2015 NFL midseason predictions NFC East West spawn debate

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At the midpoint of the 2015 NFL season, our analysts refresh their predictions on the major individual awards, the entire playoff field and Championship Sunday/ outcomes.NFC NORTH: Green Bay . Denver is one of the few teams in the NFL that can make look bad.: . They're scoring a lot of points and not allowing many. That's the formula for a run.: . They're playing at a high level right now. : . The defense is much better than it was at this time last season, and once and friends get it rolling on offense, they'll be the team to beat in the NFC.: .: . So many injuries. And they have one lo s. (It was one bad game. It happens.): . A-Rod is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the game. It's like he's in a neighborhood park, the way he's usually having fun on Matt Joyce Jersey  the field.: . is The Man, and this is a complete team that will keep getting better.: Minnesota . I might shock the world with this one, but is going to hit midseason form, and is one of the most composed young quarterbacks in the league.: . With a quarterback playing like , plus an improved defensive unit, Green Bay is the team to beat in the NFC North.: . is an all-time great.: . This isn't original, but it's correct.: . Green Bay staves off an improving Minnesota squad.: . puts the on his back to bring another division crown to Titletown. The defense has the potential to spark a deep playoff run, but more physicality and toughne s is needed to take down the rugged teams they'll meet in the postseason tournament.: . As much as I like the , I think the quarterback advantage and comparable defenses spell NFC North title for all the cheeseheads.: .: .: .NFC EAST: New York . They have a lousy defense, but the are also playing in a division with mediocre offenses.: . It hasn't been pretty, but the rest of the division is even uglier. : Philadelphia . It'll be between them and the -- and I think Philly will take off in the second half of the season.: Dallas . If they can hang around long enough for Tony and Dez to start regulating once more, they'll overcome a weak field and sneak into the playoffs. : .: . Ugh. . The loser of this division should be sold to the CFL.: . I don't Tony Phillips Jersey  think people want to meet the in the postseason. is still a two-time champion.: . They will do just enough to hold off Dallas's scramble after 's return.: . and are going to light this league up in the second half of the season.: . Philadelphia's defense has improved a lot this year. I think the have the best offense-defense combo of any team in the NFC East.: . Fly fly? I don't feel as strong as I did in the preseason, but Philly is the best of a bad bunch. The defense is solid.: . Dallas needed to do more than lose five straight during 's time on the shelf.: . Good luck picking this one. is the difference.: . To the surprise of many, the rise from the ashes to take the NFC East. and pace an opportunistic offense, but it's the -led defense that carries the 'Boys to the crown. : . This division will Jed Lowrie Jersey  come down to the and , but Dallas might find itself too far behind in the standings before comes back.: .: .: .NFC SOUTH: Carolina . is proving his critics wrong once again.: . should be in the MVP conversation.: . Carolina is playing the best. I keep underestimating the , but they've proven to be the best of that division.: . Who's the idiot who picked the Bucs to win this division before each of the last two seasons? Oddly enough, the one who went to the same esteemed university as the brilliant Ron Rivera.: .: . Ron Rivera rides again. : . Cam is doing a lot with le s, and he's been doing that the last couple of years. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves.: . will be in the MVP race after elevating an offense that looked like a flat tire entering the season.: . has a lot to prove, and he wants to redeem himself after losing to Seattle in the playoffs last season.: . Carolina's defense and enable them to win the South.: . and guide this team to the playoffs.: . The most underappreciated team in the league will fend off the to win this revived division.: Atlanta . It's so rare to repeat in this division. Atlanta is more versatile on offense than Carolina.: . The continue to ride their defense and dynamic running game to another NFC South title. doesn't have much to work with on the perimeter, but he finds a way to make enough plays in the pa sing game to sneak past some of the high-powered offenses on .: . Carolina might have escaped versus the , but Ron Rivera's group will get better as the defensive line gets healthier.: .: .: .NFC WEST: Arizona . should be getting more love for all the things he's doing in Arizona.: . As long as remains upright, they stay ahead of St. Louis and Seattle. : . They're playing the best all-around in every single phase of the game. They've got a healthy quarterback and so many weapons on offense. : St. Louis . They haven't even started playing well yet ... and their star running back hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential. Scary.: .: . and and . Everything old is new again.: . They're going to run away with it. This is the most postseason-ready team in that division right now.: Seattle . They struggled early and will roll into the postseason. Seattle won't get homefield advantage, Boog Powell Jersey  though -- the NFC goes through Green Bay.: . The are playing the most consistent brand of football in the NFC West.: . This is a tricky one. I think Seattle, Arizona and St. Louis are all playoff-caliber teams. Ultimately, I think the match up well with the , whom they haven't played yet this season, with the edge just barely going to Seattle.: . General manager Steve Keim's superb work gets rewarded with a division title.: . This might be the best team in the NFC. So complete on both sides of the ball, with every player doing his part.: . They're more balanced than the .: . This is one of the few teams capable of packing a punch on both sides of the ball. The energetic defense attacks from every angle, while the offense lights up the scoreboard like a pinball machine. The combination makes the the scariest team to face in the postseason.: . Arizona's offense is too powerful and its defense too opportunistic to not win the division. ... Oh, and they're head coach is pretty good, too.: .: .: .NFC WILD CARD 1: Atlanta . They have their flaws, but they're in great position to claim a postseason spot.: . Lots of offense and a relatively easy closing schedule keep the ahead of a crowded field. : Minnesota . The are flying under the radar, but the NFC North will get two teams in the playoffs.: Arizona . Let's put it simply: BA, All Day. Who wouldn't want to play Jake Smolinski Jersey  for the man?: .: Seattle . Not dead yet.: St. Louis . I feel like they're on the verge, and now their offense is playing as well as their defense.: . A very dangerous team with a running game to take the predictability out of things.: Green Bay . Even if Green Bay slips behind Minnesota, will ensure the Pack makes the playoffs.: . I think Minnesota's defense is playing really well right now. The ' offense isn't where it should be, but it will improve in the second half of the season.: . Mike Zimmer's an excellent coach.: .I initially had the here, but let's roll the dice on and the .: Carolina . A 7-0 start propels this solid team to the postseason.: . Minnesota is built to play in the playoffs, with its blue-collar offense and menacing defense. , and form a championship-caliber set of triplets, while the defense has enough young, athletic playmakers to disruptive the flow of any