Chris Simms, the former quarterback and assistant coach, gives us our first look at the 2022 NFL Playoff picture in the NFC.
It’s a quite surprising list that isn’t very strong in terms of how the seeds are made.
Let’s take a look.
The first problem to deal with is the first seed on the list. Putting the Philadelphia Eagles at the number one seed!?
Now, this year does look promising for the Eagles and many are speculating an explosive year ahead for Philly, but the number one seed is a bit too far.
Next, the 49ers at the two-seed. That’s a bit questionable too, but not as much as the first seed.
With the 49ers switching quarterbacks, it’s not going to be a straightforward season of wins. They may have a good season regarding their defense though. I would place them around a 5th seed.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come in as the 3rd seed which isn’t too out of place.
Lots of fans can see them cashing in at a two- or three-seed this season. With Tom Brady on the team, there’s no argument why they shouldn’t close out the year with one of those seed numbers.
Finally, to close out the division leaders, the Green Bay Packers.
After losing Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s tough to say how they will do this year. I still see them winning their division but perhaps they aren’t going to be the “Powerhouse team” they were in previous seasons.
The 4th seed is a good spot to put them in for right now.
On to the Wild Card teams
First and foremost, what are the New Orleans Saints doing here?
I have higher hopes for the Chicago Bears to earn a seven seed than the Saints. The Saints have experienced lots of changes and drama over the past two seasons, and their whole team has fallen apart.
The Los Angeles Rams are too low. Are we forgetting that the Rams were a four-seed last year and yet somehow managed to win the Super Bowl?
This is a team that will most likely become the final boss of the NFC Playoffs and will most likely take the one seed.
Since they lost almost nobody on the team, the Rams are going to look even sharper this year.
Finally, we get to the Dallas Cowboys.
I could go on and on about how the Cowboys are in for a struggle this season, but to sum it up, they aren’t looking like division leaders right now.
We can talk about what they need to fix later, but at the moment I would say a good 5 or 6 seed is a generous spot for them at this point.
I would place the Rams at the first seed followed by the Buccaneers at the two seed. At the number three and four seeds would be the Eagles and Packers. It’s tough to say which one will be at three and which one will be at four, but they should both finish around there.
Then for the Wild Card, we’ll see the 49ers take the 5th seed followed by the Cowboys for the 6th seed.
For the last team in, I have the Chicago Bears.
Feel free to blast me on that one but I have higher hopes for them this year than I have for others. Can’t wait to see which list will age better come the end of the season.
