NFC Playoff Predictions

by Dave Gardner on Jun 10, 2008 4:40 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

After running through our AFC predictions up to the AFC Championship game, it's time to take Matt Miller's NFC regular season predictions into prime time. Here is how the seeding broke down in the NFC:

1. New Orleans Saints (14-2): NFC South Champs; head-to-head victory over Vikings
2. Minnesota Vikings (14-2): NFC North Champs
3. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4): NFC East Champs by virtue of better division record than Cowboys
4. Seattle Seahawks (11-5): NFC West Champs
5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4): 2nd place, NFC East; top NFC Wild Card
6. New York Giants (9-7): 3rd place, NFC East; lower wild card

In total, the three teams on this list who didn't make the playoffs last year are the three teams in the top seeds. The Saints finished 7-9 last season, and the Vikings and Eagles both finished at 8-8. This season, they combine for just eight losses. Here is how the playoffs might look from this field of teams:

Wild Card Round:

Philadelphia Eagles (3) lose to New York Giants (6): The defending Super Bowl champs once again slide into the playoffs, but they won't duck out so quickly. With a still fierce pass rush, the shaky Philadelphia line will have trouble protecting Donovan McNabb. This game would showcase a lot of young talent, though, and it could be a new great divisional rivalry in the NFL.

Seattle Seahawks (4) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): The Cowboys are not a bad team at the five seed, they just are stuck in a stacked division. The Seahawks, on the other hand, are in one of the least competitive divisions in the NFL. Tony Romo will have to finally get over his playoff jitters, and with the help of 20 carries from Marion Barber III and a vastly improved secondary, he will. The Cowboys have too much talent, and the Seahawks lose their last game with coach Holmgren.

Divisional Round:

New Orleans Saints (1) defeat New York Giants (6): The Saints improved defense is enough to take the Giants out of the playoffs. In what would feature two of the best running back tandems in the game, McCallister-Bush and Jacobs-Bradshaw, the edge goes to the offensive firepower of the Drew Brees-led Saints.

Minnesota Vikings (2) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): The Vikings are the surprise team of this season, led on the ground by first-year star Adrian Peterson. The Cowboys have a fierce front seven on defense and one of the best offensive lines in football, so they have the ability to neutralize the strengths of the Vikings. With a ball-hawking secondary, Tarvaris Jackson could be in for a rough day.

NFC Championship Game:

New Orleans Saints (1) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): This would be an exciting playoff game featuring two of the best quarterbacks in the game in Romo and Brees. They both lead awesome aerial attacks that are supplemented by strong running games. The Cowboys, however, have the ability to apply pressure to the quarterback and have valuable, talented depth in the secondary. In an offensive onslaught, the Cowboys make it back to the Super Bowl.

So the Mocking the Draft Super Bowl will feature the Dallas Cowboys versus the Indianapolis Colts in Tampa. Check back in a few days to see who takes home the Lombardi trophy.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Stop with the east coast biase already

How can Romo be one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he has only played little more than a season. The Vikings are overrated cause they don’t have a quarterback. The Saints don’t play defense and the Eagles will lose McNabb to injury so they won’t win that many games.

ANd please stop with the love affair with the Cowboys, they haven’t won a playoff game in this decade. The Cowboys safeties are both horrible in coverage and both are overrated. THeir line isn’t the best in the NFL. Expect a decline this year, especially in pass protection.

The Seahawks have one of the tougher schedules this year with the Patriots, Cowboys, Giants, Buccanears and the Eagles on it. So I don’t know how their weak division even comes into play.

by xSAMx on Jun 15, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Get A Map.

Dallas is not anywhere near the east coast and neither is New Orleans. Heck, the projected AFC Champ Indy Colts aren’t there either! Believe it or not, there’s a whole freaking country in between your precious Left Coast and its overated sibling to the east; don’t do to them what the mainstream media does to you!

P.S.: I could see the ‘hawks making a run at another Super Bowl appearance and I don’t really agree with the predictions above.

Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!

by ejruiz on Jun 15, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

I should have changed my wording about that.

by xSAMx on Jun 15, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

because he is one of the best QBs in the league

if you can’t see that you’re either blind or stupid.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 18, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

good thing he doesn’t have to hold extra points anymore … best QBs in the league HA!

by Whodie126 on Jun 30, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How in the world can you think the Viqueens will be 14-2?! You are udderly dellusional!!! LOL I think they might be a game or two better, but please… Be sensible!!! Allen is a help to a pass rush that was nonexistent, so he’ll get double most of the time. M. Williams is very average, and Berrian might be below average, unless your a Viqueens fan!!!

Packers win the division going 10-6 in Rodgers 1st season starting! He needs to prove himself and gain experience, but has excellent skills that translate to the Packers scheme! Accuracy and decision making are the most important traits for a WCO QB. He has both!!!

Jackson is a backup QB, and don’t even get me started about Booty licious… Only a Viqueens fan could think otherwise!!!

by Strohman on Jun 15, 2008 6:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Vikes.

Not a Minny fan (and I get that your rant is based on the emotions of your fanhood) but the Vikes went 8-8 last year and they certainly got better. I don’t doubt that GB will be competative this year (I love the Pack, especially their D) but it’s not a stretch to believe they’ll miss the playoffs in 2008 and the Vikes will win the division.

P.S.: Viqueens? Really?? What are you, 12???

Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!

by ejruiz on Jun 15, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh... yep

The overuse of LOL and exclamation points proves that.

www.newerascouting.com www.mockingthedraft.com

by MattMiller on Jun 15, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, undoubtedly I’m a Packer fan! But what logic are you missing? Rodgers has the ability to become a very good QB in his own right, has had 3 years to learn from Favre and 2 from McCarthy. He won’t be asked to win games, but to run a very potent offense. Surely he needs game experience, but conventional wisdom has always been to take a few years to let a QB learn the NFL game and speed. Salary cap era notwithstanding… There is no substitute for game experience, but also alot to be said for taking the time to learn the NFL from a quality starter and a top QB coach.

BTW, I am passionate and opinionated, but also very knowledgable about the game! So get over the exclamation points!!! LOL

by Strohman on Jun 15, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Potential vs Production

Rodgers could develop/be a good quarterback in 2008, but that is quite unknown. Basing his potential on a 2nd half against Dallas doesn’t make a career. Learning from a good starter and coach are great, without substitute, but ability cannot be learned.

www.newerascouting.com www.mockingthedraft.com

by MattMiller on Jun 15, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Your not saying anything that I haven’t already admitted. Or are you saying that Rodgers doesnt have ability? He was very nearly the #1 pick in the draft, that would indicate that he has the ability. He hasn’t proven anything yet, I agree. He is an unknown, but has everything he needs to succeed. His production while very limited, point to his having a good year, and doing well in succeeding Favre. Ask A. Smith if he would rather have been the #1 pick and a likely bust, or if he would have rather had the opportunity to learn from Favre and McCarthy for a couple years. And lets not forget that Smith had his best season when he had McCarthy to coach him, in his 1st year. Or ask Rich Gannon if McCarthy can coach a QB w/ talent!

There are maybe 8-10 QB’s in the league that I would rather have, given the situation Rodgers is now in… Everything is in place for him, he just needs to play to his strengths and McCarthy will adjust to fit what he does well.

by Strohman on Jun 15, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rodgers

I’m not saying he doesn’t have ability, he was my #1 QB that year. I’ve just not seen his ability at the NFL level. Being a high draft pick and a successful NFL player are different, ask Alex Smith and Cedric Benson. I’m not doubting McCarthy, but the Packers are a young team offensively and an unproven QB is unlikely to improve their record over a sure-fire HOF’er.

www.newerascouting.com www.mockingthedraft.com

by MattMiller on Jun 15, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Packers have proven WR, Driver and Jennings both played very well last year and a case can easily be made that Jennings was the Pro-Bowler of the two. J. Jones played very well when given the opportunities. Thats not mentioning the addition of Nelson, the contributions of Lee (pro-bowl alternate). THe running game came on big last year w/ the emergence of Grant. OL is an excellent pass blocking unit (19 sacks last year) who gave Favre alot more time against the NYG, than the more heralded OL of NE. They were ranked #2 offensively and that had more to do w/ McCarthy getting Favre to play the system than it did Favre making plays on his own. I am confident that he can coach Rodgers, and in Rodgers talents. My prediction is 10 wins and the NFC North. In the NFL you win w/ QB play and Jackson doesn’t strike anyone as being more than a marginal (at best) starting QB. All A. Rodgers has to do is deliver the ball on time and accurately and make sound decisions, both of which are/were his strengths coming out of Cal.

Actually, my concerns about the offense pale in comparison to the defense. CB are old and nickel CB were exposed last year. Pass rush lost Williams, but when asked to start he did nothing down the stretch. Safeties are unproven, and could still go either way.

by Strohman on Jun 15, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry about the delay

I have been a little bit busy lately, and I haven’t been checking in on the comments. Sorry about that, everyone. First of all, let’s just make sure it’s well known that the way the system works is that Matt makes the regular season predictions, and then I make the Super Bowl predictions. Let’s also be aware of the fact that these predictions are based on games that could possibly happen, no one will know for sure what the playoff field will be in December.

All that aside, here are a few points:

- xSamx, I don’t have an east coast “biase”; if anything, it’s a bias. However, I think Tarvaris Jackson will turn the corner this year with the help of that strong running game, maybe he won’t… that’s just my (and Matt’s opinion). I think Romo is one of the best QBs in the game, and I think his experience has helped him in the past two seasons. And even if McNabb goes down (which isn’t a guarantee by any means), under Reid, Kolb is ready.

- As far as the Rodgers debate goes, I love Rodgers. I probably like him a little better than Matt does, and I think the Packers will be in the playoffs again this year. However, they’re relying on two key things that are uncertainties: Rodgers and Ryan Grant. Neither of them have done if for an entire season, and no one knows if they can. I also don’t like how the packers look on the interior defensive line, so they could struggle this year if their corners don’t hold up coverage like they did last year.

I love all the comments, please keep them coming. The Super Bowl champion is a heated debate between Miller and myself right now, so we’ll see who wins the arm wrestling match.

by Dave Gardner on Jun 16, 2008 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs