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What We’ve Learned So Far: Division by Division NFC Edition

The NFL season is three weeks old.  One week short of the quarter mark, yet we’ve already learned so much about certain teams. Now, there is still plenty of football left to be played, but here is what we know, or we think we know, so far. Check out the AFC Edition here.

NFC East

Coming into the season, the NFC East appeared to be the strongest division in the NFL.  The Dallas Cowboys, who many have picked to play at home in the Super Bowl, have looked shaky in the first two weeks.  However, their big week three win over the Houston Texans seemed to calm the fan base, at least temporarily.  The talent is certainly there for a title run.  In New York, the Giants started strong but have fallen off in the last two weeks.  Pass protection for Eli Manning has been lacking, and this could lead to some costly turnovers down the road.

With Michael Vick solidifying his starting spot at quarterback in Philadelphia, the Eagles could quickly become the team nobody wants to face this year.  However, there are many new faces, particularly on defense, and this could spell trouble as the season progresses.

Finally, the Washington Redskins have begun a new chapter with the acquisition of former-Eagle QB Donovan McNabb.  With their huge week one win over the Cowboys, DC fans were primed for a resurgence.  Unfortunately, they followed that big victory with two straight defeats, losing a nail-biter to the Texans and suffering a head-scratching loss against the lowly Rams.

NFC North

So far, we’ve discovered that the Vikings will not be the dominant team they were in 2009.  Brett Favre is without top wideout Sidney Rice for the first half of the season, and this has proven to be a significant loss for the team.  The aging quarterback may soon find his decision to return for yet another season to be a poor one.  The Chicago Bears, on the other hand, look to be a team on the rise.

Under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the Bears look much stronger, and quarterback Jay Cutler is thriving in his second year.  On the other side of the ball, DE Julius Peppers, acquired in the offseason, adds a scary dimension to an already strong defense.  Peppers caused a few Packer penalties all on his own last week.  Speaking of the Packers, who have been and still remain a popular Super Bowl pick, QB Aaron Rodgers has looked next to unstoppable with his never-ending choice of quality receiving targets.

Unfortunately, Green Bay can’t seem to get out of their own way.  Penalties have plagued the team and could prove to be their Achilles heel.  At the bottom of the division, the Lions appear to be heading in the right direction.  However, they still have a long way to go and it will be a good while before they are included in any meaningful discussions within division.

NFC South

The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints are looking to repeat, and there’s no reason why they can’t.  The loss of defensive back Darren Sharper could hurt them, but its hard to root against Drew Brees and that high-flying offensive attack.  In the short term, the Saints need to worry about replacing the touches that went to running back Reggie Bush.  His absence over the next few weeks could become a significant issue.

If any team will challenge the Saints in this division, it will surely be the Atlanta Falcons, who already made a big statement by beating the champs in their own house last week.  QB Matt Ryan looks primed to have his best year yet, and has already appeared to have found his rhythm with TE Tony Gonzalez and WR Roddy White.

The Buccaneers have also started well, but they may not be as good as their 2-1 record indicates.  QB Josh Freeman is still largely unproven and does not have many options to throw to.  In Carolina, the Panthers are in obvious rebuilding mode, having already pulled the ripcord and inserted rookie Jimmy Clausen as their starting quarterback.

NFC West

This is undoubtedly the worst division in football, so it was no surprise when many pundits picked the 49ers to ascend in 2010.  That was before the real games started, and people saw how awful their offense really was.  It appears that QB Alex Smith will never be an elite NFL quarterback, and you can’t win many games in the NFL these days without a decent offense.  So far, this has been a disappointing year in the Bay area.

Under new head coach Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have turned some heads after the first three weeks.  Seattle is still one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, and as long as QB Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy, there’s no reason to believe the Seahawks can’t win the West this year.  In Arizona, the losses of QB Kurt Warner and WR Anquan Boldin have already taken their toll.  You can just see the helplessness on the face of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald every time QB Derek Anderson misses a throw to him.  Arizona’s defense is simply not dominant enough to make up for what the offense has lost.

With rookie QB Sam Bradford at the helm, the Rams were supposed to be the doormat in the division this year.  However, the young quarterback has been impressive thus far.  Beating the Redskins last week, even at home, was no small feat.  There is certainly reason for optimism in St. Louis.  Not too much, though.

NFC North Breakout Players

We continue out look at the NFC with the North division today.  You can see the NFC East here.  Without further ado here are the breakout candidates from the NFC North.

Chicago Bears- Greg Olsen

Olsen will be Jay Cutler's favorite target this season.

Olsen has improved in his two years in the league and looks poised to have a breakout year this season. He has shared time with Desmond Clark but is now firmly the starter. Chicago also acquired this guy called Jay Cutler who is a hell of a lot better than Kyle Orton. Olsen will be the primary target in the passing offense which will pass more this season with Cutler at the helm.

Detroit Lions- Cliff Avril

Avril was one of the few bright spots on a win less Lions team. The rookie from Purdue was a constant force in rushing the passer and notched 5 sacks despite starting only four games. Now Avril will be starting from week one giving him a full season to wreck havoc. If the Lions improve this season he will be a big part of the success.

Green Bay Packers- Jermichael Finley

Finley didn’t play much as a rookie as he was considered raw coming out of college. Finley though, has improved his blocking dramatically and it has  earned him more playing time. He has drawn rave reviews for his play in training camp and has torn it up in the preseason. Finley will start the season splitting time with veteran Donald Lee but don’t be shocked when Finley takes over early in the season.