Curtis Sounds Off: Seattle Seahawks to Rule NFC in 2008

By Curtis Clontz

It is opening week around college campuses around the nation and that means one thing. The NFL is starting next week! This time around on Curtis Sounds Off I am going to give you my predictions for the NFL season to come.

This time around I am going to provide you with my NFC picks. You will agree with some of my picks and many you won’t (such as how high I am on Seattle and low on New Orleans). If you haven’t subscribed make sure you do so, I have some exciting additions coming up and you do not want to miss a post.

So no more chit chatting and dancing around it. Here are my preseason picks for the NFC. I am going to give you the top 2 teams in each division as well as my picks for the NFC title game and NFC Champ. I will also give you additional tidbits on awards along the way.

NFC East

The NFC East has the potential to be one of the closest divisions in football, behind Dallas that is. No surprise that I think Dallas has a shot to run away with this division and possibly make a run into the playoffs. That of course would mean that they find healthy wide receivers, Romo finally can carry the load into the playoffs (while not fumbling), avoid the off field drama with Jessica Simpson, and that T.O. can keep his mouth shut for another season. Not to mention the athlete formally known as Pacman who was known for making it rain in the strip club. This team reminds me of the old school Raiders who seemed to be a harvest ground of troubled players. They may have issues and drama but they should be able to put it all together on the field. Taking up second in this division will be the NY Super Bowl Giants. If Eli can continue his heroics of last season then this team with be 2nd at worst in this division, if not they could find themselves blaming the injury bug as the Redskins pass them up. As an upset alert for this division the eagles could soar and provide a Donovan of old to produce wins. They can upset any team in this division if they can put together consistent on field play and a healthy QB.

Top QB - Tony Romo
Top RB - Clinton Portis
Top WR - T.O.

NFC North

The NFC Farve-less North is also going to be a competitive one. However it will be competitive because at this point there is no clear cut winner, and no team without tons of questions. The team with the most upside but one huge question mark is the Packers.

They have a very young and talented team and if Aaron Rodgers is the QB they think he can be, they should be able to pull away in this division. If not they will find themselves in the mix with the Bears and Vikings. Speaking of questions, is it illegal to hand the ball off 100% of the time? Minnesota’s lack of a passing game could lead to their demise as teams will stick 8 or 9 in the box and prevent the Vikings to run on them (google run blitz).

I see Adrian Peterson suffering some sort of lingering injury that will hurt his production for the season (why I wouldn’t have taken him with #1 fantasy football pick). Speaking of no passing game… Da Bears are still searching for one. Their D is aging and Devin Hester seems to be their best offensive weapon. Scary for a team that is hoping for success. I have Green Bay coming out on top with the Bears a short second. The Lions will hang out in the cellar yet again.

Top QB - Aaron Rodgers (tell me a system can’t do wonders for a young QB, i.e. Big Ben)
Top RB - Adrian Peterson (when healthy), Ryan Grant (when AP gets that injury)
Top WR - Roy Williams

NFC South

Congratulations, you are officially the worst division in all of football. Yea, I said it. In this division the New Orleans Saints will run away from the rest of this weak league. Although I am predicting them to win out of this division, I am very down on this team.

They are one Drew Brees injury away from disaster. Reggie Bush will yet again prove that he is a better slot receiver than a RB, Deuce will show that he isn’t as healthy as people think (and no one is claiming he is healthy), and Brees will only be able to throw to his shiny new tight end so many times. Speaking of TE, he sure was important for the Giants in last season’s playoffs… Oh wait… he was on the bench.

Even with all of these problems they will still be the best team in this league. The city is still fragile from Katrina and need this team to shine. Second in this division will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have a very good offensive line and should have a great year behind RB Earnest Graham. He will catch balls out of the back field as well as put up solid running numbers.

Joey Galloway is an underrated WR (call it age, 36) but he will get looks in the highly efficient passing game behind Jeff Garcia. They could steal this division with ease from the Saints. As for the Falcons, Matt Ryan may be the future but the shadow of Michael Vick will still be highly evident throughout the season.

Top QB - Drew Brees
Top RB - Earnest Graham
Top WR - Reggie Bush (if in the slot), Steve Smith post suspension

NFC West

The NFC’s western division has two solid teams but I only see 1 making a run into the post season. The top team in this division will be the Seattle Seahawks. Sure, they seem to be getting old, but the injury bug is hitting early and will allow them to be healthy and in top form in mid season.

Hasselbeck is underrated in terms of reading defenses prior to the snap. Julius Jones was cut from Big D for a reason, don’t look for him to put up great stats this year, and don’t be surprised is Maurice Morris takes his job before season’s end, or makes this team run a 2 back system full time. If the receivers step up the O could be a top 5. The D is already a top 5 NFC and possibly NFL. The D will carry this team.

Fantasy Football monster Steven Jackson has his contract and will look to prove that he is worth all of that money. Last season the Rams were bombarded with injuries and struggled to recover, this season the Rams O line is average at best and Bulger could be running for his life all year. Jackson could be the savior for this team. They will be improved but will be watching the playoffs with us in front of the T.V. The 49ers finally benched poster boy Alex Smith and that is a move in the right direction. Smith may be Mr. Right, he just isn’t Mr. Right Now.

Top QB - Matt Hasselbeck
Top RB - Steven Jackson
Top WR - Anquan Boldin (trust me! Will reap the benefit of Fitzgerald double teams)

The NFC has been over shadowed by the AFC’s Patriots and Colts for many years now. New school Cowboy’s fans can’t even remember the last time they won a playoff game. However this year could be different.

Dallas is possibly the most complete team in the NFL and that will lead them to have a great year and solid playoff run. I am high on the Seattle Seahawks. They will start off slow but will never go away and I see them making a run late (see NY Giants). Remember this… it isn’t always the best team that wins, it is who is playing best at the right time…

NFC Playoff - Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
NCF Champ - Seattle Seahawks

Later on in the week I will give you my AFC picks as well as the results of my fantasy football draft, and trust me I have some outrageous picks for ya!