NFL Preview- Divisions and Wild Cards

NFC East

1.    Eagles

2.    Cowboys

3.    Redskins

4.    Giants

While losing Owens seemed like the loss of a distraction, it is also the loss of one of the league’s premiere weapons, and it makes Dallas lose their edge a little bit in the NFC East. The Redskins just don’t cut it yet, and the Giants have lost both of their starting receivers Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress, leaving “little” Manning just about no one to throw to. That leaves the Eagles, a team that has had quite the off-season. Losing their on field defensive leader Brian Dawkins to the Broncos, and their off the field defensive leader Jim Johnson to cancer, the Eagles will find their losses on the D side as a source of inspiration to really prove themselves as a unit. With fresh leg on the offensive line with Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, and fresh legs in the skill positions with rookies Lesean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, along with ultimate weapon slash convict Michael Vick, the Birds will have their usual consistent offense and will have a slightly easy time taking the division title.

NFC North

1.    Bears

2.    Vikings

3.    Packers

4.    Lions

This is a division that is not as clear cut as the NFC East or NFC West. There is no power in the North and that is mainly because each team in this division has a hard time putting points on the board. The Vikings should be the favorite to take the division, but the whole Brett Favre deal had to have taken a toll on the team’s off-season, and now the quarterback situation still isn’t cleared up. While the Lions are still hopeless, the Packers are in what I would call somewhat of a rebuilding year, leaving Jay Cutler and the Bears to back up Cut’s off-season division smack talk. Cutler along with second year running back sensation Matt Forte (let’s pray for no sophomore slump Windy City), will be the one two punch that combines with a well above average defense to take the NFC North.

NFC South

1.    Falcons

2.  Panthers

3.    Saints

4.    Buccaneers

The Saints and Bucs for me start the season out of the picture, although I could see the Saints making a push later in the year if Reggie Bush can get his act together, Brees can’t do it alone. This division really comes down to two really good offensive teams in the Panthers and Falcons. The Falcons list of weapons grew with the addition of TE Tony Gonzalez, just another toy for young Matt Ryan to play with. The Panthers found their stride as a team last year, getting a first round bye in the playoffs and really figuring out how to use all of their weapons Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and of course Steve Smith. Both teams made the playoffs last year, and I see that happening again, with a first round bye most likely coming from this division as well.

NFC West

1.    Cardinals

2.    San Francisco

3.    Seahawks

4.    Rams

For the last few seasons just about every win that each of these teams get is within their own division. That was until the Cardinals blossomed last season, having a great year under Ken Wisenhut, with ageless Kurt Warner at the helm. The Cardinals will certainly not have the same fate as last year while they represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, but there is no doubt that they will take the NFC West, with the best receiving core in football, and a strong defensive unit.

NFC Wild Cards- Panthers and Cowboys

While the Cowboys had key losses on both sides of the ball with Roy Williams and Terrell Owens leaving the team, I cannot see there being a season for a while where there aren’t to be two NFC East teams in the playoffs, and they are that next team in 2009. The Panthers will in the end get beat out by the Falcons in a close race, either heads up or a let down loss to a team that will be out of the picture, but their record will carry them into the playoffs regardless, maybe Simpson will show up when Romo is winning again.

AFC East

1.    Patriots

2.    Dolphins

3.    Bills

4.    Jets

This season the AFC East teams are going to be brought back to reality because the Pats one year sabbatical is over, and Brady is back. The Patriots will run away with this division with almost as much ease as they did when going 16-0. The Dolphins will fall from last year’s results because the “wild cat,” the staple of their offense will now be in every team’s scouting report, resulting in them losing a creative edge that they had when they won the division in ’08, less people will be surprised. The Bills gained a weapon in Owens, but are losing their running back Marshawn Lynch to a three game suspension to start the year and Pro Bowl linemen Jason Peters to free-agency. A slow start will haunt the Jets for the remainder of the season, as I believe they won’t have their true starting quarterback by at least Week 5. The Pats will prosper whether or not Brady is still ailing or not, they will beat up on their own division, making it a hard time for the rest to get a spot in the playoffs with a wild card.

AFC North

1.    Steelers

2.    Ravens

3.    Bengals

4.    Browns

My philosophy is that you can never doubt the defending champs. The Steelers won it in ’08 behind possibly the league’s best defense, and a above average offense with a lot of weapons. Therefore they have a legitimate shot to do it again, and I can’t see anyone in this division challenging them too much. The Ravens will have another solid year with Flacco at the helm, and their strong defense will make them the team that will challenge the Steelers. The Bengals got stronger because the departure of Housh will mean a better Ocho Cino, and Lavreneus Coles will not need as much attention as the two guy. They also added play-maker Roy Williams to help out the back of their defense substantially. I don’t feel as though Cleveland needs to be mentioned, prove me wrong Brady Quinn. 

AFC South

1.    Colts

2.    Texans

3.    Titans

4.    Jaguars

I understand Marvin is gone, but Joseph Addai will be back and will have a much better season than last year. Harrison makes room for Anthony Gonzalez who I have liked since he came into the league. The Colts will de thrown the Titans, but who didn’t see that coming. Call me crazy but for the first time in a while, Houston we don’t have a problem. Behind play makers Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson, and a defense that will suffice in this division, the Texans will be the team that will make a run at the Colts not the Titans. The Titans will be figured out by now, and their ability to “run” away with victories will end starting in ’09. The Jags need help on offense and on defense, I wish them luck, but grant them no chance.

AFC West

1.    Chargers

2.    Broncos

3.    Raiders

4.    Chiefs

The quarterback is the most important position in football, and without one a team will struggle, alot. Jamarcus Russell, Kyle Orton, and Matt Cassel just don’t  cut it yet, and therefore my logic says they just don’t cut it as teams. That leaves the Chargers with Philip Rivers, who will take this division and maybe get home field advantage solely because of the fact that they will most likely get 6 within this division. The Raiders ground game showed promise with Michael Bush’s week 17 coming out party, and a young Darren McFadden that still has time to develop, the Chiefts signed a still young and in my mind unproven Cassel and added Amani Toomer to be aside Dwayne Bowe in the receiving, and the Broncos have new management and new additions with rookie playmaker Knoshown Moreno and Brian Dawkins. Despite, the Chargers are the team to beat in the worst division in football, its like being the smartest of the dumb, but they’ll get a playoff berth.

AFC Wild Cards- Ravens and Texans

Houston’s first good year in franchise history will not end with a second place finish, but a wild card berth to top it all off. The Ravens will be the shoo in Wild Card team, taking it for two years in a row. Flacco will be a sophomore but already showed that he has the ability to play like a veteran in the NFL in his rookie season. The Texans are to say the least due, and the Ravens are an experienced team (counting out Ray Rice and Joe Flacoo), that knows what its like to play down the stretch for a playoff spot. Miami will challenge each of them for a spot, but will fall short, leaving way for the Birds of Baltimore and the Texans of…Texas.

JD