A Look at the NFC After Week 4
After my rundown of the AFC, it’s time to change gears and look at the NFC.
NFC EAST
1. New York Giants 4-0
The Giants, again, are off to a hot start, led by the younger Manning brother, Eli, who is one of the most underrated QB in the league. His presence in the pocket can now be compared to his older brother, Peyton.
The defense is allowing the 2nd lowest yards per game, and the running game is 6th best in the league. All these factors contributed to wins against Washington, Dallas, Tampa, and Kansas City. While you could say two of those wins are against teams that are not very good, you should look at the Dallas game.
Beating Dallas at home, in their new stadium, just proves that this Giants team is, once again, the real deal.
2. Philidelphia Eagles 2-1
The Eagles made headlines after they signed Michael Vick, but Vick’s future with the organization is unclear. The team is still playing well, only losing to Drew Brees and his Saints. The Eagles rank 7th in total offense even after losing Donovan McNabb for a game and a half.
The question is whether the Eagles can actually win the Super Bowl.
The past years they have always been a team to watch for, but their problem is not being able to win the big games, which has lad to many fans wanting Andy Ried out. The same questions apply this year.
The Eagles can pick up three wins against the Raiders, Tampa, and Washington over the next three weeks. These wins will help in the win-loss department, but most fans will not see those as wins that prove a team’s dominance. Still a win is a win and it will only build confidence between the players.
3. Dallas Cowboys 2-2
The Cowboys are back with a new stadium and without TO. They find themselves with a respectable, but disappointing 2-2 record in a very hard division. Dallas is facing the same questions as the Eagles are.Tony Romo has been criticized because he doesn’t perform well in the big games, which leads to people questioning whether this team can make a deep playoff run.
If anything is holding the Cowboys back form a deep playoff run, it is their defense. The defense has given up an average of 371.2 yards per game, 26th in the league. The passing defense isn’t fairing as well in particular, giving up an average of 256.2 yards per game.
The Cowboys have all the right pieces, but a few more years of adding some talent will definitely  help this team’s odds of winning the Superbowl.
4. Washington Redskins 2-2
Things are not looking good for the Redskins this year. They rank 27th in points scored per game with 14. After the loss to the Detroit Lions, people are not going to look at the Redskins the same way.
The running game is really hurting for Washington.  Clinton Portis has yet to break out and come back to the way he once was. Jason Campbell isn’t necessarily playing good or bad — he’s had moments of both — but he is the only team’s hope offensively right now, since Portis hasn’t been producing like he can.
The Redskins are a bad team in a great division. They won’t be able to produce the numbers to make them have any chance of making the playoffs.
NFC NORTH
1. Minnesota Vikings 4-0
Many experts said that this team was a real threat now that they had, dare I say it, Brett Farve. The Vikings have met those bold words and the team now has a complete offense. The defense is still one of the best in the league, and complements Adrian Peterson, who is un-humanly  good.
The Vikings defeat of the Packers was a sight to see. Al: I have to say is that Jared Allen is a beast.
Finally, the Vikings have a chance to win the Super Bowl, their first legit shot since the Culpepper era. This is their year, and they are making the most out of it. The Vikings are going to be in a tough division race, but with the way they are playing, the Vikings can come out on top.
Chicago Bears 3-1
The Bears could have easily been 0-3 after week 3, but the presence of Jay Cutler has helped the Bears beat the Steelers and the Seahawks in very tense comeback wins. The running game is the area of most concern because they are ranked 26th in the league.
The Bears would be in a different situation if it weren’t for Cutler. Nobody on any other team has had more of an impact on both the fans and the team itself. Cutler has bounced back very nicely after the his horrid performance in Green Bay in Week 1.
The defense is definitely better now that Lovie is calling the plays, and Ron Turner must be liking it now that he can call some more passing plays and try to stretch the defenses. The schedule only gets a littler easier, but the Bears are trying to prove a point this year.
Green Bay Packers 2-2
The Packers are a great offensive team, but their defense has slowed them down the past few years. The Pack does, however, seem to be on the right tack to fix that. The defense played very well against the Bears, and was the main contributer to their win against against Chicago.
The main problem facing the Packers is heir offense line. Aaron Rodgers is getting hit and sacked way to much. He is on track to be sacked 80 times, a very staggering number. Rodgers might not finish the season alive.
4. Detroit Lions 1-3
The Lions finally ended their winless streak, but the team needs to take baby steps. In no way is this team going to just start winning games, but it was a step in the right direction for the struggling franchise.
Rookie QB Matthew Stafford played the way the Lions wanted him to. His talent and leadership ability shined two Sundays ago. The Lions still face an uphill battle for at least another year, but that win has uplifted the hearts of the fans, players, and the city.
Their loss to Chicago was a sign that the team still needs much improvement. They have a win and that’s at least a improvement.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints 4-0
The Saints continue to perform like a Super Bowl caliber team. Arguably the best team in the league right now, the Saints have looked good every game, and they are almost #1 ranked in every offensive stat.
The Saints have a bye this week to help them get ready for the Giants, a game that features two great quarterbacks that can lead their team deep into the playoffs. Everything is looking good for the Saints this year, and it should continue that way.
Keep an eye on this team as they are my Super Bowl pick this year.
Atlanta Falcons 2-1
The Falcons had a bye last week, helping them get ready for the Niners. Matt Ryan isn’t having a sophomore slump this year, but the rushing game is struggling a little bit. Yet have no fear, the Falcons are still a great team that is capable of taking that extra step to get them to the Super Bowl.
They do have a challenge against the Niners in week. Michael Crabtree has agreed to a 6-year deal with San Fransisco but won’t be able to play Sunday, and I see that game going down to someone making a great offensive play. In the future, that someone will be Crabtree…just not this Sunday.
The Falcons are right on track to another great season, but now that the Saints are a complete team the Falcons will have a harder time repeating a division title.
Carolina Panthers 0-3
The Panthers are in desperation mode. Nobody saw the Panthers sinking to 0-3 after 4 weeks, even though they do have a rough first quarter of a schedule. Carolina’s schedule doesn’t get much easier down the road so it’s hard to see a late season comeback from this already demoralized team.
It has and will be a long, bleak season for the Panthers, and unless they do something to change things around this team is going nowhere this year.
Tampa bay Buccaneers 0-4
Another team sharing the Panthers woes is the Bucs. After four weeks they find themselves 0-4, lacking any offense or defense, and have dug into a monstrous pit.
Nothing has worked for the Bucs. They even had to release their kicker, Mike Nugent, because he missed two field goals in the 13-16 loss to Washington. Leftwich hasn’t produced enough to win him the the respect of the fans, the running game is virtually non-existent, and the Bucs are a prime example of a one-time Super Bowl team gone down the drain.
Tampa’s schedule is a tough one, one that will not let them recover.
NFC WEST
San Fransisco 49ers 3-1
Being a Bears fan I couldn’t help but love to see Mike Singletary be named head coach of the 49ers. His unorthodox ways of teaching are the reason I love him. He preaches respect to coaches and also that the team works as a team, and not a player just playing for his ego.
Singletary’s way has been working. The 49ers are the most underrated team in the NFL now. The reason for the 3-1 record is their defense, which comes as no surprise since Singletary was part of one of the best defenses to ever play in the NFL.
The 49ers have a tough mathchup against the Falcons this Sunday, but with a new coaching staff the 49ers have the ability to beat high caliber teams.
Arizona Cardinals 1-2
Not the start the Cards were looking for, but there is still plenty of time for Warner and the Cards to bounce back. The offense is still clicking, but they are experienceing what the Saints had top deal with for some years. The defense isn’t holding up its part of the bargain, something that can cripple any team’s chance of making it into the palyoffs.
Steve Breaston is still questionable for Sunday’s game against the Texans, which should be a great offensive match up. The Cardinals still have to play the way they know how to and hope that the defense can start catching up. If that doesn’t happen the Cardinals will find it very hard to win close games.
Don’t count this team out though. This division isn’t one of the stronger ones. That gives the Cardinals a decent chance of winning the division.
Seattle Seahawks 1-3
Without the presence of Matt Hasselback, the Seahawks are finding it very hard to win games. The Seahawks are putting up medicore numbers, surely enough to win more than one game, but they haven’t yet found that extra flare that they need to stay competitive in 2009.
The Seahawks have a fairly tough schedule up ahead, one that could prevent them from ever regaining the offensive power, but don’t count this team out. When Hasselback is healthy they can upset any team on any given day.
St. Louis Rams 0-4
The Rams are just a bad team that doesn’t have the right mangement to guide them. There doesn’t seem to be a change in any style of play by the Rams. They, again, find themselves winless after week 4. The only positive player is running back Steven Jackson.
Jackson is the warm center that every St Louis fan crowds around. He is the only hope for a struggling team that doesn’t seem to have any where to go to for help.
Yes St Louis is in a sad situatuion, and yes, it doesn’t look like they will get out of it anytime soon, but maybe, just maybe, this team could land some good draft picks, just like Atlanta did with Matt Ryan.
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