The third week of NFL preseason is typically when the starters play the majority of the game and get as many reps against real competition as they can before the regular season begins. Hopefully for a few teams – namely
The third week of NFL preseason is typically when the starters play the majority of the game and get as many reps against real competition as they can before the regular season begins. Hopefully for a few teams – namely the Patriots and Ravens – this wasn’t a true indication of their regular season prospects. New England got spanked by the Lions, 40-9, and Baltimore gave up touchdowns on a punt return, two interception returns and a fumble return in an ugly 34-27 loss to the Panthers.
The Pats and Ravens have been perennial contenders and Baltimore capped it with a Super Bowl win last season, but who are the contenders for 2013? Week 3 of the preseason represents the best of the best, so these are a few teams I expect to be at the top of the standings and striving for that Lombardi Trophy.
Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta got off to a tremendous start in 2012, winning its first eight games on the way to a 13-3 season and the top seed in the NFC. It’s easy to forget that the Falcons held a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game before the 49ers came back to take the Super Bowl berth. So can Atlanta bounce back from that disappointment and make another run?
Most of that team returns, including future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, who shook off retirement for another shot at a title. Atlanta also added running back Steven Jackson and defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
The Falcons should be one of the conference’s top teams, but the NFC South will be tougher. The Saints will bounce back and the Buccaneers should be more consistent. Atlanta looks like a sure-fire playoff team, but will probably be more in the range of 10 or 11 wins.
Denver Broncos – Like the Falcons, the Broncos had a disheartening end to their 2012 season. They won their final 11 regular season games for a 13-3 record, but gave up a late lead and lost in double-overtime to the Ravens in the playoffs.
Now Peyton Manning and what unexpectedly became a top offense hope to get the same production that saw it average 30 points per game in 2012. Manning has a new target in reception machine Wes Welker and the Broncos drafted Wisconsin running back Montee Ball in the second round.
Denver will be without its best defensive player, linebacker Von Miller, for the first six weeks of the season after he violated the league’s substance abuse policy. That will be a difficult obstacle, but luckily for Denver, the AFC West isn’t exactly a mine field. I wrote last week that I expect the Kansas City Chiefs to be much better, but that shouldn’t prevent Denver from remaining atop the standings.
Seattle Seahawks – I think Seattle was the best team in the league last year, but they weren’t ready to harness that talent and use it properly. The Seahawks appeared on their way to the NFC Championship Game after an amazing comeback against the Falcons, but Seattle surrendered a last-minute drive and a late field goal to go home in the divisional round.
Now, second-year quarterback Russell Wilson, the league’s best defense and an unmatched home-field advantage will have Seattle back as contenders. It appeared the Seattle offense had added one of the most dynamic players in the game, but wide receiver Percy Harvin will miss most of the season after hip surgery. No matter, though. Running back Marshawn Lynch will again be in beast mode and receivers Sidney Rice and Golden Tate developed a good rapport with Wilson as the season went along.
As long as they keep going 8-0 at home every year, which they will again, the Seahawks can punch their playoff ticket.
San Francisco 49ers – They came oh so close, but the 49ers couldn’t complete what would have been an epic comeback in the Super Bowl. The good news is that they just might have the best team in football and we’ll now get to see do-it-all quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a full season (hopefully).
An ACL injury to cornerback Chris Culliver hurts, but the league’s best linebacking duo – Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis – will stifle opposing run games every week.
They have one of the best coaches in the game who always gets the most out of his players, so unless a severe injury bug slashes through Jim Harbaugh’s locker room, the 49ers will again be the NFC’s team to beat in 2013.
Next Sunday: The Super Bowl prediction…
• ‘My Thoughts Exactly’ appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays in The Garden Island. Email David Simon your comments or questions to dsimon@thegardenisland.com. Follow David on Twitter @SimonTGI
