While the AFC conference in the NFL has been flashier and higher powered with the likes of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. running the show, the NFC has quietly taken its place as the dominant conference in the NFL. The reining Super Bowl champs hail from the NFC, and after the beat-down the favorite Broncos took from the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVII, the NFC will look to continue being an underdog powerhouse going into the 2014-2015 NFL season. Here is a breakdown of all 16 NFC teams and how the standing will look like when the season is all said and done:

Will Dree Brees lead the Saints to a trip back to the White House in 2015?

NFC West:

Seattle Seahawks: The only thing the Seahawks have to worry about in the 2014-2015 season is not having a Super Bowl hangover as most teams do after winning it all. Look for the Seahawks to be right back where they were last season, atop the NFC West and looking to be the first team to repeat since the Patriots back in 2005.

Record: 11-5, winning tie-breaker for division title

San Francisco 49ers: One of the most talked-about teams in sports, especially after the huge contract that was given to quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers are one of the deeper teams in the NFL and given the way they have played the last few seasons, I look for this to finally be the year the team breaks through and plays to its capability for a full season. The loss to the Seahawks in the NFC title game should motivate them and having Navarro Bowman back should add a spark to the boys from the bay.

Record: 11-5

Arizona Cardinals: One of the more surprising teams from last season, the Cardinals won 10 games and even so, missed the playoffs. Signing veterans Antonio Cromartie and Ted Ginn Jr should add some firepower to this team and they will look to build on a strong season but it will all depend on quarterback, Carson Palmer. Throughout his career he has been very Jekyll and Hyde with his year-by-year performances. Because Palmer can’t be relied-upon, I believe the Cardinals will take a step back this season.

Record: 8-8

St. Louis Rams: The Rams are one of the most underrated teams in the NFL — especially on the defensive side of the ball. They pose a tremendous threat at almost every defensive position and will make it hard for teams to score. The one question I have about the Rams is whether or not Sam Bradford can finally step up and be the leader that when he was drafted first overall, everyone thought he could be. Running back, Zac Stacy, quietly became one of the better backs in football, so look for the Rams to improve on their 7-9 record from last season in a division where no teams finish under .500.

Record: 8-8

NFC East:

Philadelphia Eagles: Coming into the 2013-2014 season, people expected Chip Kelly and the Eagles to excel but maybe not at the pace that they did. Nick Foles took over the reigns at quarterback and led the Eagles to the playoffs. The Eagles are a very good team and will be back to the playoffs again in 2014-2015, looking to make an even longer playoff run.

Record: 11-5, division winner

New York Giants: After going 0-6 to start the season, the Giants stumbled back and finished with a respectable 7-9 record. It seems as if every season, the Giants either win the Super Bowl or miss the playoffs and everyone freaks out. That being said, the Giants won’t be making the playoffs this season again but will play better than they did last season.

Record: 8-8

Washington Redskins: RGIII, RGIII, RGIII. Finally, the Redskins got rid of Mike Shanahan, a move that is loved by many fans. Now maybe the team and the owner will change the name but that’s a story for a different time. Adding DeSean Jackson will make the Redskins’ offense more explosive and having an assumed healthy RGIII will solidify the team but the defense is still bad. That isn’t going to change so the Redskins will still be searching for answers, this time with new coach Jay Gruden who I’m not completely sold on as an NFL coach.

Record: 6-10 

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo. Jerry Jones. No defense? Need I say more?

Record: 5-11

NFC North:

Green Bay Packers: After an injury-riddled season for Aaron Rodgers, the Packers were still able to make the playoffs and almost beat the 49ers. Adding a fully-healthy Rodgers back into the fold, look for the Packers to be back at full strength and win the division yet again.

Record: 10-6, division winner

Chicago Bears: After missing the playoffs again, the Bears went out and tried to fix their defensive problems. They added veteran Jared Allen from the rival Vikings, which should spark the defense and give them a leader again. On the offensive side of the ball, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte should be enough to carry them. As long as this team stays healthy and plays to the level they should be able to play at they should once again reach the postseason, but only barely.

Record: 9-7

Detroit Lions: The Lions do have Calvin Johnson who has basically become an unstoppable force, but that’s not enough. Matthew Stafford keeps throwing interceptions and although the Lions defense on paper looks good, they actually aren’t as good as advertised. The Lions will probably start hot again and fizzle out like they do almost every season.

Record: 8-8

Minnesota Vikings: The is the one team with a new first time head coach that I am excited about. Mike Zimmer is a genius and will get his players to perform at levels they never thought possible. Even with Zimmer’s leadership, the Vikings will be at the bottom of the standings again. Adrian Peterson isn’t enough and I didn’t like the pickup of Teddy Bridgewater, but I hope he proves me wrong. The future is bright in Minnesota, just not this upcoming season.

Record: 5-11

NFC South:

New Orleans Saints: Ahh the Saints. They are the team who almost went into Seattle and beat the Seahawks in the playoffs and if fate had changed, the Broncos might be the champs. The Saints are going to be the Saints — very good at home and pretty good on the road. Until Drew Brees declines or retires, the Saints will contend.

Record: 12-4, division winner

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It might be a surprise to some people but I like the Bucs in 2014. I love the signing of Lovie Smith as coach. Smith was fired unfairly in Chicago and has another chance now in Tampa. I also loved the drafting of Mike Evans to pair with Vincent Jackson to make for the tallest wide receiver duo in the NFL. Adding Michael Johnson and Alterraun Verner on defense creates potential for a great defense. Quarterback, Josh McCown, will look to continue his surge from Chicago and transfer it over to Tampa.

Record: 9-7

Carolina Panthers: After winning the division last season, the Panthers are poised to gain from their success but much like the Cardinals, I am not fully-sold on them. Don’t get me wrong, I was on the Carolina train last season but that was until they lost all their receivers and didn’t do much to replace them. They added Jerrico Cotchery from the Steelers and drafted Kelvin Benjamin from Florida State but will that be enough for Cam Newton. The defense is still strong but it remains to be seen if they were a one-year wonder. It happens all the time in the NFL.

Record: 8-8

Atlanta Falcons: A Super Bowl favorite prior to last season, the Falcons completely collapsed last year. Injuries and lack of experience on defense led to this so the Falcons will look to regain some of that winning form. A Super Bowl isn’t for them this season but they might have a shot at the playoffs might be if they can stay healthy.

Record: 7-9

Playoff Standings:

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Green Bay Packers
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Chicago Bears (week 12 meeting will determine this)

In contention: Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions

It’s never too early for predictions, especially when it comes to the pre draft NFL. In the upcoming draft, each team will make selections to try and help their current rosters make a run at the Super Bowl. Although the rosters for the start of the season won’t be complete until much later in the year, it’s still fun to look at what each team has done up to this point and make predictions for what will happen. Here are my predictions for the upcoming NFL season, pre NFL draft:

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will take the next step and beat out the NFC champion 49ers in 2013. By Larry Maurer, via Wikimedia Commons

NFC West:

1. Seattle Seahawks: If not for a collapse in the playoff game against the Falcons, they might have made an incredible run towards the Super Bowl last season and I expect the Seahawks to improve. With the additions of Percy Harvin and Cliff Avril, they are legitimate contenders. They basically stole the Vikings receiving duo in Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and now look poised to be a force. It starts with a division title in 2013.
2. San Francisco 49ers: The defending NFC champions got even better on paper with the additions of Anquan Boldin and Nnamdi Asomugha. They will still be a dominant force because of their defense but I believe that teams will start to figure out Colin Kaepernick. He showed me a lot in the Super Bowl as a rookie and hopefully, for ‘Niner fans, that experience makes him better. For now, though, I’m picking the Seahawks as the best team in this division.
3. St. Louis Rams: The Rams are a good young team that is improving each year and 2013 won’t be any different. Except this year they won’t have Danny Amendola, who was a huge factor on offense for them but look for them to build upon a decent year and look to improve their players and gain more experience to try and get back to the playoffs in a year or two.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona started 4-0 last season and look liked a legit sleeper team in the NFC but then dropped 11 of their next 12 games. They added Carson Palmer, who should help the offense some. But unless 2005 Carson Palmer arrives in Arizona, the Cardinals will be at the bottom of the standings again, which is sad for a franchise that made it to the Super Bowl just five years ago.

NFC South:

1. Atlanta Falcons: The dirty birds were the best team in the NFL last season and if not for a bad non holding call, would have probably made the Super Bowl. This year’s Falcons look to finally improve on a year where they actually won a playoff game. The additions of Stephen Jackson and Osi Umenyiora plus the return of Tony Gonzalez will help the Falcons be legitimate title contenders once again.
2. New Orleans Saints: After looking dead in the water early in the season, the Saints somehow went 7-9 and I believe if the season was longer would have snuck into the playoffs. Getting Sean Peyton back this year will greatly improve the team and I expect them to get back into the playoffs. Some people think that Peyton was the cause for the bizarre blackout in the Super Bowl so maybe he is out for revenge against the NFL and the best way to start that is by making the postseason.
3. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton has gotten much scrutiny over his two years and I’m not quite sure why. He hasn’t had a good team around him in either year and still the Panthers have been 7-9 both seasons. Get some good players around him and good things will happen. I am a huge fan of Newton no matter what the newest college football scandal is. That being said, the Panthers are the third-best team in the South.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Martin was a pleasant surprise for the Bucs last season but he can’t do everything on offense. The Buccaneers went 7-9 last year but I still think they are the worst team in this division, which is an understatement since this is such a good division in my opinion. Josh Freeman has potential but he needs to leave the Bucs in order for it to show, he isn’t the quarterback for this team and the sooner the front office realizes that the better for them.

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers: Even with the departures of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, the Packers will still be a force in the NFC. After all, they have Aaron Rodgers, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. They had a disappointing end to their seasons the last two years and I believe they will be back to try and reclaim their dominance in the NFC.
2. Chicago Bears: How many teams fire their head coach after going 10-6? That’s exactly what the Bears did by firing Lovie Smith. The Bears aren’t a bad team and with Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall on offense, the Bears will still be a force. Unfortunately for ‘da Bears, they play in the NFC where there are too many good teams and the Bears just can’t keep up with the higher-powered offenses they’ll have to face. Still, this should be a good year for the loyal Chicago fans, at least in the regular season.
3. Detroit Lions: I am not quite sure what happened last year the Lions; I mean, they finally made the playoffs two years ago, then followed it up with a 4-12 record last season. It makes no sense. Then again it is the Lions. Matthew Stafford still has the best receiver in all of football in Calvin Johnson, who to this day is the only player that can claim to have broken the famous “Madden Curse”. The Lions will contend for a while, but won’t have enough to go back to the playoffs.
4. Minnesota Vikings: This might be the most surprising part of these predictions since the Vikings made the playoffs last year but I believe that the trade of Percy Harvin really hurt the Vikings. It takes away speed on offense and a return game. Adrian Peterson is an absolute monster on the field and he will keep the Vikings relevant next season but it won’t be enough to make an encore trip to the playoffs. They are the cellar dwellers in the NFC North.

NFC East:

1. New York Giants: I think last season was just a hardcore case of a Super Bowl hangover and the Giants will be back and ready next year. Eli Manning is a baller and will have this team ready to contend again. Fans of New York, don’t worry you won’t have to wait another year to see your team in the playoffs… unless you are Jet fans….
2. Philadelphia Eagles: A lot of people have been calling me crazy recently because I believe that the Eagles will actually improve a lot this season and be back near the top of the standings. Chip Kelly will make a big difference, especially on a team with so much talent as the Eagles. Injuries killed this team last year. At the beginning of the 2012 season, they looked poised to finally become the dominant team we have been expecting since Michael Vick joined the Eagles. Maybe they get close to that in 2013.
3. Washington Redskins: Congratulations to all the accomplishments of the Redskins last season but that’s last season. Robert Griffin III is one of my favorite players in the NFL, but his injury in the playoffs looked pretty bad. Like the 49ers’ Kaepernick, I think that teams will start to figure his game out. If RGIII can change his game up, it would not only confuse teams but also help prolong his career. I am going out on a limb here by saying the Redskins regress some and finish third in the division.
4. Dallas Cowboys: America’s Team? Not anymore. If anything, they have become a team that most people like to watch lose. Tony Romo got a huge contract after only winning one playoff game in his career, which had lots of football fans, including me, questioning this franchise. I don’t see the Cowboys ending the season at the bottom of the NFL standings, just at the bottom of this division’s standings.

Division Winners:

NFC West: Seattle Seahawks

NFC South: Atlanta Falcons

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

NFC East: New York Giants

Wild Card Teams: San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints (Notable other teams: Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions)

Playoff Bracket:

1. Atlanta Falcons (12-4)
2. Seattle Seahawks (11-5, own tiebreaker over San Francisco)
3. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
4. New York Giants (9-7)
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-5)
6. New Orleans Saints (9-7)

6 New Orleans Saints @ 3 Green Bay Packers: (Packers 34-31)

5 San Francisco 49ers @ 4 New York Giants: (49ers 27-14)

5 San Francisco 49ers @ 1 Atlanta Falcons: (Falcons 28-24)

3 Green Bay Packers @ 2 Seattle Seahawks: (Seahawks 35-28)

AFC Championship Game:

2 Seattle Seahawks @ 1 Atlanta Falcons: (Falcons 27-24)

AFC Champions: Atlanta Falcons

One in thirteen is a percentage of 7.7%. That’s a god damn disaster if you ask me.

One in every thirteen years is like getting laid momentarily before being asked to STOP. You madly reel up the fly, waddle home, flip up a defeat of bluing balls, hit the head, shower the left of the toilet seat, and then lightly rest the hammer with a false sense of pride.

Once in the last thirteen years the 49ers have shown promise, and a prostituting set of red and gold arise with a childish banter? With biceps made of molded Play dough? Puny stiffy’s the size of a Chihuahua’s?

Just ask Alex Smith about the Swiss cheese sea of Niner’ nation. Who, over a tumultuous career in the bay, was blamed by every side-cocked-hat-sporting teen and fat bellied, overworked office copier from San Jose to Sacramento for a disastrous ownership, fickle fan base and cohort of condemned know-it-all coaches and offensive coordinators.

But after aptly delivering in last weekend’s win over the Saints with two beautifully well-timed and strong throws, Smith is celebrated by Niner’ Nation, as if each and every one of them “knew it all along.”

Despite the one blaring factoid in relation to Smith’s erratic play — that he played for six offensive coordinators and three coaches in six years — the lack of sport education from most of San Franciscans was and is the reason they missed that  point of immense gravity.

But magically, here comes Jim Harbaugh.

After his signing last January an inoculation spread among lukewarm fans like a microorganism. It was called idiocy; Idiociticosis, a protective coating endorsed by the franchise to diminish criticism and critique.

And now, just one week shy from a game against the red hot New York Giants, a team similar to the 2007 Super Bowl team but built with a nastier set of freakish receivers, the same super-duper “I got 49 problems but the Pack aint’ one” concoction of clowns are idiotically brushing aside the Giants because of a mediocre mid-season win AT HOME against them? Yes, stupidly.

Idiotic point one: Never take lightly a team this sizzling with a 4th quarter closer like Eli Manning. Hindsight isn’t 20/20, it’s blind.

Idiotic point two: Never ever be so stupid to demean an organization, the Packers, who are 13-1 against you the last fifteen years with cheap one-line replays.

Then we get into last week’s parlay against the New Orleans Saints, who just 5-3 on the road and historically weak on grass outdoors, blew it big-time with six — yes SIX — turnovers in a rumpled 36-32 loss at the hands of the 49ers.

Wait, hold on. Before I even think about the “glory” of defeating a team centered on the great Drew Brees, let me get one thing seriously straight, did I say SIX turnovers?

Six turnovers and the 49ers hadn’t finished the job in the 2nd quarter? They flailed like a fish out of water, looked like children, green and lucky, scooted with their pants on fire, and escaped the burning building.

Ugly.

Let’s begin with the micromanagement of Jim “Face like I have an angry Hemorrhoid” Harbaugh, whose force-fed slow and methodical run straight up the middle on a 3rd and 3 approach to offense is blander than a saltine cracker. Whose shackles around a blooming offense with a heavy handed dictator’s force, is shrinking the 9ers offensive testosterone. Despite the offensive weaponry of dynamic athletes like Vernon Davis, Mike Crabtree, Frank Gore, and the strong armed Alex Smith, Harbaugh’s incessantly fallen in love with kicker, David Akers, and stunted any, if any at all, offensive relevance with a drum hum one dimensional front that will not work for long.

No matter what many speculate, mostly, a Super Bowl team must manage to push the opposition on both sides of the ball.

The 49ers have some of this in their defense, the same reason the Packers this year are left wading in last year’s rotted glory with a defense made of powder puffers.

But a game-winning drive to knock off a team with six turnovers is not glorious, it’s lucky, like swinging a bat with a blindfold and hitting a grand slam.

For some of you out there, being the Troy Glaus “powerhouse” of football franchises is enough. But for me, I’d rather riddle to the roof a complex infrastructure of dominance like a Matt Kemp or Albert Pujols.

Never pick an apple early off the tree. It’s green and overly tart, taste like a lemon with a bitter skin. The 49ers are seasons away from being considered a dominate competitor.

So let it rest. Let you team be.

Revel with the understanding that the Giants have been here before and your team hasn’t, that the Packers will be there next year with an upgraded defense, the Patriots with Tom Brady, the Steelers a healthy Big Ben, Saints with a bone to pick, improved Ravens offense and the Texans a year more mature.

Eyes will be glued to flat-screens nationwide for the entire weekend come the first kickoff Saturday afternoon in San Francisco. Rounds of golf will be cancelled. Agendized voyages to The Home Depot and Costco will be shoved aside. America’s dominant sports passion is nearing its penultimate moment. Adjectives attempting to describe will ring in hyperbole and previously planned objectives will mire below the paramount. One item takes precedence over everything this time of year: the NFL Divisional Playoffs are a can’t-miss – a must-see.

New Orleans @ San Francisco, Saturday @ 1:30pm PST, FOX

“Supposed” unbiased on-lookers seem to tab the Niners as the “most complete” team in the playoffs. I need coke-bottle specs to be able to focus on that description realistically, seeing as the Niners’ offense seems to stall against the few legit defenses they have faced, as well as even mediocre defenses for that matter.

This tends to happen when San Fran’s jumbo personnel – power scheme is stymied on first and second downs, and third and medium plus becomes a remote prospect for Alex Smith. A pee-wee football offense only takes you so far, and a conference championship game, unfortunately for Niner fans, isn’t that place.

Turnovers, special teams play and “x-factors” will be be the difference. The fundamental questions become – do you trust Drew Brees or Alex Smith with turnovers? Easy answer – Brees. Who has the special teams and xfactor-advantage? Easy answer, Darren Sproles over Ted Ginn, Jr.

The Niner defense takes a stand that ends up becoming too little – too late, and San Francisco’s offense tries to match the touchdowns scored by the Saints with field goals. In what should be the last game played in the wind-tunneled, seagull-infested dump known as Candlestick, New Orleans eventually separates themselves in victory, 27-16. Give this storied franchise a new stadium already.

Denver @ New England, Saturday @ 5:00pm PST, CBS

Denver will try to make the game shorter early, but will fail with the inability to convert first downs on 3rd and medium-plus after conservative first and second down calls. Tom Brady loves the middle of the field, as Rob Gronkowski to the post and Wes Welker on the crossing route underneath will gain the Pats field position. Denver’s chances are dismal at the half and will become non-existent deep into the 3rd quarter, as New England will lead comfortably.

In what will eventually be only a B+ day for the Pats due to the stubborn Denver defense, New England will manage the clock with first downs after the ball is punted to them time and time again due to the ineptitude of the Broncos offense, and will end up with a somewhat notable 28-10 victory.

Tebow, while not in victory, will righteously justify his creator by thanking the Almighty for the learning experience. As soon as the next Super Bowl Champion is done celebrating and spring camp is soon to open, the “Tebow polarization” question is still the NFL lead.

Houston @ Baltimore, Sunday @ 10:00am PST, CBS

There are a lot of people picking a Houston upset, yet the funny thing is, it is based on absolutely nothing other than a thirst for the unforeseen outcome. The bottom line is, Arain Foster alone won’t be enough to save the rookie-captianed cattle.

Baltimore has every advantage you can think of: home field, playoff experience, defense, quarterback play, and even the running back factor is a push at best for Houston. But even if Foster out-produces Ray Rice, there are simply too many disadvantages for the Texans to overcome.

While not quite a blow-out at the mid-point, the Ravens will come out after lunch and take control, outscoring Houston from the half somewhere in the range of 17-7, and coast into the AFC Championship game, 27-13. Baltimore in January is no place for a third-string, rookie quarterback. That’s a rule.

New York @ Green Bay, Sunday @ 1:30pm PST, FOX

The New York Giants can run the ball. The New York Giants can play in the elements. Eli Manning has solidified himself as an “elite” quarterback, which he so desperately tried to assert himself as to the media before the season got underway. But can Manning match the highest-tier of “elite level” that Aaron Rodgers is capable of in his own back yard?

Considering The Pack gets back from injury: starting guard Brian Bulaga, veteran tackle Chad Clifton and go-to receiver Greg Jennings; picking against Green Bay in the confines of Lambeau Field would tend towards the suicidal, I’m not looking to swallow cyanide just yet after only 31 years.

That being said, two weeks of rest for most of Green Bay’s starters may result in some rust for the favorite, as I wouldn’t be surprised if New York climbed out to a 7-0 or 10-0 lead early. But in the end, the frozen tundra, Sunday night momentum and juggernaut capabilities gets the Packers by with a defense that bends but doesn’t break, 31-20.

* * * * * * *

Baltimore @ New England and New Orleans @ Green Bay – could you ask for two better conference championship games? I guess you could if you are a fan of the teams picked to get beat? But that’s why… they play… the games.

Nothing is that easy to predict, right? Nothing is set in stone, right? Anyone’s crystal ball could end up being a bit foggy from time to time after all. But after a wild card weekend in which all the highest seeds advanced for the first time since god was an infant, the expected will again come to fruition.

Its time to separate the men from the boys. Favorites will rule and the conference championship games next weekend will feature those who we thought would end up remaining afterall. Yeaaa yeaaa Coach Green. Back off. The royalty check is already in the mail.