NFL - National Football Conference (NFC) - Projections of 2007 Season Final Team Standings
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
AFC
NFC Playoffs 2007-2008:
· Wild Card: Packers beat Seahawks; Cowboys beat Bears
· Division: Saints beat Cowboys; Eagles beat Packers
· NFC Championship: Eagles beat Saints
Last Update: August 24, 2007
NFC East
Division Snapshot: The best division in the NFC. And the winner of this division (even with a bad record, should get some respect come playoff time. Anyone can win the division, even the Redskins. However, bouncing back from a 5-11 season is tough enough, let alone finishing #1 in the NFC East. The Cowboys and Eagles look to have the best chance. The Giants might disappoint this year.
1. Philadelphia Eagles Andy Reid (1999)
2007 projected record: 12-4
Record (2006): 10-6, lost to New Orleans (27-24) in NFC Divisional Playoff
Record (2005): 6-10
Record (2004): 13-3, lost to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX (24-21)
Keep in mind: McNabb is a world-class QB and if the Eagles get a full season out of him they are a completely different team-- top-of-the-league type contender.
Recap: We expect the Eagles to come through this season. They are an aging (veteran) team looking to get back to the Super Bowl. In 2006, they bounced back well from 2005 and they also won their last 5 games last season.
2. Dallas Cowboys Wade Phillips (2007)
2007 projected record: 10-6
Record (2006): 9-7, lost to Seattle (21-20) in NFC Wild Card
Record (2005): 9-7
Record (2004): 6-10
Keep in mind: Tony Romo can win and deliver but his inconsistency and ups-and-downs may prevent the Cowboys from looking like a true elite-type team. At the end of this season will the Cowboys be a team in search of a QB for the future?
Recap: The Cowboys have enough to get the job done this year. And Romo may get a chance at some redemption in the playoffs. Chances are Romo lives for another year. Cowboys make the playoffs and win a game.
3. Washington Redskins Joe Gibbs (2004)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 5-11
Record (2005): 10-6, lost to Seattle (20-10) in divisional playoff
Record (2004): 6-10
Keep in mind: The Redskins have a big problem getting the ball in the end zone. That needs to change and it may be too much to ask of QB Jason Campbell to lead the team to more points.
Recap: Given the Redskins offense problems, the teams success will depend a lot on the success of the RB's and if Clinton Portis can stay healthy with the up-and-coming Ladell Betts alongside, then the Redskins can surprise a few teams this year.
4. New York Giants Tom Coughlin (since 2004)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 8-8, lost to Philadelphia (23-20) in NFC Wild Card
Record (2005): 11-5, shut-out by Carolina (23-0) in wild card
Record (2004): 6-10
Keep in mind: The bickering has begun before the season has even started. And it was started by a former player, Tiki Barber. It's easy to see Eli Manning getting a lot of pressure from the team, fans, and the media if there is a bad start.
Recap: The Giants have the pieces for success. Eli is a capable NFL quarterback and Brandon Jacobs has shown the potential to deliver results. But this is a team on the edge and we guess they will slip up.
NFC West
Division Snapshot: Seattle and St. Louis both look like the contenders this season. But the team to root for in the division is the Arizona Cardinals. Will they ever turn it around? All-in-all, this looks like a good year for the division rivalries to really foster-- tough competition.
1. Seattle Seahawks Mike Holmgren (1999)
2007 projected record: 11-5
Record (2006): 9-7, lost to Chicago (27-24) in NFC Divisional Playoff
Record (2005): 13-3, lost in Super Bowl to Pittsburgh (21-10)
Record (2004): 9-7, lost to St. Louis Rams in wild card game (27-20)
Keep in mind: Hasselbeck threw 15 INT's in 12 games last year. As much as the Seahawks need a healthy Shaun Alexander, it may be Hasselbeck's performance that will really decide the Seahawks fate this year.
Recap: Seattle could be an all-or-nothing team this year. Either they take the Division easily, or they crash-and-burn and miss the playoffs.
2. Arizona Cardinals Ken Whisenhunt (2007)
2007 projected record: 8-8
Record (2006): 5-11
Record (2005): 5-11
Record (2004): 6-10
Keep in mind: The Cardinals have not won more than 9 games since 1976. And they have suffered through 8 losing seasons in a row. And after last seasons 5-11 big-time disappointment its hard to imagine it could get any worse.
Recap: A new coach, Ken Whisenhunt (the Steelers Offensive Coordinator), comes in to try and turn things around. QB Matt Leinart enters his 1st full NFL season looking to be the franchise re-vitalizer. Reversing his TD-INT (11-12) ratio would be a good start.
3. St. Louis Rams Scott Linehan (2006)
2007 projected record: 8-8
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 6-10
Record (2004): 8-8, lost to Atlanta in NFC divisional playoff (47-17)
Keep in mind: With QB Mark Bulger (4,301 yards, 24 TD's, 8 INT's) and the much hyped rising star RB Stephen Jackson it would seem the Rams have the potential to ride a high-flying offense to a big season.
Recap: The makings are there for the Rams to kind of become this years New Orleans Saints. If the Seahawks slip, maybe its the Rams that will pick up the slack. For now, we suspect they have another tough luck season.
4. San Francisco 49ers Mike Nolan (2005)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 7-9
Record (2005): 4-12
Record (2004): 2-14
Keep in mind: Frank Gore delivered in a big way for the Niners last year. Now Alex Smith needs to continue his progression. Last year's 16/16 TD/INT ratio was a big improvement over his 1/11 rookie year.
Recap: The 49ers will try for their first winning season in 5 years, but we suspect they will come up just short.
NFC North
Division Snapshot: This year the Bears may slip back toward... searching for the right word.. oh, what the heck... reality. But the division is still way too bad to expect anyone else can pass the Bears. Of the rest, we like the Packers the best.
1. Chicago Bears Lovie Smith (2004)
2007 projected record: 10-6
Record (2006): 13-3, lost to Indianapolis (29-17) in Super Bowl XLI
Record (2005): 11-5, lost to Carolina (29-21) in divisional playoff
Record (2004): 5-11
Keep in mind: Bears fans don't want to hear this, but the team is not as good as the record. Fortunately for Bears fans, the offense and defense perform together-- when the offense is bad the defense plays lights out. This has delivered 2 great seasons.
Recap: The NFC North may save the Bears this year. Playing the Packers, Lions, and Vikings for 6 of their 16 games should be enough for another playoff year for Chicago. But it's just another year of hiding Rex Grossman's inconsistency. And the loss of Thomas Jones (placing reliance on unproven Cedric Benson) is another reason to temper expectations.
2. Green Bay Packers Mike McCarthy (2006)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 4-12
Record (2004): 10-6, lost to Minnesota in wild card game (31-17)
Keep in mind: The Packers defense may be on the rise and just might surprise some people this year. They closed last season giving up 9, 7, and 7 points in the final 3 games.
Recap: Favre's performance may not be mission critical. On the one hand, the Packers won their last 4 games in 2006. On the other hand, Favre threw 6 INT's and just 3 TD's during those games-- and just 2 TD's and 5 INT's in the 2 games right before that. Is Favre holding the team back? It would be nice to think he could finish his career with a respectable, if not big, year. But really, isn't he playing just to pass Dan Marino's all-time reocrd of 420 TD passes (Favre is 6 away- here)?
3. Detroit Lions Rob Marinelli (2006)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 3-13
Record (2005): 5-11
Record (2004): 6-10
Keep in mind: Everyone's talking about the addition of rookie WR Calvin Johnson. But the more important acquisitions may be the offensive line improvements-- OT George Foster and OG Edwin Mulitalo. But even if they do a better job protecting QB Jon Kitna, can the veteran journeyman put together a career year?
Recap: The Lions are a team in search of a solution. And it seems every NFL Draft, they look for a WR that can turn things around. They've got to do a lot more. Nevertheless, expect a bounce from last year's dismal 3-13 season.
4. Minnesota Vikings Brad Childress (2006)
2007 projected record: 4-12
Record (2006): 6-10
Record (2005): 9-7
Record (2004): 8-8, lost to Philadelphia in NFC divisional playoff (27-14)
Keep in mind: The Vikings took a step backward last year, as Brad Childress took over as the new head coach, finishing with a losing record for the 1st time since 2002 (that was Mike Tice's 1st year which was also 6-10). Tice proceeded to right the ship and deliver 3 mediocre seasons, but Childress doesn't really have a roster that is built to make a quick turnaround. This is a team that is basically starting over on offense this year.
Recap: The Vikings are sure to be the worst team in the NFC North this year. But for fans it will be an interesting kind of bad. The Vikings have new pieces for the future. Watching Adrian (A.D.-- "All Day") Peterson will make the price of a ticket worth it-- win-or-lose. And rooting for a young, (and hopefully) up-and-coming QB, Tarvaris Jackson, will be equally entertaining.
NFC South
Division Snapshot: The Saints look solid to repeat atop the division. The question is how good will the Panthers be. They look like a fringe playoff contender. As for Tampa Bay, keep in mind this may become a prove it year for head coach Jon Gruden.
1. New Orleans Saints Sean Payton (2006)
2007 projected record: 12-4
Record (2006): 10-6, lost to Chicago (39-14) in NFC Championship
Record (2005): 3-13
Record (2004): 8-8
Keep in mind: Last year the Saints brought in new head coach Sean Payton, QB Drew Brees, and all-around star Reggie Bush. The result was a spectacular worst-to-first turn around. This year the goal is a better run through the playoffs.
Recap: The Saints don't look like a one-hit wonder. The changes last year were major. It's a changed team. The offense is for real. Ever since Drew Brees ended up accidentally starting in San Diego (after he was counted out by the Chargers pick of Philip Rivers) he has taken the new lease on life and made the most of his career. And with Reggie Bush keeping defenses off guard the passing and running game in New Orleans will deliver another playoff trip. And they just might end up with the best record in the NFC.
2. Carolina Panthers John Fox (2002)
2007 projected record: 9-7
Record (2006): 8-8
Record (2005): 11-5, lost to Seattle (34-14) in NFC championship
Record (2004): 7-9
Keep in mind: A good start is everything. And last year, the Panters didn't get it. Star WR Steve Smith was out the first 2 games and the Panthers started out 0-2.
Recap: Will the addition of back-up QB David Carr inspire starting QB Jake Delhomme to a big year? Or will he be looking over his shoulder? No matter, the Panthers look like a fringe playoff team. Will they be able to sneak in? The NFC East will beat each other up, and the West and North are in transition. Two teams from the South is a possibility.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jon Gruden (2002)
2007 projected record: 7-9
Record (2006): 4-12
Record (2005): 11-5, lost to Washington (17-10) in wild card
Record (2004): 5-11
Keep in mind: Head Coach Jon Gruden's time in Tampa Bay has been an up-and-down roller coaster. His first year resulted in a trip to the Super Bowl. But the overall result at this point is a 39-41 record. So, this year is kind of a test of sorts. Really, what kind of coach is Gruden? Can he deliver under tough circumstances.
Recap: A coach can inspire his players, but at some point, the quality of the players effort becomes the real issue. On the one hand, QB Jeff Garcia proved last year that Gruden has a QB he can work with. On the other hand, RB Cadillac Williams' 1 TD in 14 games says Gruden doesn't have a reliable running game. But he's also got a top-half (in the NFL) defense. There's enough pieces that this year becomes a true test of Gruden's coaching abilities.
4. Atlanta Falcons Bobby Petrino (2007)
2007 projected record: 6-10
Record (2006): 7-9
Record (2005): 8-8
Record (2004): 11-5, lost to Philadelphia in NFC Championship (27-10)
Keep in mind: TE Alge Crumpler was former QB Michael Vick go-to-guy. Will Joey Harrington make a similar connection? Harrington is a veteran NFL QB good enough to bring some credibility for Atlanta. But in 5 NFL seasons he's thrown 77 INT's vs. 72 TD's.
Recap: On the one hand, the Vick situation is cleared up before the season. So the Falcons know what they have, and what they will need to do. But is this the type of thing that inspires a team? Nope.
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