1 realistic goal for each NFC team in 2022
At least two teams will be aiming to do something that no one has done in 18 years.
We are just days away from the start of the NFL season, when the race for a Super Bowl title and the race for the No. 1 pick truly begin. Both objectives are accomplishments in their own right, but they’re out of reach for a majority of the league.
What should teams be aiming for in the new season? Well, it depends on the team. In my last newsletter, I outlined one attainable goal for each squad in the AFC. This time, it’s the NFC’s turn.
Arizona Cardinals
2022 goal: Once again, try to avoid that second-half swoon
Each year in the Kyler Murray/Kliff Kingsbury era, the Cardinals have started out relatively hot, only to falter right around when Daylight Saving Time ends. Last year, that collapse at least didn’t cost them a spot in the playoffs, thanks mostly to their perfect record through the first seven weeks. They dropped four of their last five games of the regular season, then didn’t even bother to show up against the Rams in the Wild Card Round.
It’s clear that the Cards need to do something differently, whether it’s simply making adjustments or keeping Murray away from Call of Duty. Maybe starring in the in-season installment of Hard Knocks will give them the bump they need, like it temporarily did the Colts last season until they met their doom in Jacksonville.
Atlanta Falcons
2022 goal: Keep building toward the future
The Falcons could very well be this year’s version of the 2021 Lions. Due to a tough schedule and without many high-quality players, they’ll lose a lot of games — but they’ll go down swinging. And that’s a sign they’re heading in the right direction.
Atlanta can use this rebuilding season as a way to figure out which players are in the team’s long-term plans … and perhaps play spoiler to a couple of the many playoff contenders on its schedule.
Carolina Panthers
2022 goal: Show a pulse on offense
A few years ago, Matt Rhule was a hot name during the NFL hiring cycle because of the impressive work he did as head coach of Temple and then Baylor. Rhule was supposed to bring that same magic — turning things around quickly, especially on offense — to the pros. But while Carolina’s defense has improved under Rhule, its offense continues to backslide (last season, it ranked second-to-last in offensive DVOA).
Part of the blame lies in the Panthers’ bad injury luck, and another part lies in the lackluster quarterback play we’ve seen in Carolina recently. In theory, a healthier Baker Mayfield and Christian McCaffrey, plus a respectable receiving corps, can help transform the offense into one that can look good and get results. If not, Rhule will probably be back to the college ranks this time next year.
Chicago Bears
2022 goal: Don’t break Justin Fields
Justin Fields’ development needs to be the main priority in Matt Eberflus’ first season as Chicago’s head coach. The problem is that the Bears did next to nothing to help Fields this offseason. His OL and receiving corps rank among the worst in the NFL (No. 31 and No. 29, respectively, per Mike Clay).
His rookie season was rough — he was sacked 36 times in 10 starts — but he showed flashes. Fields has to overcome a lack of talent surrounding him in what will be a rebuilding season and make a big leap. His preseason performance was promising:
And now he needs to carry that playmaking over to the regular season.
Dallas Cowboys
2022 goal: Become the first NFC East team since 2004 to repeat as champs
The preseason was not particularly kind to the Cowboys, whose issues at WR and OL are starting to pile up. Dallas had been the favorite to win the NFC East, but currently it has the second-best odds after the Eagles.
History isn’t on the Cowboys’ side. It’s been 18 years since the NFC East has had a repeat winner, and the Eagles had a stronger offseason than their arch rivals did. But Dallas has the edge in a few areas, including at quarterback and running back. And Dak Prescott and Co. have a little extra motivation now too.
Detroit Lions
2022 goal: FINISH GAMES
In 2021, the Lions didn’t get a win until December, though they certainly had their chances. Half of their losses at that point came in one-score games. That bad habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is one that Dan Campbell would like his team to break:
While the Lions should win more games in 2022, it might be asking a little too much to expect them to be playoff contenders. But we should expect to see improvement, especially when it comes to doing the little things that can clinch a victory.
Green Bay Packers
2022 goal: Figure out how to turn regular season success into postseason success
Matt LaFleur has led the Packers to a top-two seed in his first three seasons as the head coach, including two straight No. 1 seeds (and first-round byes). They have zero Super Bowl appearances and two playoff losses at Lambeau Field to show for it.
Each defeat can be chalked up to a mix of poor playcalling, Aaron Rodgers not being as sharp as he was in the regular season, the normally stout OL having trouble protecting Rodgers, a dearth of playmaking, and overall sloppiness (special teams, looking at you).
I’m not sure if the problem is that the Packers are too confident or too tight, but once the postseason comes, they’ve fallen flat on their faces three years in a row. After three consecutive 13-win seasons, maybe a few more losses in the regular season would do them a little good. It’d put a chip on their shoulder and force them to make adjustments that they aren’t making in late January.
Los Angeles Rams
2022 goal: Don’t rest on your laurels
We’ve gone just as long without seeing a repeat Super Bowl winner as we have since we saw a repeat NFC East winner; it last happened in the 2004 season.
As the defending champs, the Rams are tasked to do what no one has done since a 27-year-old Tom Brady. With their roster mostly intact — Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp all return, not to mention head coach Sean McVay — the Rams are primed to make another title run. But so were the Bucs last year, and the Chiefs the year before that … If it were easy, it’d happen more often.
It’s not just about the Lombardi Trophy, however. The Rams have to be ready to play each weekend, because the NFL is always ready to humble you, whether that means a loss to the Jets or to Jimmy Garoppolo.
Minnesota Vikings
2022 goal: Field a cohesive offense
The Minnesota offense, like its defense and like its special teams, was perfectly average last season. It’s no wonder the Vikings ended up right in the middle of the pack at No. 16 in total DVOA. But just like their quarterback, the offense wasn’t consistent from week to week.
How much was Kirk Cousins’ fault and how much was the old-school scheme’s fault? We could find that out this season, when new coach/Sean McVay acolyte Kevin O’Connell unveils his new, more complex offense. With a healthier defense, and skill players like Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen still around, the Vikings could make some noise this year if the offense, Cousins in particular, can be counted on each Sunday.
New Orleans Saints
2022 goal: Make a smooth transition from the Sean Payton era
Sean Payton had been one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the NFL until he abruptly retired this offseason. Such a huge departure, one year after longtime quarterback Drew Brees hung it up, could threaten to throw the team into chaos. That’s part of the reason the Saints tabbed defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to replace Payton.
Allen has been in New Orleans since 2015 and turned the laughably bad, Rob Ryan-infected unit into one of the most reliably excellent defenses in the NFL. It will need to continue to play to that level while the offense finds its footing post-Payton, even with Allen’s attention no longer devoted solely to the group. If it does, and Jameis Winston rebounds from his torn ACL and Michael Thomas stays healthy, then the Saints can be a contender in the NFC South, just as they did when Payton was around.
New York Giants
2022 goal: Reach your potential on offense
Earlier this year, the Giants hired former Bills OC Brian Daboll to erase the mistakes of Joe Judge. NY’s offense won’t be in the same galaxy as Buffalo’s, but it does have the tools needed to be a lot more dynamic than what we saw last year (the Giants fielded the league’s least efficient offense).
Daniel Jones will never be Josh Allen, though he has shown off his legs on occasion, like when he ran for 80 yards and then tripped over himself, the perfect metaphor for the QB’s career:
Jones doesn’t have to be Allen. He just needs to stay healthy and limit his turnovers, which should be easier to do with an improved OL. If Saquon Barkley can keep the injuries at bay, and the WR room can do the same (and get their act together), then this offense could be, dare I say, fun.
Philadelphia Eagles
2022 goal: Determine if Jalen Hurts is a franchise QB
The Eagles aren’t just the new NFC East favorite because of the Cowboys’ problems. Philly also happens to boast a loaded roster after addressing a few areas of weakness, such as WR (A.J. Brown) and the secondary (James Bradberry, C.J. Gardner-Johnson). The big question is under center, where third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts holds the starting job after usurping Carson Wentz two years ago.
It’s hard to figure out what kind of quarterback Hurts is right now. He has, at times, been a much-needed playmaker. At other times, he’s struggled to make big throws. He enters a pivotal season which could decide his future in the Eagles. Hurts has the support of his coaching staff and team:
But the Eagles need him to take another step forward if they’re going to commit to him.
San Francisco 49ers
2022 goal: Don’t go back to Jimmy G unless absolutely necessary
Months ago, it looked like Jimmy Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco was over. Then a trade never materialized because there wasn’t a logical landing spot for him this summer. So he remains on the roster, this time as a backup to second-year quarterback Trey Lance.
The 49ers are potential Super Bowl contenders, but Lance’s progress will determine how far they go. He didn’t have a great preseason, and the Niners could be tempted to turn to Garoppolo again, as Peter King predicted would happen in Week 7, if Lance stumbles. Although that could help the Niners in the short term, it could do irreparable damage to Lance’s growth and psyche.
Considering everything the 49ers gave up to draft Lance, they can’t toy with his emotions like that. Garoppolo should only enter a game this season if 1) Lance gets hurt or 2) it’s a blowout.
Seattle Seahawks
2022 goal: Stay weird
The Seahawks are in a transition period after Russell Wilson left for the Broncos. On the field, they will probably be messier than the Don’t Worry Darling press tour, with the uninspiring duo of Geno Smith and Drew Lock at quarterback.
This is still Pete Carroll’s team, though, so even if the wins will be tough to come by this year, hopefully they remain as bonkers as ever. To wit: Illegally lining up on an onside kick, DK Metcalf trying to come back into the game after an ejection, Carroll throwing a random object instead of a challenge flag:
And that was just last season. The Seahawks’ penchant for zaniness goes back much longer than that. Please don’t lose that which makes you unique.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2022 goal: Make Tom Brady’s unretirement worth it
Tom Brady’s retirement lasted about a month, but that should have been enough time for the Buccaneers to realize what life would’ve been like without him — and it wasn’t pretty. They had no real plan at quarterback (Blaine Gabbert vs. Kyle Trask??) and were losing free agents such as Alex Cappa and Jordan Whitehead.
Once Brady returned, though, the Bucs had no problem attracting free agents, both in house (Ryan Jensen, Carlton Davis) and from other teams (Russell Gage, Logan Ryan). Despite a couple injuries on the OL, this team is set up for a championship run, perhaps sending Brady out a winner. But Brady’s temporary break should also serve as a wake-up call to the Bucs that they need to plan for life without the GOAT … assuming he does call it a career at some point.
Washington Commanders
2022 goal: Rediscover that ferocious pass rush
Washington won the NFC East two seasons ago and gave Tampa Bay its fiercest competition in the postseason, thanks in part to a defensive front that racked up three sacks and seven QB hits on Tom Brady, more than any other opponent in the playoffs.
The defense couldn’t sustain its success last season. It dropped from No. 3 in pass rush win rate in 2020to No. 19 in 2021. The pass rush was hampered when Chase Young tore his ACL, and it’ll have to survive at least the first four weeks of this season without the star edge rusher. The Commanders still have enough dudes on the DL — Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne — that they should be able to bounce back. And with Carson Wentz as their quarterback, they’ll need to step up and potentially carry this team.