Also see: 2010 AFC Divisional Analysis
NFC East
Best Team
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo has been on the verge of leading this team to playoff success for a few years now. As long as they don't let him on the field during extra point attempts, he may just meet the expectations of Cowboys fans this year. With an already explosive group of receivers that now also has Dez "Carry Your Own Pads" Bryant, the offense is as explosive as it has been in a while, and the defense is solid.
They'll probably win at least half of their games with relative ease, and they're the only team in this division that returns every major piece of a playoff team from last year. Forget the preseason struggles, because this team will be fine when the regular season rolls around.
Team to Watch
Washington Redskins
Are they the second best team in the division? No, but they are the most exciting, or at least the most improved. Yeah, Albert Haynesworth is a huge distraction, but look at the positives for this team. They've added one of the top coaches in the league, have three Pro Bowl-caliber RBs, and of course added Donovan McNabb.
With a solid rookie on the offensive line, which provides further protection for McNabb, this team has all the pieces to put up points this year. Their defense won't be among the best this year, but if they can provide occasional flashes of brilliance, this team could win twice as many games as they did last year.
NFC North
Best Team
Green Bay Packers
Both the Packers and the Vikings have great defenses and explosive playmakers on offense, so it only makes sense that the team with the better QB gets the nod here. I know Brett Favre had a great season last year, but Aaron Rodgers was amazing, too, and he's still getting better. You can take the limping 40-year-old if you want, but I'll take the agile 26-year-old with a cannon for an arm and the ability to throw with pinpoint precision.
Ryan Grant will force defenses to stack the box, so look for Rodgers and Greg Jennings to be a dynamic duo this year. With a young defense as good as theirs, this team should 12 or more games this year.
Team to Watch
Minnesota Vikings
This analysis will be short, given that their biggest problem, the aging Brett Favre, was just mentioned in the Packers' analysis. Their defense will be good, but with concerns about the health of their two most explosive receivers, Brett Favre will need to be better than he was least year. And with his own growing injury concerns, don't count on it.
NFC South
Best Team
New Orleans Saints
Not much explanation needed here, as they're the defending champs, and Drew Brees is back, along with his weapons on offense. Sean Peyton will keep defenses guessing which players will be on the field, let alone who will get the majority of the touches. They'll put up points in bunches, and they proved last year they can win the close games.
Team to Watch
Atlanta Falcons
They were 9-7 last year, and that was without a healthy Michael Turner. With him back, and an improved Matt Ryan, they'll improve that record this year.
Through the draft, they improved the offensive-line, and added speed to the defense. It's not that they'll dominate in any one way, but they won't have any weaknesses to exploit either. They may be boring, but at least they'll be boring all the way into the playoffs.
NFC West
Best Team
San Francisco 49ers
I know being the class of the NFC West doesn't really mean much, but I think this is the year the 49ers finally win the division. It's been a while since they've done so, and they've been close for a couple of years, but this year, they finally have all the pieces. They had a great draft, one that solidified the offensive-line and the defensive secondary, and that means great things for them moving forward.
Frank Gore will gain yards almost at will with this o-line, and the defense is beginning to look formidable. Teams that score a lot of points and don't give very many generally win a lot of games. In the NFC West, they'll win 10 or more.
Team to Watch
Seattle Seahawks
To be honest, the St. Louis Rams made sense here too, but only because they'll quadruple their win total from last year if Sam Bradford leads them to 4 wins. But for being a team that only needs to improve their record from last year by a few games to be in the playoff hunt, and having the best draft that any team has had in a long time, they just make more sense.
Pete Carroll is annoying, and his ability to win within the rules may be questionable at best, but he always seems to win, and with a club with this much young talent, he'll continue to enjoy success. Look for the Seahawks to be at, or possibly even over, .500 at the end of the season.
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