NFC Preview - Part 1

The NFL’s equivalent of baseball’s senior circuit seems to have fallen behind its AFC cousin in the same way the NL has fallen behind the AL. However, the AFC doesn’t have the DH to account for the talent gap. I keep hoping for an NFC team to break through, mainly because I’m sick of the NFC being beat up on as if it were the AFC’s little brother. Could this be the year? Not likely, but possibly. Let’s start from the bottom up:

No Chance Tier

16. Minnesota Vikings
This team is terrible, if for only one reason – Tavaris Jackson. What’s up with the comparisons to Donovan McNabb? The Vikings traded for Kelly Holcomb after Minnesota scored all of two offensive touchdowns during the entire preseason. Holcomb should be starting by week six, and if a career back-up is your starter, you have problems.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What Tampa has going for them over the Vikings is that the Bucs have already hit bottom and can now begin climbing back up. (That, and a real quarterback). Unfortunately, it’s a long way back up, even in the NFC. I like Cadillac when he’s healthy, which means I liked him at the start of his rookie year. He has injury-prone carved into his helmet, at least as long a Gruden is running him. Overall the Bucs don’t have much at their skill positions, and their defense is turning over a generation and rebuilding with youth. That translates to losses.

14. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are an interesting team if only as a judge for how good or bad Vick was for them. The team tanked when Vick was hurt in the preseason a couple years back, but I get the sense the effect won’t be as dramatic this year. Still, the average level of talent on both sides of the ball is ‘mediocre’.

13. Washington Redskins
Here’s the first team that actually has some talent. I think this team’s ceiling will be determined by Clinton Portis’ health and Jason Campbell’s development. I like their receivers, running backs, and Cooley as a tight end. I’m not sure how good their offensive line can be if they’re trading for a new left guard (Pete Kendall) just before the season starts. I’m neutral about their defense (though I do think they should dump Shawn Springs before he has his annual hamstring pull). I’ve seen some pick Washington as a team that could challenge for a wildcard spot. I doubt Campbell will be good enough for that.