NFC NORTH

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: (12-4 2009)

Brett Farve, Brett Farve, Brett Farve. The Vikings go the way Farve goes and the season forecast will be tough for Minnesota to win big. Starting the season off against the defending champion Saints, and then against the Miami Dolphins in week 2. A break against the revamped Detroit Lions should be a win, but after a Week 4 bye week the Vikings go on a tough eight week stretch. Farve will take his boys to the Jets, Packers, Patriots, Bears, and Redskins. And they will also host Dallas, Arizona, and Green Bay. Mix the Giants and the Eagles in the final four weeks of the season, and the Vikings have an extremely challenging schedule. With Farve getting his legs under him, Adrian Peterson running left and right, and Jared Allen anchoring the defense the Vikings have a tough road ahead of them. How the Vikings are able to handle the games without, recently surgically repaired, wide receiver Sydney Rice will play a pivot role as well as to how this season will go for the Vikings. As good as this team is on paper, they will have to be even better on the field to be a contender when the end of the season approaches. A few losses in a row could spark the inevitable controversy that exists between Farve and head coach Brad Childress. The "rift" that Farve and Childress share is apparent, but wins will keep it quiet and losses will only make it more visible for the fans and media to see. Can Farve's old legs bring it for one more season? We all know it is extremely possible. But this team will have to play sixty minutes as hard as they can for all sixteen games of the season.

DETROIT LIONS: (2-14 2009)

Ndamukong Suh was a huge draft pick for the Lions and his high-motor intensity on the field will clearly make a much needed difference for what looks to be a rejuvenated Detroit Lions football team. Suh, veteran cornerback Dre Bly, and newly acquired right end Kyle Vanden Bosch will bring new life to the Lions defense. On the offensive side of the ball, Matthew Stafford seems poised to have a very solid sophmore season. With Calvin Johnson split to the right, Stafford has a Pro Bowl option to throw to, but with Kevin Smith running the ball hard and rookie running back Jahvid Best providing a home-run-hitter effect anytime he touches the ball, this offense is getting closer to becoming stable and consistent. Stafford has what it takes to be a solid NFL quarterback. Calvin Johnson is an absolute beast, and if the Lions keep themselves in games in the fourth quarter, there will be new hope in the locker room and in the stadium seating. The future is bright for the Lions.

CHICAGO BEARS: (7-9 2009)

The Bears acquired defensive end Julius Peppers and return line backer and captain Brian Urlacher to rejuvenate what used to be a stout and ferocious defense. But, nothing was done to help quarterback Jay Cutler in his second year with the team. Cutler, who had a dreadful 2009 season, needed a true option to throw to at the receiver position. Instead, Cutler will still look to Hester, Knox, Aromashodu, and tight end Greg Olson. Cutler needs help, Matt Forte took a step back last season and needs to get back to form from 2008 in order to keep this team from becoming one dimensional and being able to stay in games deep into the fourth quarter. The Bears are in a tough situation this season, head coach Lovie Smith will be on the hot seat if they are not winning, and Jay Cutler will be high criticized if he has a repeat season. A brutal final four weeks (NEW, @MINN, JETS, @GB), will put this Chicago Bears team to a real test.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: (11-5 2009)

The Packers are coming off a terrific season where they made the playoff's, finished 3rd in the NFC in least amount of points aloud, and Aaron Rodgers had an absolutely stellar season behind center. Aaron Rodgers has emerged from the middle of the pack of quarterbacks in the NFL, to top of the class and a big season this year with a few playoff wins will put Rodgers in the elite class with Brady, Manning, and Brees. He is that good. With all of the weapons that Rodgers has on offense, an offensive line that got better towards the end of the season last year, it will be the transition that the defense continues to take to the 3-4 defense that will make or break the Green Bay Packers season. Led by all-pro corner back Charles Woodson, the Packers defense must fine tune themselves so that their pass rush gets to the opposing quarterback and the secondary breaks up plays. The defense did lose veteran defensive end Aaron Kampman to free agency, but the team is hoping that second round DT Mike Neal will bolster the line and give it more depth. Overall, this Packers defense is very formidable and with a schedule that includes games against the AFC East and the NFC East, they will be tested early and often.

NFC Season Predictions

Here is how I see the four NFC Divisions ending up:

NFC-East
1. Philadelphia Eagles: The loss of Stewart Bradley really hurts this defense. Add the losses of Brian Dawkins and Def. Coord. Jim Johnson, the Eagles D is in need for a new leader. I think Trent Cole will take that role for the birds. Cole is an undersized DE that flat out finds that quarterback and constantly puts pressure on him. If the Eagles D can keep their opponents under 20pts a game, we all know this offense will be fine getting some W's. Eagles have the schedule to make a run at 12 wins, but I see them with 10 or 11 at the end of the season. Eagles win the NFC-East with an 11-5 record.

2. New York Giants: The Giants Defense is stout. The defensive line is ferocious. The secondary needs some help but they should be okay if the D Line is constantly getting pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. Offensively, the running game is tremendous, but it is the wide receiving corps that scare me. With no true number 1, or for that matter number 2, receiver on this team I just don't see where Eli will have huge success. Giants go 10-6.

3. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys will unveil their new stadium this season, and I don't believe it will be a season to remember. Don't get me wrong the Cowboys are a good team, but with no leader behind center, and a banged up Roy Williams split to the right, I don't like the Cowboys chances at the post season. Cowboys go 8-8 and Coach Wade Phillips gets the boot.

4. Washington Redskins: This Skins are a team that can have success this year by winning games 17-13 and 20-17. Unfortunately, they play in the toughest division in the NFL and they also have games against the Saints, Falcons, Chargers, and Panthers. Skins finish 5-11.


NFC-North
1. Minnesota Vikings: Brett Farve makes this team a legit Super Bowl contender. A high scoring offense, a run-stopping defense, and an above average special teams has this team preparing for high expectations this season. Farve will have a few throws that both scare us all and some that leave us wide-eyed. AP All Day will lead the league in rushing yards and he will take this team to the playoffs for a second straight season. Vikings go 11-5.

2. Green Bay Packers: With a potent offense that will put up a lot of points, it is the defense that must win games for the yellow and green. With a 3-4 defense that still is not solidified, will the Packers be able to take advantage of their relatively light schedule. Clearly their division games, besides Detroit, will be tough. But, playing the NFC-West should definitely help get some wins under their belt. Packers go 10-6.

3. Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler has changed the perception of this team from a defensive unit to a "has what it takes" unit. The Bears have what it takes to get to the playoffs this year. But, if they don't do what they can do on paper, they will struggle playing games after January 3rd. Cutler will make use of tight end Greg Olsen, but who will be the outside threat? Hester? Wait and see who the Bears use, but rest assured this is a 9 or 10 win season for the Bears. Bears win 10-6 this year.

4. Detroit Lions: Naming Matthew Stafford, the #1 overall pick in this years draft, starting quarterback was the right move in my book. However, with over 30 new players on this team, I do not see the Lions having a great deal of success. This city needs nothing more than a glimmer of hope, but I don't see it happening. Lions finish 3-13...3 better than last year.


NFC-South
1. New Orleans Saints: The Saints are a fantasy football team on offense. Drew Brees is unreal, and he will have another fantastic season this year with this offense and how they constantly click. They way the Saints win this division is by stealing a few road games and I foresee that happening. At Buffalo, Tampa, St. Louis, and Washington are all road games I think the Saints will win. If that is the case, the Saints finish 10-6 and take home the NFC-South crown.

2. Atlanta Falcons: Offensively they are just as good as the Saints. Defensively they may be the same as well. The Falcons have all the pieces to make another trip to the playoffs, but they need their defense to over achieve. I don't see it happening. Falcons have a winning season and finish 9-7.

3. Carolina Panthers: After a quarterback debacle in the playoffs last year Jake Delhomme is eager to put together a good season and make a run at a NFC-Championship. Tough luck for him because the Panthers have a tough schedule to make that happen. Even with their running back tandem of Williams and Stewart the Panthers need CONSISTENCY out of Delhomme in order to be successful. I think that doesn't happen. Panthers go 9-7 and miss the playoffs.

4. Tampa Bay Buccanears: New coach, new quarterback, and too young of a team to have success. Rebuilding year for the Bucs. 3-13 and a good draft pick.


NFC-West:

1. Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner has had a shaky preseason, and Matt Leinert had a pretty decent one himself. Still, Warner will man the quarterback position and will take his boys back to the playoffs. Do not over look the Hawks of 49ers in this division because it really is up for grabs. I like the Cardinals to close out the season 3-1 and make the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

2. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle is a sleeper in this division because of Matt Hasselbeck. Big Matt H. looks healthy and looks poised to put up good numbers this season. With the addition of Edgerrin James in the backfield and T.J. Houshmandzedah catching passes, this team has a great opportunity to give the Cardinals a run for their money. Doesn't happen this year, Seattle goes 7-9.

3. San Francisco 49ers: This team plays with a lot of heart and determination. Extremely well coached and disciplined this is a team to beware of. Frank Gore will have a good season and I expect Vernon Davis to come out of his shell and make some noise for himself. 49ers finish 7-9 but play close games all the way through Week 17.

4. St. Louis Rams: Their schedule is too hard for them to have a good year. New head coach Stever Spagnuolo has a bright future in St. Louis but this year will be one of those years. Jackson will put up numbers running the ball, but I don't like what this team has to offer. 4-12 on the season for the Rams.