As promised, here are my predictions for the NFC this season. This was actually harder for me than the AFC, partially because I simply don't follow these teams as closely as I do AFC teams. But the truth is that these teams top to bottom seem to be separated only by a blown call here and a luck bounce there. Despite the fact that an NFC team holds the Lombardi Trophy right now, I am still convinced that the AFC is the stronger conference by a long shot. No disrespect to the Giants, I was pulling for them. But they were an OK team that got hot at the right time. Good for them, but I don't expect them to repeat. Or even make the playoffs again, as you'll see below...
1. Dallas Cowboys: 12-4
2. Seattle Seahawks: 12-4
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6
4. Green Bay Packers: 9-7
5. Detroit Lions: 9-7
6. Washington Redskins: 9-7
The following teams will be on the bubble in the final week of the season:
New York Giants: 8-8
Minnesota Vikings: 8-8
New Orleans Saints: 8-8
So here's some reasoning behind my picks.
The Dallas Cowboys appear by far to be the most talented team in the NFC. They have a talented roster on both sides of the ball. But here's a potential show-stopper: locker room chemistry. They've made a deal with the Devil again with Pacman Jones. The gamble with TO may not have destroyed this team (but that has yet to be seen), but adding Jones is asking lightning to strike twice in the same spot. Seems like a risk to me.
The best thing to ever happen to the Seattle Seahawks was moving them back to the NFC, where they have been a perennial playoff fixture ever since (with the exception of 2002 in which they finished 7-9). They play in a soft division where the closest competition appears to be the Arizona Cardinals, a team that didn't even get an honorable mention in my above predictions. Not to mention a profound home field advantage. Seattle seems to be a big fish in a small pond.
The Bucs tend to be up and down. This division appears to be weak coming off of last season, but should rebound to a degree. I think that Tampa Bay is just good enough to edge out the competition.
Green Bay Packers will usher in a new era. Rogers will struggle, but he's got a lot of time watching and learning from one of the finest to ever play the game. The Packers are still the best team in the North, but the Vikings should keep in close.
The Detroit Lions are my surprise pick for the NFC. Not that finishing 9-7 and a wild card is all that huge, but this is Detroit we're talking about.
Lastly the Washington Redskins are a solid team that may be able to get in by the skin of their teeth. Their division is a pretty competitive one, but they should be able to squeak by, even with a slightly improved play out of their defense.
So there's my picks for the NFC. As always, I welcome everyone's feedback.
