NFC Preview

El Parino's annual NFL preview kicks off now!

NFC EAST
Easily the toughest division in all of football there are three teams in this division that can make the playoffs. It'll come down to who is better at those head-to-head matchups. Let's go deeper.

Giants 11-5: The offense will be electric. Might end up being the highest scoring team in the NFC. Eli in year 3, Barber playing like a 4th year back, receiving corp one of the league’s deepest and the O-line is solid. On Defense we’ll see if the addition of LaVar Arrington has any impact on the defense. Corners are all but new except for the back-ups and Webster. Gibril Wilson will try and make this year a “leap” year and catapult his name into the Pro Bowl hat. Osi and Strahan on the corners will be tough to block but if the interior lineman don’t help out it could be double team city.

Projection:
What if the opener at Giants Stadium vs. Indianapolis is a Super Bowl preview?
Don’t sleep on the Giants ending up there.

Cowboys 10-6: As the TO saga lives on the Boy’s look primed and ready to take on anyone and everyone this season. The Vanderjagt signing was huge because they lost three games by a FG or less last season. The only concern is the offensive line. If they allow too much pressure on the Bledsoe it will be INT city. And that won’t be good in a conference that boast some really good secondaries. On defense they are scary. And fast. DeMarcus Ware is a fucking animal and has just started to scratch the surface. The 3-4 gives a lot of teams fits especially when just about every backer or lineman is a hybrid. Solid secondary too. Dallas will win a lot of games with their defense.

Projection: They’ll be in it all the way and probably snatch up a WC berth. They may even make some noise in January. Parcells and Owens is going to be interesting. Look forward to week 5 when they are in Philly. How many TO stories do you think will be told leading up to that one?

Eagles 9-7: Can McNabb carry this team all season? That’s the question for me. Westbrook is not a cow-bell running back so it’s not like they can pound the ball and play defense. I give them nine wins on McNabb’s legs and arm. Plus the schedule is favorable….Houston, San Fran, Green Bay, New Orleans, Tennesee…all sub .500 teams. I almost gave them another win based on Stallworth but he's not that good. The defense is pretty good. Real nice defensive line coupled with an good secondary. One thing they do well is knock the snot out of you. Which is good. Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins can bang.

Projections: Fans don’t be fooled with a early record of 5-1 or 4-1. Last six games down the stretch: @ Indy, Carolina, @ Washington, @ NY, @ Dallas and home against the Falcons.

Skins 8-8: Last year everyone was a bit surprised when they went 10-6 and made some playoff noise. Hope they had their fun. This year will be different. The faster Campbell gets the start the better this team will be. Brunell is done. Now with Al Saunders the offense is not short quick throws but longer crosses and downfield shots. The workhorse is already out with a bum shoulder that could hinder him all year and Duckett is not the answer. Moss is the only bright spot, he is seemingly unstoppable. They’ll continue being good on the defensive side (which will keep them close in most games), partly because Gregg Williams is a great coach and they do have some talent. Sean Taylor is a beast, Archuleta will help and Marcus Washington is underated as a LB.

Projections: Typical skins. Go out, spend cash, struggle to win 8 games. Last year was a mirage, I’m telling you.

NFC WEST

Seattle 11-5: They have an opportunity to go 6-0 in thier division. Plus they return all key-defensive players from last year's top rated D. Losing Hutchinson was big yes but Floyd Womack is serviceable at that spot.

Projectons: Boring. They'll lose in the first round of the playoffs. Espeacially if the don't lock up the best record and get a bye.

St. Louis 9-7: A lot of people are down on St. Looey this year but I don't know why. They have a great back in Jackson, still one of the best receivers, very good QB and a re-vamped defense. La'Roi Glover, Wihterspoon, Tye Hill and Corey Chavous are all solid defenders in a scheme that Jim Haslett is now in control of.

Projection: They are gonna put a real scare in some teams again. Jackson will most defintely be over 1500 yards.

Arizona 8-8: Close but no cigar. Does Edge put them over the top? Will they inprove their red zone %'s? Will Rackers score 45% of thier points? Can the O-line give Warner time and block for the Edge? Will Antrel Rolle stay healthy? Can the D firm up in the red zone and hold teams to FG's? Get the drift, too many questions here. I don't like them to win more than 8 games. It'll be an improvement though and maybe next year they'll be a playoff team.

Projections: New stadium, new attitude. Not quite the same as 5-11 or 7-9 but a step in the right direction for sure. Leinart will be very good once he gets his chance.

San Francisco 6-10: A. Smith really needed his rib guard last year as his o-line got him sacked 29 times. An interesting qoute I want to pass along about Smith "If you put him in Pittsburgh when Big Ben came out the same thing happens. They go 15-1. You put Big Ben in San Fran and the same thing happens. They go 4-12". Thought that proved that it's not the QB. When no one gets open and the line doesn't protect you can't move the ball. I like 2nd year guy Frank Gore and I like Nolan. I think he's tryin to rebuild quickly. They lost three games last year by less than 3 points.

Projections: I think Smith and Gore could lead this team back to glory days eventually. This year two more wins is encouraging.

NFC South

Carolina Panthers 12-4: Am I on the Super Bowl wagon? Maybe. The thing I like about them the most is thier depth. It seems that they can survive just about any injury that comes up. The D is straight up gangsta with excellent pass-rushers, backers and corners. Keyshawn puts some punch in the WR spot and Steve Smith is virtually impossible to cover one-on-one. Deangelo Williams backs up an injury prone Deshaun Foster so no Jamal Roertson in an NFC title game this time around.

Projections: May be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons 10-6: I like the front office moves of bringing in Grady Jackson who with Rod Coleman should be able to handle the run better. John Abraham from NYJ will also help.
I still don't trust the offense though. Vick is still not a great or even good pocket passer. 10 wins on the schedule of playing the Saints twice, Detroit, Cleveland, and home against the Cards.

Projections: Jerrious Norwood. Jimmy Williams. Two rookies that are going to be stars in the NFL. Write it down.

Tampa Bay 9-7: I like Cadillac in year #2. I like Simms as a QB, he's got all the tools. I just worry about the defense a little. They are a little long in the tooth. Can they survive a big time injury?

Projections: Clayton is going be a big time wide-out.

Saints 4-12: They have a terrible defense. Really bad. It would be a miracle if they won more than four games. I like the Brees pickup though.

Projections: It's going to be hard for Payton to keep Bush off the field this year. He's just too electric.

NFC North

Bears 13-3: The defense is just ridiculous. Urlacher is the best defensive player in the league.
The QB situation is stable because I think Grossman is going to be good. The running back situation is going to be fine. Benson can bang and Thomas can run. And that schedule: Green Bay twice, Detroit twice, Minny twice, Buffalo, Arizona, San Fran, and the JETS!!! That's at least 9 to 10 wins right there!

Projections: This is my NFC Super Bowl pick. January in Chicago, with a healthy team....oh boy.

Green Bay 9-7: Surprising right? I know. But it can happen. Give Farve two wins on will alone and the rest of thier schedule plays into thier hands. They are home to Minny, NY Jets, Detroit (December), Arizona and the Saints. They won't beat Chi-town but they can beat everyone else in the division.

Projections: This is my going out on a limb pick. 9 games is stretch for this team. What if Ahman comes back strong? Not as crazy as it looks right?

Minnesota 8-8: Mediocre. that's the word that comes to mind whe I look at this team. Brad Johnson is stable but mediocre. The back-up is a joke (Bollinger) and it won't matter if Chester Taylor rushes for over 1000 yards because they have no passing game. Defense looks pretty good, it'll be interesting to see if they can put it together.

Projections: Udeze is going to explode this year. Fine DE.

Detroit 6-10: Strides yes but as long as Millen is GM and Ford owns this team it won't be a winner. Kitna is a back-up at best so stop it.

Projections: I really like Kevin Jones this year. Watch out.

Playoff teams:
1. Bears, 2. Giants, 3. Carolina 4. Seattle, 5. Cowboys, 6. Atlanta

Wild Card:
Carolina over Atlanta. Cowboys over Seattle

Divisional:
Bears over Cowboys. Giants over Carolina.

NFC Championship:
Bears over Giants