Photo Credit: The Guardian
I hope you enjoyed my AFC Preseason Predictions yesterday, where the Buffalo Bills came out on top, looking down upon the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers and everybody else.
Now, it's time to jump right into the NFC...
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
NFC EAST
4. New York Giants
2021 Record: 4-13
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 7
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 5-12
Quick Take: I like the Giants' restructuring with GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll at the top, but year 1 feels like a possible "tank" year. Sticking with "Danny Dimes" at QB says an awful lot to me.
3. Dallas Cowboys
2021 Record: 12-5
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 10
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 8-9
Quick Take: The Amari Cooper loss is bigger than you think. James Washington is already down, and Michael Gallup continues to be a ticking time bomb. Ezekiel Elliott is aging toward retirement, and Mike McCarthy is one of the worst head coaches in the NFL.
2. Washington Commanders
2021 Record: 7-10
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 8
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 9-8
Quick Take: Carson Wentz isn't good... but everyone is getting TOO down on him. You forget the Colts were a game away from the postseason with Wentz at the helm. Things will be similar for Washington - they won't be great, but they will hang around each game and also hover around the .500 mark in the W/L column.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Record: 9-8
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 9.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 10-7
Quick Take: The A.J. Brown pickup was absolutely massive for this team. Jalen Hurts is getting attacked for his lack of "pure passing," but who cares? Lamar and Kyler get to the postseason, right? Eagles are a talented team on both sides of the ball.
NFC NORTH
4. Chicago Bears
2021 Record: 6-11
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 6
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 4-13
Quick Take: Justin Fields will make too many unforced errors for this team to come anywhere close to "The Leap" this season.
3. Detroit Lions
2021 Record: 3-13-1
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 6.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 6-11
Quick Take: HC Dan Campbell talks a lot about "grit" on Hard Knocks, and I actually think that's enough for this team to win 5-7 games. All things considered, the Bears are the weaker of the two "bottom" teams in this division.
2. Minnesota Vikings
2021 Record: 8-9
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 9.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 9-8
Quick Take: Justin Jefferson was one of the most talked about players in the NFL this offseason. He's an incredible talent, but will Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn, Jalen Reagor and Irv Smith truly distract enough defensive attention away from him? Regardless, Kirk Cousins' teams hover around .500. I think the hype is too high. I gotta go 9, here.
1. Green Bay Packers
2021 Record: 13-4
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 11
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 12-5
Quick Take: Davante Adams is one of the best players in the world, but some pundits are underestimating Aaron Rodgers right now. He's just so accurate, so precise. The Packers have far more talent on defense than you realize, too.
NFC SOUTH
4. Carolina Panthers
2021 Record: 5-12
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 6.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 4-13
Quick Take: I think Matt Rhule stinks. What happened to former OC Joe Brady was entirely unfair. Baker Mayfield ain't leadin' you to The Promised Land, either.
3. New Orleans Saints
2021 Record: 9-8
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 8.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 7-10
Quick Take: Sean Payton is simply too huge a loss for me, and I have no faith in Jameis Winston to really get it done.
2. Atlanta Falcons
2021 Record: 7-10
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 8-9
Quick Take: Arthur Smith is one of the most underrated head coaches in the game right now. Starting QB Marcus Mariota is also underrated. Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson are serious playmakers; do not sleep on this Atlanta Falcons' team.
1. Tampa Bay Bucs
2021 Record: 13-4
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 11.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 11-6
Quick Take: The Ryan Jensen injury is MASSIVE, and Todd Bowles is a major downgrade from Bruce Arians at the head coach position.
NFC WEST
4. Seattle Seahawks
2021 Record: 7-10
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 5.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 3-14
Quick Take: Russell Wilson is a franchise-altering loss, Geno Smith and Drew Lock aren't good and this defense is terrible.
3. Arizona Cardinals
2021 Record: 11-6
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 8.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 10-7
Quick Take: DeAndre Hopkins is suspended and Christian Kirk/Chandler Jones are huge losses, but I have faith in the Kliff Kingsbury/Kyler Murray combination to crack that very low 8.5 number. Line just seems off, honestly.
2. San Francisco 49ers
2021 Record: 10-7
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 10
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 10-7
Quick Take: Looks like my only "push" in the entire NFC. With Jimmy G starting all season? I'd give the Niners 11 or 12 wins. With Lance? It'll take some time. Still a strong enough all-around team to win 10.
1. Los Angeles Rams
2021 Record: 12-5
2022 Over/Under via DK Sportsbook: 10.5
Frascella's 2022 Prediction: 11-6
Quick Take: I'd give the Rams 12 or 13 wins, but I'm a little worried about that Matthew Stafford tendonitis. Sean McVay is the best coach in the world right now, though.
JOHN FRASCELLA'S NFC POWER RANKINGS
1. Green Bay Packers: 12-5
2. Tampa Bay Bucs: 11-6
3. Los Angeles Rams: 11-6
4. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-7
5. San Francisco 49ers: 10-7
6. Arizona Cardinals: 10-7
7. Minnesota Vikings: 9-8
8. Washington Commanders: 9-8
9. Dallas Cowboys: 8-9
10. Atlanta Falcons: 8-9
11. New Orleans Saints: 7-10
12. Detroit Lions: 6-11
13. New York Giants: 5-12
14. Carolina Panthers: 4-13
15. Chicago Bears: 4-13
16. Seattle Seahawks: 3-14
John Frascella is a published sports author who has been a Fantasy Football Analyst for 24 years. Follow him @LegendSports7 on Twitter for all things football.
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