Who Will Come Out On Top In the NFC This Year? – 2011 NFL Predictions, Part 1
I'm making my predictions today for the 2011 NFL season. Over the next two days, I'll make my picks for every NFL team. That's right, I'll give a record for each club.
Today, it's the NFC.
| NFC EAST | W | L | NOTES |
| Philadelphia | 11 | 5 | Remember, this is a team that finished 10-6. They got better, right? Does anyone deny that? Asomough, Rogers-Cromartie and a few stud defensive lineman made the defense stronger. I like Ronnie Brown as a back-up. Steve Smith is a solid WR. It’s a good team – but not invincible. |
| Dallas | 9 | 7 | This is a talented team. Romo will be healthy this year. Let’s be honest, they won 6 games last year with 56-year old Jon Kitna. |
| NY Giants | 8 | 8 | They went 10-6 last year. I challenge anyone to tell me they got better. Lost Smith, Boss, O’Hara, Seubert, Cofield. Injuries to Prince & Thomas in defensive backfield aren’t going to help. Osi will likely miss a month. They should be happy with 8 wins. |
| Washington | 6 | 10 | You’ve got to tear down the forest before it grows back. That’s the deal with the Redskins. A much improved defense. Their offensive line (a weakness last year) is also improved. But John Beck or Rex Grossman scares me. They won’t be horrible – but they’re not a 500 team. |
| NFC WEST | W | L | NOTES |
| St. Louis | 9 | 7 | Sam Bradford came into his own as a rookie. He’s finally going to have healthy wide receivers this year. The defense is improved. St. Louis is a legit 9-win team. |
| Arizona | 8 | 8 | Kevin Kolb makes this team better. They finally have a legit QB for Fitzgerald. I’m not super thrilled with their running backs. Their defense took a bit of a hit with the loss of Rogers-Cromartie. |
| Seattle | 5 | 11 | Tavaris Jackson is the starting QB – enough said. |
| San Francisco | 4 | 12 | Alex Smith is still the quarterback. Why? This team wants Andrew Luck. Their coach was his college coach and would love him in the pros. |
| NFC NORTH | W | L | NOTES |
| Green Bay | 12 | 4 | Hard to knock the Super Bowl Champs. They’ve got one of the best QB’s in the NFL. They’ve got an attack-style defense. Good offensive & defensive lines. |
| Detroit | 9 | 7 | The Lions are a trendy sleeper pick – for good reason. Solid Quarterback (if he can stay healthy), young defensive linemen, I’m not sold on their RB’s but there’s enough talent to win 9 games. |
| Chicago | 7 | 9 | Last year’s Bears were one of the worst playoff teams I’ve ever seen. Their QB is erratic. They’re just not a well-built team. |
| Minnesota | 7 | 9 | There’s a reason Donovan McNabb is on his 3rd team in 3 years. He’s on his last legs. Great RB in Peterson but they lost a lot of offensive weapons – only WR is Harvin. I just think the Vikings are a team that could win 7 or win 11. But I’m going with 7. |
| NFC SOUTH | W | L | NOTES |
| New Orleans | 11 | 5 | The NFL is a quarterbacks league and the Saints have one of the best in Drew Brees. They got some more RB depth with Ingram and they improved their defense. |
| Atlanta | 11 | 5 | Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense looks great with tons of weapons. Atlanta is going to be tough. |
| Tampa Bay | 8 | 8 | I know the Bucs won 10 games last year but they had one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. Freeman, Blount, Williams – are nice pieces but I think this team comes back to reality this year. |
| Carolina | 3 | 13 | Cam Newton is the starter. Jimmy Clausen is the back-up. Need I say more? |
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