NFC predictions: Ride Cowboys to the title
by Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News.
Posted: July 13, 2008
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys (13-3). Loaded with talent, and they are motivated by recent playoff flops. Their offense is the best in the conference. Draft choice Felix Jones will pick up where Julius Jones left off. This team is headed for Tampa.
2) New York Giants (13-3). Defending Super Bowl champs will not surrender their crown easily. General manager Jerry Reese keeps upgrading talent, Eli Manning will keep improving and the pass rush is still nasty.
3) Philadelphia Eagles (7-9). Playing in a tough division hurts them. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook could still use more help on offense. Asante Samuel gives them a nice cover guy, but too bad he doesn't play offense.
4) Washington Redskins (4-12). Jim Zorn may win eventually, but his first year as a head coach will be a struggle. He wants to throw, and quarterback Jason Campbell may not be quite ready. Defense is also a question mark.
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers (11-5). This is a talented team, regardless of what happens with Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers has excellent receivers to work with, and the defense is solid. Mike McCarthy will coach this team to another division title.
2) Chicago Bears (10-6). This will be a bounce-back season. Their post-Super Bowl blahs are over. Devin Hester will score enough big-play touchdowns to give the offense help, even if the quarterback play is shaky.
3) Minnesota Vikings (9-7). Trendy pick to win the division, but the passing game is still shaky. Adrian Peterson is great, but he will have trouble improving on his rookie season. Playoffs must wait another year.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13). The fade at the end of last season is a sign of things to come. Every other team in the division improved; the Lions did not, and it will show on the field. This franchise cannot seem to move forward.
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints (11-5). The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will improve their defense. Drew Brees directs the short passing game as well as any quarterback. The Saints march back into the postseason.
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9). The health of Cadillac Williams is uncertain, and the running game could suffer. Team speed has improved with draft picks Aqib Talib and Dexter Jackson, but their aging defense will cost them.
3) Carolina Panthers (7-9). Excellent draft featuring running back Jonathan Stewart and tackle Jeff Otah will improve the offense. But the defense no longer scares people, and too much of the offense still relies on Steve Smith.
4) Atlanta Falcons (1-15). Even if Matt Ryan becomes a Pro Bowl quarterback, it will not happen as a rookie. Michael Turner will find fewer holes to run through than he did in San Diego. A long season is in store.
NFC West
1) Seattle Seahawks (11-5). Mike Holmgren wanted a Super Bowl for his swan song. He will have to settle for the playoffs. They are good enough to win a weak division, but they cannot handle the NFC's elite.
2) St. Louis Rams (7-9). You have to figure the Rams will have fewer injuries than in '07. If Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger return to form, the offense will hum, and rookie Chris Long will be an All-Pro soon. Things are looking up.
3) Arizona Cardinals (5-11). The offense lacks a home-run hitter, and the Cardinals need quarterback Matt Leinart to emerge as their leader. One year, Arizona will finally get it right. But it will not be this year.
4) San Francisco 49ers (3-13). New offensive coordinator Mike Martz was brought in to help Alex Smith, and to save Mike Nolan. Good luck with that. This group will not make anyone forget Joe Montana or Steve Young.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Giants over No. 4 Saints
No. 3 Seahawks over No. 6 Bears
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 5 Giants
No. 2 Packers over No. 3 Seahawks
NFC championship game
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 2 Packers
Super Bowl 43
San Diego Chargers over Cowboys
Posted: July 13, 2008
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys (13-3). Loaded with talent, and they are motivated by recent playoff flops. Their offense is the best in the conference. Draft choice Felix Jones will pick up where Julius Jones left off. This team is headed for Tampa.
2) New York Giants (13-3). Defending Super Bowl champs will not surrender their crown easily. General manager Jerry Reese keeps upgrading talent, Eli Manning will keep improving and the pass rush is still nasty.
3) Philadelphia Eagles (7-9). Playing in a tough division hurts them. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook could still use more help on offense. Asante Samuel gives them a nice cover guy, but too bad he doesn't play offense.
4) Washington Redskins (4-12). Jim Zorn may win eventually, but his first year as a head coach will be a struggle. He wants to throw, and quarterback Jason Campbell may not be quite ready. Defense is also a question mark.
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers (11-5). This is a talented team, regardless of what happens with Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers has excellent receivers to work with, and the defense is solid. Mike McCarthy will coach this team to another division title.
2) Chicago Bears (10-6). This will be a bounce-back season. Their post-Super Bowl blahs are over. Devin Hester will score enough big-play touchdowns to give the offense help, even if the quarterback play is shaky.
3) Minnesota Vikings (9-7). Trendy pick to win the division, but the passing game is still shaky. Adrian Peterson is great, but he will have trouble improving on his rookie season. Playoffs must wait another year.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13). The fade at the end of last season is a sign of things to come. Every other team in the division improved; the Lions did not, and it will show on the field. This franchise cannot seem to move forward.
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints (11-5). The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will improve their defense. Drew Brees directs the short passing game as well as any quarterback. The Saints march back into the postseason.
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9). The health of Cadillac Williams is uncertain, and the running game could suffer. Team speed has improved with draft picks Aqib Talib and Dexter Jackson, but their aging defense will cost them.
3) Carolina Panthers (7-9). Excellent draft featuring running back Jonathan Stewart and tackle Jeff Otah will improve the offense. But the defense no longer scares people, and too much of the offense still relies on Steve Smith.
4) Atlanta Falcons (1-15). Even if Matt Ryan becomes a Pro Bowl quarterback, it will not happen as a rookie. Michael Turner will find fewer holes to run through than he did in San Diego. A long season is in store.
NFC West
1) Seattle Seahawks (11-5). Mike Holmgren wanted a Super Bowl for his swan song. He will have to settle for the playoffs. They are good enough to win a weak division, but they cannot handle the NFC's elite.
2) St. Louis Rams (7-9). You have to figure the Rams will have fewer injuries than in '07. If Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger return to form, the offense will hum, and rookie Chris Long will be an All-Pro soon. Things are looking up.
3) Arizona Cardinals (5-11). The offense lacks a home-run hitter, and the Cardinals need quarterback Matt Leinart to emerge as their leader. One year, Arizona will finally get it right. But it will not be this year.
4) San Francisco 49ers (3-13). New offensive coordinator Mike Martz was brought in to help Alex Smith, and to save Mike Nolan. Good luck with that. This group will not make anyone forget Joe Montana or Steve Young.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Giants over No. 4 Saints
No. 3 Seahawks over No. 6 Bears
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 5 Giants
No. 2 Packers over No. 3 Seahawks
NFC championship game
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 2 Packers
Super Bowl 43
San Diego Chargers over Cowboys
posted by The Gryphon at 7:40 PM
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