Wow this week was full of a number of shocking games and brutal losses against the spread (and hopefully no one bet on too many of my predictions this week as no one saw this coming!)

Ravens over the Steelers: While Pittsburgh played well enough to win, they ended up beating themselves in the end. Between missed field goals and stupid penalties, Pittsburgh continued to shoot themselves in the foot. How you have three penalties on your last offensive series, while you are trying to put the game away is beyond me. The Steelers have the return of Ben Roethlisberger this week (they have a bye, so he won’t play until the following week) so I think they will be quite alright, but it was still a rough loss to Steelers fans.

Atlanta Beating the 49ers on a last second FG: The Falcons were coming off a win against the Saints and were once again at home, but they were a completely different team yesterday. Atlanta was sloppy all game (and the 49ers weren’t that much better) and needed a last second 43 yard field goal to beat San Francisco. Although the shock of the season might be the 49ers 0-4 start, the Falcons barely squeaking by shows some weaknesses on that team. The Falcons should still be a solid playoff contender, but that offense was not clicking on all cylinders yesterday against a team that can’t seem to get out of their own way. Atlanta will need to tighten up if they are to contend with the best teams in the NFC.

Saints squeaking by the Panthers: New Orleans was favored by two touchdowns, but needed a FG late in the 4th quarter to get past the hapless Panthers. Carolina played well enough to win this game against the Super Bowl Champs (in New Orleans no less). Rookie Jimmy Clausen showed some promise and their running game did well against the Saints defense. New Orleans is still 3-1, but they haven’t dominated anyone the way they did last year, and have some major questions going forward. I will say it is probably a good thing they changed placekickers as John Carney’s leg was needed three times.

Redskins Upset Philly, In McNabb’s Return (and Vick’s exit): Washington scored 17 points on their first three drives, and it is a good thing they did since those were the only points they had. While Washington’s offense struck early, this ended up being a defensive game as the Redskins held the Eagles to just 12 points. Philly lost starting quarterback Michael Vick to a rib injury at the end of the 1st quarter, but Kolb came in and played a solid game. Some bad coaching calls help lead to Philly’s demise (the whole 4th and 1 thing at the end of the first half was ridiculous). The Redskins won the game based on their rushing attack and defense, but the win still propelled them to 2-2 and atop the NFC East.

Colts Lose Their Second Divisional Game on a last second FG: Indianapolis has at times appeared dominate this season (weeks 2 and 3 and the last 5 minutes of week 1) but at other times has looked pretty ordinary. While Peyton put up another 350 yards and two touchdowns, their rushing attack failed to average any better than 3.1 yards per carry. While the Colts defense didn’t give up major yards like they did in Week one, they still gave up some big plays that put them in a hole. Overall I wouldn’t be too worried about the Colts as they are still a playoff team, but this loss could really hurt their chances for the division.

Last night the New Orleans Saints easily got by their top division rival, the Atlanta Falcons, 35-24. The Saints improve to 7-0, and with the Falcons falling to 4-3, have a commanding lead in the NFC South division race. The Saints right now seem unstoppable, Drew Brees is playing his best football right now, and is just making it look easy out there on the field. Their defense is great in only one area, but they are in a big way: turnovers. The Saints lead the league in interceptions, led by safety Darren Sharper who now has seven (including three returned for touchdowns). The Saints used both their high powered passing attack and their ball hawking defense to take down the Falcons last night.

Brees threw for another 300 yards and two touchdowns last night, which helped allow the running attack to rush for over 160 yards, and two touchdowns of their own. What was really impressive with Brees was his efficiency 25 of 33, which was great compared to Matt Ryan who was under 50% at 19 of 42. Brees does a great job of getting the most out of his weapons on offense. Brees doesn’t have any Reggie Wayne’s or Larry Fitzgerald’s to throw the ball too, as the Saints lack that elite number 1 wideout. As a group though, the Saints skill players can match up with anyone’s in the league. New Orleans has a good mix of receivers that balance each other out, they have big receivers, quick receivers, and flat out burners. They, combined with a solid group of running backs and tight ends give Brees all the weapons he needs to execute the Saints offense to perfection.

Last night the Saints got another interception return for a touchdown (not Sharper this time), their fifth of the season. They also have one fumble return for a score as well, giving their defense more points than some offense’s had in the month of October. Even when they aren’t returning a turnover for a score, they are always in position to take the ball away. Their defensive backs gave Ryan fits last night, which led to a QB rating in the 40′s. The Saints make any quarterback they face look completely confused and very mediocre. And given the Saints high powered offense, you are going to have to put the ball in the air if you want to compete with them.

Right now the Saints are playing the best football in the NFC and have a very easy schedule coming up. Between this defense, and Brees on offense they are looking to be the top seed in the NFC come January, and very well could be making a trip to Miami in February.

Eagles at Panthers: This is a battle of two of the best teams from the NFC last year, and two teams with Super Bowl aspirations this season. The Eagles bring in the baggage of the Michael Vick signing (even though he won’t be there) and their host of offensive weapons. The Panthers are looking to overcome the embarrassment of their playoff loss at home to the Cardinals that ended their season prematurely. Philadelphia still has a potent offense, that should only get better with the rookie additions of RB LeSean McCoy and WR Jeremy Maclin. The Eagles may be the favorite team in Vegas right now, but I wouldn’t count the Panthers out of this game just yet. They have a better rushing attack, and Steve Smith always finds a way to make plays no matter who is covering him. The Eagles offensive line could struggle against the Panthers defense led by DE Julius Peppers. If the Panthers can control the line of scrimmage and get an early lead, their running game should be good enough to win the day. Since this isn’t college football one loss isn’t going to kill the loser’s postseason hopes, but this game could comeback to haunt them at the end of the season. Panthers sqeak by at home 24-21.

Dolphins at Falcons: This is the only other match up of two 2008 playoff teams in the opening week, and the only one between the two conferences. Both of these teams shocked the NFL by their turnarounds from 2007 to 2008. Many people think the Dolphins are going to come crashing down to earth this season, and that they have no shot on the road in Atlanta. While its true they have a tough opening match up with the Falcons, I wouldn’t diminish their playoff hopes just yet. Miami’s defense got a lot stronger in the off season with a strong draft and some free agent signings. I would expect them to give Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons all they can handle. On offense the Dolphins have a great running back in Ronnie Brown and a strong offensive line. It might seem like their passing game is weak, but I think its very underrated. No you shouldn’t mistake QB Chad Pennington for Peyton Manning, but he does win football games. Now this is not to say I think Miami is going to runaway with this game. I think this could be the game of the week, because Atlanta is an extremely good football team. RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White and Ryan give the Falcons a dynamic trio of stars. Adding Tony Gonzalez to the mix only makes the Falcons offense that much better. The area of concern for Atlanta is their offensive line, and can they hold up against the Dolphins pass rushers. On defense the Falcons have an improving unit that has playoff talent. But they are counting on a number of young players including rookies, that might not be ready for a tough week one match up. In the end I think Miami steals one on the road in week one 24-21.

Redskins at Giants: The battle for the East begins in Week one with two sensational defense’s battling it out. The Redskins added some top talent to their defense this off season and they will get an early test with the Giants offense. DT Albert Haynesworth was brought in to stop the inside running game, and put more pressure on the quarterback, the two biggest weaknesses of the Skins 2008 unit. In a way he was brought in specifically to stop RB Brandon Jacobs running all over the Skins like he did last year. On offense Washington made some minor improvements to the offensive line, but are mainly hoping the unit improves with experience. They are counting on their second year receivers to start making an impact on offense, otherwise it will be the Moss-Cooley-Portis show that has been there in the past. QB Jason Campbell needs to make some plays if Washington has any hope on the road. The Giants feature a tenacious offensive line that opens up plenty of holes for the ground game, and keeps Eli Manning on his feet. The receivers are pretty raw, but have immense potential. Hakeem Nicks needs to be accounted for on every play. He has game breaking ability, even for a rookie. The Giants have one of the few defensive units that have the talent equal to or better than the Redskins defense. New York’s defensive line is talented and extremely deep. They will generate a lot of pressure on their own without additional blitzers. Their linebackers are their weakest component, but that’s only because they are just above-average and not great like the rest of the defense. I think the home field advantage and better quarterback play give the Giants the victory here, 23-17.

NFC East:

1. New York Giants

2. Philadelphia Eagles*

3. Washington Redskins

4. Dallas Cowboys

This could be the league’s toughest division (though the AFC and NFC Souths will have something to say about that), as all four teams are capable of challenging for a playoff spot. Right now the boys in blue seem to be the favorite to win the East. The Giants have one of the toughest defenses in the league led by their dominant front four. They have some questions at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, but they have some young players that might just answer those questions. On offense the Giants have one of the best offensive lines and the league’s best running game. I’d also expect rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to step up early, and become a favorite target of Eli Manning. The Eagles still have one of the leagues better defenses, though they are not as elite as they once were. Donovan McNabb remains one of the best best quarterbacks in the league, and as long as he is behind center the Eagles remain a threat in the East. The Redskins added to a top 5 defense, by spending $100 million dollars on Albert Haynesworth and using their 1st round pick on Brian Orakpo. Washington’s front seven could be the best in the league, and good enough to force the Skins into the playoff picture. On offense Washington has a number of play makers, but questions along the offensive line and at quarterback hold this team back. The Dallas Cowboys could be opening the NFL’s newest and biggest (not to mention most expensive) stadium with a dud. On offense the Cowboys have three talented running backs and tight end Jason Witten, but unless they are going to run the Wishbone or T formation, Dallas could be in trouble. The Cowboys’ lack of a receiving corps is a major problem going into the season. On defense the Cowboys aren’t nearly as good as their NFC East counterparts, and that will likely earn them a spot in the cellar of the division.

NFC North:

1. Chicago Bears

2. Minnesota Vikings

3. Green Bay Packers

4. Detroit Lions

The NFC North is going back in time about 10 years, when the Lions, Packers, and Vikings all had high powered passing attacks (and the division was known as the NFC Central). Now even the Bears (oh my) are getting into the act, with the addition of strong-armed quarterback Jay Cutler. Chicago could use another receiver or two, but they have the talent on offense to do some damage in the NFC. The Bears defense is dominate like always, and should be enough to overcome the other talented teams in the North. The Vikings added their own gunslinger in Brett Favre this off season. Favre, along with new receiver Percy Harvin, should help balance out the Vikings offense led by stud running back Adrian Peterson. Minnesota features a stingy defense, especially against the run. The Packers defense should be improved this year, but this team will live and die by Aaron Rodgers throwing arm. Green Bay will need some improvements at running back and on the offensive line to really compete for a playoff spot. The good news for Detroit is they can only improve from their 0-16 record last season. While they made some solid moves this off season, I don’t think it will be enough to get them out of the basement in the North. Lions fans can look forward to rookie quarterback Matt Stafford playing pitch and catch with uber receiver Calvin Johnson, as something fun to watch.

NFC South:

1. Atlanta Falcons

2. Carolina Panthers*

3. New Orleans Saints

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The South is another tough division, but with Matt Ryan having a year of experience the Atlanta Falcons are the team to beat. Atlanta’s defense should be vastly improved, bolstered by a strong defensive draft. The Panthers rely on their ferocious defense to get turnovers and shorten the field, but they aren’t slouches on offense as well. Carolina has a great ground game, to go along with the NFL’s most explosive wideout, Steve Smith. If Jake Delhomme can shake off his implosion in the playoffs last season, the Panthers should be looking for some redemption come January. The Saints have one of the most prolific passing attacks with QB Drew Brees and a stable of quality receivers. Unfortunately until they add a number one tail back or a Top-10 defense they won’t vault ahead of the Falcons and Panthers in the standings. The Buccaneers should be better on offense this year, with additions like Leftwich, Winslow and Ward. I don’t think they are good enough to compete for the division (or the wild card) until they have either a feature back or a top quarterback. On defense Tampa Bay had a lot of turnover, but not for the good. Their defense lacks play makers that made the Buccaneers so fearsome in the past.

NFC West:

1. Arizona Cardinals

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. St. Louis Rams

Arizona is hoping that QB Kurt Warner has at least one more year left in the tank, as they hope to forego the runner-up curse that has plagued Super Bowl losers for years. Warner will have plenty of weapons to work with, including three 1,000 yard receivers. The Cardinals running game should improve with rookie “Beanie” Wells getting the majority of carries. Even without rookie WR Michael Crabtree who is still holding out, the 49ers are a team on the rise. They still have questions at quarterback, but other offensive weapons are emerging to go along with RB Frank Gore. Head Coach Mike Singletary brings a lot of fire to his team, that will be best displayed by his new improved defense. Seattle improved their receiving corps this off season, but questions remain at running back and along the offensive line. Also can QB Matt Hasselbeck rebound from 2008 and stay healthy is a question that needs answering. Their defense is improved this year, but big holes remain in their secondary that opponents will be able to exploit. The Rams are another team that is on the rise, but just doesn’t have the talent to compete this year. A strong draft class and some solid free agent signings should improve the Rams on both sides of the ball. While the team is improving, its hard to peg the Rams for more than 5 wins this season.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Adrian Peterson. Peterson is the best player in the NFL right now. He is the perfect combination of size and speed that can take any play the distance. Runners up: WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Smith, RB Matt Forte

Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware. Ware gets after the quarterback as well as anyone who has ever played the game. What’s even more impressive is his level of production considering a weaker supporting cast than most other top defensive players. Runners up: DT Albert Haynesworth, DE Julius Peppers, LB Patrick Willis

Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Chris “Beanie” Wells. No other rookie could have a bigger impact than if Wells can provide a ground threat to go along with Arizona’s aerial assault. Wells should have plenty of running room to rush for over 1,200 yards, since safeties will be forced to play off the line against the Cardinals. Runners up: WR Hakeem Nicks, RB LeSean McCoy, OT Jason Smith, WR Percy Harvin

Defensive Rookie of the Year: LB/DE Brian Orakpo. Orakpo will give the Redskins what they have lacked the last couple of years, a dominate pass rusher. He should have plenty of room to work with, since Haynesworth will clog up the middle. Orakpo has the talent to be among the leagues elite pass rushers, and he should show that from day one. Runners up: DT Peria Jerry, LB Clay Matthews, LB James Laurinaitis.