NFL Predictions: NFC Division Winners for the 2010-11 Season

We are less then a week away from opening night for the 2010 NFL season.  The beginning of a new season brings hope for all teams that they possibly could become division champions and go to the playoffs. 

Although all teams carry this hope into the season, as the year progresses, teams fall out of contention and in the end, only four teams can be division champions.

Here are the four teams that will win their respective divisions in the NFC in 2010.

NFC East—Dallas Cowboys

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys encourages his offensive line after a penalty was called on the play during a football game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. Houston won

The Cowboys should be as good as they were last year, or even better, with the addition of Dez Bryant and a healthy Felix Jones.  With a defense led by one of the best players in the NFL, DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys should be up there with the best in the NFC this season.

The Giants have definitely improved by adding Keith Bullock and Antrel Rolle at safety, but will that be enough?

The Eagles start the season with Kevin Kolb starting at quarterback and they are bound to have some bumps in the road with an inexperienced starter at the helm.

The Redskins added Donovan McNabb in the offseason, but he won't be able to heal all the problems in Washington overnight, especially Albert Haynesworth.

NFC North—Minnesota Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings stretches during warmups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at the Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, on September 2, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minn

The Vikings are the best team in this division—when they have Brett Favre.  Favre single-handedly adds at least a few extra wins to this team that is already talent-laden and a contender to win it all.

If Favre is the best quarterback in this division, then Aaron Rodgers is a close second.  Although the Packers will succumb to Vikings in the end, it wouldn't be surprising to see them make the playoffs.

The Bears were a marginal team last season, primarily because of the play of Jay Cutler.  If he can step up his game to resemble what it was in Denver, the Bears should have a solid season.

Are they still playing football in Detroit?

NFC South—New Orleans Saints

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NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints, who did not play, watches during an exhibition game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on September 2, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 27-24. (Photo by

Drew Brees proved to all the skeptics in the Super Bowl that he is one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.  With Brees and his supporting cast back this season, the Saints shouldn't miss a beat.  They will run away with this division.

The Falcons should be better this season with a healthy Michael Turner.  The key for them is the play from Matt Ryan.  If Ryan can shake off his so-so sophomore year and turn the corner, the Falcons could be a dangerous team.

The Bucs and Panthers both start inexperienced quarterbacks and that usually is a recipe for disaster when you have weak supporting casts like both teams have.  The edge goes to the Panthers, though, with the two-headed monster in the backfield of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

NFC West—San Francisco 49ers

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OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 28: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball off to Brian Westbrook #20 against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL preseason game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by

With the departure of Kurt Warner from Arizona, the NFC West is wide open.  The 49ers will take this division with a top-tier running back in Frank Gore and maybe the best linebacker in the NFL, Patrick Willis, leading the way on both sides of the ball.

Even with Matt Leinart being a complete bust, the Cardinals will be able to lean on Larry Fitzgerald and a solid defense to keep them in the race with San Francisco.

It's time to get rid of Matt Hasselbeck.  He is a real injury concern, and at this point, this franchise really depends on him being healthy.  Seattle will be .500 at best with new coach Pete Carroll.

Sam Bradford will be a good quarterback in this league someday, but he will have his bumps in the road this year and the Rams will continue to be awful.  I don't see them winning more than four or five games.