How Much I Effed Up: The NFC Edition

With the Draft a few days away, I wanted to get my claims to idiocy behind me. After my AFC grades, I knew I was in for a bit of let-down with the opposing conference. All the surprises (both good and bad) were clustered in the NFC. So let’s get to the self-degradation!

In case you didn’t check out the last look-back, here’s the scale I came up with to judge my suckiness.

***** = Dead on. I’m a genius.

**** = 1-2 games off the mark. Not too shabby.

*** = 3 games off. At least I’m in the ballpark.

** = 4-5 games off. The team let me down.

* = 6+ games off. I should get a pass for these picks because they’re so bad. (That and everyone else probably flubbed too.)

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

My prediction: 11-5
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: **

Well… we all missed this mark. I may not have been picking them to steam-roll the East, but that offense was molasses-like early on and the defense just wasn’t showing up to play. Yeah, that gets a guy fired alright.

Though I have come to appreciate discussing the Cowboys, if only to have an excuse to post cheerleader pictures.

Philadelphia Eagles

My prediction: 9-7
What actually happened: 10-6
My result: ****

Now, that was my prediction with Kevin Kolb as a starter, but I’ll still take credit for knowing the Eagles would be solid. The story for next year is how much better can Vick get? I’m not sure that magical season can repeat itself.

New York Giants

My prediction: 7-9
What actually happened: 10-6
My result: ***

Someone had to take a step back in this division… I just wasn’t expecting it to come from Dallas. Still, the Giants couldn’t sneak their way into the playoffs thanks to an epic fail against the Eagles. I feel vindicated slightly.

Washington Redskins

My prediction: 8-8
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: ****

Well… Donovan McNabb getting benched for Rex Grossman wasn’t exactly in my thought process when I was predicting the Skins’ record. Had it been, I surely would have also predicted an early apocalypse, flying monkeys and Snooki at Wrestlemania. Wait… scratch that last one.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings

My prediction: 10-6
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: **

Speaking of collapses, who would have thought the Vikings and Lions would end up tied in the W-L columns? Not this guy, that’s for sure. But it sure was sweet to see the Favre train so viciously derailed. Now they don’t have anything even remotely resembling a quarterback.

Green Bay Packers

My prediction: 12-4
What actually happened: 10-6
My result: ****

So I overplayed their regular season record, but they still went to the Super Bowl just like I (and most everyone else) thought. So I should really give myself five stars here, if only to feel better about my Bears losing to them in the NFC Championship game. Ugh.

Jerks.

Chicago Bears

My prediction: 7-9
What actually happened: 11-5
My result: **

Honestly, I loved being wrong here. I had no idea the offense would (sometimes) click like they did. The defense was stellar and Devin Hester returned to form. And I still love Jay Cutler, who dropped his interceptions sharply after the glut in his first season.

Detroit Lions

My prediction: 4-12
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: ****

Pfft. They’re still the Lions. If they actually get to 8-8 next year I’ll buy Lions season tickets. (No I won’t. That’s just silly.) I’ll be more surprised if Matthew Stafford can stay on the field for 16 games. Doubtful.

Dumb sunglasses, red booze cup, backwards hat, and prerequisite bird-flip. Yep, Stafford's got a douche pic. Correction: he's got a LOT of them. Seriously. Google him.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints

My prediction: 12-4
What actually happened: 11-5
My result: ****

So I’ll pat myself on the back on my Saints prediction, since it’s the only team in the division I was even remotely close on. Still, going out to the Seahawks? Bad form.

Atlanta Falcons

My prediction: 9-7
What actually happened: 13-3
My result: **

That Georgia Dome advantage reared its head this season…until of course the Packers came in and decimated them on national television. Though the Matt Ryan is a choker arguments don’t hold water until the dude actually gets to the playoffs on several occasions.

Carolina Panthers

My prediction: 6-10
What actually happened: 2-14
My result: **

What a clusterf*ck. The running game was meh, the defense was poor and the passing attack was miserable. Now they get the number one overall pick, which they could easily use to take a QB. Sorry Jimmy Clausen

Surprisingly not a lot of douchey pics for Clausen. (He trends the other direction I've noticed.) Though this picture is wrong on so many levels. No Jimmy, no.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

My prediction: 4-12
What actually happened: 10-6
My result: *

As good as the Bucs’ record may look, they weren’t really a ten-win team. Josh Freeman on the other hand, is the real deal. And so is his 'fro.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

My prediction: 6-10
What actually happened: 5-11
My result: ****

This is what happens when you think Derek Anderson can be your starting quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers

My prediction: 10-6
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: **

So they went oppo on my prediction. No worries. That was the most uncomfortable I felt about any of my picks. Alex Smith practically defines erratic at this point and Mike Singletary can’t coach. Jim Harbaugh should come in and change the culture, if nothing else.

Seattle Seahawks

My prediction: 9-7
What actually happened: 7-9
My result: ****

I’m still not sure how they beat the Saints, but the Seahawks proved there’s nothing wrong with the NFL playoff format. Maybe next year they’ll learn how to win on the road more than once. Too much to ask?

St. Louis Rams

My prediction: 4-12
What actually happened: 7-9
My result: ***

Well played Sam Bradford, well played. At least they kept him upright most of the time.  Now maybe they’ll get a wide receiver that can actually play. Or has a name I know. Either one.

My final grade for the NFC? 47 out of 80 stars for a sluggish 59%. My strong divisions were the East and West, but I boned the South…hard.

Yep, I failed.

Check back this week for my 2011 NFL Draft preview!