NFC East:
|
Rank |
Team |
W |
L |
|
1 |
Dallas |
12 |
4 |
|
2 |
NY Giants |
11 |
5 |
|
3 |
Philadelphia |
8 |
8 |
|
4 |
Washington |
6 |
10 |
Dallas – Predicting the Cowboys to win the division with Wade Phillips as their coach is a little like jumping out of an airplane with an un-tested parachute. So why bother, right? Well, the absence of TO should help Romo be more comfortable as a quarterback and he will no longer have to feel guity throwing to his “butt buddy” on every play.
The Cowboys are still very talented on both sides of the ball.
NY Giants – The Giants are good but they have huge questions. They don’t have a #1 receiver and they lost “wind” of the “Earth, Wind and Fire”. Add to it that they lost as the number #1 seed a year ago and this could be the year the G-Men take a step back.
Philadelphia – The Eagles was a textbook example of what not to do if you want to compete in the NFL. Exhibit A, they let the heart and soul of the defense sign elsewhere (Brian Dawkins). I actually agree that you do not overpay defensive players, but there are exceptions and this is one of them. Dawkins was to the Eagles what Teddy Bruschi was to the Patriots. You have to bring a guy like that back.
Exhibit B, they signed Michael Vick, to be a quarterback. Huh? Ok, so you already have one of the most insecure startuing quarterback in the NFL in McNabb, why bring in, effectively, a younger version of him. Not to mention they already have the quarterback in waiting in Kevin Kolb. It’s more Andy Reid magic!
Washington – A truly wretched team, but they will find a way to win six games because of a brutally easy schedule and they actually have a nice home field advantage.
NFC North:
|
Rank |
Team |
W |
L |
|
1 |
Green Bay |
11 |
5 |
|
2 |
Minnesota |
10 |
6 |
|
3 |
Chicago |
7 |
9 |
|
4 |
Detroit |
3 |
13 |
Green Bay – I love everything about the Packers this year. Aaron Rodgers in his second year and without Brett Favre circus should flourish. Dom Capers will make the defense a force to be reckoned with. And Mike McCarthy is secretly one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Minnesota – The Vikings quite possibly have the most talent in the NFL, yet I predict they will barely make the playoffs and be bounced in the “Wildcard” round. Why? It’s all about coaching and Brad Childress is one of the worst coaches to ever wander an NFL sideline. Come playoff time Childress will look he is playing checkers to everyone else chess game.
And, oh yea, they decided that they needed to go out and get Brett Favre to make them a more complete team. I guess they weren’t watching at the end of last season when Favre single handedly destroyed the Jets season. Look for a fast start and then the ultimate, gut wrenching end to the season for Vikings fans.
Chicago – So, the big questsion in Chicago is – will the Bears feel compelled to become a passing team now that they have Jay Cutler? My guess is the answer is yes. And guess what, that will work very nice early in the year when the weather is decent, but once we start seeing those 50 MPH winds and sub-freezing temperatures that will be disastrous for “Da Bears “.
Detroit – This will be a pesky team, because they have some pieces in place. But in reality they are still a couple years away from truly competing
NFC South:
|
Rank |
Team |
W |
L |
|
1 |
New Orleans |
11 |
5 |
|
2 |
Atlanta |
10 |
6 |
|
3 |
Carolina |
6 |
10 |
|
4 |
Tampa Bay |
5 |
11 |
New Orleans – Sean Payton has finally figured out how to use Reggie Bush, keep him on the bench. Realistically the Saints wasted roughly two years of Drew Brees in his prime because they continually forcing the ball to Reggie Bush, presumably because the draft pick used to get him. Finally, I think the Saints are content to let Bush what he really is, a poor man’s Dave Meggett.
Atlanta – The Falcons fall in the same category as the Dolphins – second year head coach the year after an unbelievable turn-around who the league will now adjust to and they will struggle to win games. The difference between the Falcons and Dolphins is talent. The Falcons have a ton of talent and got better with the addition of Tony Gonzalez. They fall just short of the playoffs.
Carolina – The Panthers are my pick for most negative turn-around, as I have them losing six more games than one year ago. They failed to get better at quarterback, deciding the keep Jake Delhomme, for a mere $20 million and doing nothing in terms of adding an adequate backup, not if, but when Delhomme implodes. And to think as late as week 15 last year, this was the team to beat in the NFC. I think Jerry Glanville was right when he told an official, “You know what NFL stands for? Not For Long!”
Tampa Bay – I don’t think anyone included the Bucs have any clue what the identity of this team will be. Remember when the Bucs were 9-2 last year and everyone was talking about they were the Super Bowl favorites? Bucs fan does!
NFC West:
|
Rank |
Team |
W |
L |
|
1 |
Seattle |
10 |
6 |
|
2 |
San Francisco |
8 |
8 |
|
3 |
Arizona |
7 |
9 |
|
4 |
St. Louis |
3 |
13 |
Seattle – Understatement of the year: The key to the Seahawks is the health of Matt Hasselbeck. With a healthy Hasselbeck this team should easily win the west, without him they will fight the Rams for the cellar. And though Jim Mora (JR) is a terrible head coach, I think even he realizes the importance of keeping Matty healthy.
San Francisco – This is a very interesting team. What we know is they will play hard, but they don’t have a proven quarterback. The defense will carry them, but eventually they will need a quarterback to make a big play or two. I can’t see them much better than .500 given the quarterback or lack thereof.
Arizona – I will have the “Super Bowl Loser Hangover” and add a side “Roller Coaster” performance. I know it’s pre-season but the Cardinals have the look of a team that isn’t prepared to start playing games for real. And looking at the early schedule who can’t see 0-3 (San Fran, @ J-Ville and Indy)? That’s my prediction and by the time they hit the soft part of the schedule they will be out of the race.
St. Louis – Steve Spagnuolo has his work cut out for him. He should win the coach of the year if he wins five games. The roster is completely talent depleted outside of the Steven Jackson and OJ Antogwe.
NFC Playoffs
|
1.Dallas |
|||
|
4. Seattle |
6.NY Giants |
||
|
5. NY Giants |
1.Dallas |
||
|
2.Green Bay |
Green Bay |
||
|
2.Green Bay |
|||
|
3. New Orleans |
3.New Orleans |
||
|
6. Minnesota |
Super Bowl XLIV – New England 31 Green Bay 27
