Here’s a breakdown of each NFC team, including prediction standings by division.
NFC East
Washington Redskins (5-11) Mike Shanahan’s regime has seemingly injected new life into a struggling franchise, but a tough schedule and a shortage of playmakers will hurt Donovan McNabb’s chances of making the playoffs with his old division rivals. One question remains unanswered: will the $100 million man finally prove his worth?
Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Life without McNabb will be hard to swallow if Philly doesn’t win right away. Kevin Kolb will be effective given how many weapons he has, but the Eagles may suffer disappointment in their RB production from LeSean McCoy compared to Brian Westbrook before the concussion.
New York Giants (10-6) The Giants are my NFC wild card pick. They’ve been beefed up with veteran leadership at key points (ie Keith Bulluck, Shawn Andrews), and the receiving corps looks better than ever. If Ahmad Bradshaw can fully assume the role of starting RB, it will be hard to stop them with Eli and his newly fitted helmet.
Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Dallas has been miserable this offseason, but then again … it’s offseason. They will pick him up with their committee-led running game, but ultimately it will be their defense that gets them back into the playoffs.
NFC North
Detroit Lions (7-9) One of the league’s brightest teams will be looking to give teams a run for their money. It will be crucial for Matthew Stafford to get into rhythm with his offensive line, his RB (ie Jahvid Best) and his receiving corps, namely Calvin Johnson and newcomer Nate Burleson.
Chicago Bears (8-8) Hiring Mike Martz was definitely a step in the right direction for Jay Cutler’s development. Brian Urlacher and the defense will be looking to bounce back, as will Matt Forte from his sophomore slump. A playoff berth could mean job security for Lovie Smith, so this could get interesting.
Minnesota Vikings (9-7) Surprise, surprise: Training camp ends and Papa Favre shows up. But the dinosaur won’t be able to recreate last year’s magic without Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin at full capacity. Inevitably, the weight falls on the shoulders of Adrian Peterson.
Green Bay Packers (11-5) Aaron Rodgers is fast becoming the Peyton Manning of the NFC, and with Ryan Grant in the backfield and a top 5 defense, the sky is the limit for this group. He watches out for third-year TE Jermichael Finley to step up and become a red-zone regular for Rodgers.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Every dark cloud has a silver Cadillac.
Carolina Panthers (6-10) Running and defending have always been John Fox staples. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart take care of the running, but defense could be suspect. Matt Moore has yet to prove himself, but how difficult can it be to match Jake Delhomme’s embarrassing performance.
Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Matt Ryan will return from his second season with a newfound confidence. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will be in on that, and a powerful running game should take the pressure off him. The Falcons are my other NFC wild card pick.
New Orleans Saints (12-4) Not much has changed except there’s a big X on the back of New Orleans (just like in XLIV). But if any coach is up for the challenge, it’s Sean Payton and his bold play. The defense wasn’t as physical as other teams, but they’ll have to be opportunistic with turnovers to get back to the Promised Land (aka The House That Jerry Jones Built).
NFC West
St. Louis Rams (4-12) With Steve Spagnuolo’s defense more firmly intact, I’m giving last season’s 1-win wonder 3 more wins in the NFL’s weakest division.
Seattle Seahawks (6-10) Pete Carroll gets another shot at the pros with America’s forgotten team. Leon Washington and Justin Forsett could put Seattle’s running game back on the map, but the defense needs to find more ways to apply pressure.
Arizona Cardinals (7-9) With the current QB crisis in play, Ken Whisenhunt might have to seriously reevaluate his team’s identity. This could mean more touches for Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, opening up the passing game for the Cardinals. Now all they need is a QB.
San Francisco 49ers (10-6) This could be the first time San Fran has won the division since the TO administration. In addition to enjoying an easy schedule, the Niners are a well-rounded team: Frank Gore owns the backfield, Alex Smith is on the mend and the defense is taking on the persona of the crazy Mike Singletary.