Who will be the best team in the NFC next year?

[BlueNGold]

The Packers.

They have the best QB in the league, they nearly went undefeated last season (this after coming off a Super Bowl win and a lockout), and now with the added motivation of losing to the Giants in the playoffs, I think they'll dominate. I don't think they lost any key players in the off-season either.

[kingkilla56]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

The Packers. They have the best QB in the league, they nearly went undefeated last season (this after coming off a Super Bowl win and a lockout), and now with the added motivation of losing to the Giants in the playoffs, I think they'll dominate. I don't think they lost any key players in the off-season either.

If they run into a decent defense, they may actually have a tough game. But when they score 30 points by half, very few can keep up, even with their horrid defense. Good thing for them there arent many defenses that give them trouble.

[Beantown]

Quote: Originally Posted by CHooe

I beg to differ. He can not lose games and he can be a game manager.

Sounds like Trent Dilfer to me, no? A QB that doesn't lose games can win a SB with a damn good defense and a good running game.

[CM Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by Beantown

Sounds like Trent Dilfer to me, no? A QB that doesn't lose games can win a SB with a damn good defense and a good running game.

There's merit to this, but the league is far more passing oriented than it was even ten years ago.

If you don't have a quarterback who can will his team to wins and make those around him on offense play better, it's hard for me to call that team a favorite in today's NFL.

[cjonesfan921]

Unfortunately, Eagles.

Although, as proven, any thing can and will happen.

What I see the East ending like:

Eagles
Cowboys
Giants
Redskins

What will end up happening:

Giants
Eagles
Redskins
Cowboys

LOL.

EDIT: And, yes, I only gave the NFC East, because, well, it is the only division that matters in the NFC.

[Rancid Radio]

Quote: Originally Posted by CHooe

I beg to differ. He can not lose games and he can be a game manager. The only game I've ever see him make winning plays in is the New Orleans game last year. He's not in the same class of guys as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Matt Schaub, or even Cam Newton. All of these guys are capable of willing their teams to victories, some of them more proven than others, some of them more often than others, but all have done it on many occasions. There's a reason San Francisco tried to move on from Alex Smith, even having made the NFC title game this past year.

Alex Smith made big plays when it mattered all of last year. I'm not putting him in a class with the guys you mentioned (except Newton and Schaub, who don't belong either) but he's a capable starting QB. They tried to move on from him because Peyton Manning was the alternative and there is maybe 4-5 teams in the league that wouldn't jump at the opportunity to have him on their team.

It's still hard to judge him though. Last year his only offensive weapons were Vernon Davis and Frank Gore and maybe Michael Crabtree when he was on, there's no excuses this year.. that offense is loaded. I still don't expect him to put up the crazy numbers most guys around the league are, but I think everyone is expecting him to do more than 17 TD's with the weapons he's been given this off-season. We'll see though, I'm definitely a bit biased here because I've been a fan of his since he was at Utah so I'm hoping he does well.

[Chrisksaint]

I wouldn't say the 49ers offense is loaded by any means, improved yes but outside of Davis and Gore it's just a lot of unproven talent.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chrisksaint

I wouldn't say the 49ers offense is loaded by any means, improved yes but outside of Davis and Gore it's just a lot of unproven talent.

I worry about Gore's durability as well. How much tread does he have left on the tires? He's never been super durable to begin with (Just two seasons with 16 games played) and he now has almost 1700 rushes. Age 29 and 2000 rushes is about the point where RB's start to show their age imo.

Statistically he splits show he wore down last year.

First 8 games, 782 yards, 4.9 ypc, 5 td
Last 8 games, 429 yards, 3.5 ypc, 3 td