Atlanta Falcons NFL Picks & Preview

Atlanta Falcons NFL Picks & Preview

Last season was an absolute nightmare for the Atlanta Falcons, they may have finished with a winning record of 9-7, Matt Ryan and company were ravaged by injuries and never really played at a 100% throughout the entire season.

Heading into this season the Atlanta Falcons will be looking to get back on track and with their three best players back healthy in running back Michael Turner, wide receiver Roddy White and of course quarterback Matt Ryan, the team has a great chance of being able to compete in the NFC Conference once again.

Even though the Atlanta Falcons play in the same division as the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, they could quite possibly give their division rivals a run for their money in the NFC South with some big wins throughout the regular season while being favored in NFL picks.

As long as this team can stay healthy during the regular season, I believe they have a legitimate shot at winning the division, but in all likelihood, the New Orleans Saints will win the NFC South and the Atlanta Falcons will make into the playoffs through the NFC Wildcard.

NFL Season Preview: Chicago Bears NFL Picks

NFL Season Preview: Chicago Bears NFL Picks

Heading into last season, the Chicago Bears had high hopes of being able to get back into playoff contention after acquiring Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Even though Cutler was a huge upgrade under center, the young quarterback struggled in his first season with Bears as he threw a career and league-high 26 interceptions.

Despite having the worst season of his NFL career, Jay Cutler seems more motivated and more comfortable as the Bears gunslinger this time around and could be poised for some big numbers.

Not only will the offense get a much needed boost with Culter being more confidence under center, but the Chicago Bears could be the one thing that tilts NFL picks in their favor this season as they have added All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers to play alongside the face of the franchise in linebacker Brian Urlacher.

With the addition of Julius Peppers to an already dominant defense and Jay Cutler leading what could be a potent offense, the Bears could be one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season and ultimately headed back to the playoffs.

Obviously, this will be no easy task as they play in the same division as the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, but they will still be a force to be reckoned with and could compete for the division title.

NFL Season Preview: Minnesota Vikings NFL Picks

The Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of another season with Super Bowl aspirations as they will have the same team relatively intact and most importantly Brett Favre under center for one more season.

The only substantial addition to the team has come through the 2010 NFL Draft in rookie running back Toby Gerhart (Stanford) and a recent trade to bring in wide receiver Greg Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins.

Even though the Vikings will be a little thin at wide receiver heading into the regular season with Sidney Rice out for the first eight games and Percy Harvin still battling severe migraines, Brett Favre and company should still come out on top in the NFC North division as they are one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the football.

Along with having arguably the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson, the Vikings will get even more of a boost out of the backfield this season with Toby Gerhart getting some carries.

During his time with Stanford the Heisman trophy finalist helped the team be favored in the college football picks on a weekly basis, but if he can produce for the Vikings in 3^rd situations and when AP needs a breather, Minnesota could be Super Bowl bound this season.

NFL Season Preview: New Orleans Saints NFL Picks

NFL Season Preview: New Orleans Saints NFL Picks

The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints still on cloud nine at the moment as they will come into the NFL regular season full of confidence that they can pull off the repeat, but even though Sean Payton and company are convinced they are the team to beat this season, everyone else believes that there are quite a few teams to put ahead of the defending champs in the race for a Super Bowl title.

Despite the consensus being that the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings are the best teams in the NFC Conference ahead of the New Orleans Saints, the defending champs will still have the same team intact and will most likely be favored in NFL picks on a weekly basis once again, but their defense is in serious question as it is uncertain whether or not Darren Sharper and company can put the brakes on potent offenses like the Cowboys, Packers and the Vikings.

Only time will tell whether or not the New Orleans Saints can continue to compete with the best of best in the NFL, but with perennial Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees under center and head coach Sean Payton calling the shots, the Saints will always be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC Conference.

NFL Season Preview: Philadelphia Eagles NFL Picks

NFL Season Preview: Philadelphia Eagles NFL Picks

The Philadelphia Eagles have made a drastic change this offseason by trading away the face of the franchise in six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb to the division rival Washington Redskins.

With McNabb no longer in Philly, Eagles head coach Andy Reid will hand over the starting quarterback position to youngster Kevin Kolb.

Last season the Eagles faired pretty well with Kolb behind center in the three games he played in place of the injured McNabb, but even though he has only started a few games in his NFL career, Kolb will be taking over at a position that has been highly criticized in Philly regardless of the outcome.

Obviously, Donovan McNabb was a great player for this storied franchise and had them favored in NFL picks on weekly basis, but the new era has begun and Kevin Kolb with either turn out to be a great success or a disappointing failure with former NFL MVP Michael Vick sitting on the bench waiting for his shot at being a starting quarterback in the NFL once again.

Even though the season could go either way with the Philadelphia Eagles really struggling or being an instant success, in the long run the team will only get better with the likes of wide receiver DeSean Jackson, running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Kevin Kolb leading the way.