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NFL 2015: Who has the toughest division?

By Matt Verderame

Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

7. AFC South

The AFC South only sent the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs in 2014, and that will be a repeat performance in 2015 barring divine intervention. The Colts are the odds-on favorite to be the conference’s top seed behind a good roster, a great quarterback in Andrew Luck and an insanely easy schedule. Did you know the South divisions play each other? Awesome.

The rest of the group is poor. The Houston Texans did win nine games last year but had perhaps the easiest collection of wins in NFL history. Outside of topping the Baltimore Ravens, their wins came against the Redskins, Bills, Raiders, Jaguars (x2), Titans (x2) and Browns. There is no way that team hits .500 again with Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett running the show.

The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are both going to be in the conversation for a top-5 pick again. While the Titans are waiting for Marcus Mariota to develop and the Jaguars are waiting (praying?) for Blake Bortles for arrive, there will be another campaign of hard knocks. Jacksonville has a better roster, but that might mean 4-12 to 3-13.

6. NFC East

The first stunner of the article. Look, this isn’t your dad’s NFC East anymore. The Dallas Cowboys are a very solid team that has a few flaws, but should win the division barring injury. Dallas has a terrific offense even without DeMarco Murray and a top-flight defensive coordinator in Rod Marinelli. The Cowboys are a quality team, without much competition.

Everyone will point to the Philadelphia Eagles because of all the noise Chip Kelly has created, but where is the substance? The Eagles lost Evan Mathis, Jeremy Maclin, Trent Cole, LeSean McCoy, Todd Herremans and Nick Foles this offseason, basically trading them for DeMarco Murray, Kiko Alonso, Sam Bradford and Byron Maxwell? That trade is awful.

The New York Giants are fairly intriguing but still have a middling defense and a bad offensive line if Ereck Flowers isn’t an immediate stud. There is also a question of how healthy Victor Cruz is after tearing his patellar tendon in 2014. The Washington Redskins are still the Washington Redskins. A team with DeSean Jackson and Jay Gruden isn’t going anywhere.

Next: Time to head North

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