As the saying goes, Father Time is undefeated. It’s a cold reality that is about to set in for a handful of NFL stars who are in danger of seeing their production fall off the proverbial cliff. Here’s a look at five NFC players who could be in for a letdown in 2015.

For a look at the AFC veterans who fall into this same category, click here.

QB Tony Romo (Cowboys)

Cowboys fans can only hope there is no such thing as football karma. Because if there is, Romo is 31 flavors of funked.

Dallas did everything in its power to anger the Football Gods this offseason, from signing Greg Hardy to re-upping Rolando McClain to drafting Randy Gregory. But the Cowboys also made some questionable decisions that will have a more direct impact on Romo’s performance, such as replacing DeMarco Murray with Darren McFadden and dragging their feet in extension talks with Dez Bryant.

Romo, 35, benefited from Dallas’ dominant running game more than anybody. It kept the offense on schedule and opened up play-action possibilities down the field. If/when McFadden gets injured, Romo will no longer have that luxury.

Also, it remains to be seen how Bryant’s contract situation will affect his performance on the field. Will he hold out for one or more games if a long-term deal is not reached by the July 15 deadline? Will he maintain his passionate, energetic style of play if forced to perform on another expiring contract?

The best thing Romo has going for him is he will once again play behind the league’s best offensive line, a unit that added La’El Collins as the biggest undrafted free-agent steal since Antonio Gates (with a little less PEDs and a little higher risk of murder). The five men blocking in front of him represent Romo’s best chance to keep from falling off the proverbial cliff.

“When you have a good offensive line like we do the thought definitely crosses your mind to ensure you do everything possible to play longer than maybe what you had envisioned,” Romo said.

RB Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)

Father Time hits running backs especially hard, which is why it’s fair to worry about Lynch even though he won’t hit the dreaded 3-0 until next offseason. Lynch has averaged over 336 carries per season over the last four years, including the playoffs, and that takes a toll on a running back — especially one as physical as Beast Mode.

Lynch did not show any signs of wearing down last season — his 4.7 ypc was the second-best mark of his career — but that is how it goes for running backs … their legs are here one day, gone the next.

And it’s not just Lynch’s legs; he also has to worry about a chronic back injury that plagued him for much of last season and caused his to consider retirement before he ultimately agreed a two-year, $24 million extension.

Lynch confirmed as much during a recent appearance on the Conan O’Brien show, stating he considered walking away but when the Seahawks “put 12 in front of you for a year, you start to think, maybe I could do this again.”

So Lynch will indeed do this again; whether he can do it as well as he did in 2014 remains to be seen.

WR Anquan Boldin (49ers)

Boldin has enjoyed a bit of a career renaissance in the Bay Area, exceeding the 1,000-yard plateau in consecutive seasons after failing to do so in any of his three seasons in Baltimore (2010-2012). But it’s fair to wonder how long he can keep this up as he enters his 13th season in the league.

Boldin is the “Beast Mode” of wide receivers because he is extremely physical, both as a blocker and a ball carrier. That has endeared him to his teammates and coaches, but it also limits his already-impressive longevity.

Age isn’t the only reason to expect a precipitous drop in Boldin’s numbers. He is a passenger onboard a sinking ship, as the 49ers have endured a horrific offseason that including a coaching change, a barrage of sudden retirements and the loss of four starters in free agency.

In particular, the losses of Frank Gore, Mike Iupati and Michael Crabtree will make Boldin’s job more difficult.

The good news? The 49ers plan to run a more up-tempo offense under new offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, which should help keep Boldin’s numbers afloat.

“It’s definitely a fast tempo,” said Boldin of Chryst’s offense. “We’re trying to get a lot faster than last year as far as getting to the line.”

The bad news? Colin Kaepernick is still the quarterback.

DE Julius Peppers (Green Bay)

Peppers definitely gave the Packers their money’s worst in his first season in Green Bay, recording seven sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a career-high 11 pass breakups. It was a memorable 13th season, but one that saw Peppers slow down as the year progressed. Peppers failed to record a sack in six of Green Bay’s final seven regular season games.

Peppers finished the season with 33 hurries on 920 snaps (an average of one per 28 snaps). That has defensive coordinator Dom Capers pondering new ways to use his $9.5 million pass rusher, including playing defensive end in the base defense, rushing from the interior in sub packages and mixing in some snaps at outside linebacker.

“[He will] play at a number of different spots,” Capers confirmed.

While you can applaud Capers ingenuity, one thing is certain: no matter where Peppers lands on the depth chart, Father Time will find him.

CB Rashean Mathis (Lions)

Although Mathis isn’t the playmaker he used to be (just three interceptions in the last five seasons), he’s as strong in coverage as he ever was. Pro Football Focus ranks him amongst the league’s top-25 cornerbacks each of the last two seasons, including No. 11 in 2014.

Despite his strong play, the Lions were able to re-sign Mathis, 34, to a modest two-year, $3.5 million deal earlier this offseason. There’s a reason for that — his inevitable demise is approaching fast.

It certainly won’t help that Detroit’s dominant defensive front-seven lost two key cogs in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. If the interior pass rush falls off, so will Mathis’ play.

But give Mathis credit for this: He is taking aging in stride and is doing his best to defend Father Time the same way he does Randall Cobb and Alshon Jeffery.

“It’s very important for a guy to know his body,” Mathis said. “Whether young or not, but you see it more in older guys. Okay, I might have been able to stay in my backpedal a little longer when I was younger or whatever the case might be. Whatever that is you have to evaluate yourself and not just allow coaches to evaluate you.”

Which other players are in danger of falling off the cliff? Talk about it with author Michael Lombardo during his weekly NFL Chat on Friday at 2pm EST. But you don’t have to wait until then … you can ask your question now!