2011 NFC Preview

by Steve

Whoaaaa, who picked Seattle to win their division last year at 7-9? Oh yeah I did in my 2010 NFC preview. The Tampa Bay prediction was a whiff as was St Louis and Chicago, the rest weren't soooo bad. Oh well I'm still smarter than you and I'll prove it yet again with my 2011 National Football League National Football Conference preview.

NFC East
Shocking not a ton of hype coming from this 'super-duper' division but everyone is still fawning all over the Eagles and Cowboys. Oh well, I'd complain either way.

Philadelphia Eagles
There are two ways to look at this team. Either they're a hodgepodge of good to great players thrown together via fee agency and doomed to fail; or they're a sick group of vets with a borderline great (fat) head coach. Either way they are dependent on an injury prone dog murdering quarterback. VY FTW? Their o-line needs to keep Vick out of the O.R. and the team needs to learn to win in January.
10-6

Dallas Cowboys
Rough year in 2010 for Gomer Phillips and Tony no homo Romo. Unfortunately I don't see things shaking out too terribly again this season but I can hold my breath. Don't forget the Bills march into their barn 11/13 (rumors of wreck showing up for that one). Their coach leaves something to be desired and Romo is not elite.
9-7

NY Giants
I am significantly less high on this squad than last year. Mario Manningham is solid but is he a game changer? Furthermore H. Nicks has at least as many question marks. Already injuries on defense are disconcerting as is all the change over on the offensive side of the ball. This team may come out of the gate decent with a soft schedule but things could change quickly in New Jersey.
7-9

Washington Redskins
The seemingly perpetual basement dwellers of the East appear to be sticking to form in 2011. Owner Danny Snyder is a straight asshat and a loser as an NFL executive. Grossman is their starting QB and he looks like he could play tightend. What's to like, Jabar Gaffney? Tim Hightower?
6-10

North
Anyone remember that the Packers did not win this division in 2010? You can't luck your way to two straight Superbowls (Patriots took a year off before their first lucky one) and 2011 is no different. Atleast I am selecting the Pack to win this over-hyped division.

Green Bay Packers
Fat Mike McCarthy is a genius! Aaron Rodgers is better than Favre ever was! Is that what you want, nay, need to hear? Jeez. More likely they gelled at the right time, got a ton of bounces and were a solid football team. I won't deny though that they are still a really good football team.
11-5

Chicago Bears
Damn this team got a lot of bounces last season. They hosted the NFC Championship and had a really good chance of winning in the second half? Jeez what is in the water in the North-mid-west? Lovie Smith got about all he could out of this unit last season and will have a near impossible time replicating it.
8-8

Minnesota Vikings
Is Favre out McNabb in an upgrade downgrade or wash out? The programmatic non fit won't be around from day one which is a start, but the defense is seemingly a hundred and the wide receiving corps has been downgraded. Not what you want when you're making a push for a new stadium.
7-9

Detroit Lions
Still in the cellar. Maybe if I saw anything out of Nick Fairley before he was labeled injury prone my mind could have changed. Matt Stafford has to prove he can be healthy for a season before I take him seriously (kind of like I needed Rodgers to actually win a playoff game[even if it was lucky]).
7-9


South
This season is going to be a dog fight all season. Since the ATL won last year I'll flip it to N.O. this year.

NO Aints
Drew Brees still has a couple of really good years left in him. However that debacle in Seattle in January continues to leave a soar taste in my mouth in regards to Sean Peyton. Let's just hope another hurricane doesn't hit the Bayou or the NFL will give them another Superbowl.
12-4

Atlanta Falcons
Matty Ice drank a few too many Natty Ices last year before that Packers game last year WTF. What has Mike Smith done to prove he is an important/elite coach in the National Football League. The trade to move up and grab Julio Jones was ballsy if not stupid however it should show this team is ready to win now. The secondary is relatively young but the front 7 is old as dirt. Who is making the game changing plays on defense?
11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The upstart near-shocking ten win Buccs didn't even get in the playoffs with ten wins AND can't sell out their opener?Damn, cold blooded. Raheem and Josh took major strides in 2010 unfortunately for them they over achieved and will take a step back this season.
8-8

Carolina Pathers
Cameron Newton will have to win a Superbowl before I eat crow. The guy will not win in this league and certainly not in his rookie year.
4-12


West
This division is the equivalent of the AL Central just pathetic.

Arizona Cardinals
The team knew how to win with a good quarterback can they relearn with a sorta maybe kinda good quarterback? Don't sleep on Beanie Wells.
8-8

St Louis Rams
Sam Bradford was better than I thought he would be in his rookie year but he still doesn't have enough weapons. For a team that has picked super high for nearly a decade this team should be better positioned to win. I just want to see them tie for the division lead but lose on tie breakers again.
8-8

Seattle Seahawks
The Pacific Northwest is a tire fire with a grimy head coach in over his head. They have something like only ten holders from last season on the roster? How is that possible. They will be gunning hard for Jim Harbaugh and the N9ne'ers for the basement.
4-12

San Francisco 49ers
Jim Harbaugh sold his Enron stock right before the bad news broke. Is he really qualified to be an NFL head coach? I don't know, was their last coach? Eek. Not to mention they are going in AGAIN with former Utes QB Alex Smith as the starter.
3-13