Predict the NFC Playoff Teams
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BehindEnemyLinez
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NORTH-Vikings (Pack will have a Favre hangover)
SOUTH-Saints (Just a wild guess but I expect Payton to right the ship)
WEST-Rams (improved defense and talented offense)
EAST-Cowboys w/ H.F.A (personnel-wise, best in the conference)
Wildcards: Giants, Panthers
SOUTH-Saints (Just a wild guess but I expect Payton to right the ship)
WEST-Rams (improved defense and talented offense)
EAST-Cowboys w/ H.F.A (personnel-wise, best in the conference)
Wildcards: Giants, Panthers
DFWJC
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MONT17;2091818 said:
Panthers finished 2nd in the division 3 straight years. Last year they were a MASH unit...I mean the entire team was hurt. Take a look at their lineup now and you'll see they look much more like the 11-5 team of 3 seasons ago. I can see how someone may pick the Saints over them, but the overall schedule looks okay and see them going 10-6 and winning a tie-breaker w/ NO.
JohnnyHopkins
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Long Winded:
For the record, I think that this is the year that the NFC makes a statement against the AFC as to which is the better conference. I think that things will be much tighter at the top.
Division winners
Cowboys - Put them down for 12-4. That January playoff loss will keep them focused this year and due to the Giants predicted record, they will not be able to win the East until the end of December. This will actually help them, as I think they lost focus last year after the GB victory. On paper, their biggest weaknesses (secondary depth, special teams) have been addressed and the running game has been strengthened by replacing JJ/Thompson with Felix/Choice. Put them down for one loss to the Commanders and one to the Eagles, but they will sweep the Giants to try and erase the bad taste of the playoff loss (not an indictment of the Giants, I think they will be really good this year). That sweep will win the East and provide Homefield throughout the playoffs.
Vikings - 10-6. Their QB Jackson will probably keep them from running away with the Division and Peterson will probably miss a few games due to his running style, but they will have an incredible D-Line and enough of Peterson to beat out Green-Bay. Detroit will implement a better running attack and as a result look for Kevin Smith to make a run at Rookie of the Year, but the Lions still don't have enough to challenge. Chicago still has Grossman under Center, which would make me spit fire if I was a Bears fan. Look for the Bears to dwell at the bottom of the Division.
Saints - 10-6 - They will rebound from an off year, but will have some competition from the rejuvinated Panthers. Look for Deuce to come back strong and this team to look more like the 2006 version that the 2007 one. The Panthers will be much better with Delhomme back under Center. Steve Smith will be his usual self and their running back duo will have people taking notice by years-end, but they still have a few holes and I'm not as sold on Peppers rebounding as everyone else. The Bucs will take a step back. Garcia and Galloway are another year older, while Cadillac will prove once and for all that he is just average and Antonio Bryant will flame out yet again. Atlanta gives everyone two easy "W's" on their way to the worst record in the conference, possibly in the league.
Arizona - 9-7 - A Surprise Division winner, but this is a weak Division and playing above average can win it. Seattle always seems to feast on the weaker competition, but the Cardinals and Rams will turn in much better performances than what they did in 2007. The Cardinals have some talent on their roster and I think that this is the year they finally maximize it. Look for the Niners to improve somewhat under Martz as the O-Coordinator, but they will not threaten the other three.
Wildcards
Giants - 12-4 - The NFC East is the best in well over a decade and folks will be gunning for the Giants this year. If Strahan comes back, the Giants will be up to the task. Aside from a revenge-minded Dallas and a loss to the Eagles, they will handle most other teams to get the top Wild-Card spot. Given that they won the Superbowl from that same spot last year, I don't think the Giants or their fans would be too concerned.
Eagles - 10-6 - A resurgent McNabb will go out of Philly in style by playing lights out, beating Dallas at home and getting his team to the playoffs (hello Chicago in 2009). If the Eagles do end up keeping Lito Sheppard, they have a CB trio that is as good as any in the league. Their "still average" Receiving Corp ends up doing them in as far as any threat they may pose to win the Division.
Noteable Misses:
Packers - 10-6 - They will be more consistant due to not having Favre to make some of those errant throws, but they will also lose a few due not having Favre to make some of those miraculous throws. They will lose out on the final playoff spot to Philly due to tiebreakers.
Commanders - 8-8 - A talented team that could contend for a Wildcard spot if they were in another Division. They will play hard this year, but Zorn will not be able to repeat the masterful job Joe Gibbs did last year. The new scheme will cause a few growing pains for Campbell, plus the WCO is not ideal for Moss/Randell-El. Their rookie Wide-outs will not make an impact right away (which is no different than almost all rookie wide-out drafted). It baffles me as to why they failed to improve their D-Line, which was a very average unit last year and will end up hurting them this year. Cooley makes the Pro-Bowl and gets league-wide recognition as a truly elite player, but they only manage to go 8-8 due to going 2-4 in the Division.
Seattle - 9-7- Truth be told, the Seahawks or Rams could win this Division and no one would be too surprised. The Seahawks won an incredibly weak division last year, with the Cardinals not living up to expectations and the Rams decimated by injuries to Jackson, Bulger and on the O-Line. They will not have the same fortunes this year and will prove to be an average team.
Just my opinion, of course.
For the record, I think that this is the year that the NFC makes a statement against the AFC as to which is the better conference. I think that things will be much tighter at the top.
Division winners
Cowboys - Put them down for 12-4. That January playoff loss will keep them focused this year and due to the Giants predicted record, they will not be able to win the East until the end of December. This will actually help them, as I think they lost focus last year after the GB victory. On paper, their biggest weaknesses (secondary depth, special teams) have been addressed and the running game has been strengthened by replacing JJ/Thompson with Felix/Choice. Put them down for one loss to the Commanders and one to the Eagles, but they will sweep the Giants to try and erase the bad taste of the playoff loss (not an indictment of the Giants, I think they will be really good this year). That sweep will win the East and provide Homefield throughout the playoffs.
Vikings - 10-6. Their QB Jackson will probably keep them from running away with the Division and Peterson will probably miss a few games due to his running style, but they will have an incredible D-Line and enough of Peterson to beat out Green-Bay. Detroit will implement a better running attack and as a result look for Kevin Smith to make a run at Rookie of the Year, but the Lions still don't have enough to challenge. Chicago still has Grossman under Center, which would make me spit fire if I was a Bears fan. Look for the Bears to dwell at the bottom of the Division.
Saints - 10-6 - They will rebound from an off year, but will have some competition from the rejuvinated Panthers. Look for Deuce to come back strong and this team to look more like the 2006 version that the 2007 one. The Panthers will be much better with Delhomme back under Center. Steve Smith will be his usual self and their running back duo will have people taking notice by years-end, but they still have a few holes and I'm not as sold on Peppers rebounding as everyone else. The Bucs will take a step back. Garcia and Galloway are another year older, while Cadillac will prove once and for all that he is just average and Antonio Bryant will flame out yet again. Atlanta gives everyone two easy "W's" on their way to the worst record in the conference, possibly in the league.
Arizona - 9-7 - A Surprise Division winner, but this is a weak Division and playing above average can win it. Seattle always seems to feast on the weaker competition, but the Cardinals and Rams will turn in much better performances than what they did in 2007. The Cardinals have some talent on their roster and I think that this is the year they finally maximize it. Look for the Niners to improve somewhat under Martz as the O-Coordinator, but they will not threaten the other three.
Wildcards
Giants - 12-4 - The NFC East is the best in well over a decade and folks will be gunning for the Giants this year. If Strahan comes back, the Giants will be up to the task. Aside from a revenge-minded Dallas and a loss to the Eagles, they will handle most other teams to get the top Wild-Card spot. Given that they won the Superbowl from that same spot last year, I don't think the Giants or their fans would be too concerned.
Eagles - 10-6 - A resurgent McNabb will go out of Philly in style by playing lights out, beating Dallas at home and getting his team to the playoffs (hello Chicago in 2009). If the Eagles do end up keeping Lito Sheppard, they have a CB trio that is as good as any in the league. Their "still average" Receiving Corp ends up doing them in as far as any threat they may pose to win the Division.
Noteable Misses:
Packers - 10-6 - They will be more consistant due to not having Favre to make some of those errant throws, but they will also lose a few due not having Favre to make some of those miraculous throws. They will lose out on the final playoff spot to Philly due to tiebreakers.
Commanders - 8-8 - A talented team that could contend for a Wildcard spot if they were in another Division. They will play hard this year, but Zorn will not be able to repeat the masterful job Joe Gibbs did last year. The new scheme will cause a few growing pains for Campbell, plus the WCO is not ideal for Moss/Randell-El. Their rookie Wide-outs will not make an impact right away (which is no different than almost all rookie wide-out drafted). It baffles me as to why they failed to improve their D-Line, which was a very average unit last year and will end up hurting them this year. Cooley makes the Pro-Bowl and gets league-wide recognition as a truly elite player, but they only manage to go 8-8 due to going 2-4 in the Division.
Seattle - 9-7- Truth be told, the Seahawks or Rams could win this Division and no one would be too surprised. The Seahawks won an incredibly weak division last year, with the Cardinals not living up to expectations and the Rams decimated by injuries to Jackson, Bulger and on the O-Line. They will not have the same fortunes this year and will prove to be an average team.
Just my opinion, of course.
AtlCB
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NFC East - Dallas(1) (the most talented team in the division)
NFC Central - Minnesota(3) (this division could go either way between GB and Minny)
NFC South - New Orleans(2) (as long as McAllister stays healthy, the Saints should have little problem winning this division)
NFC West - Arizona(4) (by default)
Wildcards - N.Y.Giants(5), Green Bay(6)
Minnesota def Green Bay
N.Y.Giants def Arizona
Dallas def. N.Y.Giants
New Orleans def. Minnesota
Dallas def. New Orleans
I don't understand the faith in the Eagles. They will be lucky to avoid last in the division this season.
NFC Central - Minnesota(3) (this division could go either way between GB and Minny)
NFC South - New Orleans(2) (as long as McAllister stays healthy, the Saints should have little problem winning this division)
NFC West - Arizona(4) (by default)
Wildcards - N.Y.Giants(5), Green Bay(6)
Minnesota def Green Bay
N.Y.Giants def Arizona
Dallas def. N.Y.Giants
New Orleans def. Minnesota
Dallas def. New Orleans
I don't understand the faith in the Eagles. They will be lucky to avoid last in the division this season.
