Well they did it! The 9 - 7 New York Giants ran the table and won Super Bowl XLVI by defeating the New England Patriots 21 - 17 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis. Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game winning touchdown with just about 1 minute left in the game, leaving the Patriots with not enough time to come back and win. The Super Bowl MVP was awarded to Giants QB Eli Manning who was 30 - 40 for 296 yds and 1 TD.
The Giants played "their game" in this Super Bowl; which is they do what they need to do, when they need to do it. They outplayed the Patriots in the first half but they didn't reflect the dominance on the scoreboard. On the first play from scrimmage for the Patriots, the defense for New York forced Patriots QB Tom Brady into a hurried throw from his own endzone which resulted in an intentional grounding penalty and a safety. After the free kick to the G-Men, they drove down and scored on a Victor Cruz 2 yd touchdown catch. Suddenly the Giants were up 9 - 0 and it started to look a bit grim for the Pats. New England hung in there though as their defense played "bend but don't break" not allowing the Giants another point until the second half. Brady & the offense struggled and scrapped out a FG in the 2nd qtr then finally put together a great touchdown drive right at the end of the half to give the Patriots a 10 - 9 halftime lead.
The Pats opened the second half with another impressive drive culminating with an Aaron Hernandez 12 yd touchdown catch. They would not score another point for the rest of the game. At that point, the Giants were down 17 - 9 and as well as they moved the ball, they were only able to a score a couple of FG's before the game winning TD. New York fumbled the ball on a couple of occasions but had the ball bounce back to them both times. The Patriots offense outside of their two TD drives never looked in sync. As a matter of fact, they reminded me a lot of how the Packers looked against the Giants back in the NFC Divisional Round. Dropped passes, missed throws, untimely penalties and one turnover. On what looked like what could have been a Patriots time consuming, game clinching drive, Brady misfired on two consecutive passes. The most crucial one was a 25 yd throw he made off stride to Wes Welker that Welker could not corral with about 4 minutes left in the game; that would have given the Pats a first down and a great chance of putting the game away. It was not to be. After the next Brady misfire, New England punted the ball back to New York. Manning then drove the Giants down the field for the game winning TD, starting with a great (throw and) 38 yd catch by WR Mario Manningham, which pulled them up to midfield. Manning proceeded to make clutch throws to get the Giants down to where Bradshaw could score his TD. On that play, the Patriots allowed him to score and Bradshaw, aware that the clock was his friend tried to stop his momentum at the last moment but he fell into the endzone. With just under a minute and down by 4 points, the Patriots tried in desperation to get downfield for a game winning TD but some dropped passes impeded their progress and on the final play of the game, a Brady "hail mary" pass was deflected to the ground.
I take my hat off to the New York Giants. They have had the right attitude all along throughout their incredible run. Many folks saw the similiarity of this team to the 2007 team that made a similiar run. I didn't see it. I expected to Giants to fold up every round in the playoffs and they didn't. They beat two number one seeded teams and a number two seed team on their way to hoist the Lombardi trophy I salute the New York Giants and respect their accomplishment this season. Congrats G-Men!!
Showing posts with label giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giants. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
The moment is finally near; the New York Giants and the New England Patriots are about to square off in Super Bowl XLVI. The NFC champion Giants qualified for this Super Bowl matchup by disposing of the San Francisco 49ers in overtime two weeks ago. Earlier that same day, the AFC champion Patriots squeaked by the Baltimore Ravens to earn the right to play the Giants. Since then there has been a lot of talk and hype but now it's time to get to the action.
The Giants are 2.5 point underdogs but you wouldn't know it based on all of the talk for the past two weeks. A lot of people have bought in on the Giants who have been red hot, knocking out the top two seeds in the NFC on its way to the Super Bowl. Based on what we have seen over the last month, the Giants definitely look better on the field than the Patriots. The Giants also had a gutsy win against the Patriots this season in Foxboro. Everyone's favorite quarterback for the moment Eli Manning made some timely completions in that game (and in the playoffs) and some wonder if he's even better than Tom Brady. The Patriots' defense has not been that good this season and most expect the Giants talented passing game to take advantage. As I've mentioned before, the key to disrupting the Giants offense is getting in Eli's face and getting him to the ground. I fully expect Bill Belichick to come up with all kinds of blitzes that the Giants have not seen on film. But will they get to him in time? A good running game by the more than capable Giants backfield could be key to offsetting constant pressure. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots offense must exploit the weakness of the Giants team: its secondary. I could be wrong but I don't expect much out of the Patriots run game. Brady is going to have to shoulder the load and make plays. Obviously plays will be there for Brady if he has time to throw. Creative screen plays and some quick passes can frustrate the Giants rush and help to expose the secondary to bigger plays down the line. I think some people have forgotten that the Patriots offense can be explosive; they will need to open it up and get that Giants secondary involved.
I am going against the grain and picking the Patriots to "upset" the Giants. Belichick & company will come up with the schemes on offense and defense to win their fourth championship. The Giants have made me look awful throughout the whole playoffs as I have repeatedly discussed the "stinker" (game) they still have in their back pocket. They have one more chance to shut me up again.
The Giants are 2.5 point underdogs but you wouldn't know it based on all of the talk for the past two weeks. A lot of people have bought in on the Giants who have been red hot, knocking out the top two seeds in the NFC on its way to the Super Bowl. Based on what we have seen over the last month, the Giants definitely look better on the field than the Patriots. The Giants also had a gutsy win against the Patriots this season in Foxboro. Everyone's favorite quarterback for the moment Eli Manning made some timely completions in that game (and in the playoffs) and some wonder if he's even better than Tom Brady. The Patriots' defense has not been that good this season and most expect the Giants talented passing game to take advantage. As I've mentioned before, the key to disrupting the Giants offense is getting in Eli's face and getting him to the ground. I fully expect Bill Belichick to come up with all kinds of blitzes that the Giants have not seen on film. But will they get to him in time? A good running game by the more than capable Giants backfield could be key to offsetting constant pressure. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots offense must exploit the weakness of the Giants team: its secondary. I could be wrong but I don't expect much out of the Patriots run game. Brady is going to have to shoulder the load and make plays. Obviously plays will be there for Brady if he has time to throw. Creative screen plays and some quick passes can frustrate the Giants rush and help to expose the secondary to bigger plays down the line. I think some people have forgotten that the Patriots offense can be explosive; they will need to open it up and get that Giants secondary involved.
I am going against the grain and picking the Patriots to "upset" the Giants. Belichick & company will come up with the schemes on offense and defense to win their fourth championship. The Giants have made me look awful throughout the whole playoffs as I have repeatedly discussed the "stinker" (game) they still have in their back pocket. They have one more chance to shut me up again.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
NFL Final Four - AFC/NFC Championship - Road To Super Bowl XLVI
After the first seven games of the NFL playoffs, the seeding for the teams remained in order. Every home team won their games, even the San Francisco 49ers who was a rare home underdog. But in the eighth game, there was a bit of a shocker. The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers were upset by the New York Giants. The number one seed in the NFC and the best team in the NFL was suddenly "one and done". That loss obviously guarantees that we will have a new Super Bowl champ. Lets take a look at AFC and NFC Championship games which will determine the two teams who will fight to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots:
This should be a good game. You have the Ravens with a prolific defense and inconsistent offense matched up with the Patriots with a prolific offense and a suspect defense. I think a big factor here will be whether the Ravens will be able to exploit the weakness of the Patriots defense. As much as I respect Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and company on defense, I think the Patriots will score against them. The Patriots will try to light the scoreboard up just like last week but for different reasons. Last week it was to foil a Denver Broncos offense which would have an issue trying to overcome a large deficit. This week, it will be to take the game out of its defense's hands. Even with that thought, I still expect to see Bill Belichick come up with a scheme to rattle Joe Flacco. A couple of seasons ago the Ravens went up to Foxboro and spanked the Pats in the playoffs. I think New England will get their revenge this year and make it back to the Super Bowl.
New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers:
The Giants have truly made me look bad in these playoffs. I have been their harshest critic. Even though the Packers last week played a tremendously sloppy game with turnovers, dropped passes & missed throws, I still give credit to the Giants for going into Green Bay and taking that game. When the 49ers beat the Saints last week, I automatically thought of this NFC Championship game. My first thoughts was the the winner of the Packers vs. Giants would beat the 49ers. The Giants almost pulled off a victory in San Francisco earlier in the year and I like their confidence as a team. As the days of this week started passing by, my thoughts started to change. I like what the 49ers do on defense. If they are smart and have learned anything about the Giants, they will pressure Eli Manning to the hilt. On offense, though I don't trust Alex Smith as much as Aaron Rodgers, I think the 49ers philosophy may be the right approach against the Giants defense. The Giants defensive strength is their pass rush. The 49ers can mitigate any damage by the Giants pass rush by running the ball, which they do well. Smith is going to have to abuse that Giants secondary though. Play action will be key for Smith but he's going to have to connect with his guys. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Giants won this game but I still think they have that stinker in their back pocket. I want to see if the Giants can make me look bad once again. The 49ers miraculously makes it to the Super Bowl in Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach.
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots:
This should be a good game. You have the Ravens with a prolific defense and inconsistent offense matched up with the Patriots with a prolific offense and a suspect defense. I think a big factor here will be whether the Ravens will be able to exploit the weakness of the Patriots defense. As much as I respect Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and company on defense, I think the Patriots will score against them. The Patriots will try to light the scoreboard up just like last week but for different reasons. Last week it was to foil a Denver Broncos offense which would have an issue trying to overcome a large deficit. This week, it will be to take the game out of its defense's hands. Even with that thought, I still expect to see Bill Belichick come up with a scheme to rattle Joe Flacco. A couple of seasons ago the Ravens went up to Foxboro and spanked the Pats in the playoffs. I think New England will get their revenge this year and make it back to the Super Bowl.
New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers:
The Giants have truly made me look bad in these playoffs. I have been their harshest critic. Even though the Packers last week played a tremendously sloppy game with turnovers, dropped passes & missed throws, I still give credit to the Giants for going into Green Bay and taking that game. When the 49ers beat the Saints last week, I automatically thought of this NFC Championship game. My first thoughts was the the winner of the Packers vs. Giants would beat the 49ers. The Giants almost pulled off a victory in San Francisco earlier in the year and I like their confidence as a team. As the days of this week started passing by, my thoughts started to change. I like what the 49ers do on defense. If they are smart and have learned anything about the Giants, they will pressure Eli Manning to the hilt. On offense, though I don't trust Alex Smith as much as Aaron Rodgers, I think the 49ers philosophy may be the right approach against the Giants defense. The Giants defensive strength is their pass rush. The 49ers can mitigate any damage by the Giants pass rush by running the ball, which they do well. Smith is going to have to abuse that Giants secondary though. Play action will be key for Smith but he's going to have to connect with his guys. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Giants won this game but I still think they have that stinker in their back pocket. I want to see if the Giants can make me look bad once again. The 49ers miraculously makes it to the Super Bowl in Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach.
Friday, January 13, 2012
NFL Divisional Round - Road to Super Bowl XLVI
NFL Wild Card weekend showcased wins by all four of the home teams. The Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants all advanced to this weekend's NFL Divisional Round. All of these teams must hit road in hopes of crashing the now pristine playoff seed order. Lets take a look at the games.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots:
The Broncos shocked the world last weekend with their upset overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Broncos QB Tim Tebow completed less than half of his passes but made the ones he did connect on count. I think Patriots' Head Coach Bill Belichick will feel his best defense in this game will be his offense. I expect to see Tom Brady and crew to try blitz the scoreboard and force the Broncos to attempt to play catch up. This strategy should work and the Patriots will go on to the AFC Championship game. I wouldn't give the Broncos 13.5 points though.
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens:
Texans come into this game riding high after winning their first playoff game in franchise history over the Cincinnati Bengals last week. The Bengals offense moved the ball early but the Texans defense never gave up the big play. The big question for this matchup is: can the Ravens make big plays against this Texans defense? They certainly have some weapons to do so, mainly RB Ray Rice. But on a few occasions this year, the Ravens offense has disappeared and Rice doesn't seem to get the touches he deserves. Though I am not thoroughly confident in this Ravens offense, I will give them the edge to win this game since they are at home and their defense is playing against a third string QB. Go with the Ravens but don't be shocked if the Texans somehow find a way.
New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers:
After defeating the Detriot Lions, a team who featured a potent offense, the Saints play a 49ers team who's strength lies in its defense. The 49ers also feature a good running game, which I expect to see a lot of to try to keep Saints QB Drew Brees off of the field. Although the Saints offense may not run as smooth outdoors on the road as it does at home, I still expect them to put some points up. I think their defense will "bend but not break" against 49ers which will give the Saints the right to move on to the NFC Championship game.
New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers:
The Giants had an impressive home win last week against the Atlanta Falcons, not allowing their offense to score any points. That won't happen this weekend. The Packers do have a few things to worry about like the potential of being rusty after having had the bye and several of their star players missing the regular season finale as well. Also their defense has been porous at times and their offensive line is banged up. But on a good note, WR Greg Jennings is reportedly looking healthy and is ready to return from his leg injury that has sidelined him for a few weeks. The Giants cleared a big hurdle by winning last week, albeit to a suspect Falcons team. As I mentioned last week, the Giants have a history of dropping stinkers late in the season (and post season) and this might just be the week we see it. I won't say the Giants have no chance because they have nothing to lose and played the Packers tough earlier this season, but if the Packers are clicking, forget it. I expect Aaron Rodgers to "discount double-check" the G-Men to death. Packers roll.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots:
The Broncos shocked the world last weekend with their upset overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Broncos QB Tim Tebow completed less than half of his passes but made the ones he did connect on count. I think Patriots' Head Coach Bill Belichick will feel his best defense in this game will be his offense. I expect to see Tom Brady and crew to try blitz the scoreboard and force the Broncos to attempt to play catch up. This strategy should work and the Patriots will go on to the AFC Championship game. I wouldn't give the Broncos 13.5 points though.
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens:
Texans come into this game riding high after winning their first playoff game in franchise history over the Cincinnati Bengals last week. The Bengals offense moved the ball early but the Texans defense never gave up the big play. The big question for this matchup is: can the Ravens make big plays against this Texans defense? They certainly have some weapons to do so, mainly RB Ray Rice. But on a few occasions this year, the Ravens offense has disappeared and Rice doesn't seem to get the touches he deserves. Though I am not thoroughly confident in this Ravens offense, I will give them the edge to win this game since they are at home and their defense is playing against a third string QB. Go with the Ravens but don't be shocked if the Texans somehow find a way.
New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers:
After defeating the Detriot Lions, a team who featured a potent offense, the Saints play a 49ers team who's strength lies in its defense. The 49ers also feature a good running game, which I expect to see a lot of to try to keep Saints QB Drew Brees off of the field. Although the Saints offense may not run as smooth outdoors on the road as it does at home, I still expect them to put some points up. I think their defense will "bend but not break" against 49ers which will give the Saints the right to move on to the NFC Championship game.
New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers:
The Giants had an impressive home win last week against the Atlanta Falcons, not allowing their offense to score any points. That won't happen this weekend. The Packers do have a few things to worry about like the potential of being rusty after having had the bye and several of their star players missing the regular season finale as well. Also their defense has been porous at times and their offensive line is banged up. But on a good note, WR Greg Jennings is reportedly looking healthy and is ready to return from his leg injury that has sidelined him for a few weeks. The Giants cleared a big hurdle by winning last week, albeit to a suspect Falcons team. As I mentioned last week, the Giants have a history of dropping stinkers late in the season (and post season) and this might just be the week we see it. I won't say the Giants have no chance because they have nothing to lose and played the Packers tough earlier this season, but if the Packers are clicking, forget it. I expect Aaron Rodgers to "discount double-check" the G-Men to death. Packers roll.
Friday, January 6, 2012
NFL Wild Card Weekend - Road to Super Bowl XLVI Begins
While some people believe "the most wonderful time of the year" is in December, a lot of other people beg to differ and think it is January. That is because the NFL playoff season kicks off in the first month of the year and it is the start of the "elimination dance" to see who will play in the Super Bowl. This year, the Super Bowl is in Indianapolis and the home team Colts were bitten by the Super Bowl host team jinx (maybe it was more due to Peyton Manning missing the season) missing the playoffs and finishing the regular season with the league's worst record. Let's take a look at this weekend's Wild Card matchups between the "bottom eight" of the twelve playoff teams (the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens all have byes this weekend).
Cincinnati Bengals (Wild Card) vs. Houston Texans (AFC South Champs):
Congratulations to the Texans for making it to their first playoff foray. Their first trip will be a quick one. The Texans have one of the best offenses in the league and their defense vastly improved this season. But with Matt Schaub out and the Bengals coming into town with a balanced team themselves (and no pressure/expectations), I think the Texans will get upset at home. I'm not sure if Texans' RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson can show off their healthy talented skills. And Texans rookie 3rd string QB T.J. Yates has done well but the Bengals QB Rookie of the Year candidate Andy Dalton will outshine him. The Bengals minus (the ghosts of) Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and T.O. move on to the next round
Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card) vs. Denver Broncos (AFC West Champs):
The Steelers are coming into this matchup banged up. They will miss RB Rashard Mendenhall who is out for the post season with a knee injury and S Ryan Clark who is being benched in this game for precautionary health purposes. Big Ben (Roethlisberger) will be "toughing it out" at QB Sunday with a high ankle sprain. Pittsburgh will still prevail. I don't see the Broncos offense led by Tim Tebow scoring many points on (Steelers Defensive Coordinator) Dick LeBeau's defense. The Steelers themselves may not score many points but their skill and playoff experience should overcome being on the road and any Tebow "magic" that may be left. For those who like dealing with spreads, I wouldn't bite on the Steelers giving 8.5 points though.
Detroit Lions (Wild Card) vs. New Orleans Saints (NFC South Champs):
From my subjective point of view, I'm unhappy that these two teams face off against each other in the first round. I think they are both fun to watch! Both teams are somewhat similiar: high powered offenses and defenses that are not horrible but can be scored upon. But as you take a closer look the Saints have a few more weapons on offense, particularly at RB (what's up there Darren Sproles). If the Lions have trouble running the ball, they may have big trouble in this game. Don't get me wrong; Lions QB Matthew Stafford can sling it with the best of them, especially when hooking up with WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. But Saints QB extraordinaire Drew Brees is the "Top Gun" this year and I'm sure last year's first round playoff exit is still fresh in his and his teammates minds. I pick the Saints to win this game which may break all kind of offensive playoff records on both sides. And as for the 59 point over/under, I'd say over might be a lock.
Atlanta Falcons (Wild Card) vs. New York Giants (NFC East Champs):
This is an interesting game. The Falcons is a dome team coming north in January to play the Giants. That usually spells trouble. I also often question the Falcons philosophy when it comes to their offense. They should get back to running the ball a little more. Overall, I really don't trust the Falcons. But I think they are going to lay it on the Giants. The Giants ended the season with two impressive victories over the Jets and Cowboys to win the NFC East. Everybody is back on the bandwagon. Truth is, the Giants are inconsistent in December and January. Yes they made a great run in 2007 to win the Super Bowl, but take that one season away and what do you have? Falcons will exploit the Giants defense and if they're smart, stop the Victor Cruz salsa express. Atlanta, also reminded by their early playoff exit last year, upsets the NFC East champs.
Cincinnati Bengals (Wild Card) vs. Houston Texans (AFC South Champs):
Congratulations to the Texans for making it to their first playoff foray. Their first trip will be a quick one. The Texans have one of the best offenses in the league and their defense vastly improved this season. But with Matt Schaub out and the Bengals coming into town with a balanced team themselves (and no pressure/expectations), I think the Texans will get upset at home. I'm not sure if Texans' RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson can show off their healthy talented skills. And Texans rookie 3rd string QB T.J. Yates has done well but the Bengals QB Rookie of the Year candidate Andy Dalton will outshine him. The Bengals minus (the ghosts of) Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and T.O. move on to the next round
Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card) vs. Denver Broncos (AFC West Champs):
The Steelers are coming into this matchup banged up. They will miss RB Rashard Mendenhall who is out for the post season with a knee injury and S Ryan Clark who is being benched in this game for precautionary health purposes. Big Ben (Roethlisberger) will be "toughing it out" at QB Sunday with a high ankle sprain. Pittsburgh will still prevail. I don't see the Broncos offense led by Tim Tebow scoring many points on (Steelers Defensive Coordinator) Dick LeBeau's defense. The Steelers themselves may not score many points but their skill and playoff experience should overcome being on the road and any Tebow "magic" that may be left. For those who like dealing with spreads, I wouldn't bite on the Steelers giving 8.5 points though.
Detroit Lions (Wild Card) vs. New Orleans Saints (NFC South Champs):
From my subjective point of view, I'm unhappy that these two teams face off against each other in the first round. I think they are both fun to watch! Both teams are somewhat similiar: high powered offenses and defenses that are not horrible but can be scored upon. But as you take a closer look the Saints have a few more weapons on offense, particularly at RB (what's up there Darren Sproles). If the Lions have trouble running the ball, they may have big trouble in this game. Don't get me wrong; Lions QB Matthew Stafford can sling it with the best of them, especially when hooking up with WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. But Saints QB extraordinaire Drew Brees is the "Top Gun" this year and I'm sure last year's first round playoff exit is still fresh in his and his teammates minds. I pick the Saints to win this game which may break all kind of offensive playoff records on both sides. And as for the 59 point over/under, I'd say over might be a lock.
Atlanta Falcons (Wild Card) vs. New York Giants (NFC East Champs):
This is an interesting game. The Falcons is a dome team coming north in January to play the Giants. That usually spells trouble. I also often question the Falcons philosophy when it comes to their offense. They should get back to running the ball a little more. Overall, I really don't trust the Falcons. But I think they are going to lay it on the Giants. The Giants ended the season with two impressive victories over the Jets and Cowboys to win the NFC East. Everybody is back on the bandwagon. Truth is, the Giants are inconsistent in December and January. Yes they made a great run in 2007 to win the Super Bowl, but take that one season away and what do you have? Falcons will exploit the Giants defense and if they're smart, stop the Victor Cruz salsa express. Atlanta, also reminded by their early playoff exit last year, upsets the NFC East champs.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
2011 NFL Preview - NFC Outlook
Here's my outlook on how things will shake out in the NFC:
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles definitely won the trade and free agent “off-season” in the NFL. Now they have to win games on the field during the “real” season. The Eagles were a talented team before their new acquisitions; with the addition of their newbies, they should repeat as NFC East champs. But chemistry can be a funny thing……
2. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas was not as bad as their 6 – 10 record last season (hush Bill Parcells). After getting off to a bad start, the season snowballed into disaster territory low-lighted by a season ending injury to Tony Romo. The current Cowboy team seems to play better when expectations are not high which bodes well for them this season. Combining all of that with a “weaker” schedule and the Jason Garrett led Cowboys could make a lot of noise this season.
3. New York Giants
The G-Men have been devastated by injuries in the preseason. They also lost two of Eli Manning’s favorite targets (Steve Smith, Kevin Boss) to free agency. The Giants never seem to be on the radar for post season predictions but they have a knack for making themselves relevant. This season I think that mountain may be too high to climb for them. Expect a bit more of a slip for New York.
4. Washington Redskins
Although Washington had a decent preseason, I don’t see them winning a lot in the regular season. The Redskins believe that they can win with John Beck or Rex Grossman at QB; almost everyone outside of their camp doesn’t share their enthusiasm. Mike Shanahan’s club should be competitive against their divisional foes but I don’t expect them to compete for the division title.
NFC NORTH
1. Green Bay Packers
The Super Bowl defending champions are a very tough team to beat. They will win a bunch of games this year and will compete again in the playoffs. But the Pack are beatable; I already heard someone try to compare them to the Patriots of 2007, thinking they may run the table in the regular season. That’s not going to happen; they’ll even have a tough time winning the division.
2. Chicago Bears
Chicago won the NFC North last year and will be in the thick of it to repeat. The Bears have a championship caliber squad. They have a tough as nails defense; if they ever get that running game back in shape again and if Jay Cutler can live up to his potential – look out! The Bears could have a special season.
3. Detroit Lions
I agree with pretty much everything I’ve heard about the Lions this season: this will be an exciting team to watch, they will make more strides forward this year and they’ll probably fall just short of the postseason. Hopefully Matthew Stafford will have a healthy 2011 season.4. Minnesota Vikings
The fact that I’m picking the Vikings to finish last convinces me that the NFC North is probably the best division in the NFL. I think the Vikings have a good team. They debatably have the best running back in football (Adrian Peterson) and have added veteran QB Donovan McNabb. But the defense has lost some of its strut over the last couple of seasons and McNabb finds himself in another situation without a elite receiver. Vikings will win some but not enough to make the playoffs.
NFC SOUTH
1. New Orleans Saints
You figure the Saints have to be hungry this year after their untimely exit in the playoffs last season. New Orleans is still one of the most explosive teams in the NFL. Drew Brees is still a top flight QB and he still has a good amount of weapons. Expect to see the Saints battle to get the Lombardi trophy back.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just like the Lions, The Bucs are a young exciting team on the rise. Coming off a season in which they won 10 games but still missed the playoffs, I expect the young Bucs to come close to their unexpected success. Josh Freeman, Legarrette Blount and Mike Williams could be the new “triplets”.3. Atlanta Falcons
I know a lot folks may think I’m crazy, but I think the Falcons will take a step back this season. I don’t see them pulling out the close victories they did last year. I like their new weapon on offense Julio Jones who they drafted in the first round this year. He should help to open up the offense some this year but I don’t think it’ll be enough.
4. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are coming off of a bad season. They have a brand new coaching staff. They have a brand new rookie starting QB (#1 overall draft pick Cam Newton). Their defense still has some good players and they still have a decent running attack but I think this will be a transition year for Carolina.NFC WEST
1. St. Louis Rams
See Lions. See Bucs. The Rams are similar to those two in being a young up and coming team. But unlike those two, St. Louis will win their division. Sam Bradford is one of the best young QB’s in the game and we should see him make more progress this year. Rams also may have the league’s most unsung defense. The Rams finished under .500 and missed the playoffs by one game last year. This season they make the playoffs and will be over .500.
2 Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals should improve from their disappointing 2010 season. They are counting on newly acquired Kevin Kolb to turn into the QB the Eagles thought he would be last year. Can Beanie Wells carry the load at RB? How will the defense fair after swapping in rookie Patrick Peterson and swapping out Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Larry Fitzgerald will help to make them competitive but I don’t expect to see them reach the postseason.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Defending NFC West champion Seahawks drew the ire of many after winning the division last year with a losing record and “earning” a home playoff game. They quickly hushed up their critics by defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in the first round of the playoffs. I don’t expect the Seahawks to turn that magic this season. It could be another losing season for the Seahawks but they won’t make the playoffs this time.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) but will still start their old QB (Alex Smith). Many feel the source of the 49ers problems starts with Smith. Can Harbaugh pull out the talent in Smith? The 49ers still boast some nice pieces on offense (Frank Gore, Vernon Davis) and may have one of the league’s best defenders (Patrick Willis) but I don’t expect to see Joe Montana or Jerry Rice to walk through locker room door for them this season.
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