NFL 2010 Preseason Predictions: NFC Playoff Preview

Over the past few weeks, I did a preview of each division in which the playoff seeds were spelled out. However, many things changed or became evident over the preseason, so there are some notable variations on those picks.

With a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship on tonight's docket, below is a prediction of seeding in the NFC for 2010, followed by playoff predictions; the AFC will follow before Sunday's games start...

1. Green Bay Packers: The Pack is one of two NFC teams from last season that had an offense and defense in the top quarter of the league, and nearly the entire team is returning intact. Moreover, the biggest Achilles Heel, the offensive line, is in better health, a young corps is developing, and Green Bay hosts both the Cowboys and Forty-Niners to give them a leg up on tiebreakers.
2. San Francisco Forty-Niners: The City by the Bay will return its team to the playoffs for the first time in eight years thanks to a strong defense, weak schedule, and the development of a three new weapons to support Frank Gore on offense: Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, and Alex Smith, who has shown signs of becoming a solid starting quarterback now that he has been in the same offensive system for more than one season.
3. Dallas Cowboys: This team has looked pathetic in the preseason and seems to have issues with the offensive line, but they are the only legitimate contender in the NFC East. They are also the only NFC team other than the Packers to boast both an offense and defense in the top quarter of the league last year, and got a huge monkey off their back with a strong finish and post-season win last year. Thanks to hosting the Saints, they should be able to beat them out for the third seed.
4. New Orleans Saints: The defending champions lost only one starter from last season but open with a couple injured. They also have a brutal schedule, with a talented Falcons team twice, the Vikings at home and the Niners on the road before they get healthy, and teams like the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bengals on the road.
5. Atlanta Falcons: Do not expect this team to suffer with the injuries they had last season, when they still managed to be a competitive team. Matt Ryan should bounce back with a solid season, Michael Turner lost weight so he could return to the style that brought his nickname "The Burner", and the defense is improving. Because this team has an easier schedule than the Minnesota Vikings, they should beat them out for a better record.
6. Minnesota Vikings: Brett Favre struggles when he does not have receivers who can go after his high-risk passes, and he will be without his best receiver for at least half the season. After that, who knows if Sidney Rice can perform up to last year's standards or if Percy Harvin will be able to be consistently active and effective through his migraines. Add to that a tough schedule, vulnerable offensive line, the loss of third down back Chester Taylor, and a poor secondary, and Favre will be heaving a few balls up for grabs. Nevertheless, this team has too much talent to miss the playoffs.

This would mean the Vikings would travel to Dallas for a rematch of last year's divisional game, and just like the venue, the outcome should change. The Saints would host division rival Atlanta, who is not as good nor mentally tough as the defending champions.

In the second round, the Niners would host the Cowboys; San Francisco is not ready to be a serious contender, but should give Dallas all it can handle before bowing out. The Packers would be hosting a dome team on the Frozen Tundra in January that relies on its passing game and a defense that needs to force turnovers to be effective, but the Packers were the best in the league at turnover ratio...advantage Green Bay.

If the Packers are not losing to the Cowboys in early November in Lambeau, they surely are not in January. However, the Colts, Ravens, and Jets are all better than Green Bay, who will not have homefield advantage in the Super Bowl, where their dreams of returning the Vince Lombardi Trophy to its rightful home will be dashed...to see who will dash them, read the AFC Preview.