2014 NFL Predictions-Part 1: The NFC

It is that time of the year again as we look forward to the start of the 2014 season. As always, I have taken my time to analyze and break down all 32 teams and make my predictions for the upcoming year. Before I get to my predictions, I want to revisit some of the rules and theories that go into making these predictions. First, the rule of thumb is that six playoff teams from last year will make it back and six teams won't make it back to the playoffs this year. Naturally, I factored that in this year when I made my picks. Secondly, look for at least one team that lost 10 or more games last year to rise up and make the playoffs this year. Third, at least one team that won at least 12 games last year will not make the playoffs again this year. Lastly, I look for some out of the box predictions. I don't want to just go with the chalk picks. I want to be different. Some years it works out and some years-like last year's pick of the Texans going to the Super Bowl- it doesn't work out. That is all part of the fun. I'll start with the NFC. Enjoy!

NFC East
1) New York Giants
What I Like: I swear to God I don't have a special preference to the Giants, but I always seem to pick them to win the NFC East, and most of the time I pick them and I am dead wrong. I guess I won't doubt Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning after they bested Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in two Super Bowls in a five year span. The thing about the Giants is that they know how bad last year was from Eli all the way down to the defense. It was a horrible 7-9 campaign, and I just can't see them falling flat once again. They have missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, and I don't think it will happen again. Why? I think it comes down to Eli Manning have a bounce back season, a rebuilt receiving corps and offensive line, and a defense that added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond to their secondary and the reemergence of Jason Pierre-Paul. Their schedule is pretty friendly with an opening slate of at Detroit, home to Arizona, and home to Houston and a backend that includes this final six: vs. Dallas, at Jacksonville, at Tennessee, vs. Washington, at St. Louis and home vs. Philly. That's not a brutal stretch to start or finish the season. Look for the G-Men to bounce back and make the playoffs in the weak NFC East.

What I Don't Like: Don't get me wrong this team does have flaws. Is Eli on the downside of his career? What if he just is average the rest of his career-especially in a new offense and with a new coordinator? Losing a leader like Justin Tuck on defense will be certainly be a factor, and it seems like every year Giants fans are complaining about their front seven during the season, and if Jon Beason doesn't pan out in the middle, then the Giants could be screwed again. Guard Geoff Schwartz injured his foot in preseason, and his status is up in the air for the start of the regular season, and 1st round pick Odell Beckham has barely even practiced in the preseason due to a nagging leg injury. They have a five-game stretch in their schedule that will be very tough. From Week 6 to Week 11 they have to play at Philly, at Dallas, BYE, vs. Indy, at Seattle, and vs. San Francisco. Getting the Seahawks and Niners back-to-back is really brutal. They have to be at least 4-1 or at worst 3-2 heading into that stretch. If they aren't, then they could be in big trouble.

Prediction: 9-7 (Winners of the NFC East)

2) Philadelphia Eagles
What I Like: Chip Kelly might be a genius after all. He took a mediocre team and won the NFC East in his first season with Nick Foles looking like Johnny Unitas. Maybe-just maybe-Kelly is the real deal, and the next great NFL head coach. Foles played some of the best football outside of Peyton Manning at the QB position at times last year. If Foles can do that again this year, then the Eagles win the division going away. You have to love the addition of Darren Sproles to this offense, and the combination of Sproles and LeSean McCoy could be very dangerous. On paper they are the best team in the division. Perhaps the Eagles are on the cusp of dominating the NFC East just like they did in the early 2000s under Andy Reid.

What I Don't Like: Every year in the offseason the other coaches around the league go back and break down film of another coach and how that coach had success the prior year. Everyone is going to do their homework to solve Chip Kelly and his schemes. If you give NFL coaches an offseason to prepare, then they will find a way to figure an opponent out. Look for the same to happen to Kelly and the Eagles offense this year.  Also, can we expect the same production out of Foles this year? If Foles falters, then the Eagles are toast. I'm not ready to jump on the Foles bandwagon just yet. Plus, their schedule is very tricky. They have three brutal road games out of their division: at Indy in Week 2, at Green Bay in Week 11, and at SF in Week 4. They also have to play Seattle in Week 14, and close the season with back-to-back road games at Washington and at the Giants. The road to the playoffs will be much harder for them this year, and look for them to fall just short.

Prediction: 8-8 (2nd Place in the NFC East)

3) Washington Redskins
What I Like: This year can't be as worse as last year's 3-13 nightmare. New head coach Jay Gruden will bring at least a short term energy to the franchise as he tries to rebuild the team. As far as RG III goes, think about this: Two years ago he was one of the stars of the entire NFL. He was one of the futuristic QBs that was going to be one of the faces of the NFL for the next 10 years. Now, all you hear  is that he is never going to be healthy, can't play the game he wants, and he can't read a NFL defense. I find it hard to believe that he already reached his potential and the rest of his career is going downhill. Watch out for RG III this year because I have a feeling he is going to play really well and revitalize his image and his career in 2014. Can't you just see ridiculous highlights every week of RG III throwing bombs to Desean Jackson? They could be this year's ultimate sleeper team.

What I Don't Like: I think Jay Gruden did a nice job in Cincy with that Bengals offense, but did he really do enough to earn a head coaching job-especially with all the scrutiny that comes with the Redskins job? I'm not totally sold on Jay Gruden as a head coach in this league. Go back and watch the Bengals in the playoffs the last two years. As far as RG III goes, you don't wonder about his ability, but you really have to be concerned about his attitude and character after last season. Maybe he can't handle adversity at this level. Maybe he has a little Vince Young about him, and he folds mentally when things go wrong. Last year's debacle may have exposed him as a guy that really can't handle the pressure of being the face of a franchise. Their schedule isn't doing them any favors either. Their non-division schedule includes games against Seattle, at Arizona, at San Francisco, and at Indy. I think they will be better than last year, but they will fall short of the playoffs in the end.

Prediction: 8-8 (3rd Place in the NFC East)

4) Dallas Cowboys
What I Like: If he is healthy and on his game, then Tony Romo gives you a chance to win every week. Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and DeMarco Murray are all viable weapons and their offense could be very dangerous. I like that they added Zack Martin in the draft to upgrade their offensive line. Their schedule could really help them in the beginning of the season. Six out of their first nine games are at home. They get SF and New Orleans at home in that span and one of their toughest non-division games is against Indy and that is at home in Week 16. They lost so many heartbreakers last year, that if they just won one of them, then they would have won the division by a few games.  If they get off to a good start and Romo is healthy, then the Cowboys could be in the mix for the division at the end.

What I Don't Like: It is the Cowboys and we know what to expect at this point: A lot of sizzle but no substance. I am worried about Romo being healthy and holding up after back surgery. It doesn't sound like it is the easiest thing to come back from and you have to wonder about Romo holding up. Dez Bryant is always a distraction and they already lost Sean Lee for the season to a torn ACL in non-contact OTAs. Their defense is a mess, and Jason Garrett scares the hell out of you as an in-game strategist in these critical games. He never delivers in these big spots over the past few years. Their schedule is also very tough at the end because they finish with five road games out of their last seven games. Those games include trips to the Giants, Chicago, and Philly. I think the Cowboys will implode this year, and force Jerry Jones to blow it all up and start fresh in 2015.

Prediction: 5-11 (Last in the NFC East)

NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers
What I Like: It is all about Aaron Rodgers. Last year, Rodgers missed seven games and Packers went 2-4-1 in his absence, yet they still made the playoffs after Rodgers returned and shocked the Bears in Week 17 on a 4th down touchdown pass in the closing moments. Rodgers is a top-five player in the league, and if he is your quarterback, then you have a chance to win the Super Bowl every year. They got one of the best safeties to fall to them in the draft with the addition of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. They also added Julius Peppers to their defense, and you can definitely see a bounce back year for him. Schedule wise they are in good shape. They open on the road at Seattle on the Thursday night opener, but after that they have the following slate: Jets, at Detroit, at Chicago, Minnesota, at Miami, and Carolina. That isn't bad at all and they could very easily be 6-1 right out of the gate. Plus, they get Philly and New England at home in Lambeau later on in the year. The Packers could certainly be there challenging for the NFC bid to go to the Super Bowl.

What I Don't Like: It starts with their defense. Clay Matthews can't stay healthy, their secondary does have some question marks, and their defensive line isn't the greatest going into the season. If their defense falters again, you can't put it all on Aaron Rodgers shoulders. Their division is very tough and games against the Bears and Lions are not going to be easy. You also have to think about their mental state after failing to get past the 49ers the last two years in the playoffs. If they have to face either Seattle or San Francisco in the playoffs again, you have to wonder if they will be able to get by them.

Prediction: 11-5 (Winners of the NFC North)

2) Chicago Bears
What I Like: Offensively, the Bears are nasty. Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Matt Forte, and Martellus Bennett would be fine for any fantasy owner in any fantasy league. They will score points again in 2014. They addressed their needs on defense by adding Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston in free agency and drafting three defensive players in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. Their defense should definitely take a step forward this year. Also, they get a break in the schedule when they have a three-game homestand in December when they host Dallas, New Orleans, and Detroit from Weeks 14-16. I also have to admit that I am a fan of Marc Trestman and his demeanor. If he can find a way to fix the defense, the Bears will be playoff bound.

What I Don't Like: How many playoff games has Jay Cutler won as a NFL quarterback? The answer is 1, and that was four years ago. Cutler has been a starter since 2006 and it is 2014 and he has won only a single playoff game in his career. How many playoff games has Brandon Marshall played in his 8 year career? The answer is 0. Those two guys don't exactly give me the confidence that they will all of sudden go off and make a run at the Super Bowl. You have to worry about their defense as well. If their offseason moves don't pan out, then the Bears are on the outside of the playoff mix once again. Their out of division schedule is very tough. They have to go to San Francisco, the Jets, Carolina, Atlanta, and the Patriots all in their first eight games, with a home game against Green Bay sandwiched in there. That is a very tough way to open up the first half of their season.

Prediction: 9-7 (2nd Place in the NFC North and a Wild Card Berth)

3) Detroit Lions
What I Like: The Lions were so close to winning the division last year, it is amazing that they didn't. It does give you hope that they are on the cusp of breaking through this year. They added Eric Ebron in the draft and Golden Tate in free agency to an offense that features Matt Stafford, Reggie Bush, Brandon Pettigrew, and of course Calvin Johnson. Their style of play on offense is designed to put up points, and they can match touchdowns with the Bears and Packers in the NFC North. They only have two really tough games out of their division: at home vs. the Saints in Week 7 and at New England in Week 12. Other games on their schedule include winnable games like at the Jets, Buffalo, Miami, at Arizona, Tampa Bay and Minnesota twice. If they go 3-3 in their division, they can definitely get to 9 or 10 wins.

What I Don't Like: Why in the world did they hire Jim Caldwell as their head coach? Did they watch Caldwell at all when he was the head coach in Indy? Go back and watch the Super Bowl loss Indy had to the Saints and the playoff loss to the Jets the following year. Caldwell was absolutely lost in those games and he had Peyton Manning as his quarterback. Last year, Caldwell did nothing to help his cause by piloting the Ravens offense into the ground. I just think that Caldwell is a bad fit for this team. Also, what happened to that vaunted Lions defensive front? It seems like Ndamukong Suh's career has taken a turn for the worse after the repeated incidents of dirty plays that he has put forth the past few years. It seems like he lost his mojo. Their secondary is a weakness and that is not a good thing when you are in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler. Expect a lot of close and exciting games from the Lions in 2014, but also expect a lot of clueless shots of Caldwell on the sidelines as the Lions lose all those close games.

Prediction: 7-9 (3rd Place in the NFC North)

4) Minnesota Vikings
What I Like: The Vikings have two of the most explosive offensive players in the NFC with Adrian Peterson and Cordarrelle Patterson. Those two guys can change a game and score from any point on the field. I really like the hire of Mike Zimmer as their new head coach. You can tell if an assistant coach has the ability to be a head coach and after watching Zimmer on "Hard Knocks" and watching him on the sidelines during his career, you can tell that Zimmer is a real head coach. I think Zimmer will be successful once he builds this team the way he wants, and you know he is going to get all those young guys on defense to play well. Their schedule isn't awful and their two toughest out of division games are against New England in Week 2 and at New Orleans in Week 3, so they get them out of the way early.

What I Don't Like: It starts with the QB position. You can't win big in this league with a starter like Matt Cassel. I'm sorry but I've seen him play enough, and he simply isn't the kind of guy to bring a team to the playoffs. Then, the Vikings go draft Teddy Bridgewater at the end of the first round as hope for the future. It can't be good that Bridgewater went from a surefire top pick in the draft before the season started to a guy who plummeted to the end of the first round. They will turn to Bridgewater at some point in the season and that will be a sign that they are building for next season. Plus, this year the Vikings will play their home games at the University of Minnesota's stadium while they wait for their new stadium to be built. Anytime a team plays their home games at an alternate venue for a few years never seems to pan out. It will provide no homefield advantage outside of the weather, and going from a loud dome to a college campus is a disaster waiting to happen. The Vikes are at least a year away from contending for the playoffs.

Prediction: 6-10 (Last Place in the NFC North) 

NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints
What I Like: The Saints finished 11-5 last year, and were valiant in defeat at Seattle in the Divisional Round in the playoffs, and they look like they will pick up where they left off heading into 2014. We all know how great Drew Brees is, and with the Jimmy Graham contract now finalized all the pieces are in place for Brees and that offense to grow this year. You have a feeling that rookie 1st round pick Brandin Cooks will be a perfect fit in the receiving corps to go with Graham and Marques Colston. Defensively, the Saints added S Jairus Byrd and CB Stanley-Jean Baptiste to their secondary to help out Kenny Vaccaro. I love their front seven, and when a defense has the ability to play with a lead and use their dome to their advantage, then watch out.  Three of their toughest games this year are on a three game homestand from Weeks 10-12 (SF, Cincy, and Baltimore.) This team seems loaded and ready to make a run at the big two: Seattle and San Francisco.

What I Don't Like: Offensively, their offense is terrific, but they did lose Darren Sproles, Lance Moore, and C Brian De La Puente. I know this sounds a little ridiculous, but they scored over 30 points only six times last year. That is down year for their offense. Perhaps they are running out of steam a little bit. You just hope that their defensive additions pan out. Their schedule is friendly, but they do draw the NFC North and AFC North, and those divisions are two of the toughest in the NFL. Just like Green Bay, you just have to wonder when push comes to shove if they truly believe that they can beat Seattle or San Francisco if they meet up in the playoffs.

Prediction: 11-5 (Winners of the NFC South)


2) Atlanta Falcons
What I Like: Every year a team goes through a season and nothing breaks right for them. That was the story for the Falcons last year. Coming off three straight playoff seasons and a NFC Championship Game appearance, the Falcons crashed landed in 2013. Injuries piled up, close losses early doomed their season, and the Falcons never recovered from a 1-4 start on their way to a disappointing 4-12 finish. The Falcons just have that feeling of a team that is ready to bounce back in a big way in 2014. Matt Ryan is still a top level QB. He isn't in the elite level just yet, but he is just a notch below. If you have Ryan at QB, then you have a legitimate chance to be a playoff team. Plus, he is getting Julio Jones and Roddy White back healthy and ready to roll. Look out for a rejuvenated Steven Jackson to bounce back in 2014 too. They have added some beef to their defense with the additions of Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai in free agency, and Ra'shede Hageman in the draft. They also shored up their offensive line with the drafting of OT Jake Matthews with the 6th overall pick. They finish with four out of their last six games at home and their toughest road game outside of their division is at Green Bay. Other than that, their schedule is friendly. I think the Falcons will rise up and get back to the playoffs with the help of Matt Ryan and that offense.

What I Don't Like: They did add some beef up front on their defensive line, but if you look at some other spots on their defense you have to get a little worried. Names like Jonathan Massaquoi, Paul Worrilow, Joplo Bartu, and Robert Alford aren't exactly household superstars, and when you are relying on Osi Umeniyora as your top pass rusher heading into the season, that could be a problem. Losing LT Sam Baker to injury in the preseason could be a real blow if Matthews isn't ready to take over his spot. We know that that will be better than what happened in 2013, but how much have they advanced on the Saints? Can they catch them? Are they able to deal with a sneaky tough division? Those are some reasons to worry about the Falcons making the leap back to the top of the division or into the playoffs.

Prediction: 10-6 (2nd Place and a Wild Card Berth)

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What I Like: Lovie Smith isn't the greatest head coach of all time, but he did a pretty good job in Chicago, and I think he will bring some stability back to the franchise. With the selection of Mike Evans in the first round of the draft, the Bucs could have one of the better 1-2 combinations at WR pairing Evans and Vincent Jackson. Doug Martin is coming back from injury, and if they can get Josh McCown to replicate his play in Chicago from last season, then the Bucs could definitely surprise this year. Trading for Logan Mankins was the kind of move that really could help them short term. When you look at their defense, there is a lot of talent there for Lovie to play with. Michael Johnson, Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David, Dashon Goldson, and Alterraun Verner all can play, and it seems like their defense is ready to take off and become a force. They open up with two games at home (Carolina and St. Louis) and close with two at home (Green Bay and New Orleans). I think the Bucs are a year away, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them playing a meaningful game in Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line.

What I Don't Like: I know they end with two at home, but those two games are brutal with Green Bay and New Orleans coming to town. The Bucs better hope that the Saints have already clinched a playoff spot at that point. They also have a brutal three game road swing when they head to Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans in Weeks 3 through 5. That is a tough stretch. The biggest question to me is the fact that they are pinning their hopes on offense on Josh McCown. Don't get me wrong because he played great last year in Chicago when Jay Cutler went down, but you have to wonder about putting the franchise on the shoulders of 12-year journeyman QB. I just think that might be too much to ask for McCown to overcome as the main man in Tampa Bay.

Prediction: 7-9 (3rd Place in the NFC South)

4) Carolina Panthers
What I Like: You have to admire how Cam Newton matured last year, and he is quite simply a force with the style that he plays. Ron Rivera also distinguished himself as a revolutionary with his gambling style and going for it on so many 4th down plays. Perhaps Rivera is a coach who just throws shit against the wall and it sticks every time. You also have the feeling that the Panthers are going to be in a lot of games with the way their defense plays. Their style of play is conducive to playing solid defense, controlling the ball with their running game, and letting Cam Newton make a few big plays to win the game in the end. That could work for them and keep them in every single game.

What I Don't Like: The Panthers offseason was a disaster. Jordan Gross retired and they lost Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Ted Ginn to free agency. Those were three of the top four receivers on their team last year. They replaced them with Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, and first round pick Kelvin Benjamin. Not exactly what I would call threatening in the receiving corps. Plus, Cam Newton needed offseason surgery, and he got hurt in the preseason, and you have to wonder how the wear and tear will affect his season. They also lost CB Captain Munnerlyn from their secondary. Throw in the fact that they are in a very tough division, and their out of division games include Pittsburgh, at Baltimore, Chicago, Cincy, at Green Bay, Seattle, and at Philly. That is a tough set of games to handle. It just seems like the Panthers are due for a letdown after last year's surprising 12-4 finish. The Panthers look like that team where everything just goes wrong and they never recover on their way to a disappointing season in 2014.

Prediction: 5-11 (Last Place in the NFC South)

1) Seattle Seahawks
What I Like: No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since the Pats did it in 2004, and the Seahawks have the best chance to do it since them. Seattle is LOADED. Let me repeat that: Seattle is LOADED. They are the frontrunners to win the Super Bowl again, and they should be. Forget about the schedule. Forget about heading to San Francisco on Thanksgiving Night. Forget about their division. The Seahawks are going to be really good. Russell Wilson will be better, and they get a healthy Percy Harvin back for a full season. We know about their defense, and if you had any questions about them, then just go back and watch the film from the Super Bowl where they absolutely dominated the best offense in the history of the NFL. All the key guys are back and their defense will be just as good as it was last year. Throw in the coaching of Pete Carroll and the fact that they have the best homefield advantage of any team in any professional sport in North America. The only thing that can stop the Seahawks this year is themselves.

What I Don't Like: Pat Riley used to talk about the "Disease of Me" after teams won championships. He worried that championship teams would start worrying about everything else, but what they should be worrying about and that is winning another title. That might be the only thing that could stop Seattle this year. All the hype and publicity that Richard Sherman and company got this offseason could potentially derail their hopes. If you are rooting against them, then this might be the only hope for the Seahawks taking a step back in 2014.

Prediction: 12-4 (Winners of the NFC West)


2) San Francisco 49ers
What I Like: Pound for pound they are one of the top two teams in the entire NFL. They added Stevie Johnson to their receiver group that features Vernon Davis, Anquan Boldin, and Michael Crabtree. Colin Kaepernick should continue to get better and better, and Frank Gore is still a workhorse. Their front seven is still one of the best in football. They are a battle-tested team that has won 36 regular season games, five playoff games, and made three straight NFC Championship Game appearances in the past three seasons. They are also led by one of the best coaches in the NFL in Jim Harbaugh. They finish with four out of their last six games at home, and they get to exact revenge on Seattle with a night game on Thanksgiving at home. On paper, they should be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

What I Don't Like: Here is why the 49ers will miss the playoffs and have a down year in 2014: I don't trust Colin Kapernick. Yes, he is talented and a good player, but I just don't trust him. He might be a franchise defining player down the road, but I think he takes a step back this year. I just don't think you can put everything on his plate and he will deliver every time. Also, I wonder how much has taken a toll on this team the last three years. They lost Navorro Bowman to a gruesome injury in the NFC Championship, and if he doesn't bounce back from the injury right away, then that could be trouble for their defense. Aldon Smith is suspended for the first nine games of the year, and DT Ray McDonald just got busted on a domestic violence issue. The Jim Harbaugh contract extension/relationship with the front office seems to be hanging over this franchise like a dark cloud. That is a lot of outside noise for this team to deal with. They also have question marks in the secondary-especially at cornerback. I would be a little worried about Chris Culliver and Tramaine Brock. This just might be a year where the 49ers just don't get any breaks, lose some close games, and run out of gas at the end. This is one of those "gut feeling" picks, and I think the Niners miss out on the playoffs for the first time under Harbaugh.

Prediction: 8-8 (2nd Place in the NFC West)



3) Arizona Cardinals
What I Like: How can you not love what Bruce Arians did last year as a first year head coach? A 10-6 record in that division was one of the most impressive jobs anyone has done in a long time. They have a top player on offense and defense in Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson. Their defense is really good upfront and they added Antonio Cromartie to a secondary that includes Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. They even got over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns out of Carson Palmer last year. You know they aren't afraid of Seattle and San Francisco, and they shocked the Seahawks in Seattle last year in Week 16.

What I Don't Like: You are pinning your hopes on Carson Palmer once again. Palmer isn't awful, but to ask him to go out and win 10 games for you in that division is asking a lot. Outside of Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, who scares you on that offense. In addition, you don't know how Mathieu will respond after tearing up his knee late last season. They are in a division with Seattle, San Francisco and an improving Rams team. Their schedule is nighmarish at times. Their first four games are: San Diego, a trip across the country against the Giants, San Francisco, and at Denver. They have to play at Seattle and at Atlanta back-to-back in Weeks 12 and 13, and they finish with at St. Louis (Thursday Night Game), Seattle, and at San Francisco in their final three games. It just seems like the deck is stacked a little too high for the Cards to repeat their success from last year.

Prediction: 8-8 (3rd Place in the NFC West)


4) St. Louis Rams
What I Like: The Rams were one of the most interesting teams heading into the season. Losing Sam Bradford for the year was a terrible situation; however, they have a lot of aspects of their team going in the right direction: A defense that can get to the quarterback and create turnovers (This is where Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, James Laurinitis, Alec Ogletree, and Janoris Jenkins fit in), quality Coaching (Jeff Fisher), solid offensive line (Their first round pick Greg Robinson was one of the safest picks in the entire draft), and a few playmakers (Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Zac Stacy, and rookie RB Tre Mason.) Here are their first three games on their schedule: Minnesota, at Tampa Bay, and Dallas. Their last five games are friendly too: Oakland, at Washington, Arizona, NY Giants, and at Seattle. I know they are in a tough division, but if they can at least go 3-3 in their division, then maybe they have a shot to surprise some people this year. If Shaun Hill can give them anything resembling some quality play, then they will at least be playing meaningful games come December.

What I Don't Like: Losing Sam Bradford to a torn ACL really screwed their shot as being a legitimate playoff contender. I know Bradford had a lot to prove, but when you put all your eggs in one basket, and that gets blown up, it is really hard to recover. I just don't think Hill can do it consistently week in and week out to keep the Rams afloat. Plus, we know how tough it is to be in the same division as Seattle and San Francisco. Their schedule has a really tough stretch when they play at Philly, San Fran, Seattle, at Kansas City, at San Fran, and at Arizona in a six game stretch from Weeks 5-10. That is a very tough set of games. If they get off to a slow start, then their season could go down the tubes. They may be competitive each week, but the loss of Bradford will keep them out of the playoffs.

Prediction: 5-11 (Last Place in the NFC West)

Quick Recap:
NFC East
1) NY Giants (9-7)
2) Philly (8-8)
3) Washington (8-8)
4) Dallas (5-11)

NFC North
1) Green Bay (11-5)
2) Chicago (9-7)-Wild Card
3) Detroit (7-9)
4) Minnesota (6-10)

NFC South
1) New Orleans (11-5)
2) Atlanta (10-6)-Wild Card
3) Tampa Bay (7-9)
4) Carolina (5-11)

NFC West
1) Seattle (12-4)
2) San Francisco (8-8)
3) Arizona (8-8)
4) St. Louis (5-11)

NFC Playoff Seeds/Predictions
1) Seattle
2) Green Bay
3) New Orleans
4) NY Giants
5) Atlanta
6) Chicago

Wild Card Round:
3-New Orleans over 6-Chicago (Brees and the Saints outlast the Bears in a fun Wild Card matchup)
5-Atlanta over 4-Giants (Falcons get revenge from 2011 Wild Card loss to Giants)

Divisional Round:
1-Seattle over 5-Atlanta (Seahawks become first defending Super Bowl Champion to win a playoff game the next year since 2005 Patriots)
2-Green Bay over 3-New Orleans (Rodgers outduels Brees in a classic shootout to advance to NFC Championship)

NFC Championship Game
2-Green Bay over 1-Seattle (The Packers stun the Seahawks in Seattle to advance to the Super Bowl)