The day is finally here…Super Bowl Sunday!  As sports fans, its the single most exciting annual sporting event!  Its become more than just the game…its the pregame, the analysis, the halftime show, the commercials and the celebration of a great year in football.

But in the end only one team will be crowned World Champs!  So who do you think it will be…Giants or Patriots?  I’m predicting Giants 24-17.

So give your Super Bowl XLVI stream of thoughts here!  Give us your predictions, thoughts on the game, commercials and everything in between!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!

For Fanspeak’s FULL Super Bowl 46 Coverage including Trivia, Blogs, Super Bowl Facts, Prop Bets & MORE, visit our Super Bowl XLVI Page!  

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Edsall Leaves UConn For Maryland: Although Maryland had been hunting around a number of big names, Randy Edsall would have to be in the dark horse category. Edsall has gained a lot of coaching hype these past few years as he has developed Connecticut into a quality program in the Big East, including sharing two conference Titles in 2007 and this past season. The move to Maryland is a bit surprising because at best it is a lateral move, and not the big move you’d expect for Edsall to be leaving. The Terps for their part are showing they plan on being successful in the ACC and on the recruiting trail. For Edsall to be successful he will need to ensure that he is locking up the top talents in the state of Maryland instead of letting them go to bigger schools as they have in the past. I think Edsall is a good hire for MD, and if the school is serious about it, he is the perfect coach to reshape that program.

The Vikings and Cowboys Look To Retain Their Interim Coaches: While the Cowboys keeping Jason Garrett isn’t 100% official, I think it is pretty safe to put him down as the head coach next season. With Garrett and Leslie Frazier retaining their current jobs, it makes to less coaching gigs on the open market, but in reality it shouldn’t be a surprise. Both Garrett and Frazier preformed pretty well after taking over as the head coach, and previously had been top head coaching prospects. I think these were very wise signings by the Cowboys and Vikings if they didn’t think they would be able to land Bill Cowher. Now I know there are a number of other former head coaches on the market, but I’m not sure if any of them will be that much better than Garrett or Frazier. And while you could have spent what it took to land a top assistant, it would have been a brand new guy who would be looking to totally revamp the team. In the case of both the Cowboys and Vikings the are quality teams with playoff caliber talent, who fell because of a combination of bad coaching and key injuries. Both teams are only missing a few pieces from being contenders again. The Cowboys need a new offensive line and help in the secondary, while the Vikings need a new quarterback and an offensive lineman or two. To bring in a new head coach could have set them back farther as they look to change the system. Now hopefully both the Vikings and Cowboys can hit the ground running next season, and be right back into the playoff hunt.

Tom Coughlin Will Return As The Giants Coach Next Season: I know there are some Giants fans that thought otherwise, but this is the right move for the Giants. Coughlin has had a lot of success in his time in New York, and while he has missed the playoffs each of the last two years, he has been competitive both of those seasons. While you can point to a frustrating loss to the Eagles a couple of weeks ago that wasn’t entirely Coughlin’s fault (I’m guessing a new Special Teams coach will be there next season). The Giants need to make some tweaks for sure as well as get healthier, but they should be a top contender next season so why would you change that? Now I think Coughlin’s seat is warm heading into next season, and barring even more injuries missing the playoffs won’t be acceptable in 2011. Right now though I don’t think it would have been warranted, even if you could bring in Bill Cowher (whom I think is the best coach out there). Cowher might be great, but Coughlin isn’t to bad himself, meaning I doubt it would have made much of a difference.

Continue To Play Younger Players: Last week a number of younger defensive players stepped up and played very good games. The Redskins should look to build on that as they head into a rebuilding season. I would also like to see some of the young offensive talent get some snaps, particularly at receiver. I would also really look  to judge the offensive linemen as no one outside of Trent Williams is 100% safe next season.

Protect Rex Grossman: Speaking of the offensive line, they need to have a strong game today if the Redskins have any shot of winning. The Giants have one of the most feared pass rushes in the NFL, so today will present a major challenge for the offensive line. Washington did have some success running the ball the last time they played, but they were so far out of the game they had to abandon that game plan. If the Redskins can establish the run early, it could slow down the blitz. If they can’t run though and those O-linemen are left alone to protect Grossman it could get ugly fast.

Use Cooley and Davis To Exploit the Giants Secondary: Chris Cooley might have had a game to forget last week, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the performance of the Giants secondary against Green Bay. While the Redskins don’t boast the same offensive talent, they should be able to find holes that they can use to exploit them. I would look to target both Cooley and Fred Davis to find favorable matchups down the field. While Moss and Armstrong can be involved, I think Cooley and Davis can have a lot of success against this defense.

Do Something Unexpected: I would love to see on either offense or special teams a couple of new trick plays. The Redskins can’t match the Giants size, speed and talent, but they can be more prepared. If they do an end around on a kick off or an onside kick when they wouldn’t suspect it, and one or two trick plays on offense they could maybe catch the Giants napping. If they don’t work they don’t work, but if they do it could be the difference in the game.

Tackle the Ball Carrier: In their last game against the Giants the Redskins forgot how to tackle and they ended up giving up 200 yards on the ground. This time the Redskins need to do a much better job of bringing down the runner at first contact (which will hopefully not be 40 yards down the field). Now it has to be a group effort; the defensive line has to at least hold their ground and maybe even penetrate to blow up plays in the backfield. The linebackers need to shed their blocks and wrap up. And the defensive backs need to take better angles to the ball carrier, and if it is Jacobs running go for the legs. None of these things happened the last time they met, and it ended in a disaster for the Skins. The bad news for Washington is it could be harder this time around as the Giants offensive line is healthier than the last time they met. Also, some injuries along the Redskins defense could weaken their ability to hold the point of attack (then again they didn’t do it when they played the last time).

Get Pressure On Manning: While it is a standard key to the game, Eli has really not handled the pressure well this season so it is extra important today. Manning has been interception happy so it could lead to a major shift in field position if they can pick off a few of his passes. Last game he was fairly unscathed, though Orakpo did cause a couple of penalties. The Redskins need to do a much better job if this week if they hope to get the kind of pressure they need.

Prediction: Giants 27-17

Saints -6.5 @ Bengals: Cincinnati may be at home, but they have no shot in this game as they are imploding fast. The Saints will need to keep pace in the NFC South so I expect them to play their best football. Saints win easily 35-20.

Bears -4.5 @ Lions: I’m really a bit fan of the Lions as they really seem to be turning the corner, but all my hope for them stops at Drew Stanton. If Matt Stafford or Shaun Hill were quarterbacking this team then I’d say they had a shot, but I don’t feel quite as confident with Drew Stanton. Bears win 27-20.

Jaguars +3 @ Titans: I never would have believed it if you told me, but the Jaguars are leading this division right now and I expect them to defend their first place standing. Tennessee needs to hope Kerry Collins can still get the job done, but he is far from a 100%. Tennessee will keep it close, but remember the Jags are actually getting three points in this game. Jacksonville wins 24-21.

Broncos +9 @ Chiefs: The last time these two teams met the Broncos ran up the score on the Chiefs, something I’m sure Kansas City hasn’t forgotten just yet. I’d look for the Chiefs to have an answer for the Broncos passing attack at home today, and I think Kansas City will put on an offensive show. The Chiefs might not be able to put up as many points since they are more of a run first team but I’d look for them to cover. Chiefs 35-17.

Redskins +7 @ Giants: Seven points is a big spread for the Redskins, who really haven’t been blown out of too many games this season, but I think it will be enough for the Giants to cover. New York’s receivers are banged up right now, but at the same time so is the Redskins secondary. Even with the Giants being without their top two receivers, I think they have a better passing attack than Washington. On top of that the Giants grade out with a better quarterback, rushing game, offensive line and overall defense. Now I think the Redskins can keep this game close despite their injuries, but I don’t see how they can consistently score against that Giants Defense. Giants win 28-17.

Denver +6.5 @ Tennessee: I like the Titans to win this game and cover the spread. Denver has a decent passing attack, but little in the way of a ground game. I look for the Titans to get up early and run wild with Chris Johnson. 27-13

Baltimore +2.5 @ Pittsburgh: No matter who is behind center or where this game is at, this rivalry is always a battle. Despite still being with out Roethlisberger the Steelers are the favorite in this game. I think they keep the momentum going and knock off the Ravens while covering the spread. 20-13

Cincinnati -3 @ Cleveland: The Browns looked better last week against the Ravens and displayed a solid offense. Their defense still is a work in progress, and should be their downfall in this game. I think the Bengals will have no trouble covering this spread. 21-10.

Detroit +14 @ Green Bay: This is a tough game to pick, despite having almost 100% certainty that the Packers come away with this week with another ‘W’. Green Bay played sloppy last week, and doesn’t look like a team that can beat anyone by two touchdowns. By the same token they have a great passing attack and a relentless defense, which combined could make this a blowout. Green Bay wins easy but doesn’t cover. 31-21

Carolina +13.5 @ New Orleans: The Saints should have no trouble redeeming their heartbreaking overtime loss last week, with a big game against the Panthers. Carolina looks lost right now and has a rookie QB starting. The Saints on the other hand have been pretty much as good as they were last year. While their running game is still struggling, they could rebound this week against Carolina. I think the Saints win and cover easily 34-14.

San Francisco +7 @ Atlanta: The 49ers might have a new offensive coordinator, but thus far they are the biggest disappointment in the NFL. While they remain a dangerous team, I think it will be another week before they see their first win. I like the Falcons in this game and think the have a good chance of covering 28-20.

Seattle -1.5 @ St. Louis: Both teams are coming off big wins last week, but Seattle is the far superior team. The Rams are at home so they could be a bit dangerous, but the status of their star running back Stephen Jackson is in question. No way they win two weeks in a row without Jackson in the backfield. Seattle wins and covers 21-17.

New York Jets -6 @ Buffalo: The Bills are coming off a big game against New England where they had the Patriots on the ropes, while the Jets still remain without their top corner back Darrelle Revis. The Jets still are too good for this to be much of a problem for them, as their passing attack is the best it has been since Favre was healthy two years ago. I think the Jets cover easily for a 24-9 victory.

Indianapolis -7.5 @ Jacksonville: Things have gone from bad to worse in Jacksonville and a game against Peyton and the Colts isn’t really the remedy. Indianapolis has torched every opposing defense this year. And while their own defense has some holes, the Jags aren’t exactly the offense to exploit those weaknesses. I think the Colts win and cover easily 35-7.

Houston -3 @ Oakland: Both teams had tough losses last week, but that is where the similarities end. Houston is one of the better teams in this league, while the Raiders are still trying to find themselves. I think the Texans offense puts up big numbers against the Raiders defense, while the pass rush neutralizes Oakland’s offense. I think the Texans win and cover 31-10.

Arizona -9 @ San Diego: The Cardinals are coming off a nice win against the Raiders, but still aren’t a top contender. They lack an efficient passing attack and will need to rely on the ground game to open up things down the field. The Chargers are a weaker team this year, but I wouldn’t count them out just yet. I think San Diego wins but fails to cover 31-24.

Washington -5.5 @ Philadelphia: They return of McNabb to Philly has been well hyped, but I don’t know if Donovan’s sense of revenge can make a difference in this game. Philly is running on all cylinders with Vick at the helm. While their defense has been up and down, they are better then a Redskins defense that gave up 30 points to the Rams. I think Philly covers 28-17.

Chicago + 3.5 @ New York Giants: The Bears are coming off with a big win over the Packers so their is the chance for a let down, but right now this is one of the better teams in the league and I’m shocked they aren’t the favorite. The Giants have their backs against the wall, but have honestly looked awful this year. Even their win against Carolina in week 1, was pretty ugly, and that was the high point of their season. New York has a shot but I think the Bears win this game and go to 4-0, 24-13.

NFC East:

Eagles: While it is not too surprising to see them at 2-1 considering they had games against the Lions and Jags, it is quite surprising to see who is behind center. Vick so far is playing maybe the best football of his career, and makes the Eagles extremely dangerous.

Giants: While the Colts and Titans are two good teams, if the Giants want to be a contender not only do they need to not get blown out but they need to actually win one of those games. Despite having a ton of talent up and down that lineup, this team is not firing on all cylinders.

Cowboys: The 0-2 start was a bit of surprise, but they looked better last week in their victory over the Texans. So far this team is not utilizing all of their talent, and could still be a threat if they turn it around. Right now though their sloppy play makes them look like an average team and not the Super Bowl contender they thought they were.

Redskins: Their opening win against the Cowboys gave them hope, but a new coach and new quarterback has led to the same problems that plagued them before. While their 1-2 record isn’t shocking, it is a surprise that they lost to the Rams.

NFC North:

Bears: Chicago is one of the major surprises this season as they have jumped out to a 3-0 start, including wins over Dallas and Green Bay. Their offense and defense are vastly improved and they look like a strong playoff contender.

Packers: Green Bay, gave away the game last night, but thus far still looks like a serious playoff team. Their offensive line woes continue though, and will need to be fixed moving forward. The Packers also are severely missing RB Ryan Grant who is out for the year, and don’t be surprised if they make a trade to fix the problem (cough, DeAngelo Williams).

Vikings: Minnesota started out 0-2 which was a pretty big surprise, and are still looking to find their way offensively. They still remain a dangerous team with the weapons they have, but right now don’t seem like a great contender.

Lions: The Lions starting out 0-3 would hardily qualify as a surprise, but on the positive note they were in both of their first two losses (Bears and Eagles) until the very end. And that was without their starting quarterback Matt Stafford.

NFC South:

Saints: New Orleans has started out a respectable 2-1, with big wins over Minnesota and San Francisco, but they have shown some weaknesses as well. Their special teams has let them down and cost them a win Sunday against Atlanta, and their defense isn’t as dominate as it was last season.

Falcons: Atlanta looks to be legit, after coming off a sub-par season last year. They played Pittsburgh and New Orleans to a tie in regulation, and throughly crushed the Cardinals. Their defense looks improved and the offense seems to be running smoothly.

Buccaneers: Tampa’s 2-1 record looks better than their actual talent, and is inflated by wins against the Browns and Panthers. That being said this is an improved team this year that is assembling a lot of young developing talent. This might not be the year for Tampa, but they could be ready to contend in a year or two.

Panthers: Their 0-3 start isn’t really a surprise, as this team was set up to fail. With no first round pick and the loss of their star defensive end Julius Peppers, put this team in a hole they couldn’t get out of. The big surprise with this team is how quickly they ended the Matt Moore era. While I wasn’t a big believer in him, he did help turn their season around last year, and probably deserved at least half the year this season. Going to Clausen so early could be risky for the Panthers long term as well.

NFC West:

Seahawks: Their 2-1 start qualifies as a major surprise, especially considering the fact they had to go through the 49ers and Chargers to do so. The numbers aren’t pretty, but in a weak division these 2 early wins are key. I’m guessing though their lack of talent catches up with them in the 2nd half of the season when their schedule toughens up a bit.

Cardinals: No Warner no problem right? At least that’s how it looks in the standings with a 2-1 start, but the reality is they beat the Rams in Sam Bradford’s first ever game and the Raiders (a game they almost lost). When the Cards played a contending team they lost 41-7. They might hang around the division lead considering who weak the West is, but I don’t think they end up with it.

Rams: A 1-2 start is more than I think the Rams could ask for, and is a bit more impressive that their win came over the Redskins with Steven Jackson sitting on the bench. Bradford has been solid so far, but he hasn’t faced a really tough defense yet. As of now he looks to have the potential to be a top notch quarterback one day, but the rest of this year is crucial.

49ers: San Francisco’s 0-3 start not only qualifies as a surprise, but an utter shock. This team was picked to win the NFC West and be a serious contender, but they have looked lost on the football field. Their start has already claimed their offensive coordinator who was fired yesterday, and could lead to some changes in personnel as well.

Manning Bowl Ended Up Being a Blowout: There is little doubt the Manning Boys are two of the best quarterbacks in the league, but in yesterday’s matchup that was only evident on one side. To no one’s real surprise, older brother Peyton ended up the victor, but what was shocking was how bad the Giants looked as a team. The Colts jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead, and never let up as they cruised to their 38-14 victory. They had major success running the football as well, which isn’t always their strong suite. And of course Peyton was dominate in his own right. The Giants on the other hand had success running, but when you are down by 24 points it is almost counter-productive. And while overall Eli had a solid game, he had a pretty bad first half which led to his team’s demise.

Steelers Stop Chris Johnson and the Titans: The Steelers were outgained 238-127, didn’t score a single offensive touchdown, lost their starting quarterback, and managed just 21 passing yards, yet they left Tennessee with the win. The Steelers defense took both of the Titans two main weapons out of the game (literally in the case of Vince Young). Chris Johnson managed just 34 yards on 13 carries, and another 19 on 5 receptions. Johnson had a streak of 12 100 yard games going entering yesterday, but the Steelers found a way to contain him. Without Johnson, or Young who was benched because of ineffectiveness the Titans were without their two playmakers. While Kerry Collins led a bit of a comeback it was too little too late, as the defense held. While starting out 2-0 is great for the Steelers they did lose Dixon to a knee injury, and they will need to figure out what to do for the next 2 weeks. The passing attack was nonexistent after Dixon left, as was the loss of the scrambling threat. While the loss of Dixon was tough, it was a big win for the Steelers against a 2nd straight playoff contending team. And just how good is that Steelers defense? Last week the Titans rolled for 38 points against the Raiders, this week they had 11. And the Steelers in week 1 held the Falcons to just 9 points, and yesterday they put up 41 against the Cardinals.

Sanchez Comes Through For The J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS: One week after looking completely lost Mark Sanchez, had the game of his career (I’m still not drinking the “Franchise” Kool-Aid, but impressive game nonetheless). What was most impressive for me was the fact that he remained cool under pressure and led a comeback. Also, while the Patriots defense might not be as good as the Ravens it is pretty good in its own right, and he had no problem navigating them. The Patriots meanwhile, couldn’t stop Sanchez or the Jets running game, and they could’t do anything offensively in the 2nd half. While the Jets defense didn’t get the sacks, they harassed Brady all day and forced two interceptions. If Sanchez is on the Jets can go far with that defense, that has now held two of the best offenses in the AFC to a combined 23 points.

Bears Go to 2-0 By Upsetting the Cowboys Who Fall to 0-2: Dallas was supposed to come out with a vengeance yesterday and redeem their opening game loss in a big way over the Bears. I guess no one told Chicago that, because they were by far the best team on the football field yesterday. The Bears attacked Tony Romo early and jumped out to an early lead which forced Dallas to abandon the run. While Romo rebounded, and ended up with good number it was too little too late as the Cowboys lost their home opener 27-20. The Cowboys defense had no answer for Jay Cutler and was picked apart, by Chicago’s spread offense. The Bears now might need to be taken seriously in the NFC (especially since Minnesota is 0-2), and the Cowboys really need to take a look at themselves. Because after two games this team doesn’t look like the Super Bowl contender they were billed to be.

Kansas City (+3.0) @ Cleveland: The Chiefs and Browns are both pretty weak overall teams, but I really liked what I saw with Kansas City last week. Adding Dexter McCluster gave them a major special teams weapon, one that should start to see a bigger role on offense. While I’m no Matt Cassel fan, K.C. has solid receivers and a great one-two running back combo. Cleveland is an improved team, but they still have a ways to go. Their quarterback situation is completely unsettled and until that is figured out, their offense can’t get going. I like the Chiefs here to win a close one 20-17.

Pittsburgh (+5.0) @ Tennessee: Pittsburgh on the road in Tennessee is a tough match up, especially without their top quarterback. The deciding factor in the game though will be how the Steelers control Chris Johnson. Johnson has run all over ever defense that has opposed him in the last year, but if any defense can stop him it’s Pittsburgh’s. If the Steelers stop Johnson and force the Titans to throw the ball they should win, but If Johnson gets a 100 yards, you have got to like Tennessee in this one. I think Pittsburgh keeps it close, but Johnson and Tennessee breakout at the end, 23-17 Tennessee.

New England (-3.0) @ New York (Jets): Normally with the best defense and being at home the Jets should be the favorite, but their woeful offensive performance last week has them at 3.0 underdogs against their division foe. While the Patriots have a high powered offense they can’t hope to score much against the Jets top defense, but luckily their solid defense should be more than enough to hinder the Jets offense led by Mark Sanchez. Sanchez needs to come through in the clutch today if the Jets are to be taken as serious contenders, but I don’t see it happening. New England wins a low scoring affair 17-10 to take a two game lead in the division.

New York (Giants) (+5.0) @ Indianapolis: The Colts got upset last week and their soft underbelly was exposed when the Texans ran all over them for the win. Peyton Manning still threw for over 400 yards and 3 TD’s so the offense isn’t really a concern. The Colts do still need to add balance to their rushing attack, but as long as Peyton is at the helm I like the Colts in the Manning Bowl. The Giants could keep it close, but I can’t see Indianapolis losing at home to go to 0-2. While New York has a good overall defense their pass defense is a bit porous, which doesn’t bode well against Older Brother. Colts win 31-21 to even themselves up this season.

NFC:

NFC EAST:

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. New York Giants

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Washington Redskins

The NFC East should once again be one of the best divisions in football, and likely the most talented division in the NFC. The Cowboys are poised for a huge year, one in which they host the Super Bowl. Giving potential for the first ever home game for a Super Bowl participant. In the end I think they will come up just short of a Super Bowl appearance, they have the talent to make it there. Their offense is one of the best in the league, and that defense can bring pressure from anywhere. They will have to get through a pair of playoff contenders in the Giants and the Eagles and a revitalized Redskins team that likely won’t be the pushover they once were. I think the Giants are poised to rebound in a big way and a double digit win season is likely. Their young receiving corps has shown flashes of brilliance, and should breakout in a big way. Eli Manning is ascending to elite quarterback status, and I’d expect a bounce back year for their running game. The Giants defense let them down last season, but should be vastly improved this year. The Eagles are transitioning to a new quarterback but I wouldn’t expect a drastic drop off in production from McNabb to Kolb. The rest of the offense should be more dangerous now that Maclin and McCoy have a year under their belt. The Eagles offensive line is still a concern, and could be the deciding factor in a playoff spot or not. Philadelphia’s defense can bring the heat, and I’d expect another strong year from this unit. The Washington Redskins no doubt improved themselves in a lot of ways this offseason, but the problem is they had quite a ways to go, and didn’t make the wholesale changes they needed. McNabb is great, but this isn’t the McNabb of Eagles glory (also Jason Campbell wasn’t exactly the issue last season). And while the offensive line and running game improved, the wide receivers took a noticeable decline. On defense the 3-4 looks good on paper and benefits a guy like Brian Orakpo, but it caused a rift with their best defender (Albert Haynesworth), and turned Andre Carter into basically a role player. In the long run it can benefit the Redskins, but in the short term it is just window dressing.

NFC SOUTH:

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Atlanta Falcons

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Carolina Panthers

The Saints are coming off their Super Bowl win ready to compete again for another title. With Drew Brees at the helm this team can play with anyone. With a deep running back-tight end-receiving corps that is practically impossible for other teams to match up with, the Saints offense should run on all cylinders for another year. Their defense has some questions that could hold them back, but if a couple young guys live up to their potential they should be fine. The Falcons this year should be more of a threat to the Saints but I don’t see them winning the division. A playoff run is possible, but a lot will depend on which Matt Ryan shows up this season. Ryan took a major step back last year, but he still has the talent and ability to become a “Franchise Quarterback”. Atlanta has a vastly underrated defense, that I think will really impress people this season and help lead them to the playoffs. The Buccaneers should be an improved team, but probably won’t have more than 6 wins this season. I am starting to become a Josh Freeman believer, and think he could have a pretty solid season. They are a young club and won’t compete, but a strong year of individual performances could set them up for 2011. The Panthers are a team that really could collapse. They have the best running backs in the league, but that is pretty much where their talent level stops. It is almost a given that the Panthers will have a new head coach next season, and If they start out as bad as I think they will, don’t be shocked if they make some big trades by the deadline. They have a lot of redundant players at RB and along the defensive line that it could make sense to stock pile draft picks for the new regime. Also, I wouldn’t bet against Steve Smith being moved. His contract is fairly reasonable going forward, and there are plenty of playoff caliber teams that will be looking for wideout help. I really expect a bad year in Carolina, but like Tampa they can work on building to the future.

NFC NORTH:

1. Minnesota Vikings

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Chicago Bears

4. Detroit Lions

While the Packers are everyone’s pick this season I’ll have to believe it to see it. For me the Vikings are still the superior team, and that is without Sidney Rice for half of a season. I really don’t know how you pick against Brett Favre as he has time and time again made inferior receivers look better. In addition the Vikings have two major weapons in Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin that are extremely tough for opposing defenses to stop. The o-line is a major worry, but I still think the offense has the talent to succeed. In addition that defense is impressive, they are equally adapt at stopping the run and getting after the passer. Right now their secondary is a little banged up, but should improve throughout the season. The Packers have a great host of offensive weapons led by Aaron Rodgers, but I still worry about that offensive line. They are a bit deeper as a unit so they can handle injuries better, but they have to improve this season if the Packers are to take their game to the next step. While I love their 3-4 defensive line, and Clay Matthews the rest of that linebacking unit is below average. And while their secondary gets a lot of hype they will be without Al Harris for at least half of the season. While Charles Woodson is a stud and i’m a big believer in Morgan Burnett, this ‘strength’ of the Packers defense got TORCHED by Kurt Warner in their playoff game last season. The Bears should be improved some this season, but I really don’t see them as much of a contender. Jay Cutler could put up big numbers in Martz’s system, but I don’t see them really succeeding behind that offensive line. Chicago should be improved on defense, but I wouldn’t call it a difference making unit. It’s hard to really peg where the Bears stand as an organization right now, and this year will be crucial for them. The Lions made some solid moves this offseason, but the question remains if their offensive line can allow the offense to move the ball forward and if quarterback Matt Stafford is ready to take the next step. On defense I’d expect some improvements, but overall it is still a pretty weak unit. Another last place finish and top 10 pick looks to be in the cards for the Lions.

NFC WEST:

1. San Francisco 49ers

2. Arizona Cardinals

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. St. Louis Rams

The 49ers are the team to beat out West and from the looks of it they won’t have much competition. San Francisco has an impressive offense unit led by RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, and WR Michael Crabtree. Their offensive line should be vastly improved with the additions of Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. The real question is at QB where Alex Smith needs to show consistency. The 49ers also need another receiver to step up and take some of the heat off Crabtree/Davis. The talent is there, but it remains to be seen if any of them will become a solid number 2 wide receiver. On defense the 49ers have a top unit one that should shut down even the best offenses in the league. The Cardinals had been the team to beat, but now they are without Kurt Warner and a host of other stars. While they replaced some of them and still have some talented players I don’t see Derek Anderson leading this team to the playoffs. The Seahawks did some nice things this offseason, but this team is practically devoid of offensive weapons. While their defense should be a bit better, I don’t know if they have the talent to even compete with the Cardinals, much less the 49ers. The Rams have their “Franchise Quarterback”, but they really didn’t surround him with the tools to be successful. I think it will be a long, hard year for the Rams offense, and as sad as it sounds that might be their best unit. That defense is incredibly porous and needs a complete overhaul.

Playoffs:

1. Vikings

2. Saints

3. Cowboys

4. 49ers

5. Packers

6. Giants

NFC Championship Game: Vikings over the 49ers

Giants Answered the Call: I tend to believe the Giants version of the story, that the Cards called them and not the other way around. Leinart is more hype than anything else at this point and that contract is very prohibitive in trade talks. Giants still could use a backup so I wouldn’t say talks are officially dead, but Arizona would practically have to give him away for New York to be interested.

Ohio State and Michigan Will Be Split Up: With the Big Ten (you got to change the name) adding a 12th team next year they will move to a division format. The conference will be split in two with Michigan and Ohio State in separate divisions. They will still maintain their rivalry game every year at the end of the season, but now it is quite possible they could meet again in the Conference Championship game. I personally like the plan to split up the two schools. For one thing it helps bring some balance to the divisions, for another is it allows the schools to keep the game at the end of the regular season inline with tradition. If they were in the same conference, you probably wouldn’t want year in year out for those two teams to face off right before the conference championship game if they were the two best teams in the conference. Now If they do face off as the top teams in their respective divisions they can potentially redeem themselves the next week.

UNC Suspends Austin Could Suspend More: Losing Mavin Austin is a major blow to the Tar Heels and things could get a whole lot worse. In addition to Austin it looks as though DE Robert Quinn and Linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant could also be suspended, and none of them will probably play in Saturday’s opener against LSU. Austin, Quinn, Carter and Surdivant are all top talents and potential top 50 picks in next April’s NFL Draft. While the team says this has nothing to do with the NCAA investigations into agent tampering, I don’t know if I’m buying that story. Whatever the cause, this is a huge body blow for a team that I thought had a legitimate shot of winning the ACC.