The AFC has owned the NFC the past couple seasons and there has been little indication that things are going to change in 2006. The AFC remains better as a whole, but it only takes one team to win that game in early February to give the NFC respectability and their first Super Bowl winner in three years. That team could very well exist this season and here is the breakdown of the NFC from week one all the way to Super Bowl XLI.

EAST

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6): The NFC East is the most competitive division in football and the Eagles defense should be able to do enough to earn this team their fifth division title in six years. The health of Brian Westbrook is the key to the offense's success and the addition of Dante Stallworth gives Donovan McNabb the weapon on the outside that he needs. There is still question if McNabb can win the "big game", but he is still the best quarterback in this division.

2. New York Giants (9-7): Eli Manning still has to prove he can lead a team deep into the playoffs and this team's schedule is too tough to win more than nine games. They could easily win the division if McNabb and the Eagles slip up.

3. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): They have been the picked by many "experts" to make a legitimate Super Bowl run, but not so fast. They still have a quarterback in Drew Bledsoe that cannot move and T.O. is already up to his antics, which may lead to a disappointing year in big "D".

4. Washington Redskins (8-8): The Redskins are improving and are not a bad team, but both Mark Brunell and Clinton Portis could go down any day now.

NORTH

1. Chicago Bears (9-7): The Bears look to their defense again to win the division and there is no reason they cannot in this pathetic division. They will be one and out in the playoffs even with the addition of Brian Griese.

2. Minnesota Vikings (7-9): New head coach, Brad Childress has his work cut out for him with this group, but anybody can run a tighter ship that Mike Tice did a season ago.

3. Green Bay Packers (7-9): A.J. Hawk and Charles Woodson will surely help this horrendous defense, but cannot do it alone. Brett Favre should have called it quits this past off-season.

4. Detroit Lions (6-10): They added John Kitna, but this is not the team he had with the Bengals. Every year the Lions are supposed to step up and every year they flop.

SOUTH

1. Carolina Panthers (12-4): The Panthers were solid last year and really lost nothing over the off-season to change that. The addition of Keyshawn Johnson, although he is vastly overrated, will help Steve Smith on the other side. Jake Delhomme simply wins and despite his critics has proved he is the best quarterback in the NFC.

2. New Orleans Saints (9-7): This team never had a chance from day one last season, but are improved with the drafting of Reggie Bush and the acquisition of Drew Brees to play quarterback. The Saints could be playing meaningful football into January.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8): The Bucs cannot repeat their win total of year ago and are putting too much into the hands of quarterback Chris Simms.

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-8): They have a strong defense, but Michael Vick is simply put, not a good quarterback and until he can show otherwise this team will never win.

WEST

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-5): In this division it is difficult to imagine the Seahawks following the trend of Super Bowl losers not making the playoffs the following year. They have too much talent and the worst they go in this division is 5-1.

2. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): They are improved, but look for Matt Leinhart to be behind center by week eight and he is still a rookie.

3. St. Louis Rams (6-10): At least they got rid of Mike Martz, but this team is only getting older each year.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-12): The fans in the Bay Area are going to have to endure another year of the team evaluating quarterback Alex Smith.

PLAYOFFS

Wildcard Round:
Eagles over Saints
Giants over Bears

Divisional Round:
Eagles over Seahawks
Panthers over Giants

Championship Round:
Panthers over Eagles

SuperBowl:
Panthers over Colts

NFL Awards

MVP: Jake Delhomme (Panthers)
Offensive Player of Year: Larry Johnson (Chiefs)
Defensive Player of Year: Julius Peppers (Panthers)
Coach of Year: Sean Payton (Saints)
Rookie of Year: Reggie Bush (Saints)

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