Breaking Down Early Projections for NFC Playoff Picture

The 2012 NFL season is rapidly approaching now that free agency and the draft are behind us. With just a summer of preparations and development left until football kicks off in the fall, here is an early projection for what the NFC playoff picture will look like in January.

Division winners:

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

The Packers were the NFL's best team for most of the 2011 season. They finished 15-1 in the regular season and shockingly lost their first playoff game to the New York Giants, who went on to win Super Bowl XLVI. 

This offseason, the Packers did solid work improving themselves by adding Nick Perry and Jerel Worthy through the draft and signing free agent Anthony Hargrove. When Hargrove is back from his eight-game suspension, he should combine with the two youngsters to provide a boost to the team's anemic pass rush.

If Green Bay can get to the quarterback in 2012, it will greatly boost the teams defense, which ranked dead-last in the NFL in 2011 by allowing 6,585 yards. With an improved defense and continued growth from the Packers' prolific offense, they could be the team to beat in 2012.

No one else in the NFC North improved enough to challenge the Packers for the division title.

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers surprised everyone in 2011 by going 13-3 in the regular season and winning the NFC West in 2011. With virtually the entire roster intact for the 2012 season, a repeat is almost certain. 

San Francisco added wide receivers Randy Moss and Mario Manningham through free agency and also spent a first-round pick on A.J. Jenkins. Along with LaMichael James, Kendall Hunter, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, that group of skilled position players should give quarterback Alex Smith plenty of options.

Defensively, the 49ers return one of the NFL's stingiest units. In a weak division with no real challengers, San Francisco will be looking at another first-round bye in the playoffs.

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

This list has been pretty boring so far, as I've got the first three division champs repeating in 2012. Even with all the distractions of the bounty scandal and Drew Brees' contract holdout, I think the Saints will win the NFC South this season. 

New Orleans added two outstanding linebackers to improve their defense, as they locked up Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne this offseason. With Jonathan Vilma out for the season, both of those guys will help tremendously.

Offensively, the Saints return almost the entire roster with guard Carl Nicks and receiver Robert Meachem the only impact guys who departed via free agency. To replace Nicks, New Orleans inked Ben Grubbs from the Baltimore Ravens.

Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers improve themselves this offseason, I don't think they'll get past the Saints.

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles

The  Eagles were a huge disappointment in 2011, finishing 8-8 after tons of preseason bluster about being a dream team. But the Eagles won their final four games in convincing fashion, closing out the season on a roll.

This offseason, the Eagles have to deal with the loss of left tackle Jason Peters to a torn Achilles, but luckily they added Demetress Bell to replace him and also managed to lock up LeSean McCoy to a five-year contract extension. 

In the draft the Eagles improved the middle of their defense by drafting defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and speedy linebacker Mychal Kendricks. Both players will make the team better immediately.

With the New York Giants dealing with a Super Bowl hangover, I think the Eagles will sneak up and win the NFC East.

Wild Cards:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added several huge pieces via free agency. They landed the top wide receiver (Vincent Jackson) and top offensive lineman (Carl Nicks) on the market while also scoring an upgrade at cornerback in Eric Wright.

In addition to those signings, the Bucs landed Alabama safety Mark Barron, who was one of the best all-around defenders in the draft. They also got better at running back by landing Boise State running back Doug Martin and improved their linebacking corps with playmaking stud Lavonte David. 

All of those players should start immediately and make an impact. 

After losing the final 10 games of the 2011 season, something had to change in Tampa Bay. Head coach Raheem Morris was replaced by Greg Schiano and the team got a serious makeover through free agency and the draft. If everyone plays up to their potential, the Bucs will be tough to beat in 2012.

Detroit Lions

The Lions went 10-6 in 2011 and reached the postseason for the first time since 1999. Detroit didn't add or lose much through free agency but did snag offensive tackle Riley Reiff with the 23rd pick in the 2012 draft. 

The Lions should benefit from the continued development of quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson, and they will hope that running back Jahvid Best can recover from his concussion problems. 

Defensively, the Lions added outside linebackers Ronnell Lewis, Tahir Whitehead and Travis Lewis in the draft and snagged cornerbacks Dwight Bentley, Chris Greenwood and Jonte Green. Those were the two biggest holes on the team's roster and hopefully they'll be filled by those players. 

While I don't think the Lions have what it takes to overcome the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, they should return to the playoffs.