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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2007 RECORD: 9-7
Overview: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only team to finish above .500 in the NFC South. After a tough loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the Bucs go into the ‘08 season with the hopes of repeating as division champs (a feat that has not been done is six seasons). The ‘07 campaign saw the group of savvy veterans overachieve. They went 9-7, with a beat up backfield and one playmaker in the aerial attack.
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CAROLINA PANTHERS
2007 RECORD: 7-9
Overview: The Carolina Panthers had a very disappointing season in ‘07. After being picked by many to compete for the crown of best in the NFC, they finished with a dismal 7-9 record. The level of frustration has been building for quite some time and finally exploded this summer. All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith broke Ken Lucas’ nose during an altercation at practice. Smith’s inspired play has always been appreciated; unfortunately, at times it appears that he is the only one with that motivation. The Panthers’ season seems to ride with the play of quarterback Jake Delhomme as while he was injured last season, the team collapsed. After he was deemed unable to perform, the getting sacked king, David Carr, took over. This only exacerbated their awful offensive play.
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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2007 RECORD: 7-9
Overview: Two years removed from the “fumble fest” of the 2006-07 NFC championship game, the New Orleans Saints had a disappointing ‘07 season. Starting that campaign 0-4, the entire team seemed to be out of sync, but went on to a respectable 7-5 the rest of the way.
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ATLANTA FALCONS
2007 RECORD: 4-12
Overview: The Atlanta Falcons are ten seasons removed from there affectionate nick name the “Dirty Birds”. Since that improbable run to Super Bowl XXXIII, saying the Falcons have had their ups and downs is an understatement. The franchise’s world came to a halt before the 07-08 season began when their most valuable player and starting quarterback Michael Vick was jailed for dogfighting, leaving the team at a complete loss at that position. On the other side of the ball, they had a lot of room for improvement. That unit allowed 414 points, highest in the division. And when it seemed that it could not get any worse their “leader,” head coach Bobby Petrino, left the team after their 13th game. It turns out Bobby Petrino was only joking when he signed that five-year contract with Atlanta. With all of that going off and on the field, the Falcons finished their ‘07 campaign with a 4-12 record.
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NFC WEST
Predicted Order Of Finish:
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. St. Louis Rams
Top Offensive Player: Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Top Defensive Player: Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Top Rookie: Chris Long, DE, St. Louis Rams
ST. LOUIS RAMS
2007 RECORD: 3-13
Overview: The St. Louis Rams were tied with the Miami Dolphins as the worst team in the NFL last season when it comes to won-loss record. It seemed like every starting player on offense and defense was injured for at least a week or two during 2007. RB Steven Jackson and QB Marc Bulger had one of the worst season of their respective careers to date. Now with the loss of future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce to the rival San Francisco 49ers, the Rams need to figure out their identity. Identity is very important in this league. You can’t be team that has no identity or purpose of playing, and expect to be successful. There needs to be some sort of rallying point, or common bond between each player in order to not only win games, but be a champion. It appears after letting Mike Martz go, the Rams lost that identity and have been searching for a new one ever since. Now it’s up to head coach Scott Linehan to try and figure out what makes this team succeed. Tough challenge you say? Absolutely, but this is the NFL, nothing in this league is supposed to be easy.
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ARIZONA CARDINALS
2007 RECORD: 8-8
Overview: The most interesting yet challenging team to write about are the Arizona Cardinals. Led by head coach Ken Whisenhunt, every preseason the Cardinals look like a team that could compete for the divisional title. That has yet to happen. On paper, this offense looks stacked with a lot of talent, headed by quarterbacks Matt Leinert and the experienced veteran Kurt Warner, as well as freshly re-signed wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and (a disgruntled) Anquan Boldin, the offense looks like a powerhouse that its rivals need to take notice of. Unfortunately, they have yet to play to their potential on the offensive side of the ball, and for the last few seasons, have been rebuilding their defense. This preseason yet again, I am putting the Cardinals in contention for the NFC West crown.
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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
2007 RECORD: 10-6
Overview: Winners of the NFC West division the last four seasons, the Seattle Seahawks look to keep in control of one of the weaker divisions in the league and give head coach Mike Holmgren, who has already stated that this is his last year with the team, a season to remember. The Seahawks made it to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2007, but eventually lost to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks are looking to bounce back this year with a solid defensive effort and a reliable and oftentimes underrated offense.
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2007 RECORD: 5-11
Overview: Coming from a dismal 6-12 season in 2007, having a combination of 25 wins, and 55 losses since the 2002 season, the San Francisco 49ers are a long way from their once dominant glory under the Bill Walsh and George Seifert eras. The team has gone through three head coaches, a plethora of starting quarterbacks, and five offensive coordinators during that span. The Niners are run by owners John York and Denise DeBartolo, who are struggling to run a successful business, and rebuild a once prominent and well-respected franchise.
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AFC WEST
Predicted Order Of Finish:
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Top Offensive Player: LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Top Defensive Player: D.J. Williams, LB, Denver Broncos
Top Rookie: Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
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