By Marc Lawrence
If going from last to first in the NFC South Division works (and it has the last five years in a row) then make room for the Atlanta Falcons. Not so fast, you say? Didn't you know Michael Vick is in Leavenworth and Bobby Petrino is doing time (for the moment) in Arkansas?
While it appears the Falcons may be up against it while trying to stretch the 'streak' to six years in a row, the fact of the matter is there is no team inside the NFC South that has a lock on anything.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA
Team Theme - PLOP, PLOP, FIZZ, FIZZ
If NFL teams were like NASCAR and had corporate sponsors, Atlanta would have looked properly adorned in uniforms by Alka Seltzer this year. A stomach-turning season in 2007 started with the demise of QB-turned-prisoner Michael Vick and concluded with the parachute jump of gutless coach Bobby Petrino. Hey, if this team were like so many other Americans and facing foreclosure these days, at least owner Arthur Blank would know where to go to get supplies to board up the operation. Instead, he's opting to rebuild from the ground up behind new head coach Mike 'Speedy' Smith and the 3rd pick of the NFL draft, QB Matt Ryan. Ryan's main target will be WR Roddy White who, along with prize free agent RB Michael Turner (Chargers), are the top skill players. The bad news is Speedy can only do so much so soon.
PLAY AGAINST: as HF vs Carolina (11/23) - *KEY off win
CAROLINA
Team Theme - GO FETCH, JAKE
It seems that even the best of dogs can bite your hand when they are starving. Such was the case last season when Panther boss John Fox, the top underdog coach in the NFL at 25-10-1 ATS in his career prior to 2007, finished just 5-5 taking points last year. A lot had to do with clusters of injuries, the most important of which was to QB Jake Delhomme, who started the first three games before closing shop with a bum elbow. Carolina wasn't the same without Delhomme, finishing the year 7-9, after they were forced to rely on ancient Vinny Testaverde who was 2-4 SU and ATS in relief. A healthy Delhomme and Carolina's ability to rebound with vengeance (the Panthers went 14-5 and 13-6 following their last two 7-9 seasons) should see Jake coming back with a playoff bone.
PLAY ON: as dog at New Orleans (12/28)
NEW ORLEANS
Team Theme - HOLY SAINTS
The Saints stepped into a 0-4 hole to start the season last year and were out-of-step the rest of the year. No team in the history of our database (since 1980) has ever made the playoffs after starting a season in similar fashion and try as it did, New Orleans also failed. The Saints immediately went to work beefing up the defense with the free agent acquisitions of CB Aaron Glenn and LB Jonathon Vilma to go with No.1 draft choice DT Sedrick Ellis. That should plug the hole that resulted in the Saints sliding 36 YPG defensively last season. Offensively, New Orleans will need better production from RB's Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. The run game regressed 21 RYPG and needs to be effective if QB Drew Brees is to operate at his best. There is lot of potential here if enough holes are plugged.
PLAY ON: vs. Chicago (12/11)
TAMPA BAY
Team Theme - HARD LEMONADE
Jon Gruden's hard stance in last year's NFL draft paid immediate rewards when the ten players selected helped improve the Bucs' lot. The real key to their success, though, was the insightful signing of QB Jeff Garcia. His veteran leadership and experience combined to vault Tampa back to the playoffs after a dismal 4-12 effort in 2006. Garcia has been playing hardball with management since, remaining a holdout at press time and leaving the passing game with question marks. A soft schedule (only four games against teams that were playoff participants last season) helps. With only one game in their first six against a winning team from last year, Gruden realizes his team will need to at least duplicate last season's sweet 4-2 start if it wishes to return to the post-season in 2008. Otherwise it could end up like a tart lemon.
PLAY ON: vs. New Orleans (11/30)
============
Has the 'love' worn off in Chicago? Would Matt Millen be wise to register at Monster.com before the Christmas rush? Is Brett's farewell for real? Can the Vikings ride the legs of Adrian Peterson to the playoffs? If this were a soap opera we'd call it Days of our Lives. In the NFL it's called life in the NFC North.
With future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre now on the sidelines, the race for the top spot in this division is wide open.
Here is my take of teams in the NFC NORTH DIVISION for 2008.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO
Team Theme - UNBEARABLE
From the Super Bowl to the cereal bowl in one year, it was not a good season for Bear lovers last year. Lovie's huggables suffered the worst fall of all NFC teams in 2008 when the dreaded "Super Bowl Loser Jinx" bit them hard. While most will point a finger at an unstable quarterback situation, the fact of the matter is Chicago's demise was directly attributable to a soft running game and a porous defense, the worst ever in Lovie Smith's career. The Bears addressed the offense in the draft with OT Chris Williams, hard-nosed RB Matt Forte and WR Earl Bennett. They also re-signed LB Lance Briggs to multi-year contract giving them major insurance against a potential signing problem with Brian Urlacher. The most disturbing number, though, was Chicago's 4-12 ITS (In The Stats) mark last year, meaning they managed to outgain only four opponents. That is not acceptable.
PLAY ON: as a dog vs. Detroit (10/5)
DETROIT
Team Theme - MILLEN'S MALADY
The best we can figure is Matt Millen is a cat and he's got nine lives. How else do you substantiate a 40-88 record in eight years - every one a losing year - as GM of the Lions? He's back for the ninth, and likely last, campaign needing to win like fish need water. Head coach Rod Marinelli, back for his third year, improved Detroit's lot by four full games last season. Nevertheless they collapsed like the Giants-on-Brady down the stretch, finishing on a 1-7 slide the 2nd half of the season in 2007. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz was pink-slipped in favor of OC Jim Colletto and assistant head coach/passing game coordinator Kippy Brown. Martz's complicated offensive scheme is history. So, too will be Millen if his 9th life doesn't cross over onto the winning side.
PLAY ON: as dog vs Green Bay (9/14)
GREEN BAY
Team Theme - BY FAVRE THE BEST EVER
It was with a tear in his eye and trepidation in his heart that Bret Favre announced he was officially retiring at the conclusion of playoffs last season. In 17 magnificent seasons with the Packers, the 3-time MVP leaves the NFL with most career passing yards and TD's. His 160 wins as a starter in regular season games is also the best the league has ever witnessed, topping John Elway by 12. Stepping in the almost impossible-to-fill shoes is Aaron Rodgers, a QB who has been auditioning for the job the last three years. Rodgers finds himself in the unenviable position of replacing an NFL icon and having only two years left on his contract to accomplish the feat. QB's Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn were selected in this year's draft as insurance. Anything less than a return trip to the playoffs will likely seal Rodgers' fate in Green Bay.
PLAY ON: at Chicago (12/22)
MINNESOTA
Team Theme - AP ROY
What does having the league's Rookie of the Year mean to a team? Ask the Vikings and you're likely to hear "everything". Little did Minnesota know when they selected RB Adrian Peterson with the 5th pick in the 2006 NFL draft that he would lead the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards at 5.6 yards per carry. Peterson's efforts left the team one game short of a playoff spot after the Vikings dropped each of their final two games in disappointing fashion. Nonetheless, the groundwork is laid and, thanks to the off-season acquisition of Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen from the Chiefs, Minnesota has playoff aspirations this season. Even with AP in the backfield, it won't be a stroll in the park considering only three teams in the entire league will take on a tougher schedule than the Vikes in 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Arizona (12/14)
If going from last to first in the NFC South Division works (and it has the last five years in a row) then make room for the Atlanta Falcons. Not so fast, you say? Didn't you know Michael Vick is in Leavenworth and Bobby Petrino is doing time (for the moment) in Arkansas?
While it appears the Falcons may be up against it while trying to stretch the 'streak' to six years in a row, the fact of the matter is there is no team inside the NFC South that has a lock on anything.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA
Team Theme - PLOP, PLOP, FIZZ, FIZZ
If NFL teams were like NASCAR and had corporate sponsors, Atlanta would have looked properly adorned in uniforms by Alka Seltzer this year. A stomach-turning season in 2007 started with the demise of QB-turned-prisoner Michael Vick and concluded with the parachute jump of gutless coach Bobby Petrino. Hey, if this team were like so many other Americans and facing foreclosure these days, at least owner Arthur Blank would know where to go to get supplies to board up the operation. Instead, he's opting to rebuild from the ground up behind new head coach Mike 'Speedy' Smith and the 3rd pick of the NFL draft, QB Matt Ryan. Ryan's main target will be WR Roddy White who, along with prize free agent RB Michael Turner (Chargers), are the top skill players. The bad news is Speedy can only do so much so soon.
PLAY AGAINST: as HF vs Carolina (11/23) - *KEY off win
CAROLINA
Team Theme - GO FETCH, JAKE
It seems that even the best of dogs can bite your hand when they are starving. Such was the case last season when Panther boss John Fox, the top underdog coach in the NFL at 25-10-1 ATS in his career prior to 2007, finished just 5-5 taking points last year. A lot had to do with clusters of injuries, the most important of which was to QB Jake Delhomme, who started the first three games before closing shop with a bum elbow. Carolina wasn't the same without Delhomme, finishing the year 7-9, after they were forced to rely on ancient Vinny Testaverde who was 2-4 SU and ATS in relief. A healthy Delhomme and Carolina's ability to rebound with vengeance (the Panthers went 14-5 and 13-6 following their last two 7-9 seasons) should see Jake coming back with a playoff bone.
PLAY ON: as dog at New Orleans (12/28)
NEW ORLEANS
Team Theme - HOLY SAINTS
The Saints stepped into a 0-4 hole to start the season last year and were out-of-step the rest of the year. No team in the history of our database (since 1980) has ever made the playoffs after starting a season in similar fashion and try as it did, New Orleans also failed. The Saints immediately went to work beefing up the defense with the free agent acquisitions of CB Aaron Glenn and LB Jonathon Vilma to go with No.1 draft choice DT Sedrick Ellis. That should plug the hole that resulted in the Saints sliding 36 YPG defensively last season. Offensively, New Orleans will need better production from RB's Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. The run game regressed 21 RYPG and needs to be effective if QB Drew Brees is to operate at his best. There is lot of potential here if enough holes are plugged.
PLAY ON: vs. Chicago (12/11)
TAMPA BAY
Team Theme - HARD LEMONADE
Jon Gruden's hard stance in last year's NFL draft paid immediate rewards when the ten players selected helped improve the Bucs' lot. The real key to their success, though, was the insightful signing of QB Jeff Garcia. His veteran leadership and experience combined to vault Tampa back to the playoffs after a dismal 4-12 effort in 2006. Garcia has been playing hardball with management since, remaining a holdout at press time and leaving the passing game with question marks. A soft schedule (only four games against teams that were playoff participants last season) helps. With only one game in their first six against a winning team from last year, Gruden realizes his team will need to at least duplicate last season's sweet 4-2 start if it wishes to return to the post-season in 2008. Otherwise it could end up like a tart lemon.
PLAY ON: vs. New Orleans (11/30)
============
Has the 'love' worn off in Chicago? Would Matt Millen be wise to register at Monster.com before the Christmas rush? Is Brett's farewell for real? Can the Vikings ride the legs of Adrian Peterson to the playoffs? If this were a soap opera we'd call it Days of our Lives. In the NFL it's called life in the NFC North.
With future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre now on the sidelines, the race for the top spot in this division is wide open.
Here is my take of teams in the NFC NORTH DIVISION for 2008.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO
Team Theme - UNBEARABLE
From the Super Bowl to the cereal bowl in one year, it was not a good season for Bear lovers last year. Lovie's huggables suffered the worst fall of all NFC teams in 2008 when the dreaded "Super Bowl Loser Jinx" bit them hard. While most will point a finger at an unstable quarterback situation, the fact of the matter is Chicago's demise was directly attributable to a soft running game and a porous defense, the worst ever in Lovie Smith's career. The Bears addressed the offense in the draft with OT Chris Williams, hard-nosed RB Matt Forte and WR Earl Bennett. They also re-signed LB Lance Briggs to multi-year contract giving them major insurance against a potential signing problem with Brian Urlacher. The most disturbing number, though, was Chicago's 4-12 ITS (In The Stats) mark last year, meaning they managed to outgain only four opponents. That is not acceptable.
PLAY ON: as a dog vs. Detroit (10/5)
DETROIT
Team Theme - MILLEN'S MALADY
The best we can figure is Matt Millen is a cat and he's got nine lives. How else do you substantiate a 40-88 record in eight years - every one a losing year - as GM of the Lions? He's back for the ninth, and likely last, campaign needing to win like fish need water. Head coach Rod Marinelli, back for his third year, improved Detroit's lot by four full games last season. Nevertheless they collapsed like the Giants-on-Brady down the stretch, finishing on a 1-7 slide the 2nd half of the season in 2007. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz was pink-slipped in favor of OC Jim Colletto and assistant head coach/passing game coordinator Kippy Brown. Martz's complicated offensive scheme is history. So, too will be Millen if his 9th life doesn't cross over onto the winning side.
PLAY ON: as dog vs Green Bay (9/14)
GREEN BAY
Team Theme - BY FAVRE THE BEST EVER
It was with a tear in his eye and trepidation in his heart that Bret Favre announced he was officially retiring at the conclusion of playoffs last season. In 17 magnificent seasons with the Packers, the 3-time MVP leaves the NFL with most career passing yards and TD's. His 160 wins as a starter in regular season games is also the best the league has ever witnessed, topping John Elway by 12. Stepping in the almost impossible-to-fill shoes is Aaron Rodgers, a QB who has been auditioning for the job the last three years. Rodgers finds himself in the unenviable position of replacing an NFL icon and having only two years left on his contract to accomplish the feat. QB's Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn were selected in this year's draft as insurance. Anything less than a return trip to the playoffs will likely seal Rodgers' fate in Green Bay.
PLAY ON: at Chicago (12/22)
MINNESOTA
Team Theme - AP ROY
What does having the league's Rookie of the Year mean to a team? Ask the Vikings and you're likely to hear "everything". Little did Minnesota know when they selected RB Adrian Peterson with the 5th pick in the 2006 NFL draft that he would lead the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards at 5.6 yards per carry. Peterson's efforts left the team one game short of a playoff spot after the Vikings dropped each of their final two games in disappointing fashion. Nonetheless, the groundwork is laid and, thanks to the off-season acquisition of Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen from the Chiefs, Minnesota has playoff aspirations this season. Even with AP in the backfield, it won't be a stroll in the park considering only three teams in the entire league will take on a tougher schedule than the Vikes in 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Arizona (12/14)
