The Best of the NFL

The Broncos followed up their Super Bowl parade with a less than stellar offseason, losing key contributors on both sides of the line, including their top two quarterbacks. It looks like the defense is going to have to carry the load again. Carolina was flying high carrying a 17-1 run into February's Super Bowl before the Denver defense smacked them around under an avalanche of turnovers and humble pie (the Panthers had won their two playoff games 31-24 and 49-15). The NFC has won four of the last seven Super Bowls (it could have been 5 of 7 if the Seahawks had called a run on second down), but the AFC has won 12 of the last 19. Here is a look at some of the best of the NFL.

Panthers: They accomplished a lot last year, including the top ranked offense in points despite losing top WR Kelvin Benjamin before the season even started. Benjamin is back, along with Cam Newton (35 TDs, 10 INTs). The defense had 44 sacks and is a ferocious unit, though they lost CB Josh Norman in free agency. Carolina could start two of three rookies in the secondary in Zack Sanchez and James Bradberry. The schedule last year was one of the easiest in the NFL, but this season it is the Top 12.

Packers: 32-year old QB Aaron Rodgers (31 TDs, 8 INTs) is still one of the best, totaling 69 TDs and 13 picks the last two years combined. They lost star WR Jordy Nelson a year ago but he is back, along with WR Randall Cobb (829 yards). Green Bay thinks adding free agent TE Jared Cook will make the offense even better. Would you believe the Packers' offense ranked 25th in yards and passing yards in 2015? The defense is a concern, ranked 15th in yards and 21st against the run, so they nabbed UCLA nose tackle Kenny Clark in the first round (#27). And they have one of the easier schedules in the league this fall.

Steelers: Pittsburgh is a chick pick to be an AFC power with a young defense that keeps adding pieces and an unstoppable offense. QB Ben Roethlisberger (21 TDs, 16 INTs) only played in 12 games and RB Leveon Bell was hurt, but this offense still ranked seventh in points (26.2 ppg). Both begin the season healthy and team with star WR Antonio Brown (1,834 yds) to form a stocked unit that will give defensive coordinators nightmares. But that youth on defense is still a concern after ranked 30th against the pass, surrendering 272 yards per game. They went with defense in the draft, taking CB Artie Burns (Miami, #25, 1st round) and safety Sean Davis (Maryland, 2nd round).

Seahawks: Seattle won "only" 10 games and finished three behind Arizona in the NFC West, but put up eye-popping stats: fourth in yards and points (26.4 ppg) on offense, third in rushing, while the bone-crushing defense was second in yards and tops in points allowed again (17.3 ppg). 27-year old QB Russell Wilson (34 TDs, 8 INTs, 4,024 yds) impressed all around, rushing for 553 yards, while young RB Thomas Rawls (830 yds, 5.6 ypc) was a force when healthy. Since 2012 Seattle has only lost two games by more than seven points with playoffs included.

Patriots: New England had a lot go wrong last season with injuries and a joke of an offensive line, but still made the AFC title game for the fifth straight season. Their old brilliant offensive line coach returns after a two-year retirement while the offense adds talented TE Martellus Bennett. He is a skilled 6-foot-6, an excellent blocker, and will team with 6-7 Rob Gronkowski (1,176 yards) to give QB Tom Brady (36 TDs, 7 INTs) a one-two punch that looks unstoppable, a nightmare for defenses -- when Tom Terrific comes back in October. A young New England defense is solid all-around, too, racking up 49 sacks (second in the NFL). Maybe the only one who can slow the Patriots' offense is Roger Goodell?

For more of Jim Feist's winning plays click here