The thing with each consecutive season teams are never playing at the same level they were playing at last year.
I mean lets use 09 as an example.
"Well he threw that interception in the Superbowl, but Peyton Manning is one of the best QBs of all time, the Colts will still contend next year!
You can easily compare this to Brady's similar levels of success this year, while Brady is more consistent year in and year out (in terms of winning, not stats) than Manning, I see both of these QBs on the decline, and Brady has a much more competitive rival in the Jets than Manning does in the Texans.
The Saints are young! They have Drew Brees at the the helm! They're set to compete for years
While the Saints didn't suck too bad the next season (If it werent for the seahawks. No doubt they'd be playing the packers in the NFC championship) They had clearly gone through a dreaded superbowl hangover. You can compare their miracle SB victory to the Packers who had won with 16 players on IR. As a Packers fan, I really want to believe that Finley and Grant will keep us competitive next season, I just can't say they won't be suffering the same thing the Saints did without watching them for 3-5 weeks. If they don't get off to a 4-1 or 5-0 start its safe to say they lost some of the magic.
The Chargers and the Packers, were the two hottest teams heading into the Playoffs, they have amazing young QBs at the helm! They're gonna win it all next year
While the Packers did end up winning it all. Losses to the Redskins, Dolphins, and Lions were embarrassing. You can tell me that it didnt matter, and that they had 16 players on IR all you want, the fact is, this team was capable of beating the Giants, Eagles, Bears, Falcons, Steelers, and (maybe) even the Patriots. And they lost to 2nd and even 3rd rate teams. Its clear they didnt live up the regular season expectations. The O-Line allowed Rodgers to be sacked 31 times and miss a game, you don't let that kind of thing happen to your team mvp.
And the Chargers....How do you go from a 10 game winning streak to a 9-7 record next year? Blame special teams all you want, but Green Bay had the 26th ranked special teams unit last year and still contended till the very end.
So lets throw in intangibles into the mix of my 2011-2012 season predictions. Because clearly they matter.
NFC North
1. Green-Bay 13-3 maybe even 14-2. I still think they're capable of beating this Superbowl Hangover and dominate in the regular season for the first time.
2. Chicago 11-5 maybe 12-4. It all depends on Roy Williams playmaking ability, they still have an easy schedule and have something to play for. This team beat both the Jets and the Eagles in important regular season games so I don't think they just got lucky last year. If Cutler can get some protection, he'll benefit from being in the same system for 2 years in a row for the first time.
3. Min 11-5 or 7-9. If Mcnabb really wanted to he could prove that he's not all washed up and still has a couple of games left in him. If he's capable of playing like he did in his tenure at the Eagles then the Vikes could feasible steal the number 2 spot away from the bears, but as it is they haven't proven themselves capable.
4. Detroit 9-7 or 10-6. Stafford needs to stay healthy.
NFC South
1. Falcons 13-3 or 12-4. Unbeatable at home, capable of winning on the road as well. Built to contend for years.
2. Saints 13-3 or 12-4 Every bit as good as the Falcons are, superbowl hangover ended in Seattle, they need to prove themselves again.
3. Tampa Bay 7-9 or 8-8. Won't have NFC west teams to pad their record.
4. Panthers 6-10 or 7-9 improved in free agency, Cam is still unproven.
NFC East.
1. New York Giants 12-4 or 11-5. Before this free agency period they were the most talented team in the NFC, they havent lived up to early season expectations for the past 2 years, but I think this team has something to prove this year.
2. Dallas 10-6 or 9-7. Romo should stay healthy this season, but even when he was healthy last season the boys were 1-7. Dallas doesn't put up with failure so I doubt you'll see a losing record from them agan.
3. Philly 8-8 or 14-2. The eagles are on a three game losing streak (that could be a 4 game losing streak if it werent for the stupidest punt in history) they lost to both the cowboys and the Vikings, both using their backup QBs with nothing to play for. Philly was playing for a bye. Teams have figured Mike Vick out I just don't see him staying healthy. If he does however, this is the team to beat.
4. Redskins 3-13 or 4-12. Maybe they'll draft Andew Luck in 2012.
NFC West.
1. St Louis 10-6 or 9-7. Expect them to be 6-0 or 5-1 in the division, they added a receiver for Stafford, they have a solid running game. The only PROVEN good QB in the division.
2. Cardinals 8-8 or 9-7 Kolb should benefit from an easier schedule than he had in Philly.
3. San Fran 6-10 or 7-9 Another year, another offensive coordinator in the Bay area
4. Seattle 5-11 They could get the number 3 or even 2 spot. But everyone knows that they're in for a trap game when they face the hawks. They don't have the element of surprise any more.
If anyone cares I'll do the AFC sometime this day.....
