Your very late NFL Season Preview: NFC
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by Suckatsports
Just like when I was back in school, I like waiting till the very last moment to get something done. Everyone's already posted their NFL previews. Some go team by team in a very detailed fashion. As I've already stated, I'm much too lazy for that, so we'll go division by division. That of course leads right into the playoffs - and your Superbowl winner. What, too early? Some picked the winner a week after the last Superbowl was finished. I think I'm late on this!
It would be too long to do everything, so here's your NFC playoff roster.
NFC East: I have to stick to my guns here and pick the Eagles. They have a healthy-looking Donovan McNabb and some decent receivers, even without TO. Brian Westbrook is a great pass-catching back, but the offense has yet to prove that it can run the ball in any way shape or form. Even though they just released Trotter, their defense is always good and blitz-happy. I also cannot find anyone to rival them in the division. The Cowboys have Wade Phillips, whom I don't like, the Giants are a wreck, and the Redskins have yet to get out of their own way.
NFC North: This is going to be a lot closer than last year, but the Bears have this, even with Rex Grossman. They have a dominating defense, if only they keep Lance Briggs for just this year, they've locked up a lot of their big-time players. Benson can now run the ball, and when he's not dropping the ball, he's a bruiser. Their offense when not horrible, is very efficient and physical, just keep the ball out of Rex's hands. Watch out for that scary games against Detroit, they'll put up points.
NFC South: New Orleans Saints came out of nowhere last year to win the division, but this year, it won't be a surprise. Their offense is scary, especially at the hands of the new mastermind Sean Payton. He's an energetic coach who infuses his team to play above their potential. Their defense is mired in what they hope is mediocrity, and if this pre-season holds true (which it rarely does) they're in trouble on that end. However, if they're playing from ahead they could cause turnovers. Also, have you looked around this division? There's not one other team with a legitimate quarterback.
NFC West: This might be the division with the most mediocre teams that will be fighting for the playoffs. I'm going on a limb here and taking the Rams. I'm not a huge fan of their coach, but it's hard to reason against Bulger, Bruce, Holt, and Jackson - that's a formidable offense. Their defense isn't too shabby either, ever since Martz left they've been rising. Seattle should put up a good fight, so should Arizona and San Francisco. Two of those teams are probably about a year or two away, but on the cusp, the third has the most overrated soft running back in the league - you make the distinction.
NFC Wildcards: Dallas Cowboys - I've mentioned many times how much I dislike their coach, but their talent can't be overlooked. They're stocked on both offense and defense, it's as if this was LSU and another idiot (Les Miles) was coaching. They're going to be extremely competitive, maybe even dangerous. But when the time comes for a big play in a big game, they'll fall through. Who is really sold on Tony Romo? He had four good games, and everyone is about to enshrine him, let's give him a season.
Seattle Seahawks - Between them and the Rams they'll have the division and a wildcard, so I took a leap of faith. They have a demanding and solid coach. Hasselback has been practicing sliding on water slides so he shouldn't get hurt as often, and they still have a running game. I'm not a huge fan of extremely-soft-looks-like-the-Barber-twins Shawn Alexander, but he can run if there's a hole - and there will be.
Long offseason: San Francisco 49ers are about to be very disappointed. Not because they're going to have a horrible season, but because they're going to come up just short. Alex Smith and Frank Gore form one of the most fun QB-RB tandems in the league, and they're both improving rapidly. Mike Nolan, who looks and dresses curiously like Jim Tressel, has this team from laughing stock to legitimate contender in no time, but this isn't a two year plan - it's a three year plan. Look for huge strides this season and skim out on the post-season by just a nose, but they'll be dangerous - and fun to watch - in 2008. '
Like what you read? This post is cross-published from We Suck at Sports.
