As we countdown to the kickoff of the NFL season tonight between the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, the anticipation for football is palpable throughout the sports world. No sport captivates America quite like the NFL, and for weeks, pundits and retirees have been throwing their two cents into the pot about players, coaches, teams, owners, winners, losers, and eventual champions. We here at Swipelife decided to join the festivities, so I will be previewing the NFC, and my colleague, Dre, will handle the AFC.
NFC East: As much as I would like to take the Dallas Cowboys, I just can’t. With two rookies and a second-year pro starting on the offensive line – and first-round pick Tyron Smith already banged up – that unit is just too suspect for me to pick them. Not that Philly’s is much better, but at least Michael Vick is mobile enough to maybe hide some of those weaknesses. The Eagles are very weak at linebacker, but the vaunted secondary, plus an improved defensive line should make up for the young second level. The Giants’ defense just can not keep guys healthy, and the Redskins are the Redskins. So I will take the Philadelphia Eagles to win this division.
NFC North: The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are clearly the gold standard in this division. Although the Bears did win the division last year, they also got every break imaginable – starting with the Calvin Johnson TD catch that was ruled not a catch – and were exposed in the playoffs. The Packers were decimated by injury last year, and still won it all. Mike Neal will fill in fine for Cullen Jenkins on the D-line, the linebackers are back healthy, as are Jarmichael Finley and Ryan Grant on offense. I think the Lions are at least a year away and always have injury questions across the board, and I just don’t think the Vikings have enough weapons to keep up in this division.
NFC South: Arguably the best division in football, the Atlanta Falcons won it last year with a 13-3 record. They also play much better at home in the dome, and have four of their eight road games also indoors. They bet the draft on Julio Jones being the missing piece they needed in an offense that lacked big play ability last year. Jacquizz Rogers may also add some explosiveness to the Falcon offense. But my choice in this division is going to be the New Orleans Saints. I think the three-headed runing back approach works well for them and gets back to a little more power running, like when they had Deuce McAllister. The offensive line is very good, and Drew Brees is as good as it gets in that scheme. But the keys to not only this division, but this conference, were the signings of Shaun Rogers and Abrayo Franklin to anchor the middle of that defensive line. Literally. That’s almost 700 pounds of skilled size to pair between Will Smith and rookie Cameron Jordan. No longer can you pound the ball against their undersized defensive front and keep Brees off the field; see their playoff loss to Seattle when Marshawn Lynch, of all people, carved them up. I like what’s going on in Tampa, but I think they take a step back this year, at least in terms of record. They added two more very talented defensive linemen in the draft in Adrian Clayborn and Daquan Bowers, to join last year’s #1, Gerald McCoy. It’s difficult to start that many young players at the same position, and I think they are still searching for a second wideout opposite Mike Williams. Arrelious Benn or Dezmon Briscoe may fill that void, but time will tell. I think they are signing and resigning alll the right guys and are certainly heading in the right direction, but still have some way to go in a very tough division. And oh yeah, the #1 overall pick in the most recent draft will be under center for Carolina. This division will be a great watch all season.
NFC West: Well, after a record-setting year for all the wrong reasons, there is nowhere to go but up…or at least that’s what one would think. The wildcard in this division is Kevin Kolb. Was he just a product of Andy Reid’s system, or is he a legitimate NFL starter? The Cards have an opportunistic defense that thrives on QB pressure and turnovers. They will not miss Dominique-Rogers Cromartie one bit, as Patrick Peterson will more then fill that void. Adrian Wilson needs to be healthy coming back from torn biceps, but if he is, and Kevin Kolb can get the ball in the vacinity of Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have a shot. All that said, I am taking the St. Louis Rams. A second year for Sam Bradford, now in Josh McDaniels offense, may land him in the Pro Bowl. In his sophomore season, he is already the most stable and proven QB in the division. The WR position will be filled by committee, but I think they have enough guys to do it. The offensive line is solid and Stephen Jackson is a beast. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is young and aggressive, and the dome is a significant home field advantage. The young defensive ends, second year players Chris Long, and rookie Robert Quinn, may wreck some havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Veteran James Hall had 10 1/2 sacks last year, and will anchor that position, which Coach Spag’s defense relies on. Seattle is going to be terrible, and San Francisco may have some moments, but I think the Rams get to 9-7 and legitimately make the leap to a playoff team.
Post-season Predictions: I like the Falcons and Cowboys to make the playoffs along with my four division winners. I have the Falcons going into St. Louis and beating the Rams and the Eagles beating Dallas. Philly then goes into New Orleans and gets blown out, as do the Falcons in Green Bay. The Packers then go down to the bayou and get beaten by the Saints in an epic Drew Brees v. Aaron Rodgers shoot out. The Saints then make the trip up to Indianapolis to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and lose to the then-seven-time champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. Roethlisburger gets his third title in his fourth appearance, and let all the ‘where does he rank all-time’ chatter begin.
Conference MVP: There, of course is an argument to be made for plenty of guys, but I am going to take the easy way out and say Aaron Rodgers. I think the Super Bowl win will relax him a bit and give him another notch on his belt of confidence. I think his numbers slightly improve with a healthy Jermichael Finley and the addition of rookie Randall Cobb. 35 TDs vs 10 Ints and 4200 yards are realistic numbers for Rodgers this year. And a performance like that can win you an MVP.
Rookie of the Year: Although it would be tough for him to win the actual award with offensive guys like Julio Jones and Mark Ingram also vying for the title, I am going with Patrick Peterson. I think he was the best player in the draft. I think once the Cardinals got him in, they realized how good he was and that Rodgers-Cromartie was then expendable. Rumor has that he will be returning punts as well. If so, I would not be surprised if Peterson scored 5 TDs this year, nor if he made his way to the Pro Bowl.
Breakout Player: I am going to go with Chris Long from the St. Louis Rams. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense thrives on edge pressure on the QB, and that is exactly what Long does best. I think he makes good on his selection #2 overall in the 2008 draft. Would not surprise me if Long recorded a dozen sacks this year and his first trip to both the playoffs and the Pro Bowl.
