NFC EAST

Arguably the toughest division in the NFC but will probably end up with just three of its teams with winning records when the season is over.

NEW YORK GIANTS

The 2008 Super Bowl champions had a season rife with injuries to star players(OSI UMENYIORA), off-field issues(Plaxico Burress) and an inability to find a way past the Philadelphia Eagles at home. This season, the G-Men are back with a healthy Osi, a fairly young wide receiving group with the exit of Plaxico to Rikers Island and slightly depleted backfield with the exit of Derrick Ward but Eli Manning is still playing at a high level and as long as the defense with Osi & Mathias Kiwanuka show why they’re the best defensive front in the NFC and Eli can get one of his young WR’s to step up, expect the Giants to at least get a wild card spot.

Coach: Tom Coughlin

Main players: QB Eli Manning, RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Steve Smith, LB Antonio Pierce, DE OSI UMENYIORA, DE Justin Tuck.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles ended last season strongly and despite safety Brian Dawkins leaving during free agency and the passing of legendary Defensive coordinator and Blitzmaster Jim Johnson in the off-season, the Eagles front office took care of business by drafting Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin to team up with 2^nd year speed merchant DeSean Jackson at Wideout.
The biggest name signing was that of QB Michael Vick to add a different dimension to the offense but look for RB LeSean McCoy to make a name for himself as Brian Westbrooks understudy and more importantly rookie LB MOISE FOKOU and DE VICTOR ABIAMIRI will impress as they attempt to move up the depth chart this season. Unfortunately 2^nd yr CB JACK IKEGWUONU was placed on the practice squad and playing time will most likely be non-existent for him this season. As long as Donovan Mcnabb and Andy Reid as still QB and Coach respectively, of the Eagles, expect a winning season and most likely an NFC East title.

Coach: Andy Reid

Main players: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Bryan Westbrook, WR DeSean Jackson, LB Chris Gocong, DE Trent Cole, CB Asante Samuel, CB Sheldon Brown.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The Redskins enter the season with less fanfare than their division rivals but the offseason saw them dangle QB Jason Campbell as trade bait, sign DT Albert Haynesworth and draft DE/LB BRIAN ORAKPO from University of Texas. The Redskins will once again depend on RB Clinton Portis to get the offense going but Portis and the ‘Skins offense will need a healthy Chris Samuels at (Left tackle/guard) to set the tone at the line of scrimmage. The NFC East will be beastly again this season and the Redskins will end up at the rear of the division.

Coach: Jim Zorn

Main players: QB Jason Campbell, RB Clinton Portis, WR Santana Moss, DT Albert Haynesworth.

DALLAS COWBOYS

“Americas’ team” will be devoid of on and off the field controversy this season and while it wouldn’t seem smart to pick the team that’s flattered to deceive in December over the past three seasons the Cowboys will be very dangerous as they fly under the radar. Coach Wade Phillips, Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and QB Tony Romo will have a lot to prove this season and the opening of the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX will provide the team added impetus to finally win a playoff game for the first time since 1996.

Coach: Wade Phillips

Main Players: QB Tony Romo, RB Marion Barber, TE Jason Witten, DE Demarcus Ware, NT Jay Ratliff.

NFC SOUTH

With the rebirth of the Atlanta Falcons as well as the New Orleans Saints offensive ability over the past two seasons, the NFC South has held its own in conversations on the toughest division in Football. This season will be a test for the Falcons to show last season was no fluke, for the Carolina Panthers to show they can overcome their front office strife and for the Saints to get back to the lofty heights they reached in 2007. Not much needs to be or will be said about the Buccaneers and the return of the Glazer family to penny-pinching mode.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

The Panthers still have one of the best WR’s in Steve Smith as well as a solid 1-2 punch at RB in Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams but that’s where the positives end for this team. QB Jake Delhomme is on the downslide and the team will be lucky to get the best out of a disgruntled Julius Peppers at DE this season. Look for OT JEFF OTAH to open up running lanes for Stewart and Williams and to take bigger steps as a 2^nd yr started on the team. The best efforts of OTAH, smith and the RB combo won’t be enough to get the Panthers into the playoffs.

Coach: John Fox

Main Players: QB Jake Delhomme, RB Jonathan Stewart, RB DeAngelo Williams, WR Steve Smith, DE Julius Peppers.

ATLANTA FALCONS

The Falcons were one of the surprise teams in the NFC last season with new coach Mike Smith and QB Matt Ryan. The team impressed off the field by adding perennial Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez in the offseason and still have the core of their team from last season in place. Look for the Falcons to win the division again and this time to win a playoff game. OVIE MUGHELLI will be providing the blocks at FB for RB Michael Turner while OT QUINN OJINNAKA will be tasked with protecting Ryan in the pocket.
Coach: Mike Smith

Main Players: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Roddy White, LB Curtis Lofton.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The Saints have one of the top five QB’s in the league in Drew Brees and even without a healthy Reggie Bush at RB, the Saints have enough talent at RB and at other offensive positions as well as an improved defence to press their case for a playoff appearance.

DT REMI AYODELE will help improve the defensive front and with the creativity of Coach Sean Payton as well as the presence and input of Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams, the Saints will push the Falcons all the way for the division title.

Coach: Sean Payton

Main players: QB Drew Brees, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Marques Colston, CB Darren Sharper, LB Scott Fujita.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Bucs will have a top ten pick to look forward to in next April’s draft and not much else. This season will be a write-off for the team and its fans before it’s even begun and focus will turn to the top five picks in the draft next year although fans shouldn’t put it past the Glazer family to trade the top five pick they’ll most likely receive for next years draft in hopes of not paying top dollar to a rookie early 1^st rounder. The hiring of Coach Raheem Morris will provide the Bucs with an uphill task this season but time will determine if he’ll turn out to be in the mold of Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers or a subpar coach unable to control his team. Expect rookie QB Josh Freeman to end the season starting but by then the Bucs will be at the bottom of the division and preparing for the draft.

Coach: Raheem Morris

Main players: QB Byron Leftwich, RB Carnell Williams, WR Antonio Bryant, CB Ronde Barber, DT Chris Hovan.

NFC North

The NFC north bar the Detroit Lions has been no slouch in terms of competitive divisions over the past few seasons and with the additions of Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings, Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears and Matt Stafford to the Detroit Lions, the competition will be ratcheted up a notch this season.

CHICAGO BEARS

Da Bears finally have a Quarterback. After many years of inept and incapable quarterbacks, the Bears pulled off a major deal in the offseason for former Broncos QB Jay Cutler and most if not all the pieces are now in play for a return to the Superbowl for coach Lovie Smith and his team. DE ADEWALE OGUNLEYE is back to lead the defense with help from DT ISRAEL IDONIJE while OT FRANK OMIYALE will be working on the offensive front to protect Cutler and open running lanes for RB Matt Forte. WR DEVIN AROMASHADU was brought in to provide depth at WR and every WR on the Bears will be an important weapon for Cutler in his attempt to lead the Bears back to the Super Bowl.

Coach: Lovie Smith

Main Players: QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte WR/KR Devin Hester DE ADEWALE OGUNLEYE, LB Brian Urlacher, DT Tommie Harris.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

A solid 1^st season starting was the verdict for QB Aaron Rodgers last season and this year look for Rodgers to lead the Packers to the playoffs. Rodgers will need RB Ryan Grant back at his best as well as a solid offensive line in front of him. The Packers will have rookie NT BJ RAJI to shore up the defensive front as well as undrafted rookie free agent LB CYRIL OBIOZOR who will begin the season on the practice squad but will probably end it on the playing field. SS CHARLIE PEPRAH is recovering from a ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­knee injury and refused to be put on the Physically Unable to Play list leading to his being allowed to find another team when the Packers decide to release him in the coming weeks. Look for the Packers to make a strong push for the playoffs this season.

Coach: Mike McCarthy

Main Players: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Ryan Grant, WR Donald Driver, WR Greg Jennings, DE/LB Aaron Kampman, CB Charles Woodson, CB Al Harris.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

After an offseason filled with flirting between QB Brett Favre and the Vikings organization, the Vikes were finally able to bring Favre on board and will hope a 40 yr old Favre can still play up to his legacy. The manner in which Favre’s season in New York with the Jets ended doesn’t provide much hope of seeing the 97-2002 era Favre but as long as RB Adrian Peterson dominates on offense, good things will happen for the Vikes and in KENNY ONATOLU, the Vikes have an emerging talent at LB to go alongside the talented DE Jared Allen.

The Vikings should be able to make the playoffs but the organization has to draft a legit QB to pair up with Adrian Peterson to lead the franchise into the next decade.

Coach: Brad Childress

Main players: QB Brett Favre, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Bernard Berrian, DE Jarred Allen, LB E.J. Henderson, DT Pat Williams.

DETROIT LIONS

It’s hard to follow a winless season but the Lions sank so far down over the past decade that they have nowhere else to go but up. The Lions will definitely experience growing pains under new coach Jim Schwartz and rookie QB Matt Stafford but the Lions minus former GM Matt Millen will be much better in the front office and that will eventually translate onto the field. The Lions will still end up in last place but they’ll add a little more to the win column than they did last season.

Coach: Jim Schwartz

Main players: QB Matt Stafford, RB Kevin Smith, WR Calvin Johnson, LB Julian Peterson.



NFC WEST

The NFC West is usually a one horse race but this season will probably see the 49ers take the Cardinals all the way to the last week of the season to decide the division champs.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The defending NFC Champs return to divisional action to face a rejuvenated and healthy Seattle team and an up and coming San Francisco 49ers team. (The Rams don’t register in terms of providing competition). The Cardinals return the best WR corp in the NFC and maybe in the league in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston. The leadership of QB Kurt Warner will be imperative again this season especially without former offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Watch out for DE KENNY IWEBEMA to make his mark on the Cardinals defense this season alongside LB CHIKE OKEAFOR. The Cardinals will have tougher competition for the divisional crown this season but should still be able to hold off their divisional rivals at the end of the season.

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt.

Main players: QB Kurt Warner, RB Tim Hightower, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Anquan Boldin, LB CHIKE OKEAFOR, DE Bertrand Berry, FS Antrel Rolle.

ST.LOUIS RAMS

The Rams have been on a steady decline this decade and despite the arrival of new coach Steve Spagnuolo, this season will be no different than the last three for Rams fans.
The rapid loss of form for QB Marc Bulger as well as the loss of WR Torry Holt to Jacksonville will hamper the Rams but some positives to look for will be the dependable OSHIOMOGHO (O.J.) ATOGWE at FS as well as Stephen Jackson at RB and his backup SAMKON GADO. DE VICTOR ADEYANJU is one of the few bright spots on the Rams defense.

Coach: Steve Spagnuolo

Main players: QB Marc Bulger, RB Stephen Jackson, WR Donnie Avery,FS O.J. ATOGWE.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Coach Mike Singletary is changing the way things have been done in San Francisco over the past decade and has brought a new attitude to the 49ers. The intense 2^nd year coach has changed the culture and mentality of his team and with an improving defense and talent like Frank Gore at RB, Vernon Davis at TE and Patrick Willis at LB, all QB Shaun Hill has to do is avoid costly mistakes and lead the team through their weak division.
Expect the 49ers to fight all the way for a playoff spot but to fall short at the end.

Coach: Mike Singletary

Main players: QB Shaun Hill, RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, LB Patrick Willis, CB Nate Clements.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

There’s only so much a “12^th man” can do and in the Seahawks case willing their team to victory is easier said than done. The Seahawks suffered through an injury plagued season last year under Coach Mike Holmgren. New coach Jim Mora should have a healthy Matt Hasselbeck at QB and a motivated Julius Jones at RB to pair with free agent signing WR TJ Houshmandzadeh. If LB Lofa Tatupu and DE Patrick Kerney can stay healthy along with Hasselbeck and prop the defense, the Seahawks will push the Cardinals for the division title.

Coach: Jim Mora

Main players: QB Matt Hasselbeck, RB Julius Jones, WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, LB Lofa Tatupu, DE Patrick Kerney.