NFC Preview

Where is the football talk? While Eric and John blog about baseball which is heading toward the post season. I decided to go in the direction America wants to know. FOOTBALL!!! Everyone is talking about the NFL. I wanted to do an NFL preview blog to get ready for the regular season in three weeks. I realized that is a lot to write about in a short time so I thought about splitting it into 3 blogs. This week I breakdown what will happen in the NFC. Several teams are looking to rebound after missing the playoffs. I am talking about the Dallas Cowboys. Other teams want to continue their upward swing, Atlanta. To start off, the NFC East. The NFC East always seemed to grab the headlines. People love talking about the Dallas Cowboys. Lets talk about those Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys
The off season was actually a quiet one for the Cowboys. The major news for Dallas was cutting ties with Terrell Owens. I was living in Dallas at the time and loved the move to cut T.O. I do not care for keeping the coaching staff. Wade Phillips has had time to build on what Bill Parcells did and he has failed. Wade gets one more shot and its playoffs or look for a new job. I started to look at the 'Boys schedule and they have a favorable one. The season starts on the road at Tampa Bay which should be a victory. A brand new stadium, which needs renovated already lol. I couldn't help myself to make fun of a punter hitting the video board in the middle of the stadium. The home opener against the Giants is a toss up. The other key games are at Philadelphia, at New York Giants, and the final game at home against the Eagles. With games against the AFC West which is a terrible division and favorable match ups with the NFC South, the Cowboys have a shot to reach the post season. Final verdict: 10-6 but just short of the playoffs.

Washington Redskins
The team who spent the most money this past off season needs their QB to help get them past the .500 mark they reached last year. Albert Haynesworth comes over from Tennessee to help the defensive line which had only 24 sacks last year. Albert isn't a big pass rusher but will demand double teams and free some of the defensive ends. The major issue is Jason Campbell. He must improve and gain leadership to relieve some of the pressure on Clinton Portis. The Redskins schedule isn't a very easy road. I like the their chances early on with games against St. Louis and Tampa Bay, plus a road game in Detroit. I can not see them getting many victories over their divisional opponents. Final verdict: 6-10.

Philadelphia Eagles
The wild card team in this division. The media will be all over this team when Michael Vick gets reinstated. My major concern isn't Vick, but rather the other QB, Donovan McNabb. I like McNabb a lot. I think he is a fantastic leader and the main reason why this team is always in the playoff hunt. The Eagles added Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy in the draft. They lost Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins in cap related moves. McCoy is an upgrade over Buckhalter but no one can replace Dawkins leadership. Since all the NFC East teams face AFC West teams its easy to give the Eagles a few easy wins. I think it will all come down to the final week again vs Dallas. I am taking the Eagles to get into the postseason again as a wild card. Final verdict: 11-5 and a wild card spot.

New York Giants
The New York Giants are going to win this division again. I love the make up of this team. The defense is great. The line gets to the quarterback. They have all the tools to be in the top 5 in defenses. Eli Manning is a Super Bowl winning quarterback. The major weakness is the inexperienced wide outs. Hakeem Nicks hasn't showed a whole lot yet after being the first round draft pick for the Giants. Steve Smith was the leading receiver in catches last year. Toomer and Plexico are both gone but the security blanket is still there. Kevin Boss is a solid tight end. The Giants running game, even with the loss of Ward, will keep a lot of pressure off Eli. New York has a shot to go all the way in my eyes. Final verdict: 13-3 and the division championship.

The NFC South maybe the most competitive division in the NFC. Atlanta was on fire last year with rookie QB Matt Ryan. Carolina was the division winner and was bitten by the turnover bug in the playoffs. New Orleans had the best all around quarterback in the league in Drew Brees. Tampa will be the weak team in this division because they are in complete overhaul mode.

Tampa Bay
I hated what Tampa Bay did in the off season. First, they fired a Super Bowl winning coach in John Gruden. They released half the team and then drafted a quarterback so they could have 10 on the roster to start the season. You have heard running backs by committee I think that's what Tampa will do at quarterback this year. They have a very tough schedule to boot. Opening game with Dallas, plus games with the Giants, Patriots, and their divisional games. I hate to say it but I don't know how they will win more than 3 games. Final verdict: 3-13

Carolina Panthers
Can Jake Delhomme recover from the dreadful playoff game against Arizona? Unless he was hypnotized over the off season, he is never going to forget that game. Carolina couldn't find a great offer for Julius Peppers. I hope Julius can play well and stay healthy. I love the Panthers two headed monster at running back. Johnathon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are perfect compliments to each others game. The wide receiver core is a little weak with only Steve Smith sticking out. The offensive line is solid. I have to question the defense a little though. Peppers needs to be dominate and get to the quarterback often. Their schedule is up and down. I only see one team making the playoffs in the division and Carolina won't be one. No team has won back to back division titles in this division in several years. This year will be no different. Final Verdict: 8-8

New Orleans
I am so torn up with this team. I love Drew Brees and his offense. Brees has weapons all over to throw to. The only question on offense is at running back. Reggie Bush can not stay healthy. Pierre Thomas in his third year, has never been the number 1 back. Although for Thomas's career he is averaging over four yards a carrier. The biggest question is on the defensive side. Last year, the defense gave up 24.6 points a game. Hopefully, rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and second year defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis can step it up and help linebacker Jonathan Vilma. New Orleans opens up with Detroit. The nonconference games against the NFC East and AFC East doesn't make the outlook much better. I have a hard time thinking this team with make the leap this year. Final Verdict: 8-8

Atlanta Falcons
Fans seem to forget this team did not win the division last year. I believe that is why they will win the division this year. Atlanta can run the ball with Michael Turner. Matt Ryan had a great rookie season. The Falcons could have done nothing, instead they added the second best tight end in the NFL, Tony Gonzalez. Will Matt go through a sophomore slump? I don't foresee that. The defense just needs to get better in the secondary and this team will win the South. The schedule will be tough but Matt learned a lot last year and will lead this team to a division title. Final Verdict: 9-7 and division championship

The NFC West is top to bottom one of the worst divisions in all of football. In fact, both West divisions are terrible. San Francisco is in rebuilding mode for the sixth straight year. Seattle and St. Louis can't seem to stay healthy. Arizona is the favorite by far to take this division.

San Francisco
The 49ers can not seem to find a franchise quarterback. I love their coach, Mike Singletary. I just can't see how this team is going to improve. Michael Crabtree is going down the JaMarcus Russell route and won't play until mid season. It doesn't even matter about their schedule. San Francisco has no shot to make the playoffs or even win more than 5 games. Final Verdict: 3-13

St. Louis Rams
I have to be honest, I have no idea what will happen to this team. The Rams at full strength could be around .500. If they end up like last year, they will draft in the top 10 again. Marc Bulger has to stay healthy for this team to have a chance to win games. Stephen Jackson is a solid running back. The addition of Jason Smith on the offensive line should help both of these guys. The defense was horrendous, giving up almost 30 points per game. I like the new head coach Steve Spagnuolo. I think he will add a lot to the poor defense. I think James Laurinaitis will be a defensive rookie of the year candidate. I just don't see how this team can rebound though. Final Verdict: 4-12

Seattle Seahawks
In the preseason, Matt Hasselbeck has looked to be back in rare form. The Seahawks have spent a lot of money on wide receivers. Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and newcomer T.J Houshmandzadeh are all going to get the ball this season. The ground game is the major question mark on offense. Seattle just signed Edgerrin James to help out. I doubt that will be enough. A solid linebacking core with Tatupu and rookie Aaron Curry should help the defense get back into shape. I think this team will bounce back from a terrible 4-12 this year and be a respectable team. Final Verdict: 7-9

Arizona Cardinals
The Super Bowl loser usually doesn't make the playoffs the following year. Arizona will be the first since Seattle did it a few years ago. Kurt Warner is back after a career year. Who doesn't love Larry Fitzgerald? The only concern is if Warner gets hurt. I think the running game is going to be better with Chris Beanie Wells. The defense needs to continue the play they had in last years playoffs. There is no reason this team shouldn't be thinking about playing in the Super Bowl again. Final Verdict 12-4 division title

The final division is the North. The Vikings have taken over all the news since the guy that shall remain nameless returned and signed with them. Last year Minnesota won the division without that guy. Chicago made all the headlines in the off season with the trade for Jay Cutler. Detroit is trying to rebuild and have no where to go but up. I think I will surprise a few people with my predictions in the North.

Detroit Lions
The 2009 Detroit Lions, we can't be any worse. I think that is slogan they should go with this year. No way do the Lions go winless again. Matthew Stafford should be driving the bus at the start of the season. Let him learn for the future. The schedule is not brutal but not easy either. I like Calvin Johnson and uh, well I like Calvin Johnson. The Lions will get a few wins and I think we will see signs of hope. Final Verdict: 3-13

Chicago Bears
I liked the Cutler trade in the off season. Jay is going to be a great quarterback for years. He is the franchise quarterback they have lacked for several years. The major issue I have is who the hell does he have running routes? Matt Forte is going to get his but the receiver core is terrible. Devin Hester is not a number one. I think the defense will play well. Chicago should get some easy wins over Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. They go out and add Brandon Marshall and then I will say they have a shot at the division. Final Verdict: 7-9

Minnesota Vikings
It is no secret, I am in love with Adrian Peterson. AD is the major reason this team made the playoffs last year. Now they have the major question answered with that old QB. I am forbidden by BBSD rules to name their quarterback. The new question is now will "he" pick up the offense and get a long with his teammates. I hate hearing the media talking about dissension in the locker room. The Vikings can run the ball and stop the run. You have to do those two things to have success in the NFL. Tavaris turned it over to much last year and now the old man has to limit his mistakes, something he has not done in his entire career. I think this team makes the playoffs because of the man who carried them last year, Adrian Peterson. Final Verdict: 11-5 and wild card.

Green Bay Packers
As much as I hate to pick Green Bay, with all the headlines going to Minnesota, I think Green Bay will sneak in. Aaron Rodgers is heading towards a breakout season. His weapons are Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Donald Lee in the passing game. Ryan Grant must stay healthy and if he does, he will have a career year. The defense must step it up. Last year they gave up almost 24 points a game. If that number can drop 5 points, this team will have a shot to make it deep into the playoffs. I am giving them the same record as the Vikings. I think the tiebreaker will go to the Packers when Rodgers out plays the player to remain nameless. Final Verdict: 11-5 and division winner.

Here is a recap of what I am predicting:
East: New York Giants. South: Atlanta Falcons. West: Arizona Cardinals. North: Green Bay Packers. 2 NFC Wild cards: Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.

I will preview the AFC next week followed in 2 weeks with my playoff predictions and Super Bowl winner. If you have a problem with my predictions, you can email me at mccall316@yahoo.com.

J Call