Week 3 Review

Referees signal touchdown in the controversial Hail Mary
pass from QB Russell Wilson to WR Golden Tate.

No one could have believed that after another weekend of football, the cries for the regular referees to return would grow louder. It has. After an uneventful start to Week 3, which resulted in an easy New York Giants victory over the Carolina Panthers, there was a lot to talk about at the conclusion of Week 3.

There were three overtime games going on at the same time in Miami, New Orleans, and Nashville. In Miami, the Miami Dolphins had an opportunity to win the game in overtime, but K Dan Carpenter missed his second field goal of the game to give the New York Jets new life. The Jets were able to capitalize and kick the game-winning field goal for the victory. The victory came at a cost however. CB Darrelle Revis, arguably the Jets best player, tore his ACL in the game and now has to miss the rest of the season, a big blow to the Jets defense.

RB Jamaal Charles runs it 91 yards for a touchdown in the
Chiefs victory.

In New Orleans, the New Orleans Saints were in firm control of the game, leading 24-6 at one point deep in the third quarter. However, a 91-yard touchdown run from Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles jump started the comeback, and K Ryan Succop was able to complete the comeback in overtime with a game-winning field goal, giving the Chiefs a 27-24 victory. This game was important for both teams, as they entered with 0-2 records. The Saints, expected to be Super Bowl contenders even without head coach Sean Payton, are now 0-3 and appear to be in a world of trouble.

In Nashville, the Tennessee Titans held a 20-9 halftime lead, and seemed to be in full control throughout the game against the Detroit Lions. The Titans had two special teams returns for touchdowns, including the first one which greatly resembled the Music City Miracle play in the 1999 AFC Wild Card game between the Titans and Buffalo Bills. It looked more troubling also when QB Matthew Stafford suffered what seems to be a hamstring injury.

Lions WR Titus Young catches a Hail Mary pass to send
the game into overtime.

On the last play of the game, the Lions, with backup QB Shaun Hill in the game, had no other choice but to throw a Hail Mary pass. The Lions were successful, as a member of the Titans defense attempted to bat the ball down to the ground. It landed in WR Titus Young’s hands, and he was able to get the score. After the Titans were able to get a field goal on their first possession, the Lions had a chance to tie it with a field goal. On 4th and 1, the Lions decided to go for the quarterback sneak and continue the possession instead of taking an easy field goal. The plan backfired, and they now fall to 1-2 as the Titans got their first victory of the season.

The Sunday and Monday night games were the most controversial games of the weekend. The Sunday night game was a rematch of the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. After the Patriots grabbed a commanding 13-0 lead in the second quarter, the Ravens came back easily and it was a back and forth affair going forward. However, there seemed to be a lot of calls that went against the Patriots, constantly giving the Ravens new life.

Ravens LB Ray Lewis and WR Torrey Smith embrace
after an emotional game for Smith.

Down nine in the fourth quarter, the Ravens were able to get a touchdown to WR Torrey Smith, who was playing with a heavy heart after the death of his brother earlier in the day. Smith scored two touchdowns, and questionable calls in the fourth quarter allowed the Ravens to get into field goal position for the win. Rookie K Justin Tucker, who took over for K Billy Cundiff, kicked the game-winning field goal in what appeared to have veered a little wide right. The Patriots took exception to the call, even to the point when head coach Bill Belichick attempted to chase down one of the referees unsuccessfully.

The Monday night matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks ended in more controversial fashion. It marred what was a hard-fought defensive battle by both teams. The Seahawks racked up eight sacks in the first half alone, after only accumulating two in the first two games combined. However, the Packers started to pick it up in the second half. However, controversial calls against the Seahawks put them at a slight disadvantage as the Packers eventually took the lead.

It appeared the game was over when QB Russell Wilson’s pass to WR Sidney Rice fell incomplete after WR Golden Tate put his hand on it. However, the Seahawks were able to get the ball back with under a minute to go after the Packers quickly went three and out. The last play of the game will be talked about for years to come. Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass into the end zone in what appeared to be an interception by S M.D. Jennings. However, Tate was able to partially wrestle the ball from Jennings on the ground, and the referees called a touchdown. After a review to see if the pass was incomplete, the play stood and left the Packers furious.

This appears to be the last straw for fans and players as they cry for the regular referees to return. Many Packers players voiced their displeasure with the turn of events on social media, while the Seahawks maintained their innocence. After a lot of confusion, both teams had to return to the field for the extra point to be converted to complete the game.

This weekend was certainly filled with entertaining finishes and controversial endings. This may have an affect on negotiations as the regular referees may use the incompetence of the replacement referees as a negotiation ploy. It might be in the best interest for the NFL to get the regulars back as soon as possible. The fans will still love the game regardless but the criticism week after week can have a financial effect sooner or later.

The Packers were most likely aware of the Hail Mary completion the Lions completed in their game against the Titans. They were probably against the idea of batting the ball down as a result of that play, which unfortunately backfired on them. When it comes to a Hail Mary, there is no proper way to defend. It is such a lucky play and more times than not, it is unsuccessful. As a defense, whatever you do, always keep your eye on the ball and position yourself to make the play because what happened to the Titans and Packers can happen to anyone, even if it appeared the Packers picked the ball off.

Week 2 Review

The Arizona Cardinals celebrate after New
England Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski
misses game-winning kick.

Week 2 got underway with an ugly one at Lambeau Field that was preceeded by some trash-talking from Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler. The Green Bay Packers secondary made sure Cutler ate those words Thursday night, picking him off four times in the 23-10 victory. To make matters worse, Cutler was sacked seven times and was seen publicly bashing a member of his offensive line near the sideline. Packers CB Charles Woodson, who had an interception in the game, decided to take shots back at Cutler for his remarks early in the week. Now the 41 points the Bears put up in their opening game victory against the Indianapolis Colts looks like it happened a long time ago. The Packers offense wasn't too impressive either, only scoring one touchdown after one of Cutler's interceptions gave the Packers good field position.

The 1pm games on Sunday were clearly the highlight of Week 2. The Arizona Cardinals stunned almost the entire nation by going into Gillette Stadium and coming out with a 20-18 victory over the defending AFC champion New England Patriots. The Cardinals defense was solid throughout the game, forcing the Patriots to settle for four field goals before they scored their first touchdown. With under two minutes remaining and no timeouts left for the Patriots, the Cardinals were in position to put the game away when RB Ryan Williams coughed up the football. 

RB Danny Woodhead would score a touchdown on a draw play to give the Patriots the lead, but it was called back on a hold by TE Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots got very conservative after and decided to rely on K Stephen Gostkowski on a 42-yard field goal attempt. Already connecting on four field goals prior, most of the people in attendance were pretty sure he would make it for the victory. However, he hooked it wide left, sealing the stunning victory for the Cardinals. Many can point the finger at Gostkowski, but the fact that Bill Belichick went conservative after the penalty cost the Patriots the game.

New York Giants QB Eli Manning
throws one of his touchdown passes.

After watching the first half, it appeared the defending champions New York Giants had no shot at winning the football game at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Giants QB Eli Manning threw three interceptions, with the final one coming right before halftime as the Giants looked to score again down 17-13. Instead, CB Eric Wright picked him off, ran circles around the Giants and then returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to give the Buccaneers a 24-13 halftime lead. The Giants also lost three important players due to injury in the first half.

Manning didn't let his first half performance affect his play in the second half. The Giants did struggle to get in the end zone in the third quarter also, but when the fourth quarter came, the Giants were lights out. Manning threw for nearly 300 yards in the quarter alone, continuing his dominance of the game's most important quarter. After the Giants took a 34-27 lead on a touchdown catch from TE Martellus Bennett, the Buccaneers struck right back to tie it with a touchdown reception from WR Mike Williams. Manning calmly led the Giants back down the field for the winning score, giving the Giants a thrilling 41-34 victory. Moments like these is why Manning definitely considers himself elite.

After the Philadelphia Eagles struggled throughout their opening game against the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Ravens easily handling the Cincinnati Bengals in their opener, many thought this could be an easy game for the Ravens. Many people overestimated how good the Ravens actually are, and some are underestimating the talent the Eagles have. This game felt like a war from the opening kick to the finish, with several fights breaking out at the conclusion of plays. It appeared to be a lot to handle for the replacement referees, but a call made in the fourth quarter would end up being the story.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick celebrates after
completing their 24-23 victory.

The Ravens held a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter when QB Joe Flacco threw it to WR Jacoby Jones for what appeared to be his second touchdown of the game against CB Nnamdi Asomugha. However, the referees announced it was an offensive pass interference on Jones, even though a flag was not thrown. On replay, it appeared Asomugha never turned around to be interfered with. The Ravens settled for a field goal which gave them a six point lead instead of a 10-point lead. The Eagles scored a touchdown in their final possession for the 24-23 victory.

Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III got his second start against the St. Louis Rams in the Edward Jones Dome in what turned out to be a solid game as well. However, the game will be remembered for the personal foul penalty on WR Josh Morgan that pushed the Redskins out of field goal range down 31-28. K Billy Cundiff attempted a 62-yard field goal for the tie, which was wide right and short, sealing the win for the Rams. No word yet on Morgan's status, but it's safe to say he could be seeing more time on the bench.

Week 2 had some great finishes, but it appears the performance of the replacement referees is the headline. The Monday night matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons went past midnight, mainly because of delays from the referees trying to get the calls right. Flacco and LB Ray Lewis openly complained about their performance following their loss, and Redskins CB De'Angelo Hall said the players can dig into their own pockets to help out the regular referees on the bargaining table.

I'm not so sure the performance of the referees was horrible, but plenty of games were slowed down by their inability to get calls correct initially. The NFL does not seem to be worried about it at all, taking their time in negotiating with the referees. We'll see how long it'll take for the real referees to get back onto the field. For now, who knows.

Week 1 Review

Retired Giants DE Michael Strahan celebrates during season
opener between the Cowboys and the Giants.

The highly anticipated Week 1 of the NFL season came to a conclusion when the San Diego Chargers took advantage of a number of poor special teams play by the Oakland Raiders to get a 22-14 victory. However, that was hardly a highlight in a weekend full of games that were exciting and even a little surprising to say the least. It got started a little early, on Wednesday night, when the defending champion New York Giants hosted the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.

There was a lot of chatter built up into the opening game, with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones applying the pressure on his team to perform up to a higher level. Surprisingly to some, the Cowboys played a solid game defensively, while QB Tony Romo put up the solid numbers Cowboys' fans are used to getting from him in a 24-17 victory. This would turn out to be a warmup for what would come on Sunday.

The Washington Redskins were easily the biggest surprise of Week 1. The Redskins marched into the Mercedes Benz Superdome brimming with confidence. Led by their rookie Heisman Trophy quarterback QB Robert Griffin III, the Redskins were superb offensively and were able to rattle New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees throughout the game. Griffin III threw for over 300 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his NFL debut, a 40-32 Redskins victory.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III celebrates a touchdown after
being knocked to the ground.

The San Francisco 49ers made perhaps the biggest statement in Week 1 in their 30-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. For the 49ers, it was their first victory in Lambeau since 1990. The 49ers, returning all of their defensive starters and a little more firepower on offense, was able to control the game early, and the Packers were playing catch-up the rest of the way. Packers coach Mike McCarthy seemed to be annoyed in the first half with the referees, but even the referees couldn't save the Packers.

McCarthy wasn't the only ones annoyed by the referees. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was all over the referees throughout the game, and he was particularly very upset about a chain of events that occurred in the beginning of the fourth quarter. WR Randall Cobb returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown, but the referees threw a flag in what apparently was an illegal block in the back by the Packers. The referees came together and decided to pick the flag up instead of making the call when it was obvious there was a penalty. To the 49ers delight, it did not turn out to be a turning point in the game.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning throws a pass in his first game
as the team's quarterback.

Many people were interested in the Sunday night game that featured the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos. It was the Broncos who surprisingly ended the Steelers' season last year at Mile High when QB Tim Tebow connected with WR Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown pass. This time around, future Hall-of-Famer QB Peyton Manning is the new quarterback, after sitting out the entire 2011 season due to a neck injury some thought would end his career. There were a lot of eyes on Manning in preseason, and there were a lot more for the regular season opener.

Manning certainly eliminated all doubts people may have had about him playing in live action with the stakes high. Manning was excellent in his debut with the Broncos, completing 19 passes for over 250 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos offense seemed sluggish until Manning went to the no-huddle. After that, the Steelers could not make a stop at all. CB Tracy Porter closed the game when he intercepted QB Ben Roethlisberger and returned it for a touchdown in the same fashion as he did to Manning in Super Bowl XLIV when he was with the Saints.

With Week 1 in the books, Week 2 will start earlier than it has in seasons before. From weeks 2 to 15, there will be a Thursday night game every week. The Chicago Bears, who won their opener at home against rookie QB Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, will take on the Packers at Lambeau Field. Game starts at 8:20pm on NFL Network.

Bounty Players Reinstated

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma.

Many people felt that Roger Goodell's suspensions of LB Jonathan Vilma, LB Scott Fujita, DE Will Smith, and DL Anthony Hargrove were very harsh. Not only did the courts think it was too harsh, they believe he didn't have sufficient evidence to suspend them at all. Now reinstated, Vilma and Smith joins the New Orleans Saints for their Week 1 matchup at the Mercedes Benz Superdome tomorrow against the Washington Redskins. It is believed that Vilma is dealing with an injury, so he'll most likely sit out tomorrow's action. It remains to be seen if Smith will get limited action or any at all after not practicing or playing in any game since last season.

Fujita is now with the Cleveland Browns and it isn't clear if he will receive any playing time in their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Hargrove was released by the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago, and the Packers have not said if they will sign him back now that he is reinstated. The players have maintained their innocence in regards to being a part of a bounty program with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams was suspended indefinitely for his role and he may never get a coaching job again.

Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire year for not putting an end to the program. It will be interesting to see if Payton goes through the courts to have his suspension overturned as well. Payton went through the appeals process, with the arbitrator being Goodell himself. Goodell quickly upheld Payton's suspension. The appeals process through the courts for Vilma and the other three players was a very long process. However, as evidenced by Vilma's tweet following the verdict, the players accomplished what they set out to do.

This now puts Goodell in a very tough spot, but it's something he definitely needed. Goodell has been out of control with his punishment of players for various offenses. Instead of running the league and looking out for its best interests, he seems to be more interested in being a stern and strict district attorney. It is absurd that Goodell is able to hand down punishment and the appeals process has to go through him also. What would Goodell hear or see that would make him change his mind in an appeal?

For this, the players and teams can blame themselves for this level of dictatorship. They agreed to all of the stipulations regarding power for Goodell. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers were against the level of power Goodell assumed under the new collective bargaining agreement. LB James Harrison, who has been a critic of Goodell in the past, will have a field day with the news. 

Goodell should re-think his role as the commissioner of the National Football League. He is not a principal. He is dealing with grown men but treating them as if they were 11-year olds. Granted, some players do need to be treated that way considering they can't figure out how to stay out of trouble off the field. It is his job to make sure the game is taking advantage of every opportunity to expand the game in every way possible. He is not a police officer, therefore he should not act like one.

Even though David Stern hasn't necessarily done a fair job in his near 30 year run as NBA commissioner, Goodell ought to look at how he runs the league. The same lesson would be learned if he took a look at how Bud Selig disciplines his players in Major League Baseball. When it comes to being a disciplinarian, his job should not be to send a message. He should be thinking about punishing players equal to the punishment's value. Although highly unlikely, Goodell could be jettisoned if he keeps acting this way.

NFC West Preview

San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis.

If there's a division in football that's easy to predict, it might be this one. The San Francisco 49ers were so far ahead of the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams in the division last year that they were able to clinch the division in the first weekend of December. The offseason seems to indicate that the team atop the NFC West throne will not change anytime soon either. There is a lot of promise to look forward to however.

The Seahawks used their third round pick on QB Russell Wilson of Wisconsin, and head coach Pete Carroll has been so impressed with him, he named Wilson as the starter over QB Matt Flynn. Flynn signed a three-year deal worth around $25 million, based on two solid performances he had backing up QB Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. In the 2010 season, when Rodgers was out with a concussion, Flynn lit up the New England Patriots defense in Foxboro, but still threw several interceptions. During the final game of the 2011 season, Flynn destroyed the Detroit Lions defense to the tune of 480 yards and six touchdowns.

Seattle Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson.

Outside of those two games, however, there isn't much justification for giving Flynn this much money. Carroll didn't worry one bit about inserting Flynn as the starter because of his contract. He held an open quarterback competition, along the way deciding QB Tarvaris Jackson wouldn't be their quarterback either. They traded him to the Buffalo Bills, and with Wilson as the starter, the Seahawks are looking for great things out of him early. Wilson can turn heads. Despite his lack of size, Wilson has the arm and the physical ability to absorb contact. If Wilson struggles early, look for Carroll to throw in Flynn right away.

The Arizona Cardinals have probably had the worst quarterback competition out of any team in the NFL. QB John Skelton and QB Kevin Kolb didn't do much at all to prove they should be the starter. However, Skelton did some solid things last season after Kolb got off to a lousy start. The Cardinals are also going through the same thing the Seahawks are going through. The Cardinals signed Kolb to a $65 million deal. This wasn't a bright move because Kolb didn't do much with the Philadelphia Eagles to prove he was worth that much. The Eagles did not look impressive in Kolb's starts, and when QB Michael Vick took over, the Eagles flourished.

Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals don't have much on defense, but they do have a potential playmaker with CB Patrick Peterson. Peterson has already shown he is dangerous with the ball in his hands on punt and kick returns. On offense, they drafted WR Michael Floyd of Notre Dame to line up opposite WR Larry Fitzgerald and take away a lot of the pressure. If Skelton struggles badly, the Cardinals have a major problem on their hands. They were one of the teams unable to bring QB Peyton Manning to the team, so they don't have any internal options if Skelton performs poorly.

Their is some promise for the Rams after last season's debacle. They hired Jeff Fisher to be their head coach. Fisher has been through down times during his years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. He has been able to rebuild teams successfully in the past, so the Rams are hoping he can do the same there. Fisher does have a franchise quarterback in QB Sam Bradford, so that should help a great deal. Bradford had a solid rookie season as he led the Rams within one game of winning the NFC West in 2010. However, it came apart under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels last season, and he was let go.

St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford.

If Bradford can get back to an offense where he can be an effective game manager, the Rams will definitely improve this year. A lot is riding on Bradford's health as well. He was injured and missed a good amount of games last season. The Rams picked up WR Steve Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles,  so they are hoping to pair him up with WR Danny Amendola to provide consistency. RB Steven Jackson, the veteran, will be called upon to eat up clock and help Bradford out. That may be a tall order at this point in his career, as he has battled injuries, but he is capable of doing so.

It's pretty simple. Unless the 49ers lose QB Alex Smith to injury and are forced to go with unseasoned QB Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers should win this division rather easily. They should expect better competition from the Seahawks. They field a solid defense as well, and if Wilson can be a solid game manager or even better, the Seahawks will definitely be one of the most improved teams in the NFL. The Cardinals should hope they don't regress from last season's mediocre year, and the Rams just want to improve. They have nowhere else to go but up.

Predictions

San Francisco 49ers 12-4
Seattle Seahawks 9-7
St. Louis Rams 6-10
Arizona Cardinals 5-11

NFC South Preview

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.

There probably hasn't been a team in the NFL that has gone through such an awful offseason than the New Orleans Saints endured in NFL history. It could've been much worse if QB Drew Brees didn't get the contract extension he was seeking. However, the Saints now have something great to look forward to after satisfying Brees with a new deal. It will be pretty interesting to see how the Saints play this year without Sean Payton, their head coach. What if they win the Super Bowl without him? What would be the feeling about him then? This could get very tricky.

The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of offensive firepower, led by QB Matt Ryan. Their top two receiving weapons in WR Roddy White and WR Julio Jones are #1 options on most teams. WR Harry Douglas is another solid weapon who executes in the slot very well and has become a reliable option for Ryan. Combine those three with a Hall-of-Fame tight end in TE Tony Gonzalez, and this could potentially be the most explosive offense in the NFL. Why were they not able to break out offensively last season? There may be several reasons why the best has yet to come.

Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White.

The Falcons play in a dome, so they should be able to spread out more and throw it all over the field. However, in the past, they have insisted on using the ground game heavily with RB Michael Turner. Turner isn't a game-breaker, and as long as the Falcons continue to hand the ball to him 25 to 30 times a game, their offense will not tap into their potential. It's time to break out Ryan, for him to have a career passing season. It's possible. The team just have to commit to it. Their defense looks solid on paper as well. Their two starting corners are CB Dunta Robinson and CB Asante Samuel, Pro Bowl caliber players and their two starting defensive ends are DE John Abraham and DE Ray Edwards, a solid tandem. The only question is how much will losing LB Curtis Lofton to the Saints in free agency and releasing LB Lofa Tatupu after being injured will hurt them at that position.

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton.

The Carolina Panthers are boasting a lot of confidence and swagger going into this season, and that is based upon QB Cam Newton's surprising success in his rookie season. Newton set records for the most rushing touchdowns for a quarterback, and he also started his career with two 400-yard passing games against the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. However, their defense was awful, which was probably helped out by LB Jon Beason being injured. Now that he is healthy, in addition to drafting LB Luke Kuechly of Boston College, their defense will improve.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a lot of money to spend in free agency and they did just that. They acquired WR Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers, OL Carl Nicks of the Saints, and CB Eric Wright of the Detroit Lions to big deals. Jackson's acquisition provides QB Josh Freeman with a receiving threat that can make him better. The Buccaneers surprised a lot of people by going 10-6 in the 2010 season, but that was due to a very easy schedule. Last season, with a tougher schedule, they failed miserably, as it appeared they had given up on head coach Raheem Morris. Morris was fired at the end of the season, resulting in the Buccaneers tabbing Greg Schiano of Rutgers to be head coach.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent
Jackson.

Even with the Saints losing two of their defensive players for a substantial amount of time due to suspension, along with their head coach and interim head coach, the Saints still have Brees. He is enough to run the ship and get the Saints to where they want to be. The competition could be interesting as the other three teams can pounce on all of the missing players and coaches. The Falcons are in the best position to seize this opportunity, but only if they throw the ball more. They need to keep defenses on their heals, and Turner, as durable and tough as he is, isn't scaring opponents.

Many people are expecting the Panthers to turn heads and make an improvement. However, that is contingent upon Newton improving as well, and he didn't necessarily show improvement this preseason. It is only preseason so there is a very good chance the Panthers did not reveal the full arsenal this preseason. We'll see what happens when they take the field for real. The Buccaneers should improve under Schiano because he will try to get the best out of all of his players. However, the connection between Freeman and Jackson may need some time to work, if it can work at all. Until then, the Buccaneers will struggle.

Predictions

Atlanta Falcons 11-5
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Carolina Panthers 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11

NFC North Preview

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson.

There was a golden opportunity to get to the Super Bowl on that January 2010 evening in the Louisiana Superdome. The Minnesota Vikings, instead of running the ball and giving K Ryan Longwell a 40+ yard field goal attempt, decided to throw the football. QB Brett Favre rolled to his right and the New Orleans Saints covered it up pretty well. Instead of running and getting his team a couple more yards, Favre decided to throw it across his body, and for the second time in his career, his last throw in an NFC Championship Game was intercepted. After his usual offseason drama, Favre decided to rejoin the Vikings, but the success he had in the 2009 season was gone. The Vikings have not been the same since that fateful throw in the Superdome.

The class of the NFC North now happens to be the other three teams, while the Vikings hope they can rebuild around QB Christian Ponder, their first round draft pick last season. RB Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in the second-to-last game against the Washington Redskins, but he is probable to start the season. They are going to need him because there isn't much else to look forward to. WR Percy Harvin was seeking a trade in the offseason, but did not get his wish. Will he be unsatisfied with his position that it becomes a distraction for the team? The last thing this struggling team needs is an unnecessary distraction, so if trading him will eliminate that distraction, that may be the route best served for the Vikings.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

The Green Bay Packers weren't only dominant within the division, but they steamrolled the rest of the NFL as well. However, the Packers were clearly disappointed by their home playoff loss in the divisional round to the eventual champion New York Giants. With all of their main components returning this season, the Packers may be able to duplicate their 15-1 record from a season ago. The health of QB Aaron Rodgers is key to the Packers success, especially after backup QB Matt Flynn signed a lucrative deal to be the starter for the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers are not quite thrilled with QB Graham Harrell being the backup, so Rodgers' concussion history should be a concern.

Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall.

It could be argued that if QB Jay Cutler didn't get injured in that home win against the San Diego Chargers in November last season, the Bears could've changed the landscape of the division and the playoffs. After the victory, the Bears improved to 7-3 when they learned Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand, ending his season. Backup QB Caleb Hanie, now with the Denver Broncos, relieved Cutler in the 2010 NFC Championship Game when Cutler was injured as well, and did a serviceable job. However, he was not able to win any game for the Bears until the final game of the season, when they were already eliminated from playoff contention. This year, the addition of WR Brandon Marshall has everyone in Chicago excited about a potential deep playoff run once again. The health of LB Brian Urlacher will be key as the Bears try to hold their ground defensively.

The Detroit Lions made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999, and they were probably helped out by Cutler's injury. The Lions started off last season 5-0, after huge comebacks against the Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys in consecutive weeks. However, in a stretch where they had three consecutive home games, they only went 1-2. They were also 7-3 after 10 games, but they proceeded to lose their next two to the Packers and the Saints, putting their playoff hopes in a little bit of doubt. However, they finished off winning three of their last four to claim the final spot. The Lions do have a lot of question marks going into the season.

Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson.

The Lions did not necessarily stop the run very well, but they were effective in rushing the quarterback, led by DE Cliff Avril. CB Aaron Berry was expected to fill the role of starting corner opposite CB Chris Houston, but he was cut after being arrested twice in a month. Even if Berry would've been their starter, there would have been a lot of questions in that secondary. On offense, the Lions virtually had no running game due to the concussion issues of RB Jahvid Best and RB Mikel Leshoure's torn ACL in camp last season. Leshoure has to deal with his early suspension before he plays his first career game, but he should be able to help out their running game a bit. Even though QB Matthew Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, he does have a gunslinger mentality that dug the Lions huge holes in several games. They may not be able to recover from that this time around.

There isn't any reason to suggest the Packers wouldn't be division champions. They strengthened their running game by signing RB Cedric Benson, which is a scary thought considering how potent their offense is. The Lions will be a huge question mark. Can they build upon the success they had last season? Or will their offseason behavioral issues bring them a step back? Simply put, the Vikings need a dramatic improvement from Ponder in year two in order to show any kind of improvement.

Predictions

Green Bay Packers 14-2
Chicago Bears 11-5
Detroit Lions 8-8
Minnesota Vikings 4-12

NFC East Preview

Washington Redskins first round pick QB Robert Griffin III.

Their is a lot of hope for the Washington Redskins after drafting QB Robert Griffin III of Baylor. The last time the Redskins could actually call a quarterback a franchise quarterback was in the 1970s and 1980s, when QB Joe Theismann was running the show. They did win two other Super Bowls with QB Doug Williams and QB Mark Rypien, but they quickly tailed off after winning their Super Bowls with Joe Gibbs. They drafted QB Heath Shuler with the third overall pick in the 1994 draft, but he turned out to be a bust. Redskins fans are hoping Griffin III doesn't turn out to be a bust.

The most daunting task for Griffin III, however, is living up to the other quarterbacks that are in the division. The Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the defending champions New York Giants all have quarterbacks that are Pro Bowl capable players in QB Tony Romo, QB Michael Vick, and QB Eli Manning. Hopefully, Redskins fans won't be expecting Griffin III to be better than all three right away.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP New York Giants QB Eli
Manning.

While the Giants have been able to win their second Super Bowl in four years, the Giants continue to be disrespected with analysts as they predict the Cowboys or Eagles will win the division over the Giants. When  the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007, most people predicted the Cowboys will get back on top of the NFC East, as they done in that 2007 season when they won the division with a 13-3 record. However, the Giants came out smoking teams, starting out 11-1 in their first 12 games before losing three of their last four and losing a home playoff game to the Eagles. The Giants have proven they can have some kind of success following a championship, so they'll be looking to do the same this season.

The Giants have lost a couple of pieces, losing RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers. However, as long as the Giants have Manning at the helm, they are solid. On the defensive side of the ball, they still have their three dominant pass rushers in DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Justin Tuck, and DE Osi Umenyiora. Other than their pass rushing, they have a lot to work on with their defense. Their secondary gave up a lot of huge plays, and they lost CB Terrell Thomas to an ACL injury for the second consecutive summer. Whoever plays opposite CB Corey Webster will have their hands full, but they will need to produce in order to improve upon their 9-7 record.

Philadelphia Eagles WR Desean Jackson.

When QB Vince Young was signed to a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason, he instantly referred to the team as the "Dream Team." That quickly turned out to not be the case, as the Eagles lost eight of their first 12 games before catching fire at the end and winning their last four. However, they fell very short of expectations and they look to change that this season. Most of their team remains intact, with the exception of losing CB Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons via trade. The Eagles should be humbled by last season's failure and be ready to compete this upcoming season.

The Cowboys seem to go into every season with lofty expectations and I have not figured out why that seems to be the case. QB Tony Romo is definitely a solid quarterback, but outside of him and their offensive weapons, the Cowboys don't have a lot of hope. Their offensive line isn't particularly strong and their defense, despite their solid rankings, have not made stops when they need it most. They have reason to be excited, as their Achilles heal was their pass coverage. They traded up in the draft to take CB Morris Claiborne of LSU and they signed CB Brandon Carr from the Kansas City Chiefs to strengthen that part of their defense. With all of this being said, their season will depend on how they live up to expectations.

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

While the Redskins do have Griffin III, they have more concerns than their quarterback situation. While they weren't terrible with their run defense and their defense overall, they were still in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed. The Redskins did get off to a solid start last season, including an impressive season-opening win against the eventual champion Giants. However, as coach Mike Shanahan pulled a quick trigger and replaced QB Rex Grossman with QB John Beck, the Redskins season started to fall apart. With the signing of WR Pierre Garcon and the connection Griffin III and Garcon have developed thus far in the preseason, there is reason to be hopeful.

The NFC East is always unpredictable because no matter how good or bad a team is, anyone can be beat by each other on any given Sunday. The Giants recognized that when they were swept by the last place Redskins. With the NFC East playing the AFC North and NFC South, all four teams have a very difficult schedule on their hands, especially the Giants, who will have to see the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers as well.

The Eagles should have a lot to prove as they head into the season. I have a feeling they will not disappoint this time around, but QB Michael Vick has to stay healthy in order for them to fulfill all they want this season. Sadly, if the Eagles don't perform well again this season, it will probably cost Andy Reid his job. Performing well for the Eagles this season most likely means winning the division and winning at least one playoff game. Expectations are high. We shall see who delivers.

Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
New York Giants 11-5
Washington Redskins 8-8
Dallas Cowboys 6-10