Second Half Predictions: NFC

Here is what I think the final standing will look like after New Year's Day. Obviously it is near impossible to predict what will happen from week to week, let alone what is going to happen down the stretch in December. Injuries, both past and future, will play a big role. I’m going by what the teams have done so far, and what their schedule looks like. I’ve broken the two conferences into two separate posts so it’s a bit easier to read. Here is the NFC, enjoy…

NFC

EAST

New York Giants
Currently: 6-2
Will Finish: 10-6
Unless the NFL decides to give the Giants more additional home games, the G-men are going to have to win some on the road to finish better than 10-6. They won’t do it. Still, in a division with four good teams, they will be helped out by everyone beating up on each other. The Giants should be able to do just enough to tie for first place, and they will probably own the tiebreakers.

Washington Redskins
Currently: 5-3
Will Finish: 10-6
Of the four teams in the East, the Skins have the most favorable schedule. Plus they get home games in December against the Giants and the Cowboys. I think they will mirror their first half record and even get revenge against the G-men at home. However, I think the Giants will be one game better than Washington in division games, and thereby, will win the tiebreaker and the division. The good news: the Skins reward will be a first round playoff game against the Bears.

Dallas Cowboys
Currently: 5-3
Will Finish: 9-7
Dallas, in my opinion, has the toughest second half schedule in the league. For them to go 4-4 in the next two months would be a major accomplishment. Check it out: at Philly, Detroit, Denver (Thanksgiving), at the Giants, Kansas City, at Washington, at Carolina and the season-ender against St. Louis. Other than Detroit, there are no easy victories left on their schedule. Plus, as you can see, all three of their remaining division games will be on the road.

Philadelphia Eagles
Currently: 4-4
Will Finish: 8-8
They have some winnable games against Green Bay and Arizona. They may even pull off a couple of upsets along the way in the division. But without T.O., they will not have a consistent enough offense to win the games they thought they would a month ago. And, if Philly tanks in the next couple of weeks, look for Donovan McNabb to end his season and take care of that sports hernia so he can be ready for 2006.

NORTH

Chicago Bears
Currently: 5-3
Will Finish: 9-7
It won’t be easy for the Bears to clinch this woeful division. But someone has to win it. Since they are two games ahead of everyone else, they have to be the favorites at this point. They could be facing a big game the last week of the season at Minnesota if the Vikings make a charge.

Minnesota Vikings
Currently: 3-5
Will Finish: 8-8
They have been playing much better recently. But Brad Johnson is now their quarterback for the rest of the year. If they couldn’t win consistently with Dante Culpepper, how are they going to win Johnson? They should get help from some easy wins against Detroit, Cleveland and Baltimore. And, if they manage to avoid the upset in a couple of weeks at Green Bay, that game against Chicago will determine the division on January 1st.

Detroit Lions
Currently: 3-5
Will Finish: 5-11
Joey Harrington of Jeff Garcia? Shouldn’t matter, this team is horrible. They have beaten Cleveland, Baltimore and Green Bay for their three wins (teams with a combined 6-18 record). With Dallas, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh coming up, the only win the Lions should get is at New Orleans.

Green Bay Packers
Currently: 1-7
Will Finish: 4-12
The only way they finish 4-12 is if they upset Minnesota in the Monday night game in two weeks. I think they could pull that off. Worst game of the NFL season: the Monday night game against Baltimore on December 19th. Wouldn’t the nation rather see…oh, I don’t know…another Dallas-Washington tilt? Let’s see if we can switch these games around.

SOUTH

Carolina Panthers
Currently: 6-2
Will Finish: 12-4
This is the best team in the NFC right now. They should finish the season that way. The dog fight between the Panthers and the Falcons should be fun to keep track of during the second half. If Stephen Davis and Steve Smith stay healthy, and the defense doesn’t lose anyone else along the line, this team will have a great opportunity for their second Super Bowl appearance in three years.

Atlanta Falcons
Currently: 6-2
Will Finish: 10-6
Other than having to play Carolina and Tampa a few times, the Falcons are going to face some tough out-of-conference games in the second half. That defense will give at least one win away, and Michael Vick will give away another. That’s why I have them finishing two games behind Carolina. Also, because the Redskins will have a better conference record than Atlanta, the Falcons will have to go to the Meadowlands in the first round instead of a trip to Chicago.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Currently: 5-3
Will Finish: 8-8
That slide I said was going to happen…it’s happening. The Bucs suffered an inexcusable loss to the 49ers and then were blown out at home by Carolina. Two games against both Carolina and Atlanta won’t help their cause any during the second half. The reason I have them winning three more games is because the Tim Rattay watch is officially underway. If Chris Simms is left in, they may not get to 8-8.

New Orleans Saints
Currently: 2-7
Will Finish: 3-13
The Saints are just sad to watch. Aaron Brooks is horrible. Joe Horn is overrated. Their defense is almost non-existent. Jim Haslett is about to be fired. At least they’ll be in Los Angeles in a few years.

WEST

Seattle Seahawks
Currently: 6-2
Will Finish: 12-4
I really like this Seahawks team. Matt Hasslebeck is finally a top NFL quarterback. The defense is playing much better than they have in years past. Seattle isn’t giving away games like they used to the last two seasons. Mike Holmgren obviously has postseason experience as a coach. And they have Shaun Alexander, the best running back in the game…what’s not to like come playoff time.

St. Louis Rams
Currently: 4-4
Will Finish: 8-8
Is there another NFL team that represents mediocrity better than the Rams? They have Stephen Jackson, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Issac Bruce and Marc Bulger, and St. Louis can only manage four wins. I know there have been a few injuries, but to have two games against both the Cardinals and 49ers, and to be able to play Houston and Tennessee, and only be on pace for 8-8 is pretty embarrassing.

Arizona Cardinals
Currently: 2-6
Will Finish: 5-11
Another season, another disappointment in the desert. As I said yesterday, there is too much talent on the offensive side of the ball for this team to only be 2-6. Kurt Warner and Josh McCown have played reasonably well, so it’s not the quarterback. They have great receivers and a decent offensive line. The defense is well below the NFL average, but they’re not getting gashed week in and week out. Maybe it’s the heat. But at least it’s a dry heat.

San Francisco 49ers
Currently: 2-6
Will Finish: 2-14
With the first pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the 49ers select…

Playoffs
First Round
Washington at Chicago
Atlanta at N.Y. Giants

Second Round
Washington at Seattle
N.Y. Giants at Carolina

NFC Championship
Carolina at Seattle

Super Bowl XL
Indianapolis beats Carolina


2006 NFL Draft Order
1. San Francisco
2. Houston
3. New Orleans
4. Cleveland
5. Green Bay
6. Baltimore
7. N.Y. Jets
8. Arizona
9. Detroit
10. Tennessee
11. Buffalo
12. Miami
13. Oakland
14. Minnesota
15. St. Louis
16. Tampa Bay
17. Philadelphia
18. Dallas
19. Kansas City
20. Denver
21. Chicago
22. Atlanta
23. Jacksonville
24. Cincinnati
25. New England
26. Washington (traded to Denver)
27. N.Y. Giants
28. Pittsburgh
29. San Diego
30. Seattle
31. Carolina
32. Indianapolis