Top 5 NFC contenders to dethrone Buccaneers in 2021
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are odds-on favorites to repeat as NFC champions, but these five teams could knock Tom Brady and Co. off their perch.
5. Minnesota Vikings
This is the wild card of the group. Last year, the Vikings were one of the more disappointing teams in the league, struggling before missing the playoffs. This season, they return one of the strongest rosters (at least on paper) in the NFL, l by receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, linebacker Eric Kendricks, edge rusher Danielle Hunter, cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland, Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler, safety Harrison Smith and defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Michael Pierce. Point is, the talent is there.
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4. San Francisco 49ers
This is all about health. When the 49ers are right, they can beat anybody in football. The defensive front is still excellent, headlined by edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. The secondary is a bit more in flux but has enough talent to get by, while the offense can do damage with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle and receivers Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and others. The Buccaneers are better, but the Niners. have enough talent to cause a headache.
3. Los Angeles Rams
What to make of the Rams? Their new quarterback, Matthew Stafford, has never won a playoff game or division title, but Los Angeles is a long way from Detroit. Stafford has a great coach in Sean McVay, weapons in receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. The defense, which ranked No. 1 last year, lost a few key pieces but retains the most important one in All-World defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
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2. Seattle Seahawks
How could the Seahawks not be at or near the top of the list? Seattle has a phenomenal quarterback in Russell Wilson who has been to a pair of Super Bowls, winning one. The Seahawks are also loaded up with talent led by receivers Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, along with tight end Gerald Everett. Defense is the big concern in the Pacific Northwest, but safety Jamal Adams and edge rusher Carlos Dunlap will cover some of those issues up.
1. Green Bay Packers
As long as Aaron Rodgers is in Green Bay, the Packers are the top choice. Rodgers and the Packers finished 13-3 last year and hosted the NFC Championship Game, but played poorly in a close loss to the Buccaneers. There’s no reason to think Green Bay can’t get back and play better this time around.
