Way too early NFL predictions: AFC/NFC Championship Game matchups
By Andrew Garda
NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers
The NFC is the much tougher conference to parse, given that all four divisions—save perhaps the South last season—could produce two and sometimes three playoff teams. Of those teams, more than half are legitimate contenders before the season.
The Packers are in a tough division, arguably the toughest one in the league, though it does have its own share of question marks. Can John Fox can find a way to quickly turn both the defense and offense around in Chicago? There’s also whether the return of Adrian Peterson to the Vikings will be enough to help quarterback Teddy Bridgewater advance as a signal caller capable of carrying the Vikings into playoff contention. The Lions seem legitimate enough, assuming Detroit adapts to the departure of Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh.
Really though, of the North teams, Green Bay is the only one to feel completely sure about. They have one of the best (if not the best) quarterback in the game, two outstanding receivers and a fantastic young running back. While the defense was average last season (No. 15 in the NFL according to NFL.com), if Casey Hayward can bounce back from injury and continue his solid play from last year, the secondary should be very good.
This is a very good team. Is that a guarantee that they will make this run? In the NFC, there are no guarantees. However they have the overall skill to beat any team in the NFL, and if they find themselves back facing the Seattle Seahawks with a fourth quarter lead, they’ll likely do a better job of closing out the game this time around.
Next: NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys