A review: The NFC and predictions made by me

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I am not ashamed that I should never gamble on professional sports. Here's proof. A look at my pre-season NFL predictions, team by team, and my explanations for sucking.

Prediction
Actual

NFC West

St. Louis Rams -- 9-7 -- 2-14
I think the Rams' biggest problem is the offensive line. They can't protect Sam Bradford. Furthermore, I don't think Bradford has pass catchers (outside of the acquired Brandon Lloyd) to get the ball to in the first place. Defenses could simply stack nine in the box and stop Steven Jackson. Didn't help that Bradford's had his share of injuries in his young career. Defense wasn't great, but there were worse defenses that won more than two games.

Arizona Cardinals -- 8-8 -- 8-8
Kevin Kolb wasn't nearly the player I thought he could be this season, mostly due to injury. The Cardinals stay afloat with a ton of young athletes on both sides of the ball, a really pesky, play-making defense and a home-field advantage.

Seattle Seahawks -- 6-10 -- 7-9
I think Seattle and Arizona are a lot alike. In fact, they were hard to pick on a game-to-game basis. Seattle is a pesky team that would score just enough to make it scary, play a lot of opportunistic defense and rely on a home-field advantage probably like no other in the league. I really feel that both teams are close to being legitimately good (not just NFC West good). Marshawn Lynch is an absolute stud.

San Francisco 49ers -- 3-13 -- 13-3
I don't think I was completely wrong about their offense. It's Frank Gore and Vernon Davis and that's about it. The Niners aren't going to put 30 on the board on a regular basis. What I didn't consider is special teams (San Fran being the best in the league) and defense (San Fran maybe haven't the best in the league). And a new coach. Jim Harbaugh, if nothing else, have made them extremely confident. It doesn't take much to get good in the NFL. It takes even less to get good in the NFC West.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons -- 12-4 -- 10-6
I listened to a podcast and a guy said the Falcons were the most consistent team in 20 years. This may or may not pan out on the field. I didn't think they were consistent at all. It was really hard to separate the Falcons team that blew out bad opponents and the other that crapped the sheets against good teams. Gambling on them is impossible, unless you like heart attacks. Bottomline: They should be better and they're not.

New Orleans Saints -- 11-5 -- 13-3
The Saints have entered into the tier of the Indianapolis Colts under Peyton Manning: A team that might have a lot of holes, but they're covered up by an insane offense and a quarterback that's otherworldly. Yes, as Drew Brees goes, so go the Saints. They're a frisky franchise that might never see a dark day again as long as the current situation stays together.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- 8-8 -- 4-12
They say the players quit on head coach Raheem Morris. No accounting for that in the middle of a season. How do you go from playing your guts out and getting 10 wins one season and having the bottom drop out the next? I doesn't make any sense. Something happened that's a bit more than a team getting tired of hearing their skipper bark at them in practice. Run defense went from top 10 to 32nd in the league.

Carolina Panthers -- 2-14 -- 6-10
I didn't think Cam Newton was going to be bad. I didn't have a real opinion, one way or the other. I thought he'd be a Daunte Culpepper-type: Big arm, can run, but probably not a guy that spends 15 years as a starter. Never underestimate what a bombastic rookie can do for a franchise. He's not only dragged the Panthers out of the basement, but he's breathed new life into Steve Smith's career. Surprisingly, I thought DeAngelo Williams would have a bigger year. Once they figure out the defense they'll compete.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers -- 12-4 -- 15-1
That offense is ... awe inspiring. And Aaron Rodgers is a clear leader of men. Any malaise stemming from the Super Bowl was not apparent. What was apparent was that they are the best team in the league, one of the better franchises and I always wonder how many times Mike McCarthy was almost fired before the team turned around.

Minnesota Vikings -- 9-7 -- 3-13
I have a problem. I need help. I have an inexplicable confidence in Donovan McNabb. Funny, I didn't think McNabb was near as good as people said when he was the Eagles. Why going to Washington and Minnesota and being run out of town both times instilled confidence is a mystery.

Chicago Bears -- 8-8 -- 8-8
I thought they'd get to mediocrity. I didn't think it'd require Jay Cutler and Matt Forte getting mutilated along the way. A good offensive line away from truly competing. Jay Cutler is a good NFL quarterback. Book it.


Detroit Lions -- 6-10 -- 10-6
"Not buying in. Prove it to me and then I'll take notice. Tired of the 'the Lions are a sleeper!' talk. They might be. They might figure it out. That defense could prove to be pretty good. Matt Stafford could stay healthy. That running game might have some players." I wrote that in August and I stand by it today. There was nothing that was going to get me to buy into the Lions. They hadn't deserved it. They deserve it now. Matt Stafford has the potential to be very good for a long while. As long as Calvin Johnson is alive. And is a Lion.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles -- 11-5 -- 8-8
Funny that everyone teased them for the "Dream Team" thing but most had them winning the division. There's no doubt there is talent here. Why you'd hire your offensive line coach as your new defensive coordinator is a bit perplexing. The Eagles, although good, have always been a franchise that was just a tick off. Probably a good reason they've never won a Super Bowl. There was always something.

New York Giants -- 8-8 -- 9-7
No one was accounting for Victor Cruz. Game-changing player. A season-changing player. He's remarkably good and you didn't need to sign him to a long-term deal, spend a high draft pick on him or anything. He's just a dude floating out there and he's stupendously good.

Dallas Cowboys -- 8-8 -- 8-8
I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea about what makes the Cowboys tick. I don't think I'm alone by any means. Locally, we watch these guys practice, play, give interviews. Just watching them makes us more of an expert than most. This should be no surprise to people. The Cowboys are very ordinary. I pointed to the defense in the pre-season and I wasn't completely off the mark. Coming into the season without an off-season, mini-camps or workouts, the Cowboys were leaning on a relatively new coach on both offense and defense, no run game, a new offensive line and almost zero youth. Frankly, 8-8 is a miracle.

Washington Redskins -- 5-11 -- 5-11
"It's REX GROSSMAN!!!!! Danger! Danger! Alert!" I'm pretty smart.

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