2009 NFC Championship Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals
So here we have it, the 5th and 6th seeds are facing off for a Super Bowl birth. The Eagles have been there done that, but the Cards haven't. Which gives the experience factor to the Eagles. Philly has been to 5, may I repeat that, 5 NFL Championships since 2001. Now that is impressive.

Both teams have a lot of momentum right now. The Cards' pass offense cannot be stopped, but the Eagles defense are on top of their game right now. The defense has done a great job lately with pressuring the opposing QB and keeping the running game at bay. I think the Eagles secondary is good enough to not let Warner, Fitzgerald, and Co. go off. The Eagles have done a great job of getting into the redzone and putting up points, but they need to convert those field goals in touchdowns and if they can do that, and also get their running game going and get Brian Westbrook in space, there is no doubt in my mind they will win on Sunday.

Eagles 26 Cards 19

NFC Divisional Playoff Predictions

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers
The Cards could be a good choice right now, but they did face an inexperienced team with a rookie QB in the Falcons. Plus, they're a pretty good team at home. Arizona is obviously a great passing team with Kurt Warner and a trio of WRs in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. But Carolina is amazing at home; they're unblemished, a solid 8-0 in Charlotte. I think the Panthers are on a mission to finally get something done. Jake Delhomme has picked up his game compared to the last few seasons and DeAngelo Williams has been very impressive running the ball for Carolina towards the end of the season. Defense has been a question sometimes, but at times they've also looked very stellar. The Panthers have enough firepower and some defense to shoot the Cards.

Panthers 31 Cards 23

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
A lot of people are jumping on the Eagles bandwagon and that could be easy for me to do. They have a lot of momentum right now. Donovan McNabb is looking as good as he's been in several years, and their defense is phenomenal right now. The Giants are also a little banged up; the two-headed monster in the backfield are both less than 100%. Brandon Jacobs could be the key, if he isn't his normal self, I think the Eagles have a great chance. Also, remember no Plaxico, which is something the Giants didn't have in their last game vs. the Eagles, in which they lost. Can the Giants defend their title? Or will the Eagles continue to ride the wave of momentum?

Eagles 27 Giants 24

2008 NFL Preview - NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (10-6 in 2007)

The team does not miss a beat from the 2007 season, and Julius Jones becomes the featured back that replaces Shaun Alexander. They don't lose too much there. The wide receivers display consistency, and the defense continues to be really underrated and one of the league’s best. This team will be good but not great. Good enough to win the division yet again however.

Key Additions: RB Julius Jones, RB TJ Duckett, G Mike Wahle, K Olindo Mare, DT Larry Tripplett, TE Jeb Putzier

Key Losses: RB Shaun Alexander, K Josh Brown, WR DJ Hackett, DT Chuck Darby, T Tom Ashworth

Prediction: 9-7, 1st place; loses in wild card round of playoffs again

2. Arizona Cardinals (8-8 in 2007)

Kurt Warner leads the aerial attack for the Cardinals who balance it out with an ok running game. Rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie makes an instant impact on an improving defense. However, the running game still struggles to pose a significant threat in my opinion and the offensive line fails to protect the quarterback. And in Anquan Boldin can't stay happy you can expect it to be a big distraction.

Key Additions: CB Michael Adams, LB Clark Haggans, DE Travis LaBoy, DL Bryan Robinson, QB Brian St. Pierre, LB Matt Stewart, TE Jerame Tuman

Key Losses: DL Rodney Bailey, P Mitch Berger, LB Darryl Blackstock, DT Chris Cooper, S Terrence Holt, LB Brandon Johnson, WR Bryant Johnson, LB Calvin Pace, QB Tim Rattay, OT Oliver Ross, G Keydrick Vincent

Prediction: 8-8, same crap, different year

3. San Francisco 49ers (5-22 in 2007)

Quite simply put, it doesn’t matter who is the quarterback — as long as he can lead the offense. The offense will show significant improvement under Mike Martz and the defense will be pretty good. I personally think that if Alex Smith starts this team cannot do any better than 3rd in the West. J.T. O'Sullivan has played real well this preseason and I think if he is the starter he can help the 9ers flirt with 2nd place in the West. The 9ers need another year or two.

Key Additions: DE Justin Smith, WR Bryant Johnson, WR Isaac Bruce, LB Takeo Spikes, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, RB DeShaun Foster, KR Allen Rossum, LB Dontarrious Thomas

Key Losses: DT Bryant Young, G Larry Allen, G Justin Smiley, LB Derek Smith, T Kwame Harris, QB Trent Dilfer, DE Marques Douglas, RB Maurice Hicks, WR Darrell Jackson

Prediction: 6-10

4. St. Louis Rams (3-13 in 2007)

Marc Bulger is going to continue to get majorly pressured. And who really knows is Stephen Jackson is going to step up and earn the big bucks so the run game may never reallydevelop. The defensive line cannot apply enough pressure to opponents, and the Rams give up numerous big plays. They just won't be good.

Key Additions: K Josh Brown, G Jacob Bell, TE Anthony Becht, QB Trent Green, QB Bruce Gradkowski, WR Reche Caldwell

Key Losses: K Jeff Wilkins, WR Isaac Bruce, LB Brandon Chillar

Prediction: 4-12

Who's Hot, Who's Not

HOT
Seattle Mariners
They continue to surprise a lot of people and make a nice push in both the AL Wildcard and in the AL West. The Angels better not get too comfortable!

Tiger Woods

In the final event before the final major of the year, Woods buried Rory Sabbatini and the rest of the field Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational for an eight-shot victory, sending his confidence soaring Sunday as he left for Southern Hills and the PGA Championship.

Matt Murphy

Interesting story....So he's delayed in SF trying to travel from NY to Australia with some friends and he throws on his Mets jersey and heads out to AT&T Park and basically wins the lottery. Got his face scraped up a bit but I'm guessing it was totally worth it. Kind of interesting that of all the Giant fans at the game dreaming of the ball a kid in a Mets jersey catches the ball and will split the profits with his friend (who was at the game in an Arod jersey!). I'm interested to see what he ends up doing with the ball.

Arizona Cardinals

With Matt Leinert learning and improving everyday, the Edge in the best shape of his life, and the superstar Fitzgerald continuing to improve his route running the Cardinals look like they could make a serious run at making the playoffs this season. And with the great young core of superstar talent they have they should be around for a while....especially once the defense improves.

NOT
Milwaukee Brewers

Tough pill for me to swallow here but things have not been good. A four game losing streak puts the beermakers in first by a mere half game. On the bright side there is the Soriano injury!

Rory Sabattini

Made the whole, "Tiger's more beatable than ever" comment and then went ahead and squandered a 1 shot lead to lose by 8 and at one point was shaken to the point that he ordered a fan removed from the course by security for some relatively funny/ironic, yet completely harmless interjection made at the turn. He basically made himself look retarded.

Bud Selig

Selig made himself look like an idiot in the last week or so. He trudged around behind Bonds for 9 games and then what Bonds tied the record the commish stood with his hands deep in his pockets and looked very disgruntled. He then declined to be present when Bonds broke the record. Hate to break it to you Bud, but all eyes are on you right now and you're making yourself look like a fool!

Obafemi Ayanbadejo

He has a cool name but the NFL suspended him for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances on Thursday. He claims to not have knowingly infringed upon the rules and will pursue civil action against the makers of the product Max LMG.