Sports Then and Now

Now that he has a new contract and one of the best tight ends in football, Russell Wilson should be headed to a big season in 2015.

With the NFL season just around the corner, America is getting excited. Thousands of people will pack stadiums around the country to root for their favorite teams, shops will be littered with excitable fans picking up their favorite star player’s Webobble custom sports bobbleheads or video games. Concession stands and restroom lines will make you feel like you’re actually waiting for the newest amusement park ride, but you do it all for the team! To get the NFL season started this year, we present some of this year’s NFL Favorites.

Seattle Seahawks
Last year’s runner up is this year’s favorite. The Seahawks boast (and what many consider to be) the league’s best defense. They’ve managed to keep together their core group of players and are still adding pieces to the puzzle. One of those pieces the Seahawks acquired this off season, is Jimmy Graham. Jimmy is one of the league’s best tight ends, and will surely add another dimension to Russel Wilson’s receiving arsenal.

Green Bay Packers
With the league’s best offense last year, Green Bay comes in at number two. The Packers had a disastrous collapse in last year’s NFC Championship game, and let the Seahawks sneak by them into the Super Bowl. Green Bay has locked up Aaron Rodgers’ and two favorite targets in multi-year deals, though the loss of Jordy Nelson to a season-ending knee injury will hurt. Fortunately, Rodgers still has Randall Cobb, who has emerged as an elite receiver,  along with powerful running back Eddie Lacy, who rushed for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Indianapolis Colts
The young gunslinger Andrew Luck leads the Colts into the top spot in the AFC. With the way the schedule shakes out this year, the Colts should be able to get off to a fast start. Adding veteran play makers, Andre Johnson and Frank Gore, should go a long way not only on the field, but also in the locker room.

New England Patriots
Last year’s champions slide down the ranks a bit, and coming off his likely suspension, Tom Brady will be out for blood. During the four games the Patriots will likely play without their star quarterback, it will be on head coach Bill Belichick to keep the ship headed in the right direction. The Patriots will be playing with a chip on their shoulder all year long.

There they are, this NFL season’s four favorite teams. Both the AFC and NFC are represented equally, but the NFC is clearly favored to produce the champion team. Now pull on those jerseys and let those flags fly. It’s time for some football!