NFL 2011 - NFC preview

This conference has the reigning Super Bowl Champion, but in general I think the AFC has stronger teams.  The Number One draft pick will likely be given to a team in this conference, and it might even be the same team.

NFC East
1.  Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, 6-0 against division opponents):  Dream Team?  I don't think so.  The offense is working, but the defense isn't as strong.  Problems during preseason games showed that this team lacks depth at key positions, so injuries will hurt them.

2.  Washington Redskins (8-8, 3-3):  Why the heck is Washington starting Rex Grossman this weekend?  Cripes, the Bears kicked him out because he was erratic.  QB John Beck spend the preseason proving that he could lead the team, and can definitely do it better than Grossman.  I think the Redskins will hurt themselves during the season by making decisions as stupid as this one.

3.  Dallas Cowboys (6-10, 2-4):  Rob Ryan has sparked the defense, but the squad is still thin.  Injuries will diminish them.  Dallas' "December curse" might start as early as the second week of November, depending upon who is healthy.  The Cowboys also need more consistent play from Tony Romo and Felix Jones so that the offense can flow.

4.  New York Giants (5-11, 1-5):  The Giants are falling apart.  Is this the same team that beat an unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII?  Actually, it isn't.  The Giants have lost so many players from that squad that it ISN'T the same team.  This proves that Eli Manning can't produce without high quality support.  As the team has lost talent, they've lost offensive power, too.

NFC North
1.  Green Bay Packers (12-4, 4-2; 1st round bye):  This team is well-set to defend their Super Bowl title.  They held onto most of their roster, so they'll compete once again.

2.  Detroit Lions (10-6, 4-2; playoffs):  The Lions return to the postseason (ending the longest draught in the league) as Matt Stafford and the offense build on their preseason success.  The defense even looks good, which is a crucial squad in this division.

3.  Chicago Bears (9-7, 3-3):  Marion Barber takes over as third down specialist after the Bears release Chester Taylor.  That's okay; I'm more concerned about the rotating tackles on their roster.  That shows some uncertainty surrounding the defense, and a slim depth at that position.  That means injuries could kill their postseason chances.

4.  Minnesota Vikings (4-12, 1-5):  This team is taking a chance on Donovan McNabb.  McNabb struggled last season, and I don't think he can completely excuse it on recovering from his injury.  I think McNabb is simply getting too old.  He can't scramble anymore, which is bad in a league that is seeing faster and faster defenders. He's likely to get injured again in this "black and blue" division, and that brings up journeyman Joe Webb, who has barely played.

NFC South
1.  New Orleans Saints (13-3, 5-1; 1st round bye):  The Saints are back to 2009 form, when they won the Super Bowl.  Actually, they might be slightly better, as they have improved the defense.

2.  Atlanta Falcons (12-4, 5-1; playoffs):  They have a strong offense and a good defense, but they are thin at places.  Defensive injuries could slow them down later in the season.

3.  Tampa Bay Bucs (7-9, 2-4):  The Bucs have decent squads on both offense and defense, but a tough schedule like theirs demands more than "decent" to be successful.  Defense has been a problem in recent years, but the addition of Da'Quan Bowers helps them.

4.  Carolina Panthers (2-14, 0-6):  Is Cam Newton ready to lead a young and inexperienced wide receiving corps?  I'm not sure.  The Panthers' offense has additional pressure, as they'll probably have to come from behind in every game, since their defense has problems.

NFC West
1.  Arizona Cardinals (9-7, 4-2):  The team gained a boost by obtaining QB Kevin Kolb.  As he proved in Philly, he can perform.  His passes are strong and his field sense is sharp, something Arizona hasn't had since Kurt Warner left.  Kolb has good receivers to support him, and perhaps the best tight end in Todd Heap.  The defense has some weak spots, but the offense will be strong enough to win games.

2.  St Louis Rams (6-10, 4-2):  QB Sam Bradford has some talented targets available to him, but they need to improve on yards after catch.  They catch plenty of passes, but scoring is down.  Worse, the defense has some holes, so that offense has to perform.

3.  San Francisco 49ers (4-12, 3-3):  New coach Jim Harbaugh has restored confidence to this team, but how long will that last if the wins don't come?  QB Alex Smith is too inconsistent, and RB Frank Gore is getting old and injury-prone.  With a secondary that can't seem to keep pace with their opponents, this team is in for a tough year.

4.  Seattle Seahawks (2-14, 1-5):  Let's face it, Tavaris Jackson is not the solution at quarterback.  This team has so many holes, they might as well watch NCAA College Football and decide who they want to draft.  They'll have their choice.