Packers, Saints, 49ers, and O yes the Cowboys Class Of NFC.

Packers, Saints, 49ers, and O yes the Cowboys Class Of NFC.

Two teams ( the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints ) that was on everybody radar to not only get to but also win super bowl 46. A team ( the Dallas Cowboys ) that a loyal fan base hoped could regained the magic of yesteryear and a team ( the San Francisco 49ers ) led by a rookie coach no one saw coming are leading the charge in the NFC to super bowl 46 in Indianapolis. In a season that started with sweet dreams in Philadelphia to talk of redemption in Atlanta and little brothers ( Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ) believing the time had come for them to sit at the big boys table, the NFC has the look of a four team race to the finish line.

While it can be said that the Atlanta Falcons look to have righted their ship, they are still a defense away from redemption. After a 5&0 start to the season the Detroit Lions had the look of a team ready to take it's place as one of the elite teams in the NFC. But youth and undisciplined play has brought the Lions crashing back down to earth. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers where do I start, after doing nothing in the offseason to help built on an great 2010 season ( 10&6 and just missing the playoff's ) the Buccaneer's may have to start all over from the top down.

The Chicago Bears last season's NFC north division winner, looked to have made all the right chances after being taken apart on national tv by the Lions. However with the loss of Jay Cutler for the remainder of the season, the Bears will have a hard time making the playoff's. The Packers and Saints are clearly at the head of the class in the NFC ( to much offense and the right QB's pulling the triggers ) but Dallas and San Francisco have solid teams and will give the Packers and Saints a fight for NFC title and a shot at super bowl 46.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Three 2010 division winners facing must win games this weekend.

Three 2010 division winners facing must win games this weekend.

Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles

Already going into game four of the 2011 NFL season, we have three division winners from last season facing must win situations. I mean no disrespect at all to division winners Seattle, Indianapolis, or Kansa City who for difference reasons going into 2011 season, had no one picking them to be relevant in this season's playoff picture let alone winning their divisions. However the three teams above two of which were on a lot of lists to make the super bowl, could be one loss away at this early stage of the season of falling out of the playoff picture all together.

I know it might be harsh to write teams off after only four games, but let's take a look at how the divisions races might look with a loss by any of theses three teams this weekend. With the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions already two games ahead in the loss column, and both playing very winnable games this weekend the Bears may have no chance of getting back in the race with a loss to Carolina at home.
And with Jay Cutler looking like....well like Jay Cutler the Bears have the look of a team that could very well be on the outside looking in if they can't find some way right their ship.

The Atlanta Falcons who last season had the best record in the NFC going 13 & 3 and getting what every team plays for, a chance of knowing the road to the super bowl would have to go thru the Georgia dome. Not only did the Falcons failed to get out of the second round of the NFC playoff's after a first round bye. They were totally outclassed and manhandled by the super bowl champ's Green Bay Packers on their home field. Playing in the same division as the one year removed super bowl champ's New Orleans Saints and last season 10 win Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Atlanta can ill afford leaving Seattle with a loss knowing what lay's ahead of them on their schedule. ( two games with New Orleans, a rematch with the super bowl champion Green Bay Packers, a trip to the motor city to play the now potent Detroit Lions, not to mention a return game with the Buccaneers ) A loss this weekend and the Falcons and their fans might have to start thinking about next season after only four games.

The Philadelphia Eagles the self anointed dream team, are now living the nightmare of high expectations. After only three games the Eagles may be one loss away from having no chance at seeing the playoff's let alone a trip to Indianapolis for this year's super bowl. Andy Reid and the Eagles are finding out what you think you have is not actually what you have. With all the chatter that surrounded the team with it's offseason free agents pickups, the Eagles are now seeing what a lockout can do to very good players who have little or no time to work together with no mini camps or offseason OTA's. Where as I do see the Eagles having the easier road of the three teams at getting back into there divisional race. ( because I don't believe the other teams in their division has what it take to give that knock out punch ) I can see the heart and soul of their team quarterback Mike Vick who has already been concussed and now with a badly bruised hand not making it through this football season. No way this dream team can win without Vick so this weekend the Eagles must find a way to keep the 49ers stout defense off their star quarterback, or the Eagles and their fans may find out karma has a not so funny way of showing itself when you least want it.

Even knowing four games does not a season make, I see theses three 2010 division winners going into game four knowing it very well may be the defining game of their whole season.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Five young NFL quarterback with everything to prove in 2011.

Five young NFL quarterback with everything to prove in 2011.

Jay Cutler-Chicago Bears
Matthew Stafford-Detroit Lions
Matt Rayn-Atlanta Falcons
Josh Freeman-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Flacco-Baltimore Ravens

With the 2011 NFL season a week away I have five NFL quarterbacks who need to take their games and team's to the next level. All theses QB's but one has in some way shown they have what it take to get their team to the ultimate goal of winning a super bowl. Often injured Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford With all the ability in the World in get the job done, has yet to show he can physically stand up to a 16 game season. If Stafford can find a way to stay on the football field for a whole season, he just might be the guy that can take his team to that next level.

Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman has taken the NFL by storm with his ability to make plays, and his strong leadership skills has Buccaneer's fans believing there could be a super bowl in their future. Going into his third season as a starter Freeman must now prove he's ready to take that next step toward greatness. The Bear's Jay Cutler has the most to prove in this group of five. Regardless of what Bear's management, coaches and players, or Bear fans say, what happen in the NFC championship will be hard to overcome. That one game could be the defining moment in Cutler's career. The 2011 NFL season is a make or break season for Cutler, he's needs to prove that he is not only a physically tough quarterback but is also mentally tough enough to lead his team to the next level. In my opinion the the Bears won the NFC central despite Cutler not because of Cutler.

Matt Ryan of the Falcons is number two on this list of young QB's with the most to prove this coming season. Given the nickname matty- ice by the football media and leading his team to home field advantage in the NFC playoffs with a13&3 regular season record; Ryan looked very uncomfortable being in the spotlight in the biggest game's of his young career. The time is now for Ryan to take his game up to the level of his hype up nickname.

Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens has the best resume of all theses young QB's,three years as a starter, three playoff appearance, 4 playoff win. But he also has the biggest mountain to climb. He has to over-take not one, not two, but three hall of fame quarterbacks ( Tom Brady, Payton Manning, and Big Ben Roethlisberger ) playing at a very high level at the same time. And if you add Philip River of the Chargers and Mark Sanchez of the Jets to the list, you might see how Flacco could be the right guy playing at the wrong time for the Ravens. Flacco has proven he's a winner, however taking that step to the next level Flacco will need to go inside himself and find a way to climb that mountain.

With the NFL being a quarterback driven league, the time is now for one if not all of theses young QB's to take their turn at the wheel and lead their team to the next level.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com