No Punches Pulled: NFC Midseason Report

What an unexpected first half of the season it has been.  So many disappointments.  So many surprises.  The NFC is finally getting some respect again, and appears to be pretty strong so far this year.  Here is a midseason NFC report that will tell it like it is, complete with predictions for rest of the season.  AFC midseason report to come…NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (5-3) – Despite some late game chokes, the Cowboys still have a respectable record.  Drew Bledsoe is having a great first year under Bill Parcells with a 97.4 QB rating, and 2,019 throwing yards.  The defense has been playing great lately, not letting up anymore than 13 points in the last four games.
Projected Record- 8-8.  Tough games at Philadelphia, New York Giants, Washington and Carolina will be tough to overcome.  Moreover, Denver at home will prove to be a loss.

New York Giants (6-2) – This team is flat out good this year.  They have weapons at every offensive position. The underrated Tiki Barber is averaging 5 yards a carry with 760 rushing yards.  Plaxico Burress is unstoppable with 656 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Tight end Jeremy Shockey has 530 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.  The defense has really stepped their game up lately, led by a rejuvenated Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce.
Projected Record- 12-4.  The Giants have a tough schedule ahead and will not win at Seattle or in Philadelphia.  Big home wins over Philadelphia, Dallas, and Kansas City will propel them to the NFC East championship.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) – Drama.  Soap Opera. Who cares?  This team is struggling right now.  Although McNabb is putting up big numbers (2,338 yards), the offense is struggling in the absence of a running game and homerun threat.  Brian Westbrook only has 328 yards rushing, but is great at catching short passes with 478 yards receiving.
Projected Record- 10-6.  The Eagles have a somewhat favorable schedule to close out.  They will defeat division rivals Dallas and New York at home.  The only losses for the second half will come at New York and at home against Seattle.  They will close the season with 4 wins in a row against the Giants, Rams, Cardinals, and Redskins, and head into the playoffs on a roll.

Washington Redskins (5-3) – Mark Brunell discovered the fountain of youth this season with a QB rating of 90.3.  Clinton Portis is having a strong year with 620 rushing yards.  Santana Moss has come out of nowhere to be the top long ball threat with 856 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.  Lavar Arrington is making big plays again on the other side of the ball, and Greg Williams’s defense might just be the best in the league.
Projected Record- 9-7.  The Redskins will lose a tough game at home against the Chargers, and lose the last three games of the season against division rivals Dallas, New York, and Philadelphia.

NFC North

Chicago Bears (5-3) – Make no mistakes, this team is all about defense.  Comparisons to the 2000 Ravens are however incorrect.  Trent Dilfer was better than Kyle Orton who only has a QB rating of 62.9 and 9 interceptions.  Thomas Jones is banged up right now, but has had a strong season with 753 rushing yards.
Projected Record- 9-7.  The Bears will not defeat Atlanta or Carolina.  Moreover, the game in Pittsburgh might get ugly for them.

Detroit Lions (3-5) – This team is absolutely horrible.  When the QB controversy is between Joey Harrington and Jeff Garcia, you might as well quit for the season.  Teams can stack the line against Kevin Jones all day long as proven by his 381 yards at an average of 3 yards per carry.  The defense is respectable, but is on the field entirely too long.  By the way, did anyone get the missing persons mailer featuring Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, and Roy Williams?  I did to.
Projected Record- 4-12.  The Lions will squeak out a win against the cursed Saints.  However, they will lose to everyone else, including sorry teams such as Arizona and Minnesota.  Games against Atlanta, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh will get out of hand.

Green Bay Packers (1-7) – These guys might be a little better than their record shows as they have lost some heartbreakers.  However, they still are a terrible team this year.  Brett Favre just looks finished and is making bad plays.  His QB rating is an UnFavre 82.9, and has already thrown 14 interceptions.  Leading rushers Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport are out.  The running game is now based around unknown Samkon Gado.  Moreover, it is another year, and another sorry defense.
Projected Record- 3-13.  The Packers will squeak out wins at home against the Vikings and Lions.  Games on the road against Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago will prove to be too much.

Minnesota Vikings (3-5) – Will Brad Johnson help this team?  He had a great first game against Detroit with 298 yards throwing, and 3 touchdowns.  The lack of a running game hurts as Mewelde Moore and Michael Bennett have only rushed for 545 yards.  Just like usual, the Vikings defense is weak, and is showing no signs of improvement.
Projected Record- 4-12.  The Vikings will get one more win at Detroit.  Unfortunately for them, games against the Giants, Steelers, and Bears will be terrible losses.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (6-2) – Michael Vick doesn’t want anyone to criticize his passing game after a 228 yard passing performance against the Dolphins.  His rating is still 70.8 and he has only passed for 951 yards.  Nonetheless, the Falcons win with him at QB, and he has rushed for a spectacular 340 yards.  Moreover, Warrick Dunn has rushed for 820 yards.  The running game is no secret, but the one dimensional Alge Crumpler passing game needs to improve.
Projected Record- 13-3.  The only loss in the second half of the season will come at Carolina.  They will get their revenge in the last game of the season defeating the Panthers at home.  The Falcons will knock off pretend teams such as Tampa Bay and Chicago.

Carolina Panthers (6-2) – Jake Delhomme (94.5 rating, 14 touchdowns) and Steve Smith (903 yards, 9 touchdowns), are the best QB/WR combination in football right now.  Smith is quietly having one of the most impressive seasons at wide receiver in recent memory.  The Panthers defense is strong, and steps it up in big game situations.  The Panthers will be playing in the NFC championship, and have all the ingredients of a Super Bowl team.
Projected Record- 13-3.  The only remaining loss will come in the last game of the season at Atlanta.  They will knock Atlanta off at home, and also knock off teams such as Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Dallas.

New Orleans Saints (2-7) – Aaron Brooks should not be a starter in the NFL with a 66.6 rating and 12 interceptions.  Antowain Smith (360 yards, 4.8 average) has done a respectable job replacing Deuce McAllister who is out with a torn ACL.  Tough calls at the ends of games, and heartbreaking losses prove this team is cursed.  They just have too much on their minds with the hurricane and rumors of relocation.
Projected Record- 2-14.  They will not win another game.  Maybe they can knock off the Jets or the Lions, but I still don’t see it happening.  Back to back games against the Falcons and Panthers will hurt.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) – Bad losses to San Francisco and Carolina in recent weeks have shown this teams true colors.  Chris Simms will not get the job done in this league at starting QB (69.5 rating.)  The Cadillac has been awful quiet as of late, but still has 496 yards up to this point.  Their defense will always be solid and keep this team in games.
Projected Record- 7-9.  The Bucs will win their remaining two games against New Orleans.  However, they will not get past the likes of the Redskins, Falcons, or Panthers.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals (2-6) – Josh McCown (69.1 rating, 8 interceptions) and Kurt Warner (73.4 rating) will not lead this team to victories.  The running game is absent, as Marcell Shipp leads the team with 241 rushing yards.  Anquan Boldin is out.  The one bright spot is Larry Fitzgerald with 713 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
Projected Record- 4-12 – The Cardinals can get wins against the Lions and 49ers.  Games against teams such as the Rams, Jaguars, Texans, and Colts will all result in losses.

St Louis Rams (4-4) – Marc Bulger has been upgraded to probable for the game coming up against Seattle.  He has had a good year with a 90.8 rating and 11 touchdowns.  Steven Jackson is an animal with 659 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.  Torry Holt (638 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Kevin Curtis (536 yards, 4 touchdowns) are both having great years.  The defense remains suspect.
Projected Record- 9-7.  The Rams will get wins against the likes of Minnesota and Houston, and will pull out a huge win in the final game at Dallas.  Losses to Seattle, Washington, and Philadelphia will occur.

San Francisco 49ers (2-6) – Tim Rattay leads all statistical QB categories for the 49ers, so that should tell you something.  The current 1-2 punch of Cody Pickett and Jesse Palmer is the worst since Spinks got knocked out by Tyson.  Jesse Palmer is a joke and should not ever be allowed to wear an NFL uniform ever again after he embarrassed himself on reality television.  The San Francisco defense is decent, but they are on the field basically all game.  Brandon Lloyd who has 400 receiving yards in an atrocious offense is showing potential with his circus style catches.  Kevin Barlow (424 yards) and Frank Gore (271 yards, 5.1 average) provide a solid running game.
Projected Record- 3-13.  The 49ers will beat the Titans, but fail against teams such as Chicago, Seattle, Arizona, and Houston.

Seattle Seahawks (6-2).  Shaun Alexander is the best running back in the game right now.  With 949 rushing yards, and 14 touchdowns, expect to see Alexander make his money next season.  Matt Hasselbeck is an efficient leader with a 90.9 rating and 10 touchdowns.  The running game dominates here though, as shown by Darrel Jackson leading in receiving with only 376 yards.  The defense plays strong, and the Seahawks may just live up to their hype this season.
Projected Record- 13-3.  The only remaining loss will come against the Colts.  The Seahawks will knock off strong opponents such as the Giants and Eagles.