West
Seattle Seahawks
2007 record: 10-6, lost to Green Bay in playoffs
Will Mike Holmgren go out in style? Depends on what you mean by the term. He can’t help but win the league’s worst division, but making something happen in the playoffs is another matter altogether. Hawks averaged 3.8 YPC, then said adios to Shaun Alexander. Will Julius Jones make a difference? Lofa Tatupu will. He’s the leader of league’s best LB corps.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 10-6
Arizona Cardinals
2007 record: 8-8
Did you know? Kurt Warner, above, had more TD passes in the second half of 2007 than any other quarterback in the bid’ness, including Gisele Bundchen’s boy toy. Prediction: Cardinals’ defense will be improved. How much improved? Ladies and gentlemen, we give you a playoff team. Or maybe you didn’t notice that the Cards scored 30-plus points six times last year.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 10-6
St. Louis Rams
2007 record: 3-13
Quick, name the Rams’ starting TB during Steven Jackson’s holdout. Hey, don’t sweat it. We couldn’t have picked him out of the cast of “Friends” either. Bold prediction du jour: The Rams don’t lose their first eight by an average of 15 points, as they did last year. But they aren’t making the playoffs, either. Happy trails, Scott Linehan.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 5-11
San Francisco 49ers
2007 record: 5-11
Jerry Rice was the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. Trouble is, he’s still better than any wideout on Niners’ roster. Factoid, courtesy of Stats, Inc.: S.F. WRs accounted for 1,369 receiving yards in 2007, fewer than four individual NFL receivers. Now comes Oh-coordinator Mike Martz, who never met a pass he didn’t like. It’s pretty simple, really. If Martz can put together the pieces, maybe Mike Nolan keeps his gig. Four words: Don’t count on it.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 5-11
East
Dallas Cowboys
2007 record: 13-3, lost to New York Giants in playoffs
Our first thought about the 2008 Cowboys? Man, that Jessica Simpson has big teeth. As for her boyfriend, we’d like to take this opportunity to officially ordain him the best QB in the conference. Tony Romo in 26 career starts: 55 TD passes. Peyton Manning in his first 26 starts: 46 TD passes. Given the injury issues facing Manning and Tom Brady, we’ll take the ‘Boys to win the Super Bowl.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 12-4
Philadelphia Eagles
2007 record: 8-8
NFL’s most underrated player? Make ours Brian Westbrook. Their WRs aren’t much, but with Westbrook around, Eagles will be all right. Dude gets plenty of touches, but he fumbled once in 2007. Philly defense accounted for 11 INTs last season, tied for last in the league. New CB Asante Samuel had 16 from 2006-07, three more than any other player in the league. As bad as last season was, Eagles allowed 300 points, fewest in the division.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 10-6
Washington Redskins
2007 record: 9-7, lost to Seattle in playoffs
Just when you thought Pats losing the Super Bowl was the biggest upset in the league, the ‘Skins hire Jim Zorn as their head coach. Maybe he’ll get the job done, but you have to wonder. And while we’re asking questions, is Jason Campbell ever going to arrive as anything more than a mediocre QB? He threw 12 TD passes, 11 INTs last season, when ‘Skins didn’t have a WR with more than three TD catches.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 8-8
New York Giants
2007 record: 10-6, beat New England in Super Bowl XLII
Last place? For the Super Bowl champs? Hey, we’re just going by history. The previous two times the G-Men won the Big Game, they finished 6-9 in the strike-shortened 1987 season and 8-8 in 1991. A year later, they still have to prove they’re a great team, as opposed to a good one that went on a great streak. Any way you slice it, they won’t go to the playoffs again if they finish minus-9 in turnovers again.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 7-9
North
Minnesota Vikings
2007 record: 8-8
QB Tarvaris Jackson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, says he will be ready when the Vikings open the season at Green Bay. If so, this team should be very good. The Vikes were 8-4 in Jackson’s 12 starts last season, when they had the rare distinction of leading the league in rushing defense and offense. Adrian Peterson, superstar. Get used to it.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 11-5
Green Bay Packers
2007 record: 13-3, lost to New York Giants in NFC championship game
Despite his best efforts, the post-Brett Favre era begins in Green Bay. Talk about pressure. Add up all the circumstances and no young QB ever has had to face the kind of heat Aaron Rodgers will this season. Pack’s roster is solid from top to bottom, but the prediction here is they’ll miss Favre more than they think. Better win that opener vs. Vikes, boys.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 9-7
Chicago Bears
2007 record: 7-9
Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman? Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton? In the end, Orton, above, got the gig. Question is, does it really matter? Bears’ offense is going to struggle again, just as it did in 2007, when Chicago scored fewest points in the division. That was no easy task given Devin Hester’s six kick-return TDs. What happens if he “only” has three or four?
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 7-9
Detroit Lions
2007 record: 7-9
Lions tried to throw the ball all over the yard last year, attempting 587 passes vs. 324 runs. And what did it get them? With no ball-control element in their offense, they allowed a league-worst 444 points. We’ll give you Calvin Johnson emerging as a star, but it’s hard to envision Detroit doing much. Well, other than giving GM Matt Millen another contract extension.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 5-11
South
Carolina Panthers
2007 record: 7-9
Panthers coming off an amazing 7-9 season. How’s that? They won seven games despite an injury epidemic that would have sent most teams to 5-11 or 4-12. They plan on playing ball control this year with TB tandem of DeAngelo Williams, above, and rookie Jonathan Stewart. Williams had a 60-yard TD run, Stewart a 50-yarder, in third preseason game.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 10-6
New Orleans Saints
2007 record: 7-9
Saints allowed 388 points last year, 118 more than Tampa Bay, but we’re going with them. N’Awlins was a tale of two teams, losing its first four, winning seven of its last 12. How do you like these splits? Drew Brees in those first four: one TD pass, nine INTs. Brees in the next 12: 27 TD passes, nine INTs. Jeremy Shockey has to be a factor. He was a rookie in N.Y. when Saints coach Sean Payton ran Giants’ offense.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2007 record: 9-7, lost to New York Giants in playoffs
Their offense is a work in progress, as in not very good, but you have to like their defense. Bucs allowed 270 points last year, fewest in the NFC. They also forced 35 turnovers, tied for the most in the conference. Question is, can they protect the ball like they did last year, when their 20 turnovers were 14 fewer than the Giants, who won the Super Bowl?
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 8-8
Atlanta Falcons
2007 record: 4-12
A rookie QB starting for a 4-12 team. In other words, Dirty Birds will be lucky to win another four games. Don’t ask how, but Falcons were plus-four in turnovers, tied with the Packers and one notch below the Cowboys. What happens when Matt Ryan starts making rookie mistakes? At least the animal-rights activists won’t be picketing the stadium this year.
Jim Armstrong’s prediction: 2-14
