Since my AFC picks went over so well, I decided to do it again, this time, with the other "weaker" conference (this should be fun, I can see the floodgates opening on the hate mail now, oh well, such is life as an NFL columnist). Without further ado, here's my NFC predictions for the year, albeit a little earlier than my normal Monday column (stupid vacation...).
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Me go with a safe pick, whoda thunkit? In all seriousness, the Eagles haven't downgraded enough for the rest of the division to catch up, even if T.O. sits out for a significant portion of the season. Their defense is still solid, and their running game got stronger with the addition of Ryan Moats from La. Tech in the fourth round of this year's draft (solid back IMO). However, next off season they cannot afford to be stagnant with the Giants and the Cowboys improving.
Projected Record: 11-5
2. Dallas Cowboys: This is one of my NFC wild card picks. I think they've stabilized the quarterback position with Drew Bledsoe (Vinny was that bad IMO), and with a healthy Julius Jones, this team could go, well, at least to the first round of the playoffs (exit stage right).
Projected Record: 9-7
3. New York Football Giants: Get used to hearing the following: "Manning drops back, looks over the middle, throws it up and it's...CAUGHT, JEREMY SHOCKEY TOUCHDOWN GIANTS!!!" You'll be hearing that a lot over the next eight years or so, however, this is not the Giants year. I don't think they've upgraded their offensive line enough to compete in this defense heavy division, and their receivers are subpar, even with the addition of Plaxico Burress. Let's face it, Amani Toomer is on the downside of his career here, and I dare you non-New Yorkers and Giants fans to name a single receiver on this team outside of the ones I just mentioned.
Projected Record: 6-10
4. Washington Redskins: This is a tough call for me, but I just don't see this team improving much on last year's record. Two key cogs from last year's defense (Antonio Pierce and Fred Smoot) are gone, not to mention the top receiving threat on offense (Laveranues Coles), and the shattered confidence of quarterback Patrick Ramsey, this could be a long season in the nation's capital, but luckily the Nationals are good.
Projected Record: 5-11
[BREAK]
NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings: Whoever thought that losing the game's top receiver could be considered a plus? With a renewed emphasis on the running game, I think this team is actually better than last year's. Not to mention the defensive upgrades. I'm going out on a limb to say this will be the only team in the division over .500.
Projected Record: 11-5
2. Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre, meet, Under .500 Season, I do believe you haven't met quite yet. As much as I love Favre, even he can't save this team from a subpar season. The defense has more holes than it did last year, and the offense lost two key guards (although, I really don't think it'll be as big of an issue as the national media would have you think).
Projected Record: 7-9
3. Detroit Lions: With the weapons this team has on offense, and as good as their defense played last year, this will be a dissappointing year in the Motor City. I don't think Harrington gets it done (pains me to say that), and I don't think Jeff Garcia still has the "it" quality that makes a quarterback good.
Projected Record: 7-9
4. Chicago Bears: This was a tough pick. Rex Grossman's injury hurt them a lot last year, but it wasn't just quarterback problems that had them picking at the top of the draft. In this tough division, this team will take a lot of losses from the three teams ahead of them.
Projected Record: 6-10
[BREAK]
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers: One phrase since it's 2:16 a.m. as I write this: Daylight come and ya gotta Delhomme.
Projected Record: 10-6
2. Atlanta Falcons: I see this team taking a step back for the following reasons:
-Dez White
-Peerless Price
-Michael Jenkins
-Roddy White
What do you have? The top four receivers on Atlanta's depth chart. Michael Vick, lace up your Nike's real tight.
Projected Record: 9-7
3. New Orleans Saints: I honestly thought this could be the year they took a step forward and won their division. Then I looked at the two teams ahead of them, and I realized, this isn't the Carolina League in baseball where the first and second half champions make the playoffs, it's the NFL where all 16 games count. Sorry N'awlins, not this year, but at least you have Mardi Gras.
Projected Record: 8-8
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I like Chucky, I don't like Brian Griese, at least not two seasons in a row with a $36 million dollar deal with option bonuses almost every February.
Projected Record: 6-10
[BREAK]
NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals: My sleeper team two years in a row. I think Kurt Warner puts it all back together in Arizona and is at least a competent starter throwing the ball to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald and letting them make the plays. Their defense will improve with the addition of Antrel Rolle, and J.J. Arrington will be an impact rookie.
Projected Record: 9-7
2. St. Louis Rams: This team improved its defense, unfortunately, they didn't upgrade at the one position they needed to improve the most on offense: head coach.
Projected Record: 8-8
3. Seattle Seahawks: Drafting a center in the first round (specifically the 20's) is not a good sign, see: Cleveland Browns 2003.
Projected Record: 6-10
4. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Nolan is one helluva coach, and Alex Smith will be a damn good quarterback...eventually. Unfortunately, neither will matter this year, as San Fran heads slowly back to the number one pick...again.
Projected Record: 3-13
[BREAK]
Playoff Predictions:
Wild Cards: Atlanta Falcons & Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship Game: Vikings over Eagles
Raiden's Non-Football Thought of the Week
Jeter's not an All Star, yay! Only drawback: Scott Podsednik is.
Outside the Dawg Pound
Really, INside the Dawg Pound this week (seeing as it's a Cleveland column and there has been only one Cleveland reference this week). Braylon Edwards was apparently the star of the NFL's annual rookie symposium (yeah, um, it was that slow of a week).
Kellnievel Winslow
Hey, did you hear that funny joke about the Browns tight end running his motorcycle into a curb and almost dying? Wait, it wasn't a joke, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
(reality sets in in Cleveland)
The Final Thought
Real quick, my prayers go out to the people of London this week.
I'm off next week, but The Woof will return a week from Monday with more witty NFL/Cleveland musings.
