For our Ticket King NFC 2018 preview, we turned to T.J.
Bryce to give us his picks, winners, losers and (Panthers, I’m talking about
you) the wildest of winner picks for the year. You may not agree with T.J.B.
but we are going to move forward and post this. Take it away T.J.B.
When I look at the NFC, I see a stark contrast when compared
to the AFC. To begin 2018, the NFC is the most loaded conference in recent
memory. All but about two teams are serious playoff contenders even though the
records may not show it, because after all, somebody has to lose.
East
1. Eagles 12-4-
The reigning Super Bowl champions are a trendy favorite according the Vegas
books. However, Carson Wentz will not be ready for week one and Nick Foles had
a lousy preseason, so there are no guarantees here. I will say this though,
this is the one team that could stick "Joe Shmuck" at quarterback and win.
2. Cowboys 10-6- After
a tumultuous 2017, "The Boys" are ready to get back in the saddle, and the return
of their All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott will help. Elliot should be an MVP
candidate this season.
3. Redskins 7-9-
What a mess this team has turned into. After finally finding a franchise
quarterback in Kirk Cousins, they rubbed him the wrong way and have replaced
him with the veteran Alex Smith
4. Giants 7-9-
Okay, maybe I was too high on this team a year ago. But the Beckham contract is
finally done, so that is a start.
South
1. Panthers 13-3-
The Panthers already had an incredible defense and now have a reloaded offense
to go along with it. This could be Cam Newton’s best year to date.
2. Falcons 10-6-
Another solid year for the Falcons, not much else to say here.
3. Saints 8-8- The Saints had magic last year. I don’t think history repeats itself in 2018. Drew Brees is an old man who needs to call it a career.
3. Saints 8-8- The Saints had magic last year. I don’t think history repeats itself in 2018. Drew Brees is an old man who needs to call it a career.
4. Buccaneers 4-12- Jameis Winston will sit the first three
games and I don’t think the Buccaneers will recover from that.
North
1. Vikings 12-4-
This is a great team. But are the Vikings Super Bowl worthy now with Kirk Cousins
under center?
2. Packers 10-6-
This the true wild card team of 2018. If Aaron Rodgers can get back to being
Aaron Rodgers, and that defense comes together under new DC Mike Pettine, they
could win 14 games. Or, it could go the other way. Rodgers is nowhere close to
his old self and the defense struggles. If that happens this is a 6-win team,
so I settled on the middle.
3. Lions 8-8-
New year, same old Lions.
4. Bears 5-11-
The Bears have given up a ton of draft capital for two players now. That may
come back to bite them in the long haul.
West
1. Rams 12-4-
The Rams made a ton of changes this offseason, turning themselves into an
All-Star team, but as we have seen in the past. All-Star teams do not
necessarily mean Super Bowl.
2. 49ers 9-7-
Okay before we crown Jimmy Garoppolo as the second coming of the Dali Lama,
let’s see how he performs for an entire season first.
3. Seahawks 8-8-
This team is a mess right now, and I mean a mess. The only reason they win 8
games is because of Russell Wilson.
4. Cardinals 3-13-
The Cardinals have a new franchise quarterback, but he may not be the man under
center out of the gate.
NFC Playoffs
Seeds: 1. Panthers 2. Eagles 3. Rams 4. Vikings 5. Cowboys
6. Packers
Wild Card Weekend
Rams vs. Packers- The Rams are an All-Star team now. The
Packers pull the upset 34-27, because, well, that is what they do.
Vikings vs. Cowboys- Ezekiel
Elliot has a monster season, but he has never faced a run defense like this
before, so it ends here. Vikings cruise on 30-16.
Divisional Playoff Weekend
Panthers vs. Packers- This is the new bad matchup for the
Packers. The Panthers are just too much, and they move on 34-20.
Eagles vs. Vikings- A rematch of one of the biggest playoff
blowouts in recent memory. This is much a closer game, but one the Eagles still
win 27-20.
Conference Championship
Panthers vs. Eagles- This is a fantastic matchup on paper.
This could be one of the best football games ever played. The Panthers win
30-27 as Newton marches them down the field just enough in the last two minutes
for Graham Gano to kick the game-winning
field goal.