Making predictions before the NFL season has even kicked off is a head-scratching, nerve-racking process. There are so many factors to considerfrom injuries and suspensions, player development, new coaches with new schemes and which way that uniquely shaped football will bounce on game day.We've already seen a popular dark-horse candidate, the Minnesota Vikings, experience a devastating loss this preseason when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered an unfortunate knee injury that will have him sidelined for some time, according to Vikings general manager Rick Spielman in an interview withPeter KingofSports Illustrated."What really was significant for us was the second year of the contract with Sam," Spielman said. "No one knows how long it's going to take [Bridgewater] to recover."The Vikings would've been a top-10 team in my rankings before the Bridgewater injury. Now' Minnesota falls to 17th. Why' Because newly acquired Sam Bradfordalthough he is a solid quarterbackwill not be ready to lead this team on such short notice.A team that has stayed relatively healthy this offseason and even brought back a key player lost a year ago is the Carolina Panthers, who sit firmly atop the totem poll heading into Week 1. Despite losing cornerback Josh Norman, the Panthers get back Kelvin Benjamin, a third-year wideout from Florida State whose sophomore NFL season was taken from him before it even began.There are plenty of teams on this list that will move up dramatically or fall drastically by next Tuesday morning, once all the week's games are completed.But for now, let's take a look at the rankings on the eve of the first game of the season. Pittsburgh SteelersNot having running back Le'Veon Bell for the first three games of the season will be challenging for the Steelers, but they have enough weapons to beat the Washington Redskins even if Norman tries to shadow Antonio Brown all game long.Despite being ranked sixth in my rankings, Pittsburgh will be one of the top two teams in the AFC this season, alongside the New England Patriots.It's possible that Pittsburgh finishes with a better record than the Patriots by the end of the season and clinches the No. 1 seed, but the only reservation with crowning the Steelers as 2016 AFC champions is that it's doubtful they can keep their best players on the field.The aforementioned Bell is suspended for the first three games of the season and is coming off an injury that sidelined him for the last 10 games of the 2015 season. Wideout Martavis Bryant is suspended for the entire season, and Ben Roethlisberger is as tough as they come but prone to getting hit week in, week out and has been known to carry multiple injuries throughout a season.All Pittsburgh has to do is stay healthy and out of trouble.That's it. New York GiantsThe New York Giants are going to have a field day with their division this season, and a big part of that is due to the fact that the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are far from contention.While Eli Manning showed great sportsmanship in reaching out to Tony Romo after his injury, he's probably secretly hoping Romo takes his time getting back to 100 percent.Romo's compression fracture in his back has left the Cowboys scrambling for a second season in a row after he missed 12 games last season due to injury. While Dak Prescott looked impressive during the preseason, the reality is that the Giants will stomp on the rookie quarterback in Week 1.There is also another rookie quarterback starting in the NFC East for the Eagles in Carson Wentz. Wentz is a talented passer, and it's clear the Eagles organization has faith in him after trading away Bradford earlier this week:One minuscule problem, though: Wentz played FCS collegiate football and has never experienced an NFL-like defense.It's already hard enough being a rookie quarterback drafted second overall, but to be thrust into the spotlight as the face of the franchise on less than a week's notice' How will he cope'Better yet, can he learn on the fly'While Wentz and the Eagles try to figure that out, the Giants are ready to roll.With the likes of Eli Manning under center joining receivers Odell Beckham Jr., a healthy Victor Cruz and an emerging Sterling Shepard, there's a lot to like about New York at the moment.It's easy to forget how effective Cruz was when he was healthy. Throw in one of the top pass-catchers in the game in Beckham, and Manning could be a dark-horse fantasy pickup of the year with the numbers he could post this season. Green Bay PackersWe've seen what Aaron Rodgers and the Packers look like without wideout Jordy Nelson. And it wasn't too pretty.Nelson is the Rob Gronkowski to Tom Brady, the Marvin Harrison to Peyton Manning,the safety blanket in case of emergency.With Rodgers' No. 1 option on offense back in the fold, the Packers' stock is up this season, which is why they are ranked third heading into Week 1. It's possible Nelson will have some rust to shake off for the first few weeks of the season, but just having him on the field again is a relief for Packers fans.Even if he's just used as a decoy for the first couple of games of the season, that will open up space for Randall Cobb to operate. Furthermore, having Nelson and Cobb line up on the hashmarks will force the opposition's safeties to drop back in coverage, allowing Rodgers to hand off to Eddie Lacy in the backfield.The path to the Super Bowl won't be easy in the NFC. With the likes of the Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals entering the season much-improved from last year, the Packers will need Rodgers to be in MVP-caliber form.
Click here to read full news..
