3-Wide: Which 2014 division winner will miss the playoffs?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Which 2014 division winner will miss the playoffs this year?
Joe Thomson: No franchise gets a free pass in the collective minds of football observers like the Dallas Cowboys. All it takes is one fluky playoff appearance and they're suddenly Super Bowl contenders. But injuries will expose the lack of depth on this roster and Tony Romo will go back to winging interceptions by Week 4.
Caitlyn Holroyd: The Carolina Panthers finished atop the NFC South for the second consecutive season in 2014, but in any other division, their 7-8-1 record would have cost them a playoff spot. Losing wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin for the season was a huge blow, and his absence puts a lot of pressure on second-round pick Devin Funchess. Factor in the question marks on the offensive line and the improvements the rest of the division made this offseason, and the Panthers could be in trouble this season.
David P. Woods: Every team led by a franchise quarterback is one hit away from missing the playoffs, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a particularly precarious position. Ben Roethlisberger hasn't exactly avoided big hits in his career, and with backup Bruce Gradkowski out for the year, a long-term injury to Big Ben would force the Steelers to turn their offense over to either Landry Jones or Michael Vick. With a defense that could be one of the NFL's worst, that would be a recipe for six or fewer wins.
Which team will be a surprise division winner this season?
Woods: Is it a cop out to say any AFC South team other than the Indianapolis Colts? Every "expert" on the planet has the Colts winning another division crown, but the Colts still haven't put anything resembling a decent offensive line in front of Andrew Luck. If he can't hang in the pocket long enough to find his wideouts, the Colts could slip back to eight or nine wins. If the Texans get competent play from Brian Hoyer and another MVP-caliber season from J.J. Watt, they could squeak out a title. If Blake Bortles or Marcus Mariota lives up to his potential, the Jaguars and Titans could shock the world. It's less far-fetched than you probably think.
Thomson: The Atlanta Falcons have all the pieces of a team that could surprise in a notoriously weak division. Matt Ryan is armed with a deep mix of top end talent and young players looking to take a big step. If Dan Quinn can make the defense into anything this season, the Falcons will be in the mix for the NFC South crown.
Holroyd: A lot would have to fall into place for the Vikings to win the NFC North this season, but if anyone's capable of challenging the Packers for the top spot, it's Mike Zimmer's group. Teddy Bridgewater impressed as a rookie last season and appears poised for a big year. The Vikings will also welcome back Adrian Peterson, who will be will be hungry for redemption after missing all but one game last season. Don't underestimate their defense, either.
What's the toughest division in the NFL?
Holroyd: Based on the changes they made this offseason, the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets could all conceivably dethrone the Patriots in the AFC East this season. The additions of LeSean McCoy, Ndamukong Suh, and Brandon Marshall, among others, should make the division a lot more interesting, as will Tom Brady's four-game suspension.
Woods: The NFC North could be a bloodbath. The Packers remain the class of the division, but the Vikings are certainly on the upswing. The Lions are flying under the radar of many analysts, but they boast what should be one of the NFL's best offenses and an underrated and opportunistic defense. This is a division that could send three teams to the playoffs.
Thomson: The AFC North. The Steelers and Ravens are both potential Super Bowl contenders, while the Bengals have been to the playoffs four-straight years and the Browns have a defense that can win games on its own. Top to bottom, no division has the depth of these four teams, who were all, unbelievably, .500 or above in Week 16 last season.