'08-'09 NFC Predictions: Every Team in Every Division

It’s that time of year again. Girlfriends, wives, friends, video games, pets, and even personal hygiene, prepare to be neglected. The air has gotten a slight chill, wind has picked up, and the next 20 or so Sundays have been put on hold. Football season is here. So without further ado, here is how I feel the 2008-2009 season will break down, in record order by division. Below is the NFC predictions, AFC will be up before Sunday’s games.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals 9-7

Why not start off my predictions with a surprise? The Cardinals drafted QB Matt Leinart seventh overall in the first round two years ago and have been grooming him for the starting QB job ever since. The Cardinals have a surprising amount of weapons on both offense and defense, with the incredible WR duo of Fitzgerald and Boldin, possibly the best safety in the game with Adrian Wilson, and rookie running back Tim Hightower poised and ready to supplant aging RB Edgerrin James if he stumbles at all. The time is now for Arizona’s quarterback to explode. That is why starting quarterback Kurt Warner should have a very good season leading the Arizona Cardinals to their first division title since the St. Louis Cardinals won the NFC Eastin 1975. I am not down on Leinart, but Warner is proven and playing for his career. I’ll take him on this offense in a pathetic division any day.

Seattle Seahawks 8-8

I was tempted to have the Seahawks slide a little further than this, but Matt Hasselbeck is too good to allow Seattle to have a losing season if he’s healthy enough to prevent it. That is a big if, however, when an aging QB has a nagging back. Also, the loss of RB Shaun Alexander should have more of an impact than people seem to think. Although Julius Jones is a veteran starting running back who should be able to fill the role to a point, I think the losses of WRs Deion Branch (for an extended period) and D.J. Hackett will hurt Seattle. The Seahawks seem to never get any respect from the experts, and even though I am usually the guy to support them, this year they are one of the reasons the NFC West will be so weak.

St. Louis Rams 6-10

There is no way a team with Marc Bulger, Stephen Jackson, and Torry Holt can finish in last place two years in a row. So instead they will just be an embarrassing 6-10 and finish third. Rookie defensive end and first round pick Chris Long will help improve a young, developing defensive line featuring 2007 first round pick Adam Carriker. Yet with all this talent, something is still missing. Maybe it’s a big time run stopper or maybe Bulger has reached his peak, but whatever it is that the Rams are lacking, wins will be one of them.

San Francisco 49ers 5-11

How long will the Alex Smith project really continue? The Texans finally pulled the plug on their fomer number one pick David Carr, and it’s about time for the 49ers to do the same. Unfortunately, J.T. O’Sullivan doesn’t thrill me, and neither does the rest of the SanFran club this year. Isaac Bruce is old and on the downside of his career, and although Bryant Johnson was actually a great addition, no one is going to be able to get him the ball. 5-11 might actually be hopeful, but on a bright note, look for linebacker Patrick Willis to have a great year making a million tackles since his defense will always be on the field. Wait, that happened last year and they finished 5-11? At least they are consistent.

NFC North

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