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After starting the 2015 NFL season 5-0, the Atlanta Falcons dropped 8 of their final 11 games to finish second place in the NFC South at 8-8. The 5-0 start and an offense that returns most of their starters gives Falcons fans reason to believe that this team can get back into the playoffs in 2016. Quarterback Matt Ryan returns for his ninth season under center for Atlanta and has one of the best wide receivers in the NFL to throw to in Julio Jones. The former Alabama star, Jones, has been one the most productive receivers since entering the league in 2011. It will be hard to top his 136 catch, 1,871 yard, 8 touchdown season, but with Roddy White retiring and an unproven group behind him, a lot will be asked of Jones. The team did sign former Cincinnati Bengals veteran receiver Mohamed Sanu in the offseason and second-year receiver Justin Hardy is expected to improve. In order for Atlanta’s offense to be successful, they will need a lot from running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. There is expected to be a lot of turnover on the defensive side of the ball, and three rookies could see significant playing time or start: first round safety Keanu Neal from Florida, second round outside linebacker Deion Jones from LSU, and outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney returns and if Vic Beasley improves in his second year, this group could be scary. Cornerback Desmond Trufant was the lone Pro Bowl selection on defense and the Falcons will look for more from second year cornerback Jalen Collins. The NFC South should be an interesting division to follow. The Carolina Panthers return as division favorites following a Super Bowl appearance, but the Falcons find themselves right in the mix with the New Orleans Saints and the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a fight for a playoff appearance. Expect the Falcons to improve from 8-8 and compete not only for a wild card berth, but threaten Carolina.

As the Philadelphia Eagles transition from former head coach Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense he brought to the NFL from the University of Oregon to a more balanced approach under first time head coach Doug Pederson, the team will lean on their strong offensive line and defense in hopes of returning to the playoffs in 2016. The Eagles finished the 2015 season at 7-9, and still contended for the NFC East. The big storyline of the offseason was Philadelphia trading up to the No. 2 spot on Draft day to select former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. A lot of Eagles fans will look for Wentz to become the starter, but it appears that veteran Sam Bradford will be the starting quarterback once the 2016 season opens. Behind them is a running back group looking to be more consistent in 2016, with Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles expected to see most of the touches. A big question mark is who will catch passes from Bradford or Wentz, as the Eagles have a lot of unproven targets at wide receiver. Second-year receiver Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews, and Rueben Randle need to step up for the offense to be effective. The Eagles just acquired talented young receiver Dorial Green-Beckham from the Tennessee Titans. A bright spot on offense is the offensive line and tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. On the defensive side of the ball, Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan anchor the defensive line and safety Malcolm Jenkins is key to the secondary. The Eagles brought in some new additions in the secondary, signing Leodis McKelvin and Rodney McLeod and drafting talented cornerback Jalen Mills from LSU. In what is expected to be a tight NFC East race, the Eagles can make the argument that they belong in the discussion. The Washington Redskins return as division champions after finishing 9-7, the Dallas Cowboys will be much improved from 2015, and the New York Giants are always a threat. Still, expect the Eagles to be in the hunt.

Miami Dolphins fans have reasons to be optimistic as the 2016 NFL season approaches. Following a down year in 2015, where the team finished in last place in the AFC East at 6-10, but showed glimpses of what their offense could be. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill enters his fifth season as the starter, and looks to build off of a strong 4,000+ yard, 24 touchdown-12 interception season. Tannehill is looking like the first consistent star quarterback Miami has had since Dan Marino. His top target Jarvis Landry is among the league’s most productive receivers, and the Fins have high hopes for Devante Parker. The Dolphins hope to add more balance with their ground attack, adding former All-Pro Arian Foster to the backfield. Foster is in the mix to start along with Jay Ajayi and former Alabama star Kenyan Drake, who the team drafted in the third round. Miami benefits from a solid offensive line, featuring Branden Albert and Mike Pouncey, and added talented, yet controversial tackle Laremy Tunsil at No. 13 overall. The defense lost Pro Bowl safety Brent Grimes to free agency, as he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reshad Jones returns at safety after his first Pro Bowl selection and will be asked to anchor the secondary along with former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell. The Dolphins do have arguably the best pass rush in the NFL, with All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake leading the way. If former first overall pick Mario Williams and former first rounder Dion Jordan can provide more production, Miami will be scary to opposing offenses. Expect the Dolphins to improve significantly from a last place division finish in 2015, and with quarterback Tom Brady missing the first four games for the New England Patriots, the AFC East is an interesting division with the unpredictable New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

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— SportsCollectibles.com (@SpCollectibles) May 17, 2018

“America’s Team” had a disappointing 2015 season, finishing 4-12 and last place in the NFC East. The one positive you can find in a losing season is that it moves you up in the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys have high expectations for Ohio State star running back Ezekiel Elliot, whom they selected fourth overall. Elliot brings a lot of excitement to a Cowboys team loaded with talent on offense, where he, Darren McFadden, and Alfred Morris should provide balance for quarterback Dak Prescott. Dallas Cowboys jersey sales and merchandise continually top the list of NFL teams for online shoppers. Ezekiel Elliott‘s Cowboys jersey is currently the top-selling NFL jersey, and his signed full size or mini helmets, footballs, and photos have become an increasingly popular collectible. The 2015 season went downhill when Romo suffered a broken left collarbone in Week 2, an injury that kept him out eight weeks, all Cowboys losses. Romo returned only to re-aggravate the injury when he returned, ultimately ending his and Dallas’ season – Romo was injured again this preseason. Upstart QB, Dak Prescott looks to reconnect with veteran tight end Jason Witten and star wide receiver Dez Bryant. The Cowboys do have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, led by tackle Tyron Smith, and Romo and Elliott should benefit from them. The Cowboys are going to need more from their defense in order to compete in 2016, a task that linebackers Sean Lee and Rolando McClain will take on. The Cowboys created a lot of hype around their 2016 Draft class featuring Elliott, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, and quarterback Dak Prescott. If Romo returns healthy and Ezekiel Elliott becomes a star, this offense could lead Dallas to the top of the NFC East, a division that is wide open. Expect the Cowboys to compete with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins for the top spot in the division.

Under first year head coach Dirk Koetter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to improve from a 6-10 2015 season in quarterback Jameis Winston‘s rookie season. Winston was named NFL Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection after proving the Buccaneers right for drafting him first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. Winston has two premier targets in wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Both Winston and Evans signed mini helmets, footballs, and photos are growing in popularity for online shoppers. The Buccaneers should also hand the ball early and often to running back Doug Martin, who finished second in the NFL in rushing behind Adrian Peterson in 2015. Tampa Bay fans are excited about the offense heading into the 2016 season, but maybe should be more excited about their defense. Anchored by defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David, the Bucs added free agent safety Brent Grimes and drafted Vernon Hargreaves III out of the University of Florida to improve their secondary. Will Jameis Winston have a sophomore slump after setting several NFL records in his rookie season, or will he improve and push the Buccaneers into contenders in the NFC South? The Carolina Panthers return as the division favorites, but won’t win 15 games again this season, and Tampa Bay can finish anywhere from second-to-fourth place as they fight with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons in a muddled NFC South.