NFL BUZZ; Super Bowl, Colts, Mannings, Tebow, etc.

"Out of the Shadow"

No matter what happens in Super Bowl XLVI, Eli is now his own man. Eli Manning has been compared to his brother and other elite quarterbacks since he entered the NFL. I have written several NFL blogs this year proclaiming that "Eli is elite." There should be no debate of Eli's status in the NFL. The ironic thing is Eli has improved his stock by playing like a MVP and taking his team to the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning has improved his rank as a QB(if that is possible) by not playing and everyone watching the Colts tank, but I will explore that later in this blog entry.

Now let's not go crazy. Peyton is still better than Eli, but Eli has narrowed the gap and put himself, barring injury, into the Hall of Fame. Peyton and Eli now have the same amount of Super Bowl wins and appearances. If Eli wins, he will have one more than Peyton and in Super Bowls, a win is a mile. Plus, if Peyton never plays again, Eli will stack up more huge statistical seasons, and then let the debate begin of which brother is better. Well, who knows, let's not get again head of ourselves, let's see if Eli puts himself into rare company, leading his team to two Super Bowl victories.

There have only been ten quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to start and win two Super Bowls. What quarterback wouldn't want to be on a list of names like Bart Star, John Elway, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, etc.. So, Eli has a lot of history at stake, but so does Tom "Terrific." Brady with this Super Bowl start will tie the NFL record with 5, but a win would put him in a category by himself. Brady would tie Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with 4 wins, and that is nice, short list to be on, but those two guys never went to 5 Super Bowls. Tom Brady would be the only quarterback ever to win 4 and start in 5.

I have been picking NFL games all season and have been pretty successful doing so however, I hate picking the Super Bowl. It is hard to separate the information from the hype. Plus, this is a hard game to pick. The Giants have been the hot team during the playoffs and they are a much more balanced team on both sides of the ball. No one would have predicted this in the beginning of season when Eli said he was "elite"(Eli should get his credit for making that statement and backing it up with his play), but Eli has been the best quarterback in the playoffs and has been fourth quarter clutch all season. The Giants also come from the better division, NFC, but this is not an overall comparison of the divisions, this is one game.

In one game it will be hard to beat Brady and Belichick again in a Super Bowl. The Giants caught the Pats somewhat flat footed and hit them in mouth(literally) last time they met in the Super Bowl in 2007. I just don't know if the Pats will let that happen again, they are just way too smart and prepared.

Forgive the cliche, but not matter who wins this Super Bowl, this is going to be a great match up. As NFL fans we can't ask for two better teams. The rivalry between these two teams and their fans has been great over the years, and both teams are full of big names, and it is a repeat of the 2007 Super Bowl is which is considered the best Super Bowl ever. I don't want to list any more reasons, but everything added together should make this an exciting game to watch, which makes this a tough game to pick. I would be a coward not to make a pick, so here goes.

SUPER BOWL Sunday, February 5 (6:30 PM ET NBC)

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

Giants 31-27

"...and then there were none"

, it is no secret that for the most part the Colts had been bad for a long time. Peyton didn't just make the Colts better, Peyton was the Colts. Most people believed Peyton was the leader, face, and best player for the Colts, but now many believe he was the singular force that fueled the entire team. It is hard to argue with fact after the Colts went 2-14 this season and looked like a college team at times. The Colts were a given every year for the NFL playoffs, but with Peyton gone for the year the Colts fell apart.

Some say that any NFL team would go into a tail spin if they lost their MVP quarterback. New England is the example that destroys that argument. Tom Brady was lost for the year in 2008 and Matt Cassel lead New England to 11-5. So, as great as Brady is, Peyton was an even bigger part of the Colts' success, more than other great quarterbacks have been for their teams historically. Still, at some point, as a team you must move forward. Recently, Green Bay is an example of moving forward and things working out pretty well for them. So, the Colts may even need to move forward, but I just don't know if it is possible for the Colts to replace Peyton Manning. I guess it just depends on how good the much heralded Andrew Luck is.

Take you Own Advice

I am not saying what Jim Irsay has done, by cleaning house, is a bad thing, but the old saying goes "you can do the right thing the wrong way." The front office deserved the blame for the Colts' terrible season. Clearly, the Colts team depended far too much to Peyton to make them a competitive team.

I know for a fact that firing Jim Caldwell was good move. Caldwell had been a failure on the college level and his success at the Colts was due to Manning and Tony Dungy leaving him a team that was ready to win. Many times you can tell how valuable someone is by seeing how other teams respond to him being on the free market. Well, Jim Caldwell is now going to be quarterbacks coach for the Ravens. No one in NFL even seriously considered him for a coordinators' position. I told someone before the season that Caldwell was the worst coach in the NFL and they laughed, now who is laughing. Even Irsay getting rid of Peyton might work out in the long run, but maybe it would be a good idea for Mr. Irsay not to talk so much about his team business, in public.

Jim Irsay criticized Peyton Manning for making his feelings public about the Colt current state. Manning has always been a class act, but maybe after his owner had so publicly talked about team business on twitter, in interviews, and every other media outlet, Peyton thought it would be all right. Irsay is one step away from making the Colts a circus side show and not the legit contender they have been the last decade and want to be again. Irsay inherited the Colts from his father and while that doesn't mean he will do a bad job, it does shed some light on why Irsay is acting like a big mouth spoiled rich kid. Outspoken ownership has worked in the past, but for the most part good owners handle business behind the scenes. Irsay may be doing what is best for the Colts, but it might help the team for him to keep his head down and his finger over his mouth.

What's My Next Move?

Tim Tebow has always been a very public figure since his college days, but for the most part he has kept a healthy distance from the media. He seems to have always concentrated on improving his game and being a family man. That is why I can't figure out why he is doing interviews with ESPN during the Super Bowl. I don't know whose idea that is and maybe I am putting too much stock in it. All I know is Tim better not believe his own hype(really I don't think he will), he better just get better.

Sunday Picks 10/02/2011 NFL

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys 24-21

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Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears

Bears 28-20

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans

Texans 34-24

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Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns

Browns 24-17

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Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Bills 28-13

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Washington Redskins vs. St. Louis Rams

Rams 20-17

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Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Vikings 27-24

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadephia Eagles

Eagles 24-13

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New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Saints 38-17

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks

Falcons 31-13

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New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals 28-23

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Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

Packers 31-17

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Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers

Chargers 34-20

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New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders

Patriots 35-24

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New Yorks Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens

Jets 23-21

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Monday Night

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers 27-20

AFC Preview and Predictions!!!

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It seems that it could be the San Diego Chargers' year to win the AFC. The loss of Darren Sproles is a big one, but that is why the New Orleans Saints will win the Super Bowl. The Chargers will get to the Super Bowl and Sproles will be a big reason why the Saints will be victorious!

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The Man who has it all!

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AFC EAST

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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-3)

1st

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, that is really all anyone needs to say, and those two have earned that kind of respect. No one will be able to slow down the Pats offense this year. Brady should throw 40 TDs this season and has a good chance to win the MVP. So, the Pats' offense will win them a lot of games. They may win a game in the playoffs, but I don't see them getting back to the Super Bowl this year. The New England defense just had too many holes and that will come back to haunt them in the playoffs.

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NEW YORK JETS (11-5)

2nd (Wild Card)

The Jets have been consistently good ever since Rex Ryan came to the Big Apple. The Jets' defense is without question top three in the NFL. The question marks are on offense. It is common knowledge that Mark Sanchez has yet to make the leap into the elite quarterback club. Yet, the Jets have hidden Sanchez's slow development with defense and running the football. The Jets' offense line may be pretty good, but the Jets' backs are fair, at best. LaDainian Tomlinson is old and Shonn Greene is serviceable. The question is can Greene carry the load and protect Sanchez? Too many problems to win it all this year, the Jets will be the wild card and go to the playoffs, but how long will Jets' fans be patient with the Pretty Boy Mark Sanchez?

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Buffalo Bills (6-10)

3rd

The Bills will be better than they were last year. The Bills will be improved and win two more games than last year. The Bills drafted DT Marcell Dareus with the 3rd pick. A Defensive Tackle like Dareus could really make a difference on that side of ball, just look at what Ndamukong Suh has done for Detroit. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a smart young quarterback and he has some pretty nice young pieces around him. Buffalo will be better, but the playoffs will have to wait till next year.

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Miami Dolphins (6-10)

4th

The Dolphins will be mediocre this year. The Dolphins have some really good offensive weapons and they added Reggie Bush this off season. Bush is overrated, but he will help the Dolphins run the ball. Still, the Dolphins will not be good enough to overcome a really difficult schedule and an extremely tough division.

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The Texans ready to beat down the competition!

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AFC SOUTH

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Houston Texans (11-5)

1st

This is the Texans year, finally! This team has been pretty good for the last few years, but young as well. This is the year the Texans are mature and loaded. The Texans have superstars on both sides of the ball. Hiring Wade Phillips to be the defensive coordinator was a great move. Phillips was not a good head coach, but he is a very good D coordinator and the Texans will be better because of him. Mario Williams will struggle in the 3-4 defense, but the the rest of the D unit should be improved because of the change. The Texans have no weaknesses on offense. They should overpower everyone in their weak division. The Texans will make the playoffs this year, but a deep run is doubtful because of their lack of playoff experience. Still, anything can happen, but most likely a Super Sunday is not in the cards this year.

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Tennessee Titans (8-8)

2nd

Matt Hasselbeck is Seahawks' loss and the Titans' gain. Tennessee can always run the ball and play defense. Chris Johnson is the most exciting home run threat in the game. The addition of Hasselbeck will give them solid veteran leadership at the quarterback position. Still, Hasselbeck, Johnson, etc. will not be enough to get them over 500. So, the Titans win with Hasselbeck, but Titans gain will not be as glaring as the Seahawks' loss.

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Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)

3rd

The Jags like the Titans can always play defense and run the ball. Maurice Jones-Drew is a beast and will have another good season. Jones-Drew may suffer from not having a consistent passing act. With the departure of David Garrard, Blaine Gabbert will be handed the keys. Gabbert maybe good one day, but likely not this year. With coaching change rumors circulating, the Jags are a team in transition and that means the whole team is most likely looking towards the future.

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Indianapolis Colts (3-13)

4th

No Manning, big problems!

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Man we are Getting Old

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AFC NORTH

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Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

1st

Joe Flacco should step up to become a top 10 quarterback this year. Flacco has some nice weapons at his disposal; Ray Rice, Anquan Boldin, etc.. These guys should help Flacco to run a pretty good offense, but don't expect the Ravens to put 35.0 points on the board every game. The Ravens' defense is their strength, yet they are getting older. The Ravens' defense will be good this year, but their age will keep them from the being the dominant defense that people have to come to expect. The Ravens' age will most likely come into play at the end of the long grueling season. Still, the Ravens are going to be very good on both sides of the ball and that should help them both in the regular season and the playoffs. The Ravens should reach the the AFC conference championship game. The Super Bowl is possible, but in the end the San Diego Super Chargers offense is too much and the Ravens go home one game early this year.

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Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

2nd (Wild Card)

The Steelers have enough to make the playoffs again. The Steelers' offense may struggle this year. Big Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have a whole lot of weapons around him. The Steelers should be able to put up enough points to be in every game. The defense is the strength of the team. The linebacking core of the Steelers is the best in the NFL, and they have the best playmaking safety, Troy Polamalu. Pittsburgh will not get back to the Super Bowl, but they will make the playoffs again.

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Cleveland Browns (9-7)

3rd

The Browns are no longer the laughing stock of the NFL. They have improved their team on both sides of the ball, through the draft and free agency. This year the Browns take the step up to become one of the respectable teams of the NFL. The Browns will have to wait until next year to make the playoffs. Browns' fans should be encouraged with their young team's improvement. The AFC North is a tough division and the Browns will not be able to knock off the big boys this year, but the future is bright for the Browns. The Browns have the best young nucleus in the AFC North.

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Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

4th

The Bengals are young and rebuilding. The Bengals management may keep them from ever really being an elite team. The Bengals have an easy schedule and have some nice young players. That should be enough to win 5 or 6 games.

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The Big Weapon

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AFC WEST

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San Diego Chargers (11-5)

1st

Everyone has asked when will Phillip River take the next big step and get to the big game. This may be the year. Rivers is an elite quarterback and with no truly complete teams in the AFC Rivers and his high powered offense should overwhelm most teams that they face. San Diego also has a really good defense. So, the Chargers get to the Super Bowl, but in the end lose to the Saints, who have the best offense in football. The story plays out that Darren Sproles will be difference in the big game.

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Oakland Raiders (8-8)

2nd

Most people do not like the Raiders. Whether it is the fans or the wacky Al Davis, the Raiders have been a joke for the last few years. This year the Raiders have enough to be respectable, and a good young foundation to build on.

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Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

3rd

The Chiefs will not improve on their record from last year. The Chiefs take a step back, even though they have some nice building blocks for the future. The Chiefs have a tough schedule that will force them to step back and fix a few areas before they can be a 10 win team again.

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Denver Broncos (5-11)

4th

The Broncos are a franchise in turmoil. With coaching changes and bad personnel moves made by the former coach, the Broncos are in need of a fix. John Elway will have to get his hands around the situations(like the Tebow dilemma) for the Broncos to become a good team again. Still, the Broncos have enough players to win 5 games, but Elway and the rest of management better get control of things or this team could be sub par for a long time.

NFL Preview, NFC

"TO BE THE MAN, YOU GOT TO BEAT THE MAN!"

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The NFC is a very competitive conference. Three of the four divisions in the NFC are really good. There are only a few NFC teams that are great, but almost all the teams are pretty good. The middle teams and bottom teams in the NFC are better than middle and bottom of the AFC. Everyone is picking the Green Bay Packers to repeat. That is such a safe pick. A NFC team will win the Super Bowl this year, but it will be the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!

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NFC SOUTH

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New Orleans Saints

1st(2011 Super Bowl Champions)

The New Orleans Saints have what it takes to go all the way. The NFC South is one of the best divisions in football, and even if the Saints don't win their division they still may go to the Super Bowl this year. There are about 10-15 really good quarterbacks in the National Football League, but Drew Bree is one of the four QBs who stands head and shoulders above the rest. Brees(like the other three, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers) could play on any team in the NFL and make them a winning franchise. Brees always has nice targets to throw to, but this year the Saints have added two great running backs to take the pressure off the passing game. New addition, Mark Ingram, is a power running back with good speed, who functions like a bowling ball and the multipurpose Darren Sproles(genius pick up) is pure speed. The Saint's Jimmy Graham(he is still learning the game) should be much improved from last year and could be another dynamic weapon for the Saints offense. Graham is the latest in the former basketball player who converted to tight end, and with his 6-7 260 lbs. frame and ability, he should be as good as the other notable tight ends who transitioned before him. The Saint's defense will be good as well. Their front four is their strength. It is one of the best D lines in the NFC. Their line backing core is headed up by premier backer Jonathan Vilma. The Saints front 7 will be put to good use, as Defensive coordinator Greg Williams loves to blitz. William's style and the Saints personnel should spell trouble for QBs around the league. There is good chance that Green Bay will see the Saints in the NFC Conference Finals(a rematch from opening week). To pick the Packers is an easy pick to make and Rodgers will definitely get back to the Super Bowl one day, but this is the Saints' year and they will be in the big game again!

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Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

2nd(Wild Card)

Matt Ryan is good and so are the Falcons, but the Falcons will not have as good a record as they did last year. Ryan has been compared to Peyton Manning(Matt has a long ways to go to be Manning good), and like Manning it may take a few seasons for Ryan to get the monkey off the Falcons' back and get to the Super Bowl.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

3rd

The Buccaneers will not be able to duplicate their record from last year, as well. Tampa Bay will not be able to sneak up on people this year and they play in a very good division. Josh Freedom seems to have what it takes to play in the NFL, but he will have to be better this year and will be asked to do more. Still, the Buccaneers will be respectable, but not a playoff team yet.

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Carolina Panthers (3-13)

4th

Once again it is the same old story that half of the NFL has to hear, quarterback problems. Cam Newton has shown no signs of being able to play quarterback, but even if Cam develops into a good QB, it will not be this year. Newton will start this year, at least a few games, and his growing pains will be on display for everyone to see. Even with the Panther QB situation so up in the air, that is not the Panthers' biggest problems. The Panthers' run defense is horrible, and unless that is fixed the Panthers have no shot to be a competitive team. If the Panthers don't fix their two glaring holes, they will not win a game in the NFC South Division. The Panthers do have some pretty good players and they will improve as a team from last year's two win season, but they will only get one more win. At least the Panthers will not be worst team in the NFC. Most likely the Seahawks will get that title.

Is there a new sheriff in town?

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NFC North

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Green Bay Packers (13-3)

1st

Green Bay won the Super Bowl last year. It would be easy to pick them to win it all again this year, and maybe that is the smart pick. The Packers have the best overall team in the NFL. They are the best top to bottom and with that said in a quarterback league, they have the best football player in NFL playing QB. Aaron Rodgers should win the MVP this year, yet it is almost impossible to repeat in the NFL. Another thing that may keep the Packers from repeating is that they seem to be overconfident and love to talk about repeating. Most teams that repeat don't talk so much, you will never hear the Brady bunch talking like that. Still, Green Bay will have a great season and will most likely get back to the NFC conference championship game.

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Detroit Lions (10-6)

2nd(Wild Card)

Picking the Lions to make the playoffs this year is a sexy pick. The Lions will be a wild card team this year, but this is still a risky pick. The Lions are still young and inexperienced, and have a long history of losing to overcome. Still, the Lions have Ndamukong Suh who is a King Kong on defense. Suh makes the entire defensive team better, the same way Aaron Rodgers makes everyone better on offense. Matthew Stafford has looked awesome in the preseason and if he can stay healthy this year the sky is limit. Suh has help on defense and Stafford has help on offense(Calvin Johnson), so the Lions should be able to help themselves to a playoff birth. Still, the Lions don't have an easy road. The NFC North is one of the best divisions in the NFL.

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Chicago Bears (9-7)

3rd

The Bears will have a good season, but not good enough to make the playoffs. The Bears play in a really good division that has improved from last year. The Bears' defense will be good this year, but they are a year older. The offense will have to completely rely on the ground attack. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, but he has yet to prove that he can be elite. The question will be,"Can Culter make his receivers better and if not the Bears will be old and one dimensional?"

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Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

4th

The Vikings have a good team on both sides of the ball. They could be better than 7-9, but only if they get some really good play at the QB position. The Vikings have some great impact players, but QB is the glaring hole. Donovan McNabb doesn't too have much left in the tank and he is not getting younger any time soon. Plus, this is a tough division in which the Vikings will be matched up against some really good teams with good young quarterbacks. Vikings' QB problems will keep them from being able to hang with the big boys in this great division.

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Ready to be Elite?

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NFC NORTH

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St. Louis Rams (9-7)

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1st

The Rams will not be a really good team, but they will be good enough to win the worst division in football. The Rams QB Sam Bradford should be improved this year, building on a pretty solid rookie season. Plus, the Rams can run the ball and have some nice young defensive players who should be better this year as well. This spells playoffs for the Rams. Don't worry if the Rams start out slow. The first half of their schedule is tough, but the second half is easier. The Rams will come on strong the second half of the season, plus they have a weak division that should help the Rams get some wins. Rams' fans should not get too excited though, they will have to wait a few years for a deep playoff run.

Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

2nd

Kevin Kolb should give the Cardinals some stability at Quarterback, but there are too many questions Kolb will have to answer before the Cardinals make the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers (6-10)

3rd

Jim Harbaugh seems to have the makings of a good NFL head coach. The 49ers have a nice running game and some really good defensive pieces, but like many NFL teams they have too many questions at QB to be really good this year.

Seattle Seahawks (3-13)

4th

The worst team in the worst division, you can draw your own conclusions. Peter Carol is a smart guy, but he can't play quarterback.

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Jerry's Boy's are BACK!!!

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NFC EAST

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Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

1st

America's team, either you love them or you hate them. No matter how you feel, with the return of Tony Romo to distribute the ball to some lethal offensive weapons, the Cowboys will make the playoffs. This is Dez Bryant's second year and he could have a break out superstar kind of season, now that Romo is back. Dallas also has some nice defensive pieces like DeMarcus Ware and some new additions who could make an impact like linebacker Bruce Carter. Rob Ryan is the onw who is moving around these talented defensive pieces and he plans to be aggressive, which means the Dallas D should much improved from last year. QBs in the NFC East(Vick, Manning, Beck or Grossman) may be running for their lives. Romo has been highly criticized in the past, but he is in the top half of the league as a quarterback and with an ultra talented cast around him, it may not mean Super Bowl, but it does spell playoffs. "How 'bout them Cowboys?!"

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Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

2nd

Michael Vick has lots of weapons around him, but not a lot of protection. With Vick's style of play he could easily get hurt this year. Vick only played 11 games last season. Things could really fall apart for the Eagles this year, but most likely they will win some, but no playoffs. Besides the offensive problems Philly may have, their defense is a huge question mark. It seems the Eagles will not be able to stop the run and that is bad news in the NFL.

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New York Giants (8-8)

3rd

The Giants have a good quarterback and a great pass rush, so they will have a respectable season. The losses the Giants have suffered from injuries and free agency will take their toll.

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Washington Redskins (7-9)

4th

The Redskins will be better this year, but the NFC East is a pretty solid division, so the Skins will finish a close 4th this year. The Skins are well coached and have some stars on defense, but the offense problems will keep the Redskins from getting over the hump.