Any Given Thursday | (a Comprehensive Guide to the NFL: NFC Edition)

Tony Romo has to deal with the same thing as Roberto Luongo, playing for a city of high risk, high reward. Both could probably attest there are no greater fans than their respective nation, but they’re both quick to chop that pedestal down when things go wrong. Romo’s stats are much better than those of his peers like Matt Shuabb and Matt Ryan but there comes a degree of pressure being the Cowboys QB.
Prediction:8-8

Philadelphia Eagles:

Where do we start? The stats are there, the big plays are there, the wins are not. Luckily for Philly fans, they are in a division where beating up on each other is the norm, and nothing is impossible. With that said, the loss Monday night against the Bears was huge, and they let an ample opportunity slip away. It’s their defence that has taken much of criticism, with all the hoopla surrounding the signing of CB Nnamdi Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie, but with the lockout and short training camp, it can only go up from here. It seems as if they are starting to really feel each other out, and props have to be given to LeSean McCoy, there can’t be many

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New York Giants:

If Ahmad Bradshaw can stay healthy, and with the rise of Victor Cruz mixed with a hopeful return of the reliable Hakeem Nicks, the Giants will continue to put lots of points. I didn’t think they had played a perfect game all year coming into week 9 at 5-2, but they came damn close with the W against the Pats. With Philly losing, New York is the front runner for the division, Giant fans probably wish they could play New England every week with the way Eli comes up big.
Prediction:10-6 and the Division

Washington Redskins:

The Skins have been up and down all year, Rex Grossman’s rise and demise Vol 6.0, the ebbs and flows of young backs, Tim Hightower, Ryan Torain, and Roy Helu, and the defence starting the year solid have given up 76pts in the last 3 weeks. I can’t imagine they make a late season run with so much turmoil, the Washington fans must find it difficult to cheer for a team lacking stability right now.
Prediction: 5-11 with a push from fans to kick Mike Shanahan out

Obvious choice for one of the breakouts of the year along with the Niners, Matt Stafford and “Megatron” has been connecting as often as excuses and the NBA all year. With tailback Jahvid Best hurt, backup Maurice Morris will need to step up to sustain their balance. But it’s the Detroit defence that has been impressive, swarming opponents lead by loud mouth LT Ndamukong Suh and a young and eager backfield. It has been a long time since the Lions were relevant in motor city, if they can take one of two against the Pack, I like their chances for the Wildcard.
Prediction: 11-5 Wildcard spot

Minnesota Vikings:

3rd in rushing offence, 29th in passing. Adrian Peterson at running back, Mcnabb/Ponder at QB. AP has been great as usual while leading the league in rushing, but he has to be upset over how the year has progressed, he finally got away from the Favre hoopla and was handed over to another over the hill QB. I initially thought Mcnabb had Dante Culpepper syndrome and just tailed off while teams still thought he was good, but from what I’ve read, it seems as if his work ethic has gone to shit, which is very sad. The first four weeks were amazing to watch, all of them going into the half with leads only to collapse in the second half and lose all of them.
Prediction: 6-10

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Chicago Bears:

When you have one guy leading your team in rushing and receiving yards, it means you need more options, but in the case of the bears, it also means you need to protect your QB to find more options. Matt Forte means the world to Jay Cutler, who has been sacked 21 times so far, and rushed many more. Jay Cutler has a deadly arm, but with no time in the pocket, it’s hard to see its full potential, the same potential that was on full display Monday night, but I don’t think they can play consistently enough the rest of the way.
Prediction: 9-7 but squeeze into Wildcard spot

Green Bay Packers:

What’s not to like?
Amped up D, spread out offense and confidence only the defending champs could carry.
Hard to knock an undefeated team coming off their title belt victory last year. Fantasy owners can be a bit disappointed in TE JerMichael Finley, but that’s only because his stud QB has been spreading the love and hitting everyone except for the guys in stripes and Jordy Nelson is starting to remind a lot like Wes Welker. They’ve had a relatively easy schedule, but with a handful of home games in the heart of winter filled Lambo, nothing less than that 1st playoff week bye can be expected, I am just not excited for all the perfect season talk to come.
Prediction: 15-1 and Division Champs

It’s a cliché description of teams and players sometimes, but the Saints are the epitome of being so good when there good, and very bad when there bad. Drew Brees is second in the L for touchdowns and interceptions, they lead the league in total offence, but 28th in total defence, and they beat the Colts by 55 and then lose to the Rams who started AJ Feeley for the first time this year. Brees can go for 5 TD’s in a game no problem, and then throw a ridiculous interception like he did a couple weeks back in Tampa. Tough call but i think they work it out with an easier second half schedule.
Prediction: 11-5 Division Champs

Tamba Bay Buccaneers:

This team is probably was the toughest for me to breakdown. I can’t put my finger on them; they’re on that weird bubble of uncertainty. Think Ben and Cam from “How to make it in America”, they’ve got the pieces in place, the charisma to match it, they are one big break/player away from blowing up, but also an arm lengths away from shit hitting the fan. 500 team? Yea let’s go with that.
Prediction: 8-8

Atlanta Falcons:

The Falcons are filled with talent, Michael Turner on the ground, Roddy White and Julio Jones spreading the field, and the resurgence of Tony Gonzalez pulling off his best AC Green impersonation by never seeming to get old. They’re an exciting team to watch but lack the grit to come through in a defensively stingy game, especially if they make the playoffs, with two games in hand against the Saints, this division may come down to the last week.
Prediction: 9-7

Carolina Panthers:

To me, Killa Cam is like Derrick Rose in basketball, young, energetic, and as humble as a starting QB in the NFL can be. Steve Smith has been rotting with one subpar QB after the other, to the point where it seemed like everyone forgot how good he really is while leading the league in receiving yards. But it all comes back to Cam, the W’s will come eventually, he’s ignited the Carolina fan base, and is the draw for other players to come, something that they’ve been missing for a long time.
Prediction: 4-12

The Niners are legit, first in rushing defence, led by LB Patrick Willis, and youngn’s Carlos Jones and Dashon Goldson in the backfield. Frank Gore has been spectacular and Alex Smith has found his groove in the realm of mediocrity. The craziest part of this turnaround, and it has beat to the ground already, is that it’s the same team as last year! With the exception of Coach Jim Harbaugh, he’s done an outstanding job and have them believing in the system. Just because it was such a big deal, but the post game handshake between coaches is terrible, it’s like fighting with your girlfriend for three hours, throwing shit across the room, waking up the neighbours, and then say, “I love you, babe” before leaving for the night to drink with the boys, just get rid of it.
Prediction: 13-3 I can’t believe they’re going to get a first week bye in the playoffs

Seattle Seahawks/Arizona Cardinals/St. Louis Rams:

I hate this division, never get around to talking about them, don’t like watching them, it stinks all around. The Rams had the most promise coming off seven wins last year and Sam Bradford’s rookie of the year award, but now have the most promise for Andrew Luck out of the three teams. Seattle signed Tavaris Jackson. Arizona signed Kevin Kolb. Nuff said