While the AFC is the stronger conference, the NFC has more questions overall, so let’s project the seeding for all 16 teams in the NFC for the 2022 NFL season.
The AFC is the better conference by far in 2022, but the NFC has a ton of uncertainty after the first tier of teams.
There will surely be teams in the conference who will make the playoffs in 2022 that didn’t make it in 2021. There are a few up-and-coming teams in the NFC, and really only a handful of great, veteran teams.
The NFC also has the biggest gap in quarterback talent. The best three quarterbacks in the NFC are all over 30 years old, with Aaron Rodgers approaching 40, and Tom Brady already in his mid-40s.
Overall, the amount of uncertainty in the conference is staggering. Like the AFC, there are arguments to be made that nearly every team in the conference could make the postseason.
For what reason, it would be smart to try and predict the seeding for the NFC for all 16 teams.
I think there is a rather easy road in predicting the top three teams. It would appear that the Buccaneers, Rams, and Packers would be the top three seeds, but the last four playoff seeds and the other nine seeds not qualified for the playoffs are something that should be talked about.
Which teams that made the playoffs in 2021 won’t in 2022, and which non-2021 playoff teams will in 2022?
Let’s project the seeding for all 16 teams in the NFC heading into the 2022 season.
Full seeding predictions for all 16 NFC teams in the 2022 NFL season
No. 16 – Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are effectively in year one of a rebuild. The Matt Nagy/Ryan Pace era is over in favor of the matt Eberflus/Ryan Poles era.
Poles’ first offseason wasn’t exactly what many were hoping for. The two biggest concerns with the Bears were their offensive line and wide receiver room.
Somehow, after Poles’ moves in the draft and free agency, the Bears somehow got worse in both departments.
Couple that with Justin Fields needing to learn a new system after his shaky year one, and I think the Bears are in for a top draft pick next April.
Their defense is older and less talented than it was, as Poles practically gave away Khalil Mack to the Chargers. Their best player might be Darnell Mooney, which says a lot.
I would not personally expect the Bears to win more than four games in 2022.
No. 15 – Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are beginning to live life without Russell Wilson after 10 amazing years.
They look to be going into the season with Drew Lock and Geno Smith at quarterback. If that doesn’t change, I don’t think Seattle is set to win many games.
They did have a decent offseason, drafting what appears to be their two tackles of the future in Charles Cross and Abe Lucas. They added more firepower to their rushing attack and still have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Overall, though, the Lock/Smith QB room might be the worst in the NFL.
Because of that, the Seahawks shouldn’t win a ton of games and will be in the QB market next offseason.