Grading the NFC

Well, NFL football starts tomorrow. The sports world shakes off the dust of the sparse summer and starts to really hit its stride as we get into the autumn. Today we will take a look at the NFC this year and assign grades to the teams in each. Tomorrow we will take a look at the AFC.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles - If McNabb stays healthy this should be your division winner. Though the window is pretty much closed on this team they may be able to squeeze one more year out of this group until they are just too old. I look for them to do well. B+

Dallas Cowboys - Can Tony Romo overcome his nationally spotlighted embarrassment last year in the playoffs? Is Wade Wilson really the man who can lead this team to its first playoff victory in 10 years? Will TO behave this year, or have his standard 2nd year team derailing breakdown? Lots of questions with this team. They will either be really, really good or really, really bad. So I'll split the difference and give em a C

Washington Redskins - The hometown team doesn't look a whole lot different from last years team. A few improvements on the defense with rookie LaRon Landry and a rebuilt defensive line should help these guys out. The offense is still far to anemic to get anything really done. Jason Campbell is still very green. They will be better, but barely. C+

New York Giants - What a mess. Their ex-running back is making the most news by criticizing the coach and quarterback. Eli Manning is not his brother and never will be. Nobody wants to play for Coughlin. Look for a terrible year for big blue. D

NFC South

New Orleans Saints - Easily the most talented team in the division, their offense is mind blowing. Drew Brees has definitely turned into a top 5 QB and with the dual threat of Bush and Deauce McAllister this offense is unstoppable. Some big question marks still at defense though might creep up. A

Atlanta Falcons - I know what your thinking. How can this team possibly be any good without Michael Vick? Well, let me tell you. Bobby Petrino is an offensive coach, he knows QBs and every QB he has ever coached has made it into the NFL. He runs an offensive system that is similar to the system Joey Harrington ran at Oregon. They have some questions on defense, but its not terrible. I think this team will surpise a lot of people and compete for a wild card. B-

Carolina Panthers - I still don't like this team. Every year they are picked to do well, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I think this will be another won't year. Delhomme has lost it and is not the same QB who led them to a Super Bowl. They have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but I just don't see them putting it together. C

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Yuck. Just don't see anything really promising with these guys. Jeff Garcia? Cadillac Williams? Joey Galloway? Those aren't really names that strike fear in me and certainly not in NFL defenses. They have a nice, decent defense but it wont save them. Cellar dwellers for sure. D+

NFC North

Chicago Bears - Not saying much that they can win this division, its one of if not the weakest in football. The defense is obviously the best in the NFC and possibly the NFL. Given the wackiness that is the Rex Grossman experience, most Chicago fans would probably rather see their Bears on defense as opposed to offense. Defense will carry this team into the playoffs, what happens after that though is a big question mark. A-

Detroit Lions - Shocker! A second place finish for the historically inept Matt Millen Lions? I think so, but not because they are good, they are just less bad than the other two. The Lions will throw the ball first and then throw it some more, its the Mike Martz shtick. They are entertaining at least to watch and they will put up points. However, they cant stop anyone from posting up big points either. Lots of fun shootouts I see on the horizon with the Lions ending up on the losing end of most, but still a better (by Lions standards) 6-10/7-9 finish. C-

Green Bay Packers - For the third year in a row we get to hear the announcers talk about "Is this Brett Favres last year?". The answer now is who cares? This team has moved on past the Favre era and I think Favre is holding them back from really improving. A.J. Hawk is a helluva linebacker, but that's about it for this team. Everyone else is old or totally unproven. Going to be a long cold winter in Green Bay. D

Minnesota Vikings - Quick, name me a Vikings player. Randy Moss? No sorry. Daunte Culpepper? Nope. Hershel Walker? Uh...Point is this team has nobody. Adrian Peterson might become a great RB some day but he is a rookie. Tavaris Jackson (that's the QB sports fans) is destined to be a 2nd string journeyman QB in this league. This is a boring and talentless team that will lose a lot of games because they will struggle to get even 7 points on the board. D

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks - Obviously I'm biased, but with all of our players healthy and hungry again these guys have the talent to rule the NFC once again. The addition of pass rusher Patrick Kearney is a significant upgrade from the underachieving Grant Wistrom. Two new safeties in Deon Grant and Bryan Russell who are veteran, intelligent safeties are also a big upgrade from the oftentimes out of position and boneheaded Michael Boulware and Ken Hamlin. If they stay healthy, they are back. Don't listen to the nonsense about the Rams and 49ers. These guys are still the top dogs. A

St. Louis Rams - They wont be as good as so many TV analysts are trying to say, but they will be better. They are the exact same team as last year, just a year older which really effects Issac Bruce (Age 34) and Torry Holt (Age 31). Steven Jackson is going to have a breakout year, no doubt about it. That is what will make them better. They will push the Seahawks, but they are still a year or two away. Offensive line is a huge problem for this team and will continue to be this year and that will make all the difference. B+

San Francisco 49ers - Another team getting a lot of hype and who will be improved. Though the Rams are a year or two away, I think the Niners are about 3-4 years away. They have a lot of young, raw talent. Vernon Davis will be the next big TE and maybe even redefine the position. Alex Smith continues to develop and Frank Gore is just a beast. The addition of Darrell Jackson gives these guys a veteran, reliable weapon. However, they are young and will make mistakes. Their defense is still soft up front and in the LB corp. Fun team to watch, but this isn't their year. B-

Arizona Cardinals - Whats new pussycat? You've read this book. Arizona is picked as a team that could surprise and compete and then they still glide gently into that nice 4-12 season. Yep, same thing here. Matt Leinart is way overrated at this young stage in his career and I think he likes partying in Hollywood more than watching game film. I see no reason why this team will be any different than the Cardinals of the last 20 years. Oh well Arizona fans, at least the D-Backs are fighting and the Suns season is only 3 months away! D-

Look for St. Louis and Dallas to be your wildcards. Seahawks and Bears with first round byes.

Saints over Cowboys in wildcard #1
Rams over Eagles in wildcard #2

Bears over Rams in Divisional #1
Seahawks over Saints in Divisional #2

Seahawks over Bears in NFC Championship.