NFC PREVIEW (abridged)

Sorry devoted fan, but this one is going to be quick and dirty. The life of a blogger/radio host never stops, so unfortunately I don't have time to type out long winded and error-filled explanations for my probably incorrect predictions. I guess you'll just have to get by.


NFC EAST:
1. NEW YORK GIANTS
Take away any teams number 1 wideout late in the year and they are going to struggle. Doesn't matter if its Plaxico Burress, Larry Fitzgerald or Phil McConkey. Eli is going to elevate his WRs, the offensive line is the best in football, and the running game is elite...Ahmad Bradshaw is a better back than Derrick Ward. They have a second unit defensive line that would start on plenty of NFL teams. They may not have the best record, but this is the best team in football.

PREDICTION:
12-4

2. DALLAS COWBOYS
I was all over this team last for a lack of heart and fire. The window on the Romo/Phillips era is closing and I think the team is going to respond well. The defense should remain status quo but I feel the offense is going to really boom. With no T.O. or Jessica Simpson in his ear, Tony Romo will deliver his best season as a pro. Felix Jones' return means less carries for Marion Barber, but a far more explosive run game. You may not believe in Roy E. Williams as a primary wideout, but with Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, Romo is going to have a unique blend of targets. Good Ol' Wade gets one more shot at the Lombardi Trophy.

PREDICTION:
11-5

3. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Everyone and their grandmother is all over this team. I am not (I don't about my Grammie though). Their offense is chock full of weapons, but Westbrook can't stay on the field, Jeremy Maclin seemed to get lost at times in the preseason, and I don't know what to expect from Shady McCoy. The line will be able to keep Donovan McNabb upright, but the looming presence of Mike Vick and the fans (stupid) propensity to turn on him at the drop of a can of Chunky soup is going to mess with his head. The defense lacks the leadership its had over the past years with B-Dawk in Denver and the tragic loss of Jim Johnson. I'm not drinking the Eagles Kool-Aid.

PREDICTION:
9-7

4. WASHINGTON REDSKINS:
Ahh the Skins. I love what they did with their defense (adding Fat Albert and Brian Orakpo) and I'm not as down on Jason Campbell as everyone seems to be. Still, I don't believe Goofy Jim and his Fun Bunch will be a real factor in the NFC East. But THREE CHEERS FOR THEM FOR TRYING! HIP HIP HOORAY!

PREDICTION:
7-9


NFC NORTH
1. GREEN BAY PACKERS:
I AM drinking this Kool-Aid. I love Aaron Rodgers and he has quite the targets to throw to. I'm not a big fan of Ryan Grant, but with the nagging hamstring injury healed, added reliance on the passing game, and intriguing spell options (Brandon Jackson/Kregg Lumpkin), he should be alright. The real story is the defense. Bringing in Dom Capers to transition to the 3-4 was a brilliant move. The team seemed to adjust seamlessly in the offseason. The big reason the secondary was so awful last year was a lack of pressure by the front seven. If the 3-4 move helps that wound, Charlie Woodson and Al Harris will return to form. The offense is going to score a lot and the defense is going to be vastly improved. If Rodgers can lead some game-winning drives this year, this team is scary.

PREDICTION: 11-5

2. CHICAGO BEARS:
Jay Cutler's got a big mouth, but a bigger arm. The Windy City's favorite diabetic is going to help this offense immensely. The team will be able to lighten impressive rookie Matt Forte's load, which lowers the BUST risk on him quite a bit. The receivers may not look like much right now, but keep an eye on Cutler's old Vandy teammate Earl Bennett...plus safety blankets like the aforementioned Forte and emerging star Greg Olsen will make Cutler's life easier. The defense may not be like the Bears of old, but with a high powered for the first time in oh...ever, Da Bears are looking like a playoff team.

PREDICTION: 10-6

3. MINNESOTA VIKINGS:
The elephant in the room here is Brett Favre (i feel that's been said many, many times over the past few years). Its going to be surreal to see him in that lovely purple hue of the Vikings, but if its the healthy, motivated Favre Jets fans fell in love with, I think Minnesota fans will adjust just fine. The defense is tough and they have the best player in football in Adrian Peterson. Unfortunately for Vikes fans, Big Brett is already making excuses about his health before even taking a regular season snap. Except a Jekyll and Hyde season from Mr. Jekyll and Hyde himself.

PREDICTION: 10-6

4. DETROIT LIONS:
Love what they've done with the place. There's just so much unproven product here that they are nearly impossible to handicap. I like Stafford, love Megatron, and think Brandon Pettigrew is a dark horse ROTY candidate. Defensively, they added some talent with Julian Peterson and 2nd round steal Louis Delmas. Al Harris thinks they can win 8...Al's got his dreads tied too tight, but an improvement will be infinitely better than last season. And that's not hyperbole. Win 1 game, and its a mathematically infinite improvement.

PREDICTION: 3-13


NFC SOUTH:
1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:
The addition of Gregg Williams is going to work wonders for this defense. They still ain't the '85 Bears, but he will dial up aggressive and exotic defenses to help hide the fact that they don't have the greatest personnel. The offense is going to be scary good...Drew Brees is turning into Dan Fouts 2.0, with Sean Payton filling the Don Coryell role nicely. I don't buy the defense as a Super Bowl contending one, but I expect the Saints to improve enough on that side of the ball to win the division.

PREDICTION: 11-5

2. CAROLINA PANTHERS:
If this team had a man at QB, they'd be a Super Bowl contender. Great coaching, tough defense, excellent ground game, and a playmaker like Steve Smith running downfield. But the curious decision to extend the contract of noted bedwetter Jake Delhomme blows my mind and blows their shot at true contention.

PREDICTION: 9-7

3. ATLANTA FALCONS:
This is not any kind of indictment on Matty Ice (who I love...great poise, great arm, better nickname), but moreso on those around him. The passing game will be improved with the addition of Tony Gonzalez to go with Roddy White, but I expect a big decline from Mike Turner. A ton of carries last year may lead to some growing pains...he reminds me very much of former Falcs back (and dancer extraordinaire) Jamal Anderson. Outta nowhere huge year before settling back into relative "OK"-ness. Defensively, they are just too soft. I think this team is going in the right direction for the future, but they are about to hit a speed bump.

PREDICTION: 7-9

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:
I know it won't happen, but I went through their schedule and couldn't find one victory. This team is going to be tragic. No one is even acknowledging the fact that Josh Freeman was taken in the first round. The story of Cadillac Williams' return is nice, but other than that. Yikes.

PREDICTION:
0-16 (I know it won't happen. But I'm illustrating a point here.)



NFC WEST:
1. ARIZONA CARDINALS:
Jeez! Have we ever seen a Super Bowl runner up more universally detested by the general public? The offense will continue to be high-powered and whether you like Beanie Wells or not, he's a better option than the Edge James we saw last year and former Richmond Spider Timmy Hightower. Ken Whisenhunt is going to try to lean more on the ground game, in hopes of keeping Kurt Warner from burning out. The defensive plain isn't good, but neither is any team in this division (yes, even my Seahawks.) There's too much talent here for a losing season, provided Kurt stays upright for 16 games.

PREDICTION: 10-6

2. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:
I appreciate all of you folks picking them to the playoffs. Really, I do. Its sweet. Fact of the matter is...it probably won't happen. The Hassel-Back (clever) looks to be 100%, but one hit is all it will take for "The Troubles" to start again. With Walter Jones banged up and the rest of the line in a flux, that one hit is a-coming. Defensively, its hard not to like their LB corps. All talented, all under 26. Aside from that though, things aren't looking too hot. Marcus Trufant is starting the season on the PUP list and no other corner has really stepped up. Lawyer Milloy was added to bolster the safety corp, so there that is. The defensive line has nice young players (Brandon Mebane, Larry Jackson), but also some veterans who are either injury-prone or underachievers (Pat Kearney and Corey Redding respectively). I love their WRs this year...but my goodness does this run game stink. I'll tell you...if Greg Knapp gets them near the top of the league in rushing, bronze him and send him to Canton. Julius Jones might be the worst feature back in the league, Edge James' best days are behind him, and Justin Forsett is an unproven commodity. The 'Hawks are trending upwards, but don't shoot too high with them.

PREDICTION:
8-8

3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS:
This team is a QB away. I like Mike Singletary's passion (and mooning abilities), Frank Gore and Glenn Coffee will form a nice RB1/RB2 combo, and if and when Michael Crabtree signs, he's going to be a stud WR in this league. On the other side, they have the best MLB in football (P-Willy) and are starting to surround him with capable help. Their QB situation is a mess though. Shaun Hill has the highest win percentage of any starting QB in the NFC, but you can shove that. Alex Smith is a bigger bust than Lendale's. Had this team gotten Kurt Warner, they and the Cards might have flip flopped spots. Keep your eye on them, but until they get a capable signal-caller, they aren't a real threat.

PREDICTION:
8-8

4. ST. LOUIS RAMS:
Ugh. 5 wins in the last 2 years. That's all you need to know. Marc Bulger looked terrible last year and the offensive line only got worse...so expect plenty of sacks, fumbles, and picks from Mr. Bulger. Steven Jackson seems poised for a bounce back year however, so they might not have to rely on Marcy Marc too much. Defensively, they have been a mess for a looong time, but new coach Steve Spaganulo aims to change that. They won't be good, but they'll nearly match their win total from the last two years combined.

PREDICTION:
4-12



PLAYOFFS:
3. GREEN BAY over 6. CHICAGO
5. DALLAS over 4. ARIZONA

DIVISIONAL ROUND:
3. GREEN BAY over 2. NEW ORLEANS
1. NEW YORK over 5. DALLAS

NFC TITLE GAME
1. NEW YORK over 3. GREEN BAY

SUPERBOWL:
NEW YORK over NEW ENGLAND


AWARDS:
MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England
OPOTY: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans
DPOTY: DeMeco Ryans, MLB, Houston
OROTY: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit
DROTY: Aaron Curry, OLB, Seattle
COTY: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay



There you have it folks. For the first time in about 24 years, I didn't pick San Diego/Seattle. That's a big step for me. Enjoy the football and don't forget about The Shore Sports Report, every M-F from 3-6pm on Fox Sports 1310/WOBM AM 1160.