The start of the 2015 NFL season is still several months away, but there's one thing we can say with near certainty: There will be turnover among the defending division champions.Of course, predicting just how much turnover we'll see is a trickier proposition. Cameron Johnson Jersey Still, with the draft done and most major free agents signed, we can identify which divisional winners from last season are the most vulnerable. Below is a look at all eight divisional champions from 2014, ranked according to their chances of being overtaken by the competition in 2015:1) Carolina PanthersBiggest threat in the NFC South:The , who managed to claim the division with a losing record (7-8-1) last season, could end up starting two new tackles in signee and fourth-round pick , and that might spell trouble. How will -- he was sacked 81 times over the past two seasons, and wound up mi sing time in 2014 with various injuries -- hold up? He spent a lot of time running for his life last season, and you can only duck and dodge so much before it starts to wear on you. had a career year, cracking the 1,000-yard mark for the first time, but he's also 30. Can he keep producing?I think the will pose a significant challenge behind , who I expect will return to form after something of an atypical year. Ultimately, I see Carolina falling prey to New Orleans.2) Pittsburgh SteelersBiggest threat in the AFC North: had a phenomenal 2014, setting career bests in completion percentage (67.1) and pa sing yards (4,952). I'm just not sure we can count on him hitting those high-water marks Charles Barkley Jersey again. When you succeed like that, opponents tend to adjust, game-planning different tactics to stop you. I also worry about the looming absence of running back , who is facing a three-game suspension to start the season. We saw how much the struggled in their when Bell was out. Yes, Pittsburgh signed veteran back , but he's 32, played in six games last year and has averaged just 4.1 yards per carry over the last three seasons. Finally, the face a daunting challenge in the very tough AFC North, as they're just one of three teams -- including the and -- who could conceivably win the division. At the end of the day, I like the ' chances the best.3) Denver BroncosBiggest threat in the AFC West: says he's healthy -- but he's also 39, and no one can play forever. Historically, when quarterbacks hit the wall, their completion percentages go down and the interceptions go up. Might Manning forestall the inevitable for another year? Sure, but the odds are starting to stack up against him. I also wouldn't dismi s the lo s of ; he's a very good tight end. What was once a supercharged receiving corps has lost a fair amount of firepower over the years, with the departures of Thomas and and the decline of (who remains unsigned). I'm interested to see how No. 1 receiver responds this season. It'll help if can repeat his off-the-charts performance from 2014. The have shown they can win, and they made a great addition over the offseason in , who really brings a lot to the table. Plus, quarterback plays better than most people think. The have a good shot to unseat the .4) Dallas CowboysBiggest threat in the NFC East:With in Philadelphia, can a combination of and keep the running game going? Can , who had an awesome 2014, produce like that again? How will the respond to a vastly improved division? The took a step up in free agency and the draft; rookie will boost their offensive line, and I think will be a better quarterback than he's been the past couple years. The are tough to pin down, given the uncertainty at quarterback, but they have a good system and an upgraded pa s defense. The , meanwhile, really helped themselves this offseason, notably with the acquisition of former special teams star ; will make for a great first Sunday night game of the year. I still like the to finish on top, not least because of their dominant offensive Steve Nash Jersey line, but the fight will be difficult.5) Indianapolis ColtsBiggest threat in the AFC South: has been everything to the , who got nothing out of the running back position last year. If they can get a semblance of a ground game going in 2015 -- and I think they will, with veteran addition -- they'll have helped themselves significantly. Offseason addition should improve the offensive line. Indy took some heat for drafting in the first round, given the apparent surplus of pa s-catching talent now on the roster. But presumably he was the highest-rated player on the ' board, and I don't think you can ever fault anyone for taking the highest-ranked guy. Houston looms in the division, with an excellent coach in Bill O'Brien and a strong defense led by . But the have a serious hole at quarterback, and I don't think they'll be able to overtake Indy and .6) Seattle SeahawksBiggest threat in the NFC West:The were in a pretty good spot before they landed tight end . They had a stellar quarterback in , a running back in who always keeps Seattle in the game, and a defense that is top-notch, especially against the run. The 'Hawks did lose a solid coach in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who left to take the head job in Atlanta. And they do open with , including in Green Bay. But this team is just too good not to overcome those obstacles.As for the rest of the division, the Jason Kidd Jersey ' fate is tied to quarterback -- if he can stay healthy, they should be pretty stout. I don't think the will be a factor, and the are a question mark. Jeff Fisher has some good players, but the po sibility of a move to Los Angeles could be a distraction, especially if it's announced sometime this season. Think of the 1995 , who were 4-4 at one point -- and went 1-6 after their move to Baltimore was announced in early November.7) New England PatriotsBiggest threat in the AFC East:Noise of the sort that has surrounded New England in the wake of Deflategate might affect other teams, but Bill Belichick will not allow it to impact the . Yes, Jalen Lecque Jersey they're facing a four-game stretch without , and it's going to be tough . But I still see them starting the season 2-2 at worst. Everyone seems to be worried about the turnover at cornerback -- with , and all out of the picture -- but the only real lo s there is Revis. Browner and Arrington are replaceable.Everybody else in the division got better this offseason, with . So I don't think New England will run away with the AFC East as easily as it normally does. But I still see the Pats as the favorites to take the division yet again.8) Green Bay PackersBiggest threat in the NFC North:The did everything they needed to do this offseason, keeping tackle and receiver in the fold and picking up some young talent in the draft. Green Bay's receiving corps is stacked, and reigning MVP , of course, is as good as any quarterback out there. The biggest thing that held this squad back last season was former tight end 's at the end of the NFC title game, but that was just the most visible mistake by a unit that . Not coincidentally, Green Bay made a change at special teams coordinator, replacing Shawn Slocum with Ron Zook. It'll be interesting to see how things play out with Tom Clements from head coach Mike McCarthy.The will be better than they were in 2014; I actually see them finishing second. But I think the are the most complete team in the NFL, and thus, they fall at the bottom of this list.Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter __.
| No comments yet. Be the first. |
