So, I didn't quite get to do my NFC Preview, and now, although I think it may be a day late and a dollar short, I'm still going to give my quick NFC projections for the division winners and Wild Cards before my Week 1 observations...
NFC North: Packers 13-3... The Real Deal
NFC East: Eagles 11-5... Not a "Dream Team" but good enough to win the division
NFC South: Saints 12-4... Not going away yet
NFC West: Cardinals 9-7... Finally have a QB, and in a horrendous divison that is the difference.
Wild Cards:
Falcons 11-5... Matty Ice and company are here to stay, but have to contend with Saints
Bears 10-6... Not quite sure why everyone automatically expected them to fall off this year
Step-Up Team: Lions 9-7... One Year away, although Stafford looks good
Step Back Team: Bucs 7-9... Raheem Morris' group still plays in a tough division and didn't do enough in the offseason with all that cash
NFC Championship: Packers over Saints
Super Bowl: Packers over Patriots... First back to back since the 03-04 and 04-05 Pats (ironically)
... Now onto Week 1's 5 Things I learned, in ascending order of importance:
1. The Packers are Still the Champs
In a matchup between the last 2 Super Bowl champs, the Packers came out swinging behind a rowdy crowd at Lambeau, piling up 21 points and 202 yards of total offense in the first quarter against the Saints. The Saints nearly came back but the Pack buckled down on the last play with no time remaining to preserve the victory. Aaron Rodgers and company sent a message to the rest of the league that there is no Super Bowl hangover in Green Bay and that the road to the Super Bowl still must go through the Green and Yellow.
2. The Lions are for real
I was already drinking the Lions Kool-Aid in the offseason when I bought my Ndamukong Suh jersey, and they didn't disappoint in Week 1 against a Bucs team that went 10-6 last year, albeit missing the playoffs. The arial attack was out and about as Matt Stafford threw for 305 yards and 3 TDs, 2 to star receiver Calvin Johnson. If Stafford can stay healthy, the Lions may very well contend for a playoff spot with a much improved defense.
3. Shanahan loves Hightower
When Mike Shanahan traded for Tim Hightower back in late July, he was expected to contend for carries with Ryan Torain. But after a solid preseason in which he averaged 6.8 yards a carry (and against the Ravens and Steelers' first teams for 2 of the games), Hightower was namesd the starter for Week 1. And the starter he was. Hightower carried the rock 25 of the 26 attempts for the Redskins, the lone other going to rookie Roy Helu. Hightower was able to find the end zone in Week 1, and it also seems he found a way into Mike Shanahan's heart as well.
4. The Texans will run away with the AFC South
After Week 1's drubbing of the Peyton Manning-less Colts, and the lackluster play from both the Titans and Jags against each other, the Texans should skate to a division title. Clearly the Clots won't be giving them problems, so it's just a matter of getting by the non-divisional games and taking care of business against the Jags and Titans, which they should. Watch out for this team with raised confidence.
5. Peyton Manning Really Does Matter That Much
Wow. To say the display by the Colts in Week 1 was bad is the epitome of an understatement. And with no return in sight for Manning, the Colts are done. DONE. Kerry Collins looked like a man in his forties and was absolutely lost. He ran for his dear life, his brittle bones somehow made it through. I think this will be a common trend or this year, and with Colts' GM Bill Polian already talking of looking for a successor for Manning now, it may not be a bad idea to just let it go, tank it, and get Andrew Luck. I mean, look at Aaron Rodgers...
-TA
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