2008 NFL Midseason Report: NFC
The NFC is made up of two very strong divisions (the East and the South) and two weak divisions (North and West). While the early season favorite Cowboys have been struggling without their signal caller, the conference seems to be the New York Giants and everyone else, however the Giants came out of nowhere last season to become Super Bowl Champions. Plenty of teams are capable of pulling their best 2007 New York Giants impression.
NFC EAST
New York Giants (7-1)
The aforementioned Giants came on strong late last season to earn a wild-card birth and run the table with their historic upset of the Patriots. The Giants came back intact almost completely. Michael Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora suffered a season ending injury. Who’s noticed? Justin Tuck is becoming a pro-bowl caliber player and Mathias Kiwanuka has filled in admirably. The champs have a swagger of a team with something to prove and a strong running game and quietly solid season from Eli Manning has the team looking like a good chance to represent the conference in Tampa come February.
Prediction: (13-3)
This team looks better than last year’s team. The NFC East is the most competitive in football so getting out with a division title will be a great accomplishment as they look to go for back to back titles.
Washington Redskins (6-3)
New coach Jim Zorn has the Redskins looking to reach the playoffs again and eclipse last year’s win total. Jason Campbell is playing solid, and Clinton Portis has been tremendous. This is not a deep team, but they do the things needed to win most games. This team has not been hurting themselves with big mistakes, credit can be shared by Portis taking pressure off of Jason Campbell.
Prediction: (10-6)
In a difficult division, ten wins under a new coach is very impressive. The Redskins have the ability to beat anyone, their big four (Campbell, Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley) are performing as well as anyone in the NFC. This team could be a surprise come playoff time when the weather gets cold and the running game becomes even more important.
Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
Tony Romo’s injury has killed the Cowboys early momentum. My pre-season Super Bowl pick from the NFC looked heavily under matched against the Giants last week. The bye week could not come at a better time for this team. They have as much talent as any team in the league, the question is can they put a healthy team on the field?
Prediction (10-6)
The Cowboys are not on the radar and I believe this makes them dangerous. The addition of Roy Williams to the offense should help open things up for Terrell Owens and the running game, a healthy Tony Romo makes this team go. Previous playoff collapses should provide the motivation for this team to fight for another chance to redeem their tarnished reputation as playoff pansies. They could miss the playoffs altogether or they could ride Romo to the Super Bowl, we know one thing for sure they will be interesting to follow.
Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)
Donovan McNabb looks healthy again, Brian Westbrook is playing well and several new additions such as Asante Samuel and DeSean Jackson have the Eagles again in contention. A trendy pick to challenge the Cowboys, the Eagles have fought from a slow start winning three straight and looking to stay in the playoff hunt.
Prediction: (10-6)
The Eagles are tough to peg. They have two of the best players in all of football at QB and RB. Their defense is continually tough, the offense seems to be getting healthy, but are they any better than past Eagle teams that managed a playoff birth and nothing more? I can’t see them winning any more than ten games and a first round exit.
NFC NORTH
Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
The Vikings came into the season with much promise and excitement. The defense has been dominating against the run, although injuries to the Williams brothers (Pat and Kevin) could mean an implosion for the defense. The offense has been coming around now that Gus Frerotte has taken the reigns. Adrian Peterson earns the respect and Gus Gus has enough experience and arm strength to make plays. Their 4-4 record seems about as fitting as any teams this season.
Prediction: (8-8)
This may seem a bit pessimistic, but the injuries to the Vikings interior are crucial. This team has the makings of being a Tennessee Titans clone, they are stronger in some areas, however the second half schedule is not easy and expecting Frerotte to win games for you if the defense continues to give up points is not a winning proposition, despite his solid play of late.
Green Bay Packers (4-4)
The post-Favre era has yielded mixed results Aaron Rodgers has played brilliantly, so how do they have as many losses at the season’s half-way point as all of last year? Well, for one their schedule is brutal, they are winning the games they should, but no rest for the weary. Ryan Grant has been essentially a bust and the defense is playing good enough to win. This team has shown they can play with anyone, pushing the Titans to overtime, however making the playoffs is far from a guarantee. The two games remaining against the Chicago Bears will probably determine the divisions fate, and this division will probably only land one team in the playoffs, just like last year.
Prediction: (9-7)
The division race is a two horse one with the Bears, who have the inside track. Expect some hard fought games and the Packers hanging tough to get a winning season and possibly another division title. Aaron Rodgers is the division’s best quarterback and his surrounding cast has the most overall talent, it’s a shame Ryan Grant has not provided enough help to aid Rodgers 300 yard passing efforts.
Detroit Lions (0-8)
What can you say? Matt Millen is gone. But, the Lions have decided to start a guy who was retired less than a week ago. Daunte Culpepper is going to attempt to learn at least 8 plays, 7 of which will call for throwing deep to Calvin Johnson. This team has young talent and has been surprisingly competitive without their starting quarterback and being generally over matched every week. They have blown some close games and if Culpepper can provide a steady hand at the end of this season’s audition they could gain some hope for next year.
Prediction: (1-15)
It’s pretty much impossible to go-winless although this team looks like it has the potential to make it happen. An injury to Culpepper would thrust Drew Stanton into the mix and if he couldn’t get the start this week, well then, that’s NOT a good thing. There are no games left where you’d give them an even shot, but this is the NFL, the Lions will win one. Storyline for the rest of the year is Daunte a stop-gap or next year’s quarterback?
Chicago Bears (5-3)
The Bears have been a pleasant surprise, Kyle Orton is playing the best of his career, Matt Forte has been the best of an impressive rookie running back class and even Devin Hester is contributing on offense. The defense still has the stars, however they are anything but dominant, yet they show up and compete for four quarters. This team has the inside track to win the division, but Orton’s health and the hunger of the Vikings and Packers, make their task of holding the lead anything but easy.
Prediction: (9-7)
The Bears have some tough games remaining, the two games with the Packers should decide the division. If there is a split you’d have to like the Bears chances, however they have the Titans with Rex Grossman behind center, so essentially you have to think they will be 5-4. Don’t sleep on the Bears…but they could be hibernating come January.
NFC SOUTH
Carolina Panthers (6-2)
Trendy Super Bowl pick every other year, this team was an unknown with Jake Delhomme coming off of injury. The offense has been very solid, with a tandem running game of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart opening up passing lanes for Steve Smith and his old buddy Mushin Muhammed. The defense has also been very solid, with Julius Peppers back off of a tough season last year. Don’t forget the ageless wonder John Kasay he’s having a pro bowl year.
Prediction: (11-5)
Go look at the Panther’s Super Bowl roster of 2002 and you’ll find several familiar names, this team is veteran and battle tested even on the biggest stage. Their division is wildly competitive, but they have managed a 6-2 record to this point, up next: Oakland and Detroit, unless they blow a gasket they will be 8-2, this team could secure home field potentially. I won’t go that far, but I do love their chances, a team that has shown it knows how to pull out close wins.
Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
What’s not to like about this feel good team? Rookie quarterback steps in and plays like a veteran, free agent caddie to LaDainian Tomlinson on pace for 1,500+ yards and a feisty defense. Anyone watching last weeks destroying of the Raiders has to believe that the Falcons are for real under first year coach Mike Smith. The question is can they keep their heads above water in a very tough division.
Prediction: (9-7)
This is a team that could easily win a couple of divisions in the NFL, but I have them falling short of the playoffs. This team is solid across the board, they face several tough tests and it’s a lot to expect Matt Ryan to win road games in December with playoff pressure, however it was a lot to expect him to start from week one with this kind of success. I won’t be surprised if they get to nine wins, but a playoff birth would be a shock for this guy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)
This team is a very fun team to evaluate. They seem to have a system that is tested and the ability to plug in players on offense without much of a decline is something most teams cannot pull off (Cowboys anyone?) The Bucs have won with Brian Griese and Jeff Garcia, played Earnest Graham at fullback and been without their number one receiver Joey Galloway for most of the season. Tampa is still one of the best defensive teams in the NFL and the offense has been able to do the job and pick them up once in a while. The special teams are special and this team would love to play for it all in their own stadium.
Prediction: (10-6)
With all of that adoration for Jon Gruden’s team why do I have them at 10-6? Well they should be ready for the Vikings after their bye and then they have the Lions, it’s not hard to imagine them at 8-3 at that point, they finish with the Raiders, you know Gruden won’t let that one slip, I see a guaranteed nine wins, this is a tough division. 10 wins is nothing to sneeze at.
New Orleans Saints (4-4)
The Saints have been inconsistent over the last two and a half years. This year a lot is at stake in determining if this team is a contender like two years ago, or needs a lot of help like last year. They have limped into a 4-4 record and look to have a healthy Reggie Bush in two weeks. If they could get all of their playmakers healthy this is arguably the best offense in football. Drew Brees has done more with less, yet every win seems to require thirty points.
Prediction: (8-8)
Again, this is a team that could win a division or three, however getting to .500 has been grueling and despite the fact they face the Chiefs and the Lions in the second half, the rest of their games are not easy. A healthy offense could push this team into the playoffs, however, they have done nothing to make you believe they will be healthy.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers (2-6)
It doesn’t feel that long ago that the 49ers were 2-1 and thinking playoffs. Hmm, that didn’t quite work out. Out is quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, out is head coach Mike Nolan. In, Mike Singletary, preferably with pants and Shaun Hill, we’ve seen how that story ends. He is bringing a hard-nosed attitude, how that translates to wins is unknown. This team has some good players, but really if they were not in the division they are, they might not have two wins. The talent level just isn’t that high. Aside from Frank Gore and some nice young defensive players, this team is a long way from the playoffs.
Prediction: (4-12)
I don’t like much of what’s going on in the bay area, however, they do have a quarterback who knows the system having battled for the spot in training camp, they have one of the best backs in the business and numerous people are fighting for their jobs, this should lead to some competitive games and maybe a couple wins.
Seattle Seahawks (2-6)
We knew that Seahawks continual dominance of the weak NFC West would end sometime soon, what we didn’t know is that it would not be taken away, but they would become a doormat so soon. It’s hard to blame anyone, they have simply been too beat up to get a full team on the field. Every player who has sniffed an NFL practice field in the last five years has been contacted by the Seahawks, you may know someone personally who auditioned to play wide receiver. Seneca Wallace has been serviceable the last couple weeks filling in for Matt Hasselbeck, however quarterback play is far from the only weakness on this team.
Prediction: (4-12)
Well, it was a good run. The tough thing is that next season doesn’t even look very promising, if this team was fully healthy it would be competitive for possibly a winning season, but they look to have been passed by the Cardinals in the division and definitely are not a contender in the NFC overall. Just another rainy day on the Seattle sports scene for 2008.
Saint Louis Rams (2-6)
After firing Scott Linehan, interim coach Jim Haslett has the team playing inspired football. This team has been a tough opponent and they have been anything but healthy also. Donnie Avery, the first wide receiver taken in the last NFL draft was a head scratcher, as of late he has been making defensive backs confused. With a healthy Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger this team would be a viable contender for the division, however the awful start coupled with the aforementioned health problems have taken any momentum out of the sails.
Prediction: (5-11)
This team has two very quality wins over the Redskins and the Cowboys. That in itself leaves reason for optimism. The schedule is a little easier in the second half, five or six wins seams to be the target. If this team can have a decent second half, it could build momentum for a comeback year next year.
Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
Your NFC West Champion Cardinals, this is the only gimme as far as divisions go. The Cardinals are the class of the NFC West. They have been electric on offense, with Kurt Warner having taken out another loan from the Devil he’s looking like an MVP candidate again. The aerial attack could be receiving more ground support with rookie Tim Hightower taking over for Edgerrin James. The defense has done a good enough job to play to the level of the competition and keep the Cardinals offense in the game to win it. Not only are the Cards set in this division, they could have their sights on possibly hosting a playoff game.
Prediction: (11-5)
About the only thing that could derail this offense is an injury to Kurt Warner, if that happens Matt Leinart should be able to keep them from losing the division, eight wins could easily be enough as sad as that is. If you’re looking for a team to jump on the bandwagon, it probably isn’t the Cardinals, they don’t seem to have the defense or balance to beat the upper echelon teams in the NFC, with that said, they could throw their way into the NFC Championship if everything went their way.
Playoffs:
NFC West: Arizona (11-5) NFC East: New York (13-3) NFC North: Green Bay (9-7)
NFC South: Carolina (11-5) Wild Cards: Washington (10-6) Dallas (10-6)
Wild Card Round: Dallas defeats Arizona Green Bay defeats Washington
Divisional Round: New York defeats Green Bay Dallas defeats Carolina
NFC Championship: Dallas defeats New York
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