NFC East:
(1) Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

- The Cowboys, off their first playoff win in a decade, will play with more confidence and it will show on the field. Dez Bryant will supplant Roy Williams as starter by week 8. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, Romo is cut from the Brett Favre mold and will make a costly mistake in the playoffs preventing the Boys from reaching the Super Bowl in 2010.
(2) New York Giants: 8-8
- The Giants defense will be improved under new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, however the Giants will still be vulnerable up the middle without a solid middle linebacker. Look for the Giants to try to upgrade the MLB position next off-season. On the offensive side of the ball, the Giants will attempt to return to a smashmouth running attack with Ahmad Bradshaw leading the way.
(3) Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
- Eagles fans will quickly learn that replacing a franchise quaterback like Donovan McNabb isn't so easy. Kolb will take some lumps in his first season as a starter and will improve over the course of the year but don't expect big things yet. LeSean McCoy will excel in Andy Reid's system as a receiver. The secondary will once again serve as the team weakness with no real big additions in the off-season.
(4) Washington Redskins: 7-9
- The Redskins had the best off-season of any NFC team. Not only did they hire future Hall of Famer, Mike Shanahan, to be head coach, but they also made one of the biggest off-season acquisitions by trading for aging star Donovan McNabb. Look for Mike Shanahan to center the offense around the running game mimicking his old Denver Broncos teams. I believe the Redskins are a team on the rise and if they can bring in a top notch WR in the off-season, they will be a team to reckoned with in 2011.
NFC WEST:
(1) San Fransisco 49ers: 9-7

- The 49ers will be the defacto best team in the NFC West due to poor competition within the division. The only other threat will be the declining Cardinals without Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner. Look for Frank Gore and Patrick Willis to carry the 49ers to their first divisional championship in quite some time.
(2) Arizona Cardinals: 7-9
- Cardinals fans will quickly realize Derek Anderson at quarterback is not the answer. In addition, the Cardinals lost too many quality players from last year's team: Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby, & Bertrand Berry. Look for the Cardinals to go to a more of a run first offense with Beanie Wells taking the bulk of the carries. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower are both limited in their carrying abilities.
(3) Seattle Seahawks: 6-10
- Look for another long year for the talent depleted Seahawks. At least they'll have more stability this season with a healthy Matt Hasselback. Justin Forsett and Leon Washington will not provide enough punch in the running game.
- The good news for Rams fans? QB Sam Bradford won the QB competition in pre-season outright over A.J. Feely. The bad news for Rams fans? QB Sam Bradford will be the starting QB starting game 1. Very few quaterbacks play well in their rookie year in the NFL. The speed of the game is just at another level compared to the collegiate level.
NFC NORTH:
(1) Minnesota Vikings: 12-4

- Brett Favre returns for his second season to lead the very talented and potent offense. The Vikings are loaded with stars on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The only obstacle between the Vikings and the Super Bowl? Favre's knack for making the big mistake in a big moment in the playoffs. In fact after last season's INT to seal the deal vs. the Saints, I have begun to call his big mistakes in key moments: "Pulling a Favre".
(2) Green Bay Packers: 11-5
- Aaron Rodgers reaches upper echelon NFL quarterback status by leading the lethal Packers aerial attack by spreading the ball around to a plethora of playmakers including Jennings, Driver, Finley, etc. The team will go as far as the Packers defense allows.
(3) Chicago Bears: 6-10
- Look for Head Coach Lovie Smith to be the 2nd coach fired after the season. The Bears just haven't surrounded QB Jay Cutler with enough talented WRs. Don't put all the blame on Cutlers' shoulders though, he will make the occasional dumb throw, but he has talent and would perform at a higher level if he had a top notch wide receiver
(4) Detroit Lions: 5-11
- Another team on the rise. The Lions are beginning to finally stockpile talent and will steadily improve throughout the season. Look for Jahvid Best to take over as the primary running back by year's end.
NFC SOUTH:
(1) New Orleans Saints: 12-4

- The only scenario the Saints will not win at least 10 games this season is if Drew Brees gets injured. Look for the Saints roll to a 7-2 record prior the bye week. The Saints will be a tough out for any team in the playoffs.
(2) Atlanta Falcons: 10-6
- The Falcons will return to the playoffs with the resurgence of a healthy Michael Turner. Unfortunately for Atlanta, they play in the same division as the Saints and will reach the playoffs as a Wildcard. The defense will have to improve for the Falcons to make a real run at the Super Bowl.
(3) Carolina Panthers: 8-8
- The Panthers will struggle with QB Matt Moore at the helm. Look for the Panthers to rely heavily on the two headed monster of D'Angelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart. The defense will hold up fairly well in the absence of departed star DE Julius Peppers.
(4) Tampa Bay Bucaneers: 4-12
- Expect another long year for Bucs fans as they have yet to surround young QB Josh Freeman with any playmakers. The good news? The Bucs will have a top 3 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
NFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
(6) Atlanta Falcons @ (3) Dallas Cowboys
(5) Green Bay Packers @ (4) San Fransisco 49ers
Divisional Round:
(5) Green Bay Packers @ (1) New Orleans Saints
(3) Dallas Cowboys @ (2) Minnesota Vikings
Conference Championship:
(5) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Minnesota Vikings
NFC CHAMPIONS: GREEN BAY PACKERS
NFC AWARDS:
- NFC MVP - Aaron Rodgers
- NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year - Sam Bradford
- NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year - Rolando McClain
- NFC Coach of the Year - Mike Singletary
The Bottom Line:
- The Green Bay Packers will have an extremely difficult road to Super Bowl XLV entering the playoffs as a Wildcard. However, the Packers have the luck of playing the 49ers in the Wildcard round. Following, they will have to play at their best to knock off the Saints and Vikings on the road. I think the Packers defense will carry them to a victory over the defending super bowl champs and Brett will "pull a Favre" in the NFC Championship game. As long as Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant stay healthy, the Packers stand a good shot at knocking any team off. The Green Bay Packers will meet the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLV.
Super Bowl Preview to follow.