NFL
By Monte Perez
PDF… Packers, Dolphins, and Falcons Preview:
Each week during the NFL season we will be previewing the weekend games for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and Atlanta Falcons. Here is the Sports Whisperer’s predictions for each team.
Green Bay Packers:
The Packers will take a step back this season. The Chicago Bears are rebuilding but the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings have both gotten better. Best case scenario, the Packers go 4-2 against their division. They should sweep the Bears and then spit with the Vikings and Lions.
Matt LaFluer has slowly turned this team into a run first offense. The Packers have the best 1-2 punch at running back. AJ Dillion had 803 rushing yards to lead the team last season and Aaron Jones caught 52 balls out of the backfield. These two can beat defenses with speed, power and catching the ball. Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers depth chart is now unproven Allen Lazard and often injured Sammy Watkins. The Packers offensive line should be a top 5 unit in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers will still make plays but can Watkins stay healthy and catch 100 balls on the year?
Defensively, the strength of this team is on their back end. They have one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL. Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas are all very versatile. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are a very good 1-2 punch at the safety position.
Green Bay’s projected record: 11-6
Miami Dolphins:
After three years on the sidelines the Miami Dolphins fired, head coach, Brian Flores. Since 2003, he was the only Dolphins coach to have back-to-back winning seasons. Mike McDaniel takes over the reins after serving as the San Francisco offense coordinator in 2021. This team is loaded at the skill position. Tyreek Hill comes over from the Chiefs to join Jaylen Waddle. Waddle set the rookie record for most receptions last season with 104 catches. Mike Gesicki had 73 catches at the tight end position. The Dolphins are deep at running back. Their top 4 RBs could start on a lot of teams.
- Chase Edmonds
- Raheem Mostert
- Sony Michel
- Myles Gaskin
Pro Football Focus has this offensive line ranked 23rd. McDaniel will have to be creative with quick screens, reverses and 3 -step drops.
Defensively, The Dolphins defense finished with third-highest pressure rate (28.5%) and the seventh lowest QB rating allowed (85.4) during the regular season but that was with Flores, a defensive minded coach. This unit has got to cause turnovers and make stops if this team wants to make the playoffs.
Dolphins projected record: 10-7
Atlanta Falcons:
There are two glaring weakness for this Falcons team. Almost every publication has their offense line ranked anywhere from 28-32, they are at the bottom of the league. They have one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL. In 2021, they were ranked last in sacks with 18.
The Good News for Atlanta is their skill position players. Cordarrelle Patterson and Damien Williams could be a productive backfield. Their WRs have great size:
- Kyle Pitts, TE… 6’4, 250lbs. 68 receptions, 1,026 yards in his rookie season last year.
- Drake London, WR… 6’4, 220lbs. Drafted No.8 overall out of USC.
- Bryan Edwards, WR… 6’3, 220lbs. 23 years old, 571 receiving yards last season.
- Auden Tate, WR, … 6’5, 230lbs. 25 years old, only has 61 catches for his career. Make or break season for him.
I loved Marcus Mariota coming out of Oregon, but he has underachieved. He is in a tough position here because their offensive line is bad, and their defensive will give up a ton of points. If Atlanta’s offense can stay out of 3rd down and long situations, they should be able to put up points. Don’t be surprised is Mariota has 30 or more touchdowns this season. If everything goes right this team could win 9-10 games.
Atlanta’s projected record: 8-9
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