2010 NFC Preview

After Week 1 of the NFL season, there is already plenty to talk about. Are the Redskins for real? How many awful interceptions will Brett Favre devastate his team with this season? Without further ado, here is how the NFC will shape up:

NFC East

1. New York Giants

The Giants were impressive in their win over Carolina in Week 1, with Eli Manning really displaying his abilities. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs are an intimidating duo in the backfield, capable of wearing down any defensive line. Their Sunday night game against Indianapolis this week will be a huge test, and a very good barometer for the Giants’  Super Bowl chances.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Losing to the Redskins in an awful performance is not a great way to start the season, but Dallas is a talented team. They will overcome the crushing loss to their division rival, and will likely wind up with 10 or 11 wins in the regular season. There is simply too much skill on the Cowboys’ offense for them to fail.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

It isn’t always sunny in Philadelphia. With Kevin Kolb’s injury ruling him out for Week 2, a controversy is on the horizon in the City of Brotherly Love. Michael Vick will run riot on the Lions’ defense on Sunday, making the calls for him to start get even louder and more frequent. Unfortunately for Eagles fans, the resulting controversy will make 2010 a wasted season, but it will spell the end of the Andy Reid era.

4. Washington Redskins

Yes, they beat Dallas. But was anyone really impressed? The Redskins lineup reads like an All-Pro roster from 2004 – Santana Moss, Donovan McNabb, Joey Galloway and Clinton Portis, to name a few. Their players used to have talent, but are now simply too old to make this

team relevant.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers

A-Rodge is the new Brett Favre – No, better. He’s already posting better numbers, and he’s nowhere near his prime. With Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley and Greg Jennings on his offense, and Clay Matthews and Brandon Chillar on D, the Packers are going far this year. Why? Because we said so.

2. Minnesota Vikings

Honestly, I’m just not sure the ol’ man can pull off another one. Sure, last season wasn’t bad, but Favre was coming off the excitement of all the drama he created. And now that he’s made us wonder whether he might be back … he’s going to choke. Kind of like he did against New Orleans. Said like true Packers’ fans.

3. Chicago Bears

They had a horrible preseason, but who cares? They did manage to beat the Lions in Week 1. But again, who cares? Sure, it’s nice to start the season with a win, but what really matters is whether or not they keep it up. Considering their next few games are with the Cowboys, Packers and Giants … good luck.

4. Detroit Lions

I really hate to make the city of Detroit feel worse about themselves than they already do, but well, they are Detroit. Even though preseason hardly counts, they did lose to the Browns, and that is always difficult to achieve. Newbie Jahvid Best may be able to help them out as he develops, however, so I’ll wish them the best.

NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints

As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Saints have a huge target on their collective backs. While many title-holders come back uninspired the next year, that will not be a problem for the Saints. Drew Brees has one of the best attitudes in the league, and will guide the team to another successful season.

2. Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner are the key to a successful season in Atlanta. They started out poorly with a loss to the Dennis Dixon-led Steelers last week, and do not have an “easy” game until week 5 when they play Cleveland. A slow start could ground the Falcons before they take flight.

3. Carolina Panthers

Once you get past the top two in the NFC South, the quality really drops off. With Matt Moore as their starting quarterback, and DeAngelo Williams running behind an awful offensive line, the Panthers have little chance to make any impact in 2010.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

They opened with a win! And Bucs fans should not really expect much more. There is very little talent on this team at any position. Also, when former Syracuse headcase Mike Williams is your number one receiver, you’re in trouble.

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks

The NFC West is almost definitely the worst division in football. That’s why a team headlined by Matt Hasselbeck, Julius Jones and Deion Branch has a legitimate shot to win their division. Regardless of who rules the West, the winner will go out with a whimper in the first round of the playoffs.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Continuing in the theme of this being an awful division, a team with Derek Anderson as its starting quarterback will likely finish second. It doesn’t matter if he has Larry Fitzgerald to throw to, this team is going to crash and burn miserably, the glory days of 2008 long forgotten.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners had high hopes coming into 2010, but a season-opening blowout loss to the Seahawks really put a damper on those ambitions. Alex Smith simply isn’t good enough to guide a team anywhere positive in the NFL. Even though they have the best tight end in the NFL in Vernon Davis, San Francisco will have yet another mediocre season.

4. St. Louis Rams

No one likes to kick a beaten team when they’re down, especially when they’ve become as pathetic as the Rams. It will be another long year in St. Louis, but watching the development of Sam Bradford and the excellence of Steven Jackson will provide Rams fans with some kind of distraction from the debacle on the rest of the field.