Team to Team Pre-preseason NFC Predictions for the ’06 Season
NFC South
Carolina Panthers – Rookie running back Deangelo Williams will have more carries than DeShaun Foster for more yards. Steve Smith and Keyshaun Johnson will each record at least 80 catches. The Panthers will be picked by most to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but will not be playing on the final Sunday of the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The signing of David Boston will have no impact on the 2006 season, and neither will any of the Buccaneers draft picks. Newly acquired Jerald Sowell will play more snaps at fullback than Mike Alstott, who will retire at the end of the season. Michael Clayton will have 90 catches, Joey Galloway 60.
New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees will start the opener against Cleveland and complete 18 of 27 passes for 212 yards and 1 TD. Will Smith will finish tied for the conference lead in sacks with 13.5. Deuce McAllister will finish the season with 257 carries, Reggie Bush with 123 carries. Donte Stallworth will lead the team in receiving with 78 catches for 1,136 yards. Fred McAfee will retire at the end of the season.
Atlanta Falcons – Michael Vick will continue to struggle in the West Coast offense, revert back to running the ball more and suffer a season ending injury in week six against the Giants. John Abraham will finished tied for the conference lead in sacks with 13.5. No Falcon wide receiver will have 50 catches or 1,000 yards, but Alge Crumpler will catch 80 balls for over 1,000 yards. Jim Mora Jr. will be fired at the end of the season and Ron Rivera will be named the new head coach.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys – TO will remain quiet, catch 83 balls for 1,400 yards (16 TD’s), and get serious consideration for league MVP. Rookie linebacker Bobby Carpenter will lead the team in tackles, Demarcus Ware will lead in sacks. The Cowboys will be representing the NFC on the final Sunday of the season in Miami. Bill Parcells will retire at the end of the season and Jim Fassel will be named the new head coach.
Philadelphia Eagles – Reggie Brown will record 80 catches for 1,200 yards and 9 TD’s. Darren Howard and Jevon Kearse will each have 11 sacks. Donovan McNabb will bounce back nicely from last season and throw for 3,500 yards, 26 TD’s and only 8 interceptions. Jeremy Bloom will return a punt for a touchdown.
Washington Redskins – Jason Campbell will be the starting quarterback at some point in the 2006 season, but because Marc Brunell is under performing. Santana Moss will record 74 catches, Antwaan Randle El 47. Head coach Joe Gibbs will retire following the season and Greg Williams will be named head coach.
New York Giants – First round pick Mathius Kiwanuka will finish his rookie season with 1.5 sacks. LaVar Arrinton will record at least 17 tackles in each game against the Redskins. Tiki Barber’s production will fall off slightly, but he will still lead the NFC in yards from scrimmage. Michael Strahan will retire at the end of the season.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings – Chester Taylor will carry the ball 228 times for 958 yards. Marcus Robinson will lead the Vikings in receiving touchdowns, Travis Taylor will lead in yards. Chad Greenway will finish third on the team in tackles behind Antoine Winfield and Napolean Harris. Koren Robinson will again be in the Pro Bowl as a return specialist.
Detroit Lions – Jon Kitna will finally bring the consistency at quarterback needed for the two of the three former first round pick receivers to reach their potential. Kevin Jones will carry the ball 220 times, Brian Calhoun 75. Ernie Sims and Daniel Bullocks will start in their rookie year and finish third and second respectively in tackles on the team. The Lions will release Charles Rogers following the season.
Green Bay Packers – Donald Driver will lead the NFC in receptions and receiving yards. Ahman Green will finally play a full sixteen game season, as will Charles Woodson. AJ Hawk will lead all rookies in tackles. The Packers will win their final five games (Jets, 49ers, Lions, Vikings, Bears) resulting in Bret Favre coming back for another season in 2007.
Chicago Bears – Rex Grossman will finally be healthy for a full season, but will be benched for Brian Griese at some point. Devin Hester will return two punts for a touchdown, but fail to record a tackle on defense. Thomas Jones will have more rush attempts and yards than Cedric Benson. Lovie Smith will be officially on the seat following the ’06 season.
NFC West
St. Louis Rams – Torry Holt will have another season of at least 80 catches and 1,300 yards (it will be his seventh in a row). Marc Bulger will actually remain healthy for the entire season and lead the conference in passing yards. The Rams defense, now led by Corey Chavous, La’Roi Glover, Will Witherspoon, Dexter Coakley, and new defensive coordinator Jim Hasslet will be league’s most improved unit (top ten).
Arizona Cardinals – Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will each have 100 catches and 1,400 yards for the second consecutive season. Edgerrin James will lead the NFC in rushing yards. Matt Leinart will start at least three games for Arizona in his rookie season. Dennis Green will remain as head coach following the season.
Seattle Seahawks – Shaun Alexander will fall prey to the Madden jinx and suffer a season ending injury in week 4. Maurice Morris will pick up the slack and have a 1,000 yard season. Nate Burleson will be the team’s leading receiver. The Hawks will suffer the same fate as the previous Super Bowl losers and miss the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers – Manny Lawson will lead all rookies in the NFC in sacks. Alex Smith will finally throw for two touchdowns in a game in week five of the season against Oakland, but will fail to do so again. Tight end Eric Johnson will have more receptions than rookie Vernon Davis. Frank Gore will take over as the full-time back and rush for 1,000 yards. The 49ers will not finish with the worst record in the league.
Tomorrow my AFC fearless predictions�
