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True Gridiron's NFC midseason report
My NFC preseason predictions included the Packers winning the Super Bowl and Aaron Rodgers being hailed as the NFL's best QB. So far so good. But what about my other NFC predictions?
NFC East
Eagles
Predicted: 11-5, Winning division.
Midseason record: 3-5
Analysis: The Eagles represent the latest misconstrued philosophy that spending a lot of money and assembling a "Dream Team" of players will get you the Lombardi trophy. Look at the 2000 Redskins or the Miami Heat, for that matter. When the Eagles lost to the Bears on Monday Night they were officially Done. That was a must win. I believe Andy Reid needs to be fired. He has done a lot to make the Eagles a good team. But never great. I could go on about who they play the next 8 games, but really. What's the point!
Cowboys
Predicted: 10-6, Wildcard
Midseason record: 4-4
Analysis: Except for being tattooed a couple weeks back by the Eagles, the Cowboys have been in every game – and worse, should have won those games. Football is a 60 minute game and Dallas is playing well for at least 55 minutes of it. Not good enough. On top of that Cowboys still have to play the Bills, Giants twice, Bucs and Eagles. They can only afford 2 more losses and still have a chance for the playoffs. Won't happen.
Redskins
Predicted: 8-8
Midseason record: 3-5
Analysis: The Redskins have a fundamental problem: two quarterbacks that are not good enough to trade. No doubt they will be shopping for a signal-caller in 2012, no matter how much Mike Shanahan loves John Beck. The fact that the Skins were shut out vs Buffalo (the first time in Shanahan's career) tells you this offense is in need of a makeover. They still have to play the Jets, Patriots, Giants, Eagles and Cowboys.
Giants
Predicted: 7-9
Midseason record: 6-2
Analysis: Obviously I was wrong about the G-men. Sometimes, it can cloud judgment to be too close. I cover the Giants year-round and what I saw was a team with too many injuries and bad play by Eli Manning during the preseason. Well, Manning is playing like his big bro and the Giants are putting it together with a next-man-up team approach. I'm not going to get too excited though. New York has a tendency to fold like a drycleaner during the second half most seasons. And with the 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Packers, Jets and Cowboys twice still on the docket, let's not get too carried away.
NFC North
Packers
Predicted: 13-3, Winning division, Winning Super Bowl
Midseason record: 8-0
Analysis: OK, I'm going to pat myself on the back here. Mostly because I dislike Peter King (for his treatment of Floyd Little during the Hall of Fame process) and I can't believe this "expert" didn't see what I saw. While he predicts Atlanta is going to win the Super Bowl, I looked at the Packers as a team who had a great draft and a boatload of players returning from injury. I also felt that last year Aaron Rodgers became not just the best QB in the league, but the NFL's best player. Period. This is what I said 10 weeks ago: "Aaron Rodger's was unofficially the league's best player last year. This year there will be no question." Of course, it's not over yet. Anything can happen like, what if Rodgers gets hurt? They still have to play the Bucs, Lions twice, Giants and Bears. Nothing they can't handle. But you never know.
Bears
Predicted: 10-6
Midseason record: 5-3
Analysis: This team is Bear tough resilient. They play hard for 60 minutes and that defense can be the toughest in the league when they want to. And don't think Jay Cutler has forgotten all the people that called him milquetoast (and much, much worse) after last year's MCL brouhaha. I think the Bears will make the playoffs by unseating the Lions. Big games left on their schedule include the Lions, Chargers and Packers.
Vikings
Predicted: 8-8
Midseason record: 2-6
Analysis: Two things come to mind when I think of the 2011 Vikings: 1) I'm surprised how quickly Donovan McNabb faltered. I thought he would make to 10 games. 2) I'm pleasantly impressed by the play of Christian Ponder. I really thought he would struggle and look downright awful at times. But he's using his legs and his surprising accuracy to give the Vikes hope for the future. This team isn't going anywhere this year so no need to discuss the teams left on their schedule. I must say this though, totally random: does anyone else notice how much Ponder looks like the late great Brian Piccolo? Google their pics sometime.
Lions
Predicted: 6-10
Midseason record: 6-2
Analysis. Even though the Lions had a stellar preseason, I predicted they would have a lousy regular season. After all, they're the Lions. They have played incredible, really. But I predict still they will Not make the playoffs. They still have to play the Packers twice, the Bears, Saints and Chargers. Maybe I'm jaded. But the Lions will always be a hapless organization until they prove to me otherwise. That will begin to change if they buck my prediction and make the playoffs.
NFC South
Saints
Predicted: 11-5. Winning division.
Midseason record: 6-3
Analysis. The Saints may be the second best team in the NFC next to the Packers. They played the Pack down to the last play in the Week 1 thriller. Except for laying a deuce against the Rams, they've been impressive. As I predicted "Darren Sproles is an upgrade" over Reggie Bush. I think it will be the Saints-Packers in the NFC championship game. Why? Consider this: the Saints challenging games left include the Falcons twice, Giants and Lions. That's it.
Falcons
Predicted: 10-6, Wildcard
Midseason record: 5-3
Analysis: The key to the Falcons making it back to the playoffs centers around the play of rookie receiver Julio Jones. Seriously. He has demonstrated glimpses of greatness already. He has also demonstrated the ability to get nicked up pretty easily as well. If Jones can stay healthy, then the Falcons may be able to finally be able to compete with Green Bay . Maybe not win, but compete. The rest of the schedule is pretty easy too: Saints twice, Bucs and Texans are the only real challenges.
Buccaneers
Predicted: 10-6
Midseason record: 4-4
Analysis: The Bucs go as Josh Freeman goes. I thought this season Freeman would start to get the ink he deserves. But he's had some bad games, especially the 4 interception downer in London vs Chicago . So far Freeman has 8 TDs and 10 picks. His 76.8 QB rating is lower than Tim Tebow's 80.1. And that must be killing Merril Hoge. Freeman's play has to improve if the Bucs want to sneak into the playoffs.
Panthers
Predicted: 4-12
Midseason record: 2-6
Analysis: Forget about this season. Let's look at next season. Cam Newton has already squashed the doubters who wanted to compare him to previous first-round busts. Newton could be a lights-out player next year. He's already proven he could be rookie of the year. The Panthers may finish 4-12, as I predicted. But the future looks a lot brighter than a 4-12 record shows.
NFC West
Rams
Predicted: 10-6
Midseason record: 1-7
Analysis. There's a good chance coach John Spagnuolo won't be back next year. With the play of Sam Bradford last year, I thought the team was playoff bound this season. Not so. Spagnuolo will take the fall for a major underachieving team. Bradford is struggling and has been hurt. Remember, Rick Mirer? Sometimes a QB can look great that first season and then stop improving. Not to say this will be Bradford, but who knows. His subpar performance so far has really hurt the team. There are at least 4 more losses on the Rams' radar this season: 49ers twice, Bengals and Steelers. I predict the Rams will finish 5-11.
49ers
Predicted: 8-8
Midseason record: 7-1
Analysis: The 49ers have the second best record in the NFL. This is not a typo. Who would have ever dreamed that scenario? Especially with Alex Smith at the helm and a rookie coach in Jim Harbaugh? The coach has made it look easy. And congrats to Smith who is showing that good coaching and patience can give an all-out bust one last chance to shine. Imagine if he goes onto a great career? What will Hoge do then? The rest of the season is a cakewalk for the 49ers: Giants, Ravens, Steelers are their only difficult games. Suffice to say, the 49ers are in a crappy division and will wrap things up by December. With their tough running game, they could be a surprise in the playoffs.
Seahawks
Predicted: 8-8
Midseason record: 2-6
Analysis: The Seahawks are better than their 2-6 record indicates. They beat the Giants in NY and handled them pretty easily. What's holding them back is QB play. Whether you think Tavaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst should lead the team, next year there will be a QB drafted high that will probably be their future. As I said 10 weeks ago: "Another change at QB is needed if the Seahawks want to fly above mediocrity."
Cardinals
Predicted: 6-10
Midseason record: 2-6
Analysis: This is what I said about Kevin Kolb 10 weeks ago: "Kevin Kolb is their savior? Really … I've tried and tried and don't see it. When has he ever proven that he's the guy!" I live in the Philly area so I got to see most of Kolb's performance when he was with the Eagles. I was never impressed and couldn't believe someone was going to give up a high pick and cover him with millions to be their franchise QB. So far this season, Kolb has proven to be average (8 TDs, 8 picks) with a 77.8 QB rating (worse than every analysts punching bag, Tim Tebow). And injury prone. Their second-half of the schedule won't make it easier: 49ers twice, Eagles, Cowboys
and Bengals.
Playoff teams predicted: Eagles, Cowboys, Saints, Falcons, Packers, Rams
Midseason playoff picture: OK, I'm wrong about the Eagles and Rams, andprobably wrong about the Cowboys. So 50-50 with the Saints, Falcons and Packers sure to make it. Then who are the 3 other teams I'm sticking in there to save my sorry butt? 49ers, obviously. Then I'm going with the Bears and Giants. No doubt I have the Packers winning it all – as I predicted 10 weeks ago.
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