NFC Preview 2013

NFC  (1)

NFC East  (3)

Philadelphia Eagles

Additions of Patrick Chung, Bradley Fletcher, Matt Barkley, HC Chip Kelly

Subtractions of Dion Lewis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

I expect some really good things from Coach Kelly's offense.  From one great coach to another..  I would really like to predict regression for the Eagles, but with Kelly being the replacement I don't think it will happen.  Definite improvement.  3-3, 7-3, 10-6.

Dallas Cowboys

Additions of Joseph Randle

Subtractions of Kevin Ogletree

It looks like a distinct lack of moves for the Cowboys in the off-season. I see this season as being a fairly similar year to last season. Fringe playoff team, but Romo and company will barely make it this time.  There are a few chinks in the Cowboys armor, but I think they can get past them to win just enough games to win 1st Wildcard.  5-1, 5-5, 10-6.

New York Giants

Additions of Brandon Myers, Ryan Nassib

Subtractions of Ahmad Bradshaw, Martellus Bennett, Osi Umenyiora

Similar to the Cowboys in their lack of moves.  Yet again I think the Giants will be hanging around .500 at the end of the season.  7-4, 1-4, 8-8.

Washington Redskins

Additions of Donte Stallworth

Subtractions of Cedric Griffin

Apparently the teams in the NFC East didn't like making a lot of changes in the off-season.. RG3 is kind of an unknown quantity as to how injured he is, but it appears that he will start the season..  I think the Redskins have a very tough schedule.  3-5, 4-4, 7-9.

Eagles	10	6	Chip Kelly and the Eagles somehow eliminate enemies en route to the 4th seed.
Cowboys	10	6	The Cowboys and underrated Romo casually corral opponents and capture 1st Wildcard.
Giants	8	8	No home game SB appearance for the gratuitous middling Giants.
Redskins	7	9	Restless Redskins repulse repeating as division champs.

NFC North  (6)

Green Bay Packers

Addition of Eddie Lacy

Subtractions of Cedric Benson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jeff Saturday, Charles Woodson

I'm a little confused as to their lack of key pick ups.  It's not that their offense is now suddenly devoid of weapons, hello, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, but still I don't like the lack of movement.  It's possible GB could take a slight step back..  However, for the first 10 weeks I do not see that happening, as I have the Packers as the last undefeated team.  9-0, 3-4, 12-4.

Detroit Lions

Additions of Reggie Bush, David Akers (two amazing signings)

Subtractions of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jason Hanson

It could quite possibly be just me, but I don't understand what Detroit is doing with some of their contracts for their best players..  A year or two (maybe even three years) from now I expect it to hurt them fairy drastically.  It's kind of a typical D-Lions short term outlook on things, rather than looking at the big picture...  However, this year they should be fine, I expect a decent amount of improvement from 4-12.  5-3, 3-5, 8-8.

Chicago Bears

Addition of Martellus Bennett, Michael Ford, new HC Marc Trestman (I had forgotten he was there..  My bad..), an OC, and a DC.

Subtraction of Brian Urlacher

Adrian Peterson might be the best running back in
the game (he is), but I don't think that
he can carry the Vikings two years in a row.

I'm not really thrilled with the way the Bears look this year..  Sometimes lack of player movement is a good thing, but in this case I don't think it is necessarily a good thing..  The Bears  might not even make .500 this season.  I like the transparency of their GM, but he doesn't play WR for the Bears, and right now they need someone opposite of Brandon Marshall.  5-5, 2-4, 7-9.

Minnesota Vikings

Additions of Matt Cassel, Greg Jennings (Sometimes it's kind of funny to see how much movement there is between division teams for players.)

Subtractions of Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins, Antoine Winfield

AP isn't going to be breaking a bunch of rushing records this year, and I don't know if C-Ponder can take a major step forward..  As such, Minnesota should struggle.  And when I say struggle, I mean that they quite possibly won't even be all that competitive. Last year the Chiefs got my Jim Mora, 'Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?' distinction, this year it's the Vikings who get the dubious distinction.  1-10, 4-1, 5-11.

Packers	12	4	Poignant Packers precise attack defeats plain opponents on route to a #1 seed.
Lions	8	8	Lukewarm Lions lean back to legitimate competitiveness.
Bears	7	9	Basic Bears bewildered by bumpy division.
Vikings	5	11	Vikings violate basic football rule of not having a valid QB.

NFC South  (2)

Atlanta Falcons

Additions of Steven Jackson, Osi Umenyiora, Desmond Trufant

Subtractions of Michael Turner, John Abraham, Dunta Robinson

Technically their additions and subtractions actually show that the Falcons gained a little ground, however I don't think the Falcons will go 13-3 this year.  But, unlike some others I do not think they will fall back to .500 either.  Matt Ryan is (somehow) still an underrated QB.  6-1, 5-4, 11-5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Additions of Kevin Ogletree, Mike Glennon

Subtractions of LeGarrette Blount, Dallas Clark, Michael Bennet

They were a decent team last year, other than their pass defense anyways.  I have the Bucs as a bit of a surprise team.  4-1, 6-5, 10-6.

New Orleans Saints

Additions of Benjamin Watson, Jason Smith

Subtractions of Chris Ivory

The defense shouldn't be a sieve this year thanks to getting Coach Payton back.  Improvement for the Saints.  5-2, 5-4, 10-6.

Carolina Panthers

Additions of Ted Ginn Jr., A.J. Klein

Subtractions of Chris Gamble, Louis Murphy

Could this be the year the Panthers actually have a chance at the playoffs?  I would say a qualified yes.  The important qualification being that a minimum of one of the other teams in their division has to be at least two games below .500.  Since I don't think that will happen, I still have the Panthers in limbo with another competitive, but uninspiring record.  3-7, 3-3, 6-10.

Falcons	11	5	Falcons fly forwards to 2nd seed.
Buccaneers	10	6	Buccaneers buck the trend and again reach the playoffs with the 2nd Wildcard.
Saints	10	6	Scorned Saints sneak back to steadier ground.
Panthers	6	10	Pained Panthers again lose puzzling games.

NFC West  (4)

San Francisco 49ers

Additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Anquan Boldin, Colt McCoy, Marcus Lattimore, and Marqueis Gray

Subtractions of Alex Smith, Delainie Walker, Dashon Goldson

Some very good FA acquisitions.  This will be the first time I've really bought into the 49ers before the season.  7-2, 4-3, 11-5.

Seattle Seahawks

Additions of Percy Harvin, Tavaris Jackson, Michael Bennett, and Brady Quinn

Subtractions of Matt Flynn, Leon Washington

I think that people are too high on the Seahawks, I expect some regression from Russell Wilson and the defense.  5-5, 5-1, 10-6.

St. Louis Rams

Additions of Jared Cook, Jake Long, Tavon Austin

Subtractions of Steven Jackson, Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson

Bradford and company should be better this year, even with all of the high profile names lost on offense.  3-4, 5-3, 9-7.

Arizona Cardinals

Additions of Rashard Mendenhall, Carson Palmer, Karlos Dansbey, and HC Bruce Arians

Subtractions of Kevin Kolb, Beanie Wells, Early Doucet, William Gay, Kerry Rhodes

Quite a few key improvements and losses across the board for the Cardinals.  Does anyone happen to remember the Cards 4-0 start last year, which included wins against the Pats and Seahawks?  Yeah, I didn't think so, nor should you.  The Cardinals are not exactly a very good team, but I still very likely have them with too few wins.  2-5, 1-8, 3-13.

49er's	11	5	Fearsome 49er's fragment fragile fumbling opponents, 3rd seed.
Seahawks	10	6	Screeching Seahawks soar past susceptible teams.
Rams	9	7	Resolute Rams register respectable record.
Cardinals	3	13	Cardinals can't consolidate coherent crew.

Thanks for reading.