Last year, I'm proud to say, I picked the boys from Green Bay as the super bowl champs and like I've always said, when it comes to sports, there are two scenarios. Either I'm right or you are wrong.
So with that mind, I'm going to break down my thoughts of the NFC and see how it goes aka look like a genius.
With the minor exceptions of the Giants, the Saints and the Packers, the Super Bowl has been dominated by the AFC. Heck, for a while the NFC, in terms of the super bowl, stood for "No F'n Chance." The best teams in the league still play for the AFC, but the NFC does have some interesting divisions and teams.
NFC South
Anyone who thinks this is the best division in football makes me laugh. CLEARLY the best division is the NFC North, but more on that later. The NFC South boasts lots of passing and lots of small time big name players. Guys like Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Mike Williams, Josh Freeman, and Marques Colston are quietly some of the better players in football. There are some really good teams here and some really bad teams. I see it breaking down like this.
Division Champs - Atlanta Falcons (12-4). The Falcons start and end with Ryan to White. Those people in ATL will hear that non stop this year. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Just in case the passing breaks down, the Falcons have the best big man rusher in the league in Michael Turner. However, expect Atlanta to air it out. In the first half of the Falcons' third pre season game, Ryan threw the ball 44 times making people with him as their fantasy QB (*coughs* me *coughs*) start drooling. The only question for this team is their defense but with an offense that could average close to 30 a game, I don't think it will matter.
2nd - New Orleans Saints (10 - 6). I'm just not that sold on these guys this year. I don't see them doing anything to help out their defense and while Mark Ingram is an interesting addition to their offense, you pretty much know what the Saints will do. Pass. Pass. Pass. Yes, I just mentioned that the Falcons' will do that but the difference is the Saints have no rushing game. None. Just sit back and wait for Drew Brees' to air it out. Now Brees' is still a great QB and should lead his team to a wild card birth, but I don't expect another Super Bowl run out of them.
3rd - Tampa Bay (7-9). Without a doubt this most disappointing team this pre season has been the Bucs. Josh Freeman had a breakout year this year and their defense is solid, but nothing is clicking in Tampa right. I expect these guys to go at best 4 - 2 in NFC South games, and in reality probably 2-4 or 3 - 3. Combine that with tough games against Indy, Houston, Jacksonville, Chicago and the much improved Detroit Lions, and I don't see a 500 season.
4th - Carolina (5 - 11). Clearly they are better than last season. Hell, you don't add a single draft pick to the team and you know they are better just based on the fact you get a healthy Steve Smith , DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah this year. The big question, obviously, is the QB position. Cam Newton has looked awful almost every time he has thrown the ball and the defense still is awful. I really like what they did at the TE position grabbing Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen filling a void that Carolina has not been able to fill since Wesley Walls retired. Chris Gamble as a number one DB looks like one of a dozen or so issues in Carolina. However, if they can win 2 games without Smith Williams Stewart and Otah, I'll give them 5 with them.
NFC North
This division is the best in football. And to me it's not even close. All 4 teams look legit and all 4 teams will be very tough opponents for anyone. There should be some very good matchups in this division come November December.
Division Champs - Green Bay (13-3). Aaron. Freaking. Rodgers. I mean that is all you really need to say. I really wish that teams like Carolina and Cincinnati would look at model of how you really mold an NFL QB. You do exactly what the Packers did with this guy. Put him behind a vet and let him learn. The defending champs didn't need to add anyone to a potent offense but basically did when you consider Ryan Grant will be back from injury as the feature back. A great defense, the toughest place to play in football, one of the best wideouts in football in Greg Jennings and all the confidence in the world, Green Bay is going to be in serious contention to repeat.
2nd - Chicago Bears (11-5). Let's not forget the Bears were a playoff team last year and made it all the way to the NFC Title game. If it wasn't for Jay Cutler getting hurt, who knows what would have happened. On an interesting note, Cutler's back up, Caleb Hanie, became only the third person ever to throw a TD pass in a playoff game without throwing one in a regular season game thanks to the Cutler injury. The Bears have the best pass catching back in the league in Matt Forte and they also possess a nasty defense led by Chris Harris in the secondary and Julius Peppers up front. Add in a tough place to play and the Bears are the 2nd wild card team from the NFC.
3rd - Detroit Lions - (10-6). It won't be good enough to get in the playoffs, but the Lions will be one of the talks of the NFL this year. With one of the best young players in the league in Matt Stafford under center, a break out RB from last season in Javhid Best, receivers left and right and a front four that matches up with anyone in the league, Detroit is going to be a team that no one wants to play this season. The only reason this is not a playoff team? 6 games against their very tough division.
4th - Minnesota Vikings - (8-8). I'm a big believer in this team. They will be seen as not very good due to their division, but they have a proven winner who will be healthy at QB - something they haven't had in a long long time - in Donovan McNabb. But the Vikings start and end with still what I believe to be the best back in the league in Adrian Peterson. Throw in Percy Harvin in the mix and the Vikings can put up some points. Jared Allen is still on the best front 4 d-men in the league but there are questions in the linebackers and secondary. This team will be close, but playing in the NFC North - where they will be lucky to win three times - will be their downfall.
NFC West
Gotta love 7 - 9 teams making the playoffs. What a joke. Oh wait, they won a game once they got there? I still can't believe that happened.
Division Champs - St. Louis Rams (9-7) - The not so greatest show on turf will get back to the playoffs since the Grocer himself led the Rams this year thanks to a weak division. Steven Jackson is still a heck of a football player and I expect Sam Bradford to have a break out year. The question is - and has been for the last 10 - 15 years - defense. Luckily they are playing some of the worst quarterbacks in the league 4 times this season.
2nd - Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - It pains me to this moment that a talent like Larry Fitzgerald is still out in Arizona. At least he has someone to throw him the ball now. Kevin Kolb signing there is one of the better signings in football this offseason and Beanie Wells is an intriguing guy in the backfield. But like St. Louis, can these guys stop anyone? To shut this team down simply run it down their throats and quintuple cover Larry and you have an easy win. However Kolb to Fitzgerald will be too much for some teams, so they get a few wins here and there.
3rd - San Francisco 49ers (5-11) - Let's see, who is good for the 49ers. Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree. Braylon Edwards. Um..... Um....Frank Gore? Wait, already said him. Holy Lord this team is a mess. On a team where I would be considered a backup QB, it's going to be an absolute lol fest trying to figure out who sucks the most between Josh McCown and Alex Smith to be the starter. All those QB's in the draft and you guys get none?? Well, you will be in the battle for Andrew Luck next year so it's not all bad...
4th - Seattle Seahawks (4-12) - There are two reasons why this team won a playoff game last year. 1. Matt Hasselback is one of the most underrated QB's in the game. 2. Marshawn Lynch had the best run the NFL seen in probably 20 years. Speaking of which, if you have never seen this version of that run, please watch this. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen (warning, R rated and NSFW. Don't have the kids or bosses around). No more Hasselback. No more legendary runs. Instead of getting like Kevin Kolb, they get....Tavarus Jackson? Be right back. BWHWHAHWAHHAHAAHAH. Ok I'm back. Andrew Luck - have fun in Seattle.
NFC East
I saved these guys for last because it makes me laugh how bad this division is, yet how much hype it gets. That's all I got.
Division Winner - Philadelphia Eagles (11-5). I'm really not sold on the Eagles. I know they are the dream team this year, but I'm just not sold. I think they will be good but not this end all be all team they are being hyped as. DeSean Jackson is nasty. Jeremy Macklin will have a monster year. LeSean McCoy is great. And Mike Vick was the story of the NFL last year. But I don't think this is the 14-2 team like people are saying. Vick has been shakey and their O-Line has been awful. However, if there is ever a QB who can make up for a bad O-line, its Vick. I pick them to win the division for one simple reason. Someone has to win it.
2nd - Dallas Cowboys - (8-8). Let's get this over with. Tony Romo is the most overrated player in the league - and maybe the most overrated player in history. Yes, I said it. However I do like the receivers in Dallas. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are two great players and basically Jason Whitten is a receiver in that offense. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are a great duo in the backfield but the issue is the O-line. No one will block for those two and Romo throwing the ball over the place equals disaster. Throw in some question marks on D and you get an average 500 team.
3rd - New York Giants (7-9). Was it just me or did this team get worse? What's better? Hakim Nicks, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham or Hakim Nicks and Mario Manningham. Hmmm...Eli Manning still has some things to prove and Ahmad Bradshaw needs to stay consistent to see any success for the New York Football Giants. Take out Osi Menoira (yeah, I have no idea how to spell it and nope, I'm not looking it up) of the front 4 and this team looks like it has problems.
4th - Washington Redskins (5 -11). What a disaster. Look, I know Mike Shannahan is a good coach. But Rex Grossman? Anytime Rex Grossman is your discussion for starting QB your team is bad. I mean it's really that simple. There is nothing else that needs to be said. So I'll say it again. Rex Grossman is your quite possibly your starting QB. For an NFL team.
Playoffs
Wild Card Weekend - Chicago over St. Louis, Philadelphia over New Orleans
2nd Round - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Atlanta over Chicago
NFC Title Game - Atlanta over Green Bay
Next time, AFC break downs and a Super Bowl pick.
