veteran head coach, who has bounced around both leagues without much success. Could this be the season the switch gets flipped and James Andrews makes the playoffs? Or will it be another year of mediocrity? Can free agent DE Franklin Brito muster enough energy to get his first sack in 5 seasons? Or will he limp his way into retirement? I see a lot of question marks in San Francisco and not many answers. There’s one thing I’m sure of, if they have a better record than Arizona and St. Louis, they’ll make the playoffs.

Arizona – Another ho-hum team in a ho-hum division. There’s not much to say about Arizona other than they will consistently score 25 points and consistently give up 30 points. They have signed one of their four 2035 draft picks, and last season’s big trade pickup Lloyd Overbay ran 735 yards to the bank to deposit his $14 million check. With continuing stellar team management like that, the sky’s the limit for Arizona. I’d say they have about a 33% chance to make the playoffs.

Seattle – A 2-14 team last season under the tutelage of head coach William Fitzgerald. They won the division and went to the playoffs the year before that with a CPU coached team. They did nothing in free agency, and their defense heavy draft was unimpressive. I don’t expect Seattle to make the playoffs.

My pick for the NFC champion – Chicago