2009-10 NFC Preview

NFC EAST:

The East is going to be very good again, and with a schedule that includes the AFC West and NFC South, the division should get at least 2 teams into the playoffs.

New York Giants
Predicted '09 Finish: 11-5
Key Addition: A Healthy D-Line
The 2009 New York Giants may be remembered as the best defensive line in the history of the NFL when it is all said and done. They have the potential to be THAT good. The offense loses some punch without Burress and Toomer, but Jacobs and Manning are known quantities, and should keep the offense consistently solid. Not great, but solid. If they are clicking on all cylinders at the end of the year, they'll be a legit Super Bowl contender.

Philadelphia Eagles
Predicted '09 Finish: 11-5
Key Addition: Michael Vick
One of the main reasons many analysts feel that Vick won't be particularly significant to the Eagles offense is that the wildcat averages a little over 5 yards per play, while McNabb averages well over 6 yards per pass attempt. The problem with this stat is that the wildcat in 2008 was primarily used by teams that had very little threat of a pass from the formation. Vick is a viable passing and running option, thus the Eagles' version of the wildcat is likely to be far more effective. Andy Reid's passing mentality will result in limited plays for Vick, but I think he will be used, and will be a factor. If Westbrook stays healthy and Desean Jackson is as good as he was last year, the Eagles will be quite good, and will be in the conversation at the end of the year.

Dallas Cowboys
Predicted '09 Finish: 9-7
Key Addition: New Cowboys Stadium
No more TO means no more distractions, but it also means no more dual threat at Wide Receiver. Roy Williams is great, but there is a dropoff after him. Austin, Crayton, and Hurd are all capable guys, but are not the threat TO was. And who knows how effective Williams will be? Expectations and pressure are high in Big D, especially with the new stadium, and I'm not sure the Cowboys have bolstered their roster enough to be a playoff team coming from such a tough NFC East.

Washington Redskins
Predicted '09 Finish: 8-8
Key Addition: Albert Haynesworth
The Skins have a great defense. The problem is that they have the exact same crappy offense from last season. Portis is solid, but without an effective quarterback to take pressure off the run game, he'll have trouble getting free. Jason Campbell is not the answer, and until they realize that in Washington, they are bound to remain in the cellar of the NFC East.


NFC NORTH:

The North could be one of this year's most interesting and exciting divisions, as three teams could legitimately win it. As they match up against the AFC North and NFC West, even Detriot should get a couple of extra wins, although they certainly won't contend.

Minnesota Vikings
Predicted '09 Finish: 11-5
Key Addition: Brett Favre
The Vikings were an excellent team in need of one final piece: A Quarterback. They got that piece in the form of a future hall-of-famer, and many experts still don't think they'll win the division. Go figure. They have a stellar defense (assuming Pat and Kevin Williams don't have to serve their 4-game suspensions for failed steroid tests during this season), and the Favre-led offense will be excellent. I also think Percy Harvin will emerge as a very productive member of the team, able to fill that Wes Welker-like role as a third wide receiver. A legitimate passing attack will make Peterson even better, and Favre can certainly run an offense. Also keep in mind that Favre has that amazing defense backing him up, so even if he does something stupid, he may get away with it. Unless he gets injured, which is a significant possibility, they will win the division.

Chicago Bears
Predicted '09 Finish: 10-6
Key Addition: Jay Cutler
Chicago is a defensive team that generally has trouble scoring enough points. The one year the offense got things working, they ended up in the super bowl. So you know they have potential, with the addition of Jay Cutler, should be very good. The key problem will be finding receivers for Cutler to throw the ball to. Forte is now a proven commodity, and you know the defense will be solid. As long as a couple of receivers step up and prove themselves, the Bears should find themselves in the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers
Predicted '09 Finish: 10-6
Key Addition: None
The Packers weren't very good last season, and really didn't make any changes. The reason they are expected to be so much better is that Aaron Rodgers has not had to deal with the Brett Favre saga (or at least not the same Brett Favre saga...), and should play with more confidence this year. The defense will be decent, and Ryan Grant is a capable rusher, but I don't see the Packers making a playoff run. They just didn't do enough in the offseason to make themselves better, and the other two division front runners did.

Detroit Lions
Predicted '09 Finish: 2-14
Key Addition: Matthew Stafford
Matt Ryan was an anomaly; don't expect Matt Stafford to be a rookie sensation, too. Especially when thrust into a difficult situation with a team that has struggled mightly for a long time. He has good receivers to throw to and a decent running nack to relieve the pressure, but that doesn't mean the Lions will be good. Only that they should win a few games. The defense will struggle a bit, but has a solid core of LBs led by Larry Foote and Julian Peterson. It'll be another tough year in Detroit, though things are looking up for the future.


NFC SOUTH:

Matchups with the NFC East and AFC East will cause NFC South records to be a bit worse than last year, but the division should still be competitive amongst the top three.

Carolina Panthers
Predicted '09 Finish: 9-7
Key Addition: None
Carolina was sneaky good last year; they snuck up on a lot of teams. This season everyone knows what to expect. The running game will be good with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but I worry that DelHomme may be unable to put together another excellent season. The defense will be good again, and I think they will win the division, but I'm not sure how far they will go should they reach the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints
Predicted '09 Finish: 9-7
Key Addition: Heath Evans
The Saints will be a good team again, but may not have enough to make the playoffs. The defense is very much the same, and has the confidence to succeed, but Reggie Bush hasn't been as consistent as he needs to be. If Bush and Brees are both outstanding all year long, the Saints could win the division and make the playoffs. I'm betting they come up a little bit short.

Atlanta Falcons
Predicted '09 Finish: 9-7
Key Addition: Tony Gonzalez
Matt Ryan is a solid quarterback, and now that he has some starting experience, he should be even better. The issue for the Falcons is whether or not the defense can remain consistent enough against the pass to keep its offense in games. The secondary is young and not very deep. If they succeed, so will the Falcons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Predicted '09 Finish: 6-10
Key Addition: None
The loss of Monte Kiffin is the major reason I cannot picture the Bucs winning more than 6 games. They also recently cut their offensive coordinator; a sign of instability within the coaching staff. Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams can rush and Byron Leftwich can be a solid quarterback, but the Bucs are not built to score a ton of points. They rely on their defense, which has lost a lot of talent and will not be as good this season as they have been in the past. It will be a tough season in Tampa.


NFC WEST:

Seattle will be much better, and will give Arizona a run for the division, but now that they know the taste of a super bowl, I'll bet the Cardinals will remain the team to beat. The West gets the AFC South and NFC North, which will be a challenge, but will not be impossible. That also means the Cards won't have to travel east as many times as they did last year, which will be good for them as their only win in the eastern time zone was the NFC title game in Philly.

Arizona Cardinals
Predicted '09 Finish: 10-6
Key Addition: Beanie Wells
The Cards will be as potent as last season through the air, and though Tim Hightower will be the primary back, Beanie Wells will get some carries, and could potentially prove to be the new go-to runner in Arizona. The defense isn't any better on paper, but the confidence it gained down the stretch on its Super Bowl run will prove to be very valuable. If they play to their potential, the Cards should cruise to the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Seattle Seahawks
Predicted '09 Finish: 9-7
Key Addition: TJ Houshmandzadeh
Hoosh is a huge addition to an offense that desperately needed a passing threat, and if the O and D stay healthy (which was the main problem last year...), they will be able to challenge the Cards for the division, though I still believe it is the Cards' division to lose. Their running back by committee strategy should work out well with Julius Jones and Edgerrin James, unless Edge starts complaining about not getting enough carries again. The defense won't surprise anyone, but should be good enough to keep them in games. They wouldn't be a playoff team in any other division, but if they can beat out the Cards in the west, who knows.

San Francisco 49ers
Predicted '09 Finish: 7-9
Key Addition: None
Much the same team as last year, the 49ers should be a little better despite still having a question mark at quarterback. Coach Mike Singletary isn't going to take losing lightly, and players will be playing with a lot of pride, so they could surprise some teams. If the secondary improves significantly and Smith or Hill can perform adequately at QB, this team could be .500. If not, they could be awful.

St. Louis Rams
Predicted '09 Finish: 3-13
Key Addition: Steve Spagnuolo
Go take a look at the Rams roster and see if you have ever heard of any of their wide receivers. Actually, don't waste your time, you haven't. There is no one for Bulger to throw the ball to. Stephen Jackson is good, but he's no miracle worker. If every defense has only him to prepare for, he won't be going far. Spags is a defensive guy, so I'd expect the Rams inconsistent D to get a little better, but that won't be much consolation to Rams fans as they watch a bad team play even worse.