1st Down - NFC Review

NFC East
1. Dallas (3-3) - The Boys are truly the best team in the NFC on paper. Too bad all of the wheels fell off the bus at the same time. Adam Jones is joining Amy Whinehouse in rehab, not to mention the other half of the secondary is hurt, and Romo. The addition of Roy Williams (instead of say...Bolden) was puzzling and they gave up the house. Williams better start catching some balls or he will be unemployed.
2. Philadelphia (4-3) - Is it me, or has McNabb peaked for the year already? The absence of Westbrook really hurts the ground game. The good thing is that their are 2 WRs coming back, along with Westbrook in this tough division.
3. Washington (5-2) - Not the prettiest 5-2 team, especially considering they lost to the hapless Rams. This team still seems to be overachieving from last year. Good team, but we will see how long they can ride the Portis train to victory.
4. New York Giants (5-1) - Who says you can't be good after winning the Super Bowl? Well, the jury is still out. This is the same NY team that started 6-2 the last 2 years. Will the real Eli Manning please stand up?

NFC South
1. New Orleans (3-4) - The only way this team wins the division is if they spread out 5 guys and throw it 50 times a game. With Bush hurt, this might not be a bad idea. Wouldn't it be cool if they were the only pro team running the spread next year? They have the WR power. PS - This defense is atrocious.
2. Carolina (5-2) - Solid run game, great WR, good QB, decent defense. Yep sounds like a playoff team to me.
3. Atlanta (4-2) - Surprise of the year. Nobody picked them to do THIS good. I still wouldn't be surprised if they end up .500. But that running game along with Ryan to the Roddy Express, this team is 2 good years away. Maybe they can bring Vick back as a KR or CB.
4. Tampa Bay (5-2) - I just don't like this offense. Their defense is scary and is getting better with age. They retooled the LB/DB core with some savvy veterans still leading the way. I just dont see this team doing better than last year. Hats off to Warrick Dunn for still playing like he has for the last 5 years.
NFC West

1. Seattle (1-5) - I didn't even have to update this section, it reads the same: It's not that the Seahawks are that good, but more of saying that this could be the weakest division in football. Seattle may struggle early with a number of receivers out, but it should be better after the return of Branch and Engram that should lead them to their 6th consecutive conference title.
2. St. Louis (2-4) - The Haslett era is in full swing. Consider that an admiration after the bye week. The high is surely to wear off against the Pats this week.
3. Arizona (4-2) - This team will go as far as Kurt Warner can lead them. Keeping Kurt upright and on the field has always been his kryptonite. With a lot of division games coming up, this team could write its own ship by week 10.
4. San Francisco (2-5) - New Head Coach, same offensive coordinator. When will people realize that Mike Martz is as much poison as potent? Sure he increases your ppg by about 6, but he is a pour evaluator of talent. This team will be ok as long as he doesn't get to shop for the groceries.

NFC North
1. Green Bay (4-3) - Aaron Rodgers took a page out of the Brett Favre page and played through a significant injury. I just hope we don't hear about poor Aaron addicted to pain killers like a certain QB before him.
2. Minnesota (3-4) - The Jared Allen experiment is not working. Well, its not all his fault but you have to blame it on somebody. Allen was supposed to be the glue this defense needed, but the Vikes let up 48pts to the Bears with Kyle Orton at QB.
3. Detroit (0-6) - At least Matt Millen is gone.
4. Chicago (4-3) - Who knew that the Bears would be a potent offense? Forte sure, Hester, OK, but Orton for Most Improved Player? Who'd thunk it?

Playoffs
Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, New Orleans, WC - Philadelphia, Minnesota

NFL 2008 Projections - NFC Edition

Hate it or love it, the Boys are on top. No - this is not a 50 Cent remix with the former members of G-Unit, these are my predictions for the upcoming football season. I usually do pretty good in my head, so now it is time to put these projections on digital paper to revisit in the "I Told You" post sure to come in January after my dreams come true.

NFC East
1. Dallas - The Boys are truly the best team in the NFC on paper. They have had some let downs in the past 2 postseasons but don't let that fool you. This team is the real deal. They have sured up their pass coverage woes (yes I am talking about Roy Horse Collar Williams) by drafting Jenkins and getting Adam Jones. Throw in Zach Thomas and the defense should be able to repeat its performance from last year. On offense, Marion will be unleashed and Felix the Great will flash some of that 8ypc he showed at Arkansas. TO, is TO and Patrick Crayton has the best job as 3rd fiddle since Steve Kerr.
2. Philadelphia - McNabb despite not having anyone to throw to of Pro-Bowl status will have a great year. Letting Westbrook pace the team as usual, the Eagle are my surprise pick to win the Wild Card. The defense should be able to defend the spread better than any other with 3 Pro Bowl caliber CBs. Desean Jackson is the difference maker this team has yurned for.
3. Washington - Let's face it, this is an over achieving team. After Sean Taylor's murder, they really banned together and rode their emotions to the playoffs. This year, they will be right in the thick of things with a heavy dose of Portis and defense. Jason Taylor will be ready for the upcoming season, ready to prove he is more than just a dancer with great looks.
4. New York Giants - From 1st to worst is usually a horrible thing for a franchise. But when you play in the toughest division in football, worst could mean you are 8-8 or 7-9. The lost of Strahan (currently on Brett Favre's retirement plan) and now Osi have left a vital hole to fill in what essentially won the championship: dominating pass rush.

NFC South
1. New Orleans - New defense, healthy (somewhat) backfield and did I mention new defense? The Saints should return to the form that got them deep into the playoffs two years ago despite a banged up running game. Duece McCallister is coming back again from knee surgery and Reggie Bush is not an every down back just yet. Look out for Pierre Thomas to fill the main carries role if Duece can't get loose. On the defensive side of the ball, the additions of Jon Vilma, Randall Gay, Sedrick Ellis and a few others should give the Saints enough defense to get at least to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
2. Carolina - Despite losing Steve Smith for 2 games for going Tyson on his teammate, the Panthers are in a good position. For once, they wont have to worry about losing Smith to injury early. Add despite all of the woes they faced last year with QBs, the defense played lights out and the team finished 7-9.
3. Atlanta - Rebuilding is in full swing and so is the Matt Ryan era. He has been named the starter which equates to him trying not to mess up more than win games. This should be a clinic of Big Ben in Pitt his first year with a massive ground game. Michael Turner will try to prove he is worthy of starter money and Jerious Norwood will try to prove he is still relevant as a change of pace back.
4. Tampa Bay - Although they did not have any relevant personnel changes, I just think last year was a fluke. The Bucs played great defense, made plays when they had to, but mostly capitalized from a weak division and injuries. It seems like you just keep waiting on father time to finally catch up with this team (Garcia, Galloway, Brooks, Barber, etc.) and it seems it is this year. Everyone else in the division made significant moves, the Bucs dropped the buck.
NFC West

1. Seattle - It's not that the Seahawks are that good, but more of saying that this could be the weakest division in football. Despite the star power (Hasselbeck, Holt, Jackson, Warner/Leinart, Gore, Fitz/Bolden), this division has some of the weaker teams around. Seattle may struggle early with a number of receivers out, but it should be better after the return of Branch and Engram that should lead them to their 6th consecutive conference title.
2. St. Louis - Not that the Rams have made any key improvements, but again this division is lacking the key ingredients to knock them any lower. The Rams drafted a speed rush energy guy in Chris Long but didnt sure up the gaping holes they had at WR, DT, CB, S, or depth anywhere else. Long will be able to help get pressure on the pass happy West but these teams have superior talent at WR compared to the Rams Db's.
3. Arizona - Matt Leinart is about to lose his job to a busboy. Well not really, this busboy is Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner. Leinart, overhyped but decent qb, has never really lived up to the hype. His lack of cannon arm has not been helped by his poor judgement or glaring accuracy problems. I liked Leinart coming into this year, he should have been able to hit a lot of quick hitters to his star combo of Fitzgerald/Bolden. However, after Kurt Warner gets hurt (its inevitable), the shine will be on Leinart, and if the light is too bright, he may become the next David Carr.
4. San Francisco - Mike Martz is a genius. He found a way to blow the biggest game and point spread in Super Bowl history (before the 18-1 Pats). What has that gotten him? Two more offensive coordinator positions. Will Martz finally run the ball in a WR deprived offense of the 49ers? Frank Gore will try to stay healthy, Ike Bruce will be a good role model and creep towards more HOF credentials, and the defense will be tough. But a team that is debating between JT O'Sullivan and Shaun Hill as the starting qb can not be serious about a playoff push, can they?

NFC North
1. Green Bay - Yes. Brett Favre is gone. Yes Aaron Rodgers is inexperienced and wide-eyed. But the Packers are going to prove the critics wrong and prosper post Favre. The defense is turning the corner, but needs some young blood in the secondary to help Woodson and Al Harris as they start to wind down. Otherwise, the defense is stout, Ryan Grant will see if he was a one-year wonder and the boo birds will be out early if Rodgers doesnt deliver. No fret, he will.
2. Minnesota - Despite all the hype surrounding the defense and running game, this team just doesn't seem to impress you. Of course, their is the traditional talk that Peterson and Taylor are enough to walk through the division, but your team can not be built solely on the ground. Tavaris Jackson will be good enough to lead them down the stretch, especially since they have one of the easiest schedules after week 9.
3. Detroit - Post Mike Martz Detroit will fair better on offense that with Martz. The arrogance that comes with Martz has rubbed off and the team is better for that, but even the genius needs a reality check sometimes. A more balanced attack will help this retooled defense keep a number of games close, but they still will fall under .500.
4. Chicago - The Bears are starting Kyle Orton at qb, Devin Hester at WR, and a rookie RB, Matt Forte. Yes they are rebuilding. A few years removed from a Super Bowl lost, the Bears seem to be getting long in the tooth on their staple, defense. Mike Brown doesn't look the same, Urlacher has chronic back pain, and the corners look very suspect.

Playoffs
Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, New Orleans, WC - Philadelphia, Minnesota