NFC East
1st. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)- The offensive line could very well be this teams downfall, if this line shows it's age this season Romo could be in for a long season. Trading for Alex Barron was a good trade if you are looking for him to be a back up or a spot starter but believe me if the Cowboys are forced to rely on this guy they'll be in trouble. Felix Jones, Marion Barber, and Tashard Choice form the best 3-headed backfield in the NFL and it's not close so once again that should take pressure off Romo if they can stay healthy.
2nd. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Eagles win the division. Philly could be a very dangerous team this season, it all comes down to one name Kevin Kolb. He has the weapons to be very successful and has looked the part in brief playing time. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are great to have as targets, but then you get the up and coming tight end Brent Celek to throw to, and LeSean McCoy to hand off to, this offense is going to be around for a long time, watch out for the Eagles.
3rd. New York Giants (8-8)- Don't get me wrong I like the Giants, they're a good team, but I think they are just a step below the Cowboys and Eagles, the offense has a great #1 to replace Plaxico in Steve Smith who caught 107 balls last season for 1,220 yards and 7 TD's, the run game looked seriously hurt after "Fire" (Derrick Ward) left for Tampa Bay after the 2009 season as Bradshaw and Jacobs struggled. The defense still has something, but showed they just aren't the same after Steve Spagnuolo left to become the coach of the Rams.
4th. Washington Redskins (6-10)- Both Donovan McNabb and Mike Shannahan bring their great resumes to the Redskins, that said they really don't have much to work with as McNabb has an aging offense to work with as Santana Moss and Joey Galloway form an aged 1,2 punch. The runningbacks go even older with Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker forming the corp. Albert Hanyesworth may or may not head a good defense if the 100 Million Dollar Man can ever ever work his way back up to first string. After all this, get ready for another top 10 pick this season Mr. Snyder.
NFC North
1st. Green Bay Packers (13-3)- Aaron Rodgers finally gets out of the shadow of Brett Favre after 4 seasons of backing him up and what does he do... Just throws for 8,472 yards and 58 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. He has an unbelievably talented set of receivers, with Jennings, Driver, Nelson, and tight ends Jermichael Finley and Donald Lee, while having Ryan Grant to hand off to, with all these toys you could see why Rodgers numbers are so good. With all that I think the road the Super Bowl XLV will come through Lambeau.
2nd. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)- Brett Favre would be happy to see Aaron Rodgers successfully filling his shoes if it didn't mean having to go on the road to start the playoffs. Losing receiver Sidney Rice for half the season hurts this team bad. Shiancoe and Berrian will need to step it up big time if they want to repeat as NFC North champs, and Adrian Peterson will need to hold on to the ball and stop fumbling the ball. Jared Allen leads a defense that should stop a lot of teams and will need to be even better than last season to repeat the teams success in 2009.
3rd. Chicago Bears (7-9)- Jay Cutler has the ability to be a great QB in this league, I would name him as the top QB in the 2006 Draft. It all comes down to how Johnny Knox and Devin Hester perform this season, Knox an undrafted 2nd year player from Abilene Christian will need to be even better this season and I just don't see that happening. The once great defense has let age catch them in a hurry, although bringing in Julius Peppers does give this line some hope for the season.
4th. Detroit Lions (5-11)- Poor Detroit, they have improved so much in the offseason, by leaps and bounds, signing Nate Burleson to pair with Calvin Johnson, and Kyle Vanden Bosch will help along with drafting Jahvid Best and Ndamukong Suh but this team is just a little more pieces away from competing for a playoff spot for the first time since Barry Sanders tore up teams at the Silverdome.
NFC South
1st. New Orleans Saints (13-3)- The defending champs are back are ready to do this thing again. Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees will lead this scary offense once again. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas will be a very good backfield, and Colston and Henderson will catch many balls with Jeremy Shockey adding some more to the passing game. The big question to me is, can this defense be as good this season as they were last season, if they can I don't see any reason why the Saints can't send the Big Easy back to the Big Game.
2nd. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)- Matt Ryan has shown the ability to be the next big thing in the world of quarterbacks, with Jenkins and White to pass to he shouldn't have a problem repeating his success. While having Michael Turner in the run game is a huge plus. The Falcons defense will be their downfall though and for the 2nd straight season I say the Falcons will miss the playoffs.
3rd. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)- Hope is something that Bucs fans haven't had a lot of from the QB position in a while but they finally have it as they have the dark horse QB from the 2009 Draft Josh Freeman. But before he can do anything they'll need to get him a backfield as Cadillac Williams has shown the inability to recover fully from his injury filled 2nd season.
4th. Carolina Panthers (4-12)- No other coach in the NFL has a hotter seat than John Fox, after a dreadful 2009 the Panthers released Jake Delhomme, a fan favorite and heads into this season with Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen competing for the starting job, their one target Steve Smith is coming off a broken arm, his come back will have much to do with where they end up this season, I just don't see that happening as February 2011 marks a new coaching search for Carolina.
NFC West
1st. San Francisco (10-6)- These aren't your fathers 49ers who one 5 Super Bowls with historic offenses. This 49ers team is built through defense with a guy who could be considered the next Mike Singletary; Patrick Willis, and who happens to be teaching him... Mike Singletary. Alex Smith leads this offense as he tries to shed the bust lable once and for all, he'll have the luxury of Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Tedd Ginn Jr. (who was quite the steal might I add). Watch out the Niners are a good team once again, but this time the defense is what gets it done.
2nd. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)- The Cardinals lost a lot in the offseason, but Kurt Warner is by far the biggest loss. Derek Anderson is more than likely the starter for this team which spells trouble, although they do have an impressive corp of receivers with Larry Fitzgerald heading the group, not having a decent QB will really hurt this team in 2010.
3rd. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)- Pete Carroll trades sun and fun in Southern Cal, for the rains of Seattle as he makes his return to the NFL, the Seahawks had a very good draft, selecting Russell Okung and Earl Thomas in the 1st round. I still think this team is an old team, but Matt Hasselback will attempt to prove he has something left in the tank or else he might be replaced in favor of Charlie Whitehurst.
4th. St. Louis Rams (4-12)- Sam Bradford comes into a major rebuilding project in St. Louis as he'll try to become a franchise QB, he already has fans excited this preseason with an impressive showing but he still has a long way to go before he can get this offense back to a shadow of the Greatest Show on Turf. James Laurinaitis turned heads last season, he'll need to improve along with Chris Long who has yet to prove he can flourish in the blitz style defenses Steve Spagnuolo was supposed to bring in. The Rams are still a year or two away from competing again for a postseason birth but it seems like they are on their way back.
Now that we have rankings and how they'll do, it's time to see who is meeting up in Arlington on February 6th.
Indianapolis Colts over Green Bay Packers
The Colts just have a sour taste in their mouths after last season ended in a bitter disappointment way by losing to New Orleans 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. A healthy Dwight Freeney will be key as he terrorizes Aaron Rodgers all day and Peyton Manning leads the Colts in the passing game enroute to a 31-21 win.
Well that's it for the preseason, I'll be back next week with a recap of the Vikings and Saints. Ladies and gentlemen are you excited about football? It's BACK!!!
Until next time, adios.
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