Alright, I'm going to start this off with a rant and then go on into the rest of this here thingy. The Giants. Yes, I picked them to win the NFC East. Yeah, I had them all but set to win the NFC just ONE MONTH AGO. But then, the Saints marched all over them in New Orleans. Okay, one loss, had to happen eventually. Then, came the Cards doing their thing in Jersey. 5-2. Still in first but the margin for error's getting slim. No matter, Eagles coming to town and they got theirs coming. Yeah, Philly did. 40-17. No, I'm not sure if that can of ass whippin' came complete with a Philly Cheese Steak. So last night, I sit down in the basement watching the end of the Chargers/Giants game and well...I about lost it. All of a sudden, I felt like 2006 all over again and I just wanted Coughlin gone. I'm sitting here watching Phillip Rivers have all the time in the world to find receivers, then watching moments later as Shawne Merriman comes rushing off the edge like he was heading for Tila Tequila. Then I ask...

Where the fuck was this for the fucking Giants in that last defensive series?!

I'm going to say this now, so that when I hear it off and on over the next few weeks, it doesn't anger me as much. The Giants aren't going to make the playoffs this season. I hope to God I'm wrong, like I was two years ago when they won it all...but this time, I am not sold. Their post bye schedule is a Murderers' Row with dates against no fewer than three possible playoff teams. Atlanta, Thanksgiving at Denver, Dallas and Philly. The only feasible way the Giants make it in, with all due respect and realism is to win ALL FOUR GAMES. If there's a loss to be had, it CANNOT be to either Dallas or Philly. After that, it's fairly forseeable that they could coast through Washington and Carolina with Minnesota more than likely phoning that one in to focus on the march to come in two weeks time. There's something off here and in all honesty, it shouldn't be. They've still got one of the best ground games in the NFL, the receivers have emerged to be better than most thought. So what the fuck is the damn problem I and many other Giant fans have to be wondering. Rant aside, let me get down to it...


Division Champions: Giants, Saints, Bears, Seahawks
Wild Cards: Minnesota & Detroit
- Well, I whiffed on Detroit and eh, I really held out hope they'd be better than all thought. Minnesota on the other hand, has been astronomically better than I had more or less anticipated. Chicago conversely...let me say this. I think it's rather presumptuous to believe this team would continue on as usual without Urlacher in the middle. I think much like the Steelers struggled without Polamalu and have regained their form with him back, I don't see Chicago doing much of anything without Brian in the lineup. Cutler doesn't have the weapons he had in Denver and hindsight being 20/20 on my part, I think I should've trusted my gut here. Minnesota was the better team in the North.

I guess I was wrong about the Hawks and Madden hasn't really hit the Cards (YET) enough to slow them down in that "division". I'll call this right now, just to get it out of the way...Arizona's probably going 12-4. Two games against Saint Louis, Detroit, Tennessee and San Fran, as well as a date with Seattle next week. Other than a possible NFC playoff preview with Minnesota the first Sunday in December (which if all holds as I believe it will, will probably be a Sunday Nighter)...the Cards don't have a tough test on their docket. So out of the four, the Saints are the only lock on there. New Age Dolphins anyone? I say that because they're throwing like there's no tomorrow, their D is quietly good and unlike Marino's bunch...these guys can actually run the football.

Oh and let me state this now. If Reggie Bush ever surfaces, the Saints win it all. (As in the Reggie Bush who Houston passed over in the draft way back when.) So here's how I see all of this unfolding down the stretch...

Division Champions: Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, Cardinals
Wild Card: Falcons & Giants/Eagles
- Alright, I don't really see the Falcons losing enough ground the rest of the way to fall out of the hunt. If the Giants don't snap out of it, it's forseeable that the only real legitimate loss they figure to catch the rest of the way will be against the Nolia.
Note, I absolutely loathe and despise Philly. I do and it kills me that the Giants' ineptitude have me backing them for a Wild Card. But truth be told, short of someone coming out of nowhere, who else is there? I'm not sold Chicago will snap out of it, I'm not entirely sure if Green Bay will shake The Franchise Theory (if they can, their schedule is definitely favorable down the way with only Pittsburgh, Arizona and Dallas their lone remaining tough tests). Beyond that? Nobody.

So, more than likely, both conferences will have its top seeds enjoying Dome Field Advantage. Assuming the Colts don't stumble twice and assuming the Saints don't have a sudden Katrinaesque tailspin. I don't think the Cowboys will be a legitimate enough factor in the NFC, sooner or later the clock will hit midnight for Cinderfella Austin and then what? I don't believe Tony Homo's primetime enough to produce and the Cowboys will see that getting rid of T.O. was just that. Getting rid of T.O. and nothing more. The Cards are potent enough offensively, but short of their defense duplicating the run that got them to the Super Bowl a year ago...it won't be enough this year. So this leaves Minnesota and New Orleans. When I look at the Saints, I keep thinking back to what the Dolphins SHOULD HAVE BEEN in Marino's prime. I'm telling you, if Marino had the type of balance that Brees has in New Orleans...he'd have at least one ring right now. Still, there's a little something disconcerting to me about a team that had to play from behind against the likes of Miami and Carolina.

Conversely, there's Minnesota. Hopefully when I state that "I blame Mangini more than Favre for last season's implosion with the Jets", people understand. This IS hands down, beyond a shadow of a doubt the best team Favre's played on. In 1996, it was a classic "sum of the parts is greater than the whole' deal and Favre just made it happen. Go through the annals of Super Bowl Champions, you'll find a few teams that weren't overwhelming on paper, but just made it work. These Vikings are scary. I do not blame him for that late pick against the Steelers for as my Daddy told me when he was working on my hands for football many moons ago...

"If it hits you in the hands, you're supposed to catch it."

Chester Taylor (WTF was he doing in the game that late anyway?!) let that bounce off his hands and into the hands of a Steeler. Take away that drop, the Vikings, Saints & Colts are unbeaten. At the end of the day, I think the Vikes and Saints will be the last two standing in the NFC. I'm just not that convinced Arizona will get back as they did a year ago. So that said, since I forgot to do so earlier in the year, here's my Super Bowl prediction...

Minnesota versus New England

We were one ill advised pick from getting this two seasons ago. I think it's going to happen this season. Oh and quiet be kept, this is on Goodell's Dream Scenario list for Super Bowls. I'm sure at some point we'll get The Manning Bowl before Peyton retires and Eli will drive home the point that while Peyton throws for more yards than anyone alive, he is the best Manning at the end of the day. Real quickly, let me get to my Best & Worst for the year...actually, I'll do this at another time. Ciao.