5 NFC sleepers worth watching in 2019
To qualify for this list, you had to have missed the playoffs in 2018. Nobody is sleeping on the New Orleans Saints or Los Angeles Rams. Alright, now that we have the ground rule established, Â let’s get to business.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is completely dependent on whether head coach Bruce Arians can get Jameis Winston to stop turning the ball over. Look, the Buccaneers have a ton of weapons offensively ranging from Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard at tight end to Mike Evans beasting on the perimeter. The defense remains shaky, but if Winston can finally fulfill all of his untapped potential, there’s reason to believe the Buccaneers could be a force in the NFC South.
4. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco is an easy call for this list. The 49ers were supposed to be good a year ago before Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL in a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. With another draft class added to the roster and some free agent pickups including linebacker Kwon Alexander, it stands to reason San Francisco should make move up the standings in 2019. If the 49ers get what they expect from Garoppolo, the offense should take massive steps forward.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota can’t be worse than it was a year ago. That statement may seem hyperbolic considering the Vikings went 8-7-1, but this is a roster that somehow went to the NFC Championship Game a year prior with Case Keenum at the controls. If Minnesota lives up to the immense amount talent on the roster — both offensive and defensive — there’s no reason it can’t play deep into January.
2. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has a new head coach who won’t call a slant-flat combination every third down. Matt LaFleur has an opportunity to run his own show, and gets a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback to do it with. Then there’s the defense, which saw a massive infusion of talent. The Packers added edge rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency, along with safety Adrian Amos. In the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst took outside linebacker Rashan Gary and free safety Darnell Savage in the first round. In short, Green Bay should be markedly improved.
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were a popular Super Bowl pick last year before being ravaged by injuries. Atlanta is now healthy once more and added some beef on the offensive line in the draft. With all the weapons around Matt Ryan, the Flacons are a legitimate title contender once again, provided injuries don’t become a huge issue again.
