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

Bill O’Brien filled the first of the five NFL head-coaching vacancies. By BenJones88, via Wikimedia Commons

Every sports team has a leader. The success or failure of the team depends on the kind of leadership that is displayed. Most of the time, the head coach is the leader of the team and his or her voice in the locker room can make all the difference on deciding the outcome of a game. Especially in the NFL, a coach can make or break a team.

After each NFL season, the first Monday after the regular season ends is called by lots of media “Black Monday” — a time when teams re-assess their organizations. Many teams that underperformed fire their head coach and start the search for a new leader in the new year. This season is no different as five coaches were fired on “Black Monday.” One of the teams searching for a new head coach has all the pieces already and makes for the best available coaching position.

The Vikings, Texans, Buccaneers, Redskins, and Lions all fired their coaches after struggling during the season. Despite having the worst record in the league this past year, the Texans job is the best available landing spot for any coach. Just a year ago, Houston considered one of the best teams in the NFL and had a chance to make a Super Bowl run. Poor quarterback play and injuries plagued the Texans in 2013 but with the number-one overall pick in the upcoming draft the Texans have all the upside.

Led by Arian Foster and Andre Johnson on offense, the Texans still have two of the scariest and best offensive weapons in the NFL. On the defensive side of the ball, the Texans will still feature All Pro J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing and Kareem Jackson. All the Texans need is a quarterback and with the 1^st overall pick, I expect them to take one. The Texans didn’t waste much time finding a new coach, hiring Penn State coach Bill O’Brien. The NFL is a league where teams can turn things around quickly. The fact that the Texans found a coach so quickly tells me that they believed that all they really needed was a new voice in the locker room to bring them back to being a contender.

I usually am opposed to jumping on another writer’s point and making it my own, but I saw something today that caught my eye and I thought I’d share it. It’s a Yahoo! Sports article by Anwar S. Richardson that discusses Ahmad Brooks’ comments about Robert Griffin III.

After suffering a devastating knee injury and playing through it in the playoffs last year, Griffin underwent surgery in the offseason and rehabbed in record time. His timetable was so insane that head coach, Mike Shanahan had to intervene and try to slow him down some.

A lot has recently been made about toughness and “warrior” mentality in the NFL, and Griffin certainly personified that way of thinking, even going so far as to butt heads with his coach about when he would return to game action.

I wonder sometimes if his public dispute with Shanahan was in any way related to this documentary that was made:

If Griffin didn’t get back to playing right away, the narrative of the documentary titled “The Will to Win” would have been nowhere near as powerful. Add to that the pressure the Redskins have been under for some time to not be horrible and the incredible hyperbole that surrounded the Griffin-led Redskins going to the playoffs last season, and you have a recipe for everyone to talk themselves into RG3 being healthy and ready to play sooner than he actually was.

Robert Griffin III has just not looked right this season. By Keith Allison (Flickr: Robert Griffin III) via Wikimedia Commons

Now, the ‘Skins are 3-8 and in last place in a very mediocre division. Their future that looked so bright less than a season ago now begins to get hazy. Backup Kirk Cousins has proven to be solid in relief appearances and is a player who could develop somewhere else if not in Washington.

If Washington has an option like Cousins, I really agree with Richardson on this one. Maybe he should have already gotten a shot. He definitely should now.

Griffin isn’t the same guy. He doesn’t seem as comfortable using the skill-set that got him to the place he is. He isn’t the only reason the Redskins are 3-8, but since they are, why don’t we let RG3 heal up a little more and see what kind of real commodity they have with Cousins. Fans in Washington might find that they’ve been excited about the wrong guy all along.

Holy cow.

I am usually not one to comment on some fan’s random YouTube video, but this one was too compelling to dismiss.

I showed it to my friend, the Redskins fan. Here was his response:

“That is SO many different kinds of awesomeness.”

First off, try to get through it. If you can.

So there’s lots to digest and break-down here. Like Ron Jaworski dissecting a young quarterback’s play, so too will I dissect this woman’s video.

If you go to Redskins training camp, you might see a bunch of players standing around like this not signing autographs. It would be OK to not cry about it. By Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, via Wikimedia Commons

The first question, though, is who goes back the their car and tapes themselves crying like this. This video is a plea for help and I hope this woman gets some help. That being said, here goes:

(0:03) “I just spent all day at Redskins training camp for nothin’.”

OK. That actually sounds like a fun time to me, and I’m not even a ‘skins fan. Seriously. If someone said to me, “Owen, it’s a Saturday, you’re off work, and Redskins camp is around the corner. Let’s go check it out,” I would almost definitely go. Watching great athletes ply their trade is an interesting thing in any setting, especially those that you don’t see on TV. Watching any of my favorite teams at training camp for a day would be even more fun. So this lady must not be a Redskins fan?

(0:09) “I’ve been here since 6:30 this morning. It’s like 12:00.”

OK. Let’s stop there. Now you’ve contradicted yourself. You’ve been there for 5 1/2 hours, but I don’t know that that constitutes “all day.” Perhaps it constitutes “all morning,” but probably not “all day.” The whine in her voice over the course of nine seconds is pretty incredible too. I already pity her.

(0:17) “And all I wanted was an autograph but I couldn’t even get that. No players even came to where I was standing.”

Sounds like you weren’t standing in the right place. I bet you could have asked someone where the right place was to stand and increased your autograph chances that way. If you were there since 6:30 and all you wanted was an autograph, then I would imagine that you would have had that opportunity at some point.

(0:30) And now we’ve established that it was up to the Redskins organization to make sure that fans like you have autographs?

(1:00) We’ve heard lots of crying, sobbing, and sad, sad anger. She is blaming the Redskins for “doing this to their fans.” What have they actually done? Not made their players go out the wrong exit from the field?

(1:10) We’ve established (multiple times) the following points –

1) She’s been a fan her whole life

2) She got here early and waited a long time

3) She just wanted an autograph

3a) She didn’t care whose autograph

(1:21) GAME CHANGER – She was on one side. “Right in the front.” And all the players went to the other side with fans who had just arrived. How could they!?

I don’t want to pile on too much here. I think there’s a great lesson to be learned though. It’s a lesson I learned as a 10 year old at Dodger Stadium. Here goes:

If the only marker of whether a trip to an event like training camp was successful was whether you got an autograph, stay home.

If you are really a fan, then you should be able to watch practice and feel OK about it. It definitely sucks that you didn’t get an autograph, but here’s what you probably did get a chance to do:

* Watch guys tiptoe through raised, string-based hopscotch lines.

* Get closer than you ever will at FedEx Field, though I doubt you even go to any actual games.

* Observe lots of players who will not be on the roster during the upcoming year.

* See some of the best athletes in the world – the top one percent of one percent – apply their craft.

* Get an inside glimpse into Mike Shanahan’s practice. I think this is probably the most interesting one and is something that any true adult Redskins fan might be interested in.

Instead, you probably:

* Stood in the front row, blocking other patrons’ view.

* Tried to talk to/ bother the players during their practice time

* Payed no attention to what was actually going on

* Only were interested in an autograph, failing to recognize the fact that it was a beautiful day, you were out with the Redskins on a work day, in a pretty rare environment for you, the public, to be allowed into.

I wonder if anyone else was there on this fateful day. I’d love to hear from someone who has actually been to Redskins training camp recently. It’s free to go there by the way.

From the Redskins website Training Camp FAQ’s:

Following practice, Redskins players and coaches will be made available to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, schedules permitting. There is no guarantee that you will have an opportunity to receive autographs during training camp.  The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders will also be making appearances and signing autographs during training camp.

What should she have done differently, aside from massively building her expectations up for Redskins training camp being an autograph bonanza for everyone who came out to watch?

The 2012 NFL rookie class has proven to be one of the better draft classes in recent years, with players like Trent Richardson, Alfred Morris, Doug Martin, Justin Blackmon and Ryan Tannehill just to name a few. Many teams this season have relied heavily on the players they selected back in April and many of them have produced. But three quarterbacks have stood out consistently all season long, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson have all proven they can be successful in the league and made their cases for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award. Here is my breakdown of each player’s season and my choice for who I would vote for in the award race if I actually could vote for it:

Russell Wilson defied expectations and helped launch the Seahawks into the playoffs. By Larry Maurer [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: Selected second overall in the 2012 NFL draft, Griffin led the Redskins to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth after the team went 5-11 last season. He went 258-393 in his passing attempts with a completion percentage of 65.6 and threw for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: Selected 75^th overall in the 2012 NFL draft, Wilson led the Seahawks to a 11-5 record after the team went 7-9 last year. He went 252-393 in passing attempts with a completion rating of 64.1 and threw for 3,118 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Also he rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns.

Each one of these players has played well enough to win the award. The fact that all three of their teams are in the playoffs is amazing. But the award can only go to one of them and my pick for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award goes to Russell Wilson of the Seahawks. For me it was a tough decision between him and RG III. Wilson is surely the underdog in this race, but I think he deserves the award over Luck and RGIII because of where he was drafted and the numbers he has put up. He had more touchdowns than both Luck and RGIII and still only managed 10 interceptions throughout the year. Plus his completion percentage is only 1.5 points below RGIII, which is astonishing.

Without the lone tie-game of the season, the Seahawks might have taken the NFC West from the 49ers and earned a first round bye. Wilson and RGIII are meeting up in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in what could be a great game with two great quarterbacks. Taking nothing away from Luck or RGIII but we all knew what to expect from them being the first and second picks in the draft but Wilson had to earn his starting spot in training camp and he proved that the decision to start him was the best move the Seahawks could have made all season.

In a matter of 23 hours and 23 minutes I’ll be numb-brained by an unstoppable force of tryptophan. But who’s counting?

I’m set for the sedation. I went to the gym. Worked off who-knows-how-many calories in order to levy the oncoming attack of turkey legs, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, green beans and bacon, buttered broccoli, rolls, red wine, white wine, champagne, bourbon, a lonely beer (who’s watching?), piece(s) of pumpkin pie topped with hand whipped cream, piece(s) of pecan pie and a secretive second-portioned concoction of them all (use potatoes as the base, then begin swirling cranberry and multiple others into the sticky starch based mountain of divinity).

I’m ready for Uncle Joe’s half-naked intoxication and Aunt Sally’s sassy pursed lip persuasions about another of her hippy skippy selling points on a Himalayan weight loss pill. I’ll dodge, bob and weave the children’s chattering food fights and face Ace, the silent untalkative cousin’s, snarling pit. It will good to be an American. Not only can a man let it loose literally, by unbuckling the slim fitting belt from the skinny jeans or slacks, but he can burp, fart and buzz on a triple-headed machine of NFL football without looking over his shoulder in fear. Blessings and all, am I the only man/woman completely over the traditional turkey day battles starring the irrelevant Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys?

I’m unsure whether or not the new triple-header can salvage the stupidity of watching Detroit (4-6) host the Houston Texans (9-1), and Dallas (5-5) host the Washington Redskins (4-6). The playoff implications here are as small as a flea. Dallas WILL NOT make the playoffs, continuing to disappoint, And Detroit? Detroit is an underachieving mess of young stars succumbed with a sophomore slump.The Washington Redskins are only exciting because of their super-frosh stud, RG 3, but even he, the last three weeks, has looked more human than superhuman, with multiple sub 200-yard passing efforts.

Tryptophan might keep Cowboys fans from attacking their televisions tomorrow. By AJ Guel (originally posted to Flickr as Over the Top) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How much Tony Romo can a man take, before he throws his 44-inch HD 1080-p television off his second story balcony (that is a made up image, I recommend you don’t do that unless you need your extended warranty check to cover rent)? Give it up already! Tryptophan can’t save Romo from the obvious: He can’t win when it matters. And it sure as hell can’t reverse the hard reality that Detroit plays in a division with Da Bears, The Pack and an upstart Minnesota Vikings team. The Redskins and Cowbowys are two teams with similar fates: Playofflessness. While the Redskins play just to continue the evolution of their franchise face.

So while the rest of y’all will be pretending you’re excited over the historic turkey day battalions, I’ll be sleeping, shellacked with peanut shells. I’ll be about as proactive as Al Bundy taking a third and fourthportion from multiple silent Peg’s in a dream. And when I wake, I’ll watch Uncle Joe call his daughter names while playing a game of boxing on the Wii, and pretend I care: “Uncle Joe, lay off Suzy! I’ll challenge you after another go on the pecan pie. Suzy go to bed. Joe you’re my bitch.”

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GFq6usPg6U

My predictions for the turkey day triple header:

The Houston Texans are clicking like no other team in football right now. Detroit has a struggling offensive line, which is exactly what J.J Watt and the fast-footed front line of the Texans devour. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has taken a large step backwards after his emergence last season, throwing just 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions through ten games. The Texans will create two monumental turnovers, and Schaub and the offense will capitalize scoring ten points of those. Houston Texans 30, Detroit Lions 17.

The Dallas Cowboys’ speedy defensive lineman Demarcus Ware-led linebacking core, will rattle the spiraling RG 3 and his multi-dimensional attack. This game features two teams defensively underwhelming, but Romo, the man with a pro bowler’s intangible in games that do not matter, will outshine the more popular rookie. Romo vs. RG 3; Romo throws for 300 hundred on a poor Redskins secondary and Dallas wins. Dallas Cowboys 28, Washington Redskins 23.

In the “other” game, the biggest joke of the three, Tom Brady lines up against the Jets with no Gronk. But no Gronk means more Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd and Danny Woodhead in the slot. The point is, the Pats are not struggling. Brady could line up a cohort of team cheerleaders, and I’d wager money of a Pats route over the mouthy New York Jets. The Jets giving Tim Tebow the ball, is the only news worth covering.  New England Patriots 30, New York Jets 13.

Yet, somewhere, somehow, a hoarders complex turned Eagles management insane this offseason with a spending an upward of $100 million for new talents. 

Adding Namdi Osomugha is one thing, but to continue the gluttony with Culen Jenkins, Vince Young and Ronnie Brown is another. Stack in newly-acquired Steve Smith and things get more outlandish.

The acclaimed “Dream Team” is bringing lofty expectations with its high caliber of Pro Bowl talents. In an NFC East as unpredictable as a quarter slot machine, the moves seem like a small cry for help.

This season the Eagles have set themselves up for quite a storyline—though enticing and paralyzing—automatically placing them as the most hated team in football.

They also upturned a common divisional denominator—the Redskins—who are well-known for zealous spending and are now minuscule in comparison to the Eagles flaunt of cash.

But, why now ?

 Considering that the best they ever got the future Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb was an unhappy Terrel Owens and injury prone Brian Westbrook, proposes a larger question that may be rumbling quietly beneath the surface.

Is Mike Vick for real? Signing the 31-year-old to a one-year franchise tag answers that as “no”.

What then can we make of this current spending spree that has catapulted the one-time prudent Eagles toward Miami Heat status?

You got me.

I am certain the impending embroilment between Vick, and an undervalued Vince Young is a storyline the Eagles management is interested in. The former Longhorn is 30-17 as a starter, and like Vick, can win games with his feet.

But more compelling will be what Vick can do this season with a fattened offense. As nice as he looked as a pocket passer all last year, he now will be forced to do so even more with Ronnie Brown in the back field—a talented player able to slot out and run with efficiency.

With three flankers in DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith and Jeremy Maclin, can Vick continue in a pass-first offense molded around a need for a governing slice and dice-wheeler dealer?

He is not a Brady, Manning or Brees—but a guy who at times still showed signs last year he is uncomfortable under pressure in the pocket, resulting in an injury that cost him two weeks, the Eagles a first-round bye and their loss to the Packers in the playoffs.

Two losses in a row from the man and four turnovers warrants team concerns. But it also, considering the nature of pro athletics, could be water under the bridge with an early rise this year.

Last night’s line: 13-6 W over Baltimore, 4-6, 74 yards and a touchdown says that is a fair possibility. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not this “Dream Team” will crumble in LeFraud fashion or flourish in a hoarder’s heap.

Jest aside: things be a shakin’ in the NFL landscape.

Fault line players like Donovan McNabb and Nnamdi Asomugha headline the extravaganza.

Unproven yet dangerous others: Braylon Edwards, Matt Hasselbeck, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Kolb, Sydney Rice, Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown round out this off-seasons flea market.

Toss in Kevin Orton, who’s become a sudden trade bit available, or the enigma of Vince Young, and the quarterback position is stronger than ever. Here are the top five splashes at the quarterback position. 

1: Vince Young, 28 Years Old, 6 Year Veteran