NFL Week 2 Picks: Which Teams Will Emerge as NFC Favorites?

After the lockout was lifted and the preseason concluded, we finally saw who displayed the potential to emerge as NFC Super Bowl contenders in Week 1.

Right now in the NFC, however, there's a slew of teams that have the ability to make a run at the NFC title. In my opinion, there are as many as seven teams who could end up winning the conference.

Obviously the more notable teams are Green Bay, New Orleans and Philadelphia. However, the Chicago Bears are very capable with offensive coordinator Mike Martz as QB Jay Cutler's puppet master.

Also in the NFC North are the Detroit Lions, who battled both Green Bay and Chicago to the bitter end in each game last season.

Two other teams may come as shockers, but the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams of the NFC West are better than given credit for.

For starters, the Rams got off to a great start against Philadelphia, so the potential is definitely there, the question is how quickly St. Louis can put it all together and become a force.

As for Arizona, yes they allowed Cam Newton to bombard them, but maybe that's a testament to exactly how good Newton is.

Don't think for a second that the Cards' are going to lay low, because their offense is arguably one of the NFC's best and their defense will get better.

The last team is the Atlanta Falcons, who although disappointed in Week 1, still have the tools to contend. The only real long-term concern is their pass defense.

All this being said, only a few of these seven teams will breakout as the season progresses, and keep up the early momentum acquired from Week 1.

So, here are the three teams that will emerge into the NFC title race in 2011.

Green Bay Packers

It should come as no surprise to see the Packers take control early on.

They managed to win the Super Bowl as the NFC's No. 6 seed in 2010, while also having 15 players on injured reserve.

In addition, they had to win their final regular season game to even make the postseason, so they really needed to win five straight games before claiming their beloved Lombardi Trophy.

This season, the cheese-heads got off to a great start by defeating the New Orleans Saints at home in a shoot-out.

Although their defense allowed Saints' QB Drew Brees to throw for over 400 yards and three TDs, that's simply a testament to exactly how great Brees is.

This week the Packers travel to Carolina and play the giddy Panthers, who are coming off a solid Week 1 performance, despite losing in dramatic fashion in Arizona.

Rookie QB Cam Newton proved to be the real deal against a solid Cardinal's secondary, but with Clay Matthews coming off the edge, he's not going to have much time to throw.

Combine that with Green Bay's depth in the secondary and linebacking core, and the Panthers are going to have trouble moving the ball.

After Week 2, Green Bay moves to 2-0, continues their win streak and has a ton of momentum heading into division play in Week 3 against Chicago.

New Orleans Saints

This week the Saints host the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears, who are coming off a dominating Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Obviously, for both franchises, it's going to be a challenge in The Big Easy, but this Saints' offense is much more efficient than Atlanta and Matt Ryan.

QB Drew Brees sliced the Green Bay defense last week and it will be no different in Week 2. The Bears' secondary and linebacking core isn't nearly as good as the Packers.

Also for the Saints, this is a statement game because, after losing their opener, bouncing back in Week 2 against an NFC title contender is extremely crucial.

Not only does it put them atop their own division, but it would significantly separate the difference between them and the Atlanta Falcons, despite them not having to play each other until Week 10.

In turn, New Orleans gets to 1-1, gets their confidence back to where it should be and puts them in prime position to setup a rematch with Green Bay in the NFC title game.

Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2 for the Eagles is the game where we find out who they really are.

It was expected that they take care of the St. Louis Rams, but playing on the road against the desperate Atlanta Falcons will prove to be very difficult.

For starters, the Falcons are Michael Vick's old team, so you know it's going to be a hostile environment. In addition, with Philly being dubbed this season's "Super Bowl or bust" franchise, it's only going to intensify the magnitude of this game.

The Eagles have already been crowned paper champions, but they can really emerge and solidify themselves amongst the few with a dominating win over a solid NFC South opponent.

With the Packers and Saints as their only real threat to contend for the NFC title, beginning 2-0 is going to feel good, especially in a weakened NFC East where we see Washington at 1-0.

We saw them start off slow in Week 1, but that's because they haven't completely come together yet.

They will during Week 2, which only bodes well for everything thereafter.

In the end, the Eagles get the No. 2 seed in the NFC right behind the Packers at No. 1, and the Saints grab the No. 3 spot.

Therefore, the quest for the 2011 NFC championship runs through Titletown.

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