If you do any sports betting online, then you have been following the myriad of changes that
have been occurring in the NFC this off-season. The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are going to figure into the NFC playoff mix this year, along with a long list of other potential contenders. The best sports betting sites have taken note of the dramatic increase in the quality of play in the NFC, and it makes for a very crowded playoff prediction picture. Let's take a look at the top four teams that should be there when the playoffs start and how those teams may fare.
New York Giants
The thing that propelled the Giants to a world championship last season was its defense. But the play of quarterback Eli Manning had a lot to do with the success of New York as well. The price per head sportsbook experts took note of the loss of wide receiver Mario Manningham in free agency, but Manningham was not the focus of the New York offense last season. Without much of a running game to rely on, Eli Manning finally proved that he is an elite NFL quarterback with his play last season.
The Giants have taken steps to improve its running game and to bring a little more speed in to the defensive secondary. While this will not necessarily be a new and improved version of the New York Giants, it is important
to note that there was not much that needed be improved in the first place.
Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East will be the best division in football in 2012 and the Philadelphia Eagles will win that division. Everyone has to remember that it was not Eagles' head coach Andy Reid who called his team a "dream
team." Reid knew what he had and he tried to temper everyone's expectations. But when the Eagles crashed to the ground, it was Reid who took the flack for it. That means that Reid better get the credit when the Eagles
soar into the playoffs in 2012. Sportsbook reviews of the Eagles' play last year showed that many of the problems came from a bad offensive line. The Eagles claim to have those problems fixed and that means good things for Philadelphia football fans.
San Francisco 49ers
By now, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his quarterback Alex Smith have smoothed over their differences after the Peyton Manning debacle. The thought of Peyton Manning running that San Francisco offense would have struck fear
into the hearts of any opposing football player. It was punt returner Kyle Williams who lost the NFC Championship game for the San Francisco 49ers. The lesson learned in that game by rookie head coach Harbaugh was to never put a player in the same pressure situation twice when that player did not respond the first time. The
49ers are still one of the best teams in the NFC, and will be there when the playoffs roll around.
Detroit Lions
The Green Bay Packers did nothing to improve its defense in the off-season, which paves the way for the rise of the Detroit Lions in 2012. Even the hockey news writers know that the Packers need to make changes if it wants to compete. The Lions are another year older and have another year of experience under their belts. This
will be the year that Detroit distances itself from the rest of the NFC North.
NFC Championship Game
Pick: Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers
NFC Championship
Pick: San Francisco
49ers