After last year’s puzzling NFC picture left us with the wild card New York Giants as Super Bowl Champions, it was only further proof that preseason projections are almost irrelevant. However, the irrelevance of making predictions in July does not take away from the amusement, so here’s one man’s view of how the NFC will look going into the playoffs in December.

6. New York Giants (9-7) (Wild Card)

Sure, the G-Men deserve some respect after last year’s miraculous “is-this-really-happening” journey, but honestly, does anyone think the Giants are capable of winning the Super Bowl again? They deserve a little bit of love here at the wild card spot due to their defense (weaker than last year after losing Michael Strahan), and tough mentality, but overall this is not a team that has established itself as one capable of achieving dynasty status.

The Giants were a one shot wonder, reminiscent of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl win in 2002. Until the New York offense can achieve consistency throughout an entire year, the Giants can accumulate enough wins early in the year to stay atop the NFC, even if they do make a strong push in December.

With each new Giants season comes that trademark “mid year” slump. Although last year’s slump was not as noticeable, a 4-4 finish in the last eight games of the regular season defined mediocrity. In 2006, the second half slump left them with a 2-6 record in the final eight games, as they, ultimately, lost their first round playoff game to Philadelphia at the Linc. So expect a mid-year slump to halt any thoughts of a Super Bowl repeat.

5. Dallas Cowboys (11-5) (Wild Card)

The Cowboys return a team that is virtually identical to last year’s 13-3 team. Full of high profile names and clashing egos, the Cowboys will look to win their first playoff game since 1996.

Expect a quick start from Dallas (as usual), and expect the experts to pick the them to appear in the Super Bowl because of their high-flying passing attack and primetime appeal. But look at last year if you want to get a sense of this team’s identity, which is one of being soft. A team that spent the whole year building up the best record in the NFC found itself left in shock after a divisional playoff loss against the Giants. Dallas got pushed around in that game, and Tony Romo simply could not find his midseason form.

This team, loaded with talent, is approaching its sell by date. The time is now for the Cowboys to make that playoff run. However, based on the results of the last two years, expect a decline from last year’s performance.

4. New Orleans Saints (10-6) (NFL South Division Winner)

It was tough to pick a definite winner in the NFC South due to parity and mediocrity, but the Saints seem to be the logical pick. The Saints still have many of the pieces left over from their 2006 playoff run, and with the recent addition of Jeremy Shockey at tight end, the offense can only get better.

However, this pick is made based on the assumption that Drew Brees will be the Drew Brees that was one of the best passers in the league in 2006 and that Deuce McAllister can stay reasonably healthy. Those are pretty big assumptions, but in a division where no team has proven itself a juggernaut, one key injury could change the pecking order in the division.

While this does not have too much to do with my prediction for the Saints season, it's good to see that Reggie Bush is finally being somewhat exposed. It's becoming pretty obvious that he is clearly a situational player, not an every down back in the NFL. Deuce McAllister is the guy in New Orleans, and based on his performance last year, Aaron Stecker merits some carries. Bush still provides the Saints with the ability to create some interesting formations that defenses have to prepare for, but Bush has not emerged as the superstar many thought him to be coming out of college. You can't just run around guys in the NFL Reggie.

3. Green Bay Packers (11-5) (NFL North Division Winner)

It would be pretty tough to write this segment without writing the words: Brett Favre. But here we go.

It is important to peer through the fog of controversy surrounding this organization, and remember that there is still a great team that exists in the Packers locker room. The Packers surprised many people last year with their unexpected successful season. They established a great defense that thrives on its talent and its youth. Also, the emergence of Ryan Grant as a great running back last year makes the Packers a legitimate contender again.

It needs to be said... sure BRETT FAVRE was a legend, but I think that Aaron Rodgers can be consistent enough (based on his preseason performance on Monday) to lead the Packers to an NFC North title. However, players in this Packer lockerroom will be determined to show that it doesn’t matter who’s taking the snaps.

The hot pick in this division is the Minnesota Vikings, but until the Vikings get consistent quarterback play, the Packers are your best bet.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) (NFL East Division Winner)

Before you overreact to this pick, just listen.  How can a team with an injury prone quarterback and a stubborn coach, which plays in the toughest division in the NFL, be the number two seed in the NFC? Well, let me try to explain my thought process here.

This Eagles team still has some holdovers from the 2004 NFC Championship team, such as Jon Runyan, Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb and Brian Dawkins. In addition, and while he may be criticized, head coach Andy Reid has proven that he knows how to win during the regular season.

Also, take a look at the Eagles schedule this year. It’s a cupcake schedule, and although teams that went 8-8 the year before have no such thing as cupcake schedules, really, try to find more than five or six losses on Philly’s schedule.

This Eagles team showed signs of playoff characteristics at the end of last season, and McNabb showed that he has something left. That something may not justify a Super Bowl run this year, but everything is in place for this team to accumulate plenty of wins throughout the regular season.

The young defense will continue to grow, and with rookie DeSean Jackson, new running back Lorenzo Booker, and the immortal Westbrook, the Eagles will be able to line up in formations that will cause defenses great headaches. If they can get through the NFC East grind without any injuries, the Eagles will find themselves in the playoffs, prepared to make some noise in January.

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-4) (NFL West Division Winner)

This has become one of those “givens” in the NFL season… the Seahawks winning the NFC West. Every year, you wonder if the team will be able to once again win the NFC West, and every year it happens. It can be tempting to pick the Arizona Cardinals as winners of the NFC West this year, but until the other teams in this division show some consistency, how can you not pick the Seahawks to win the division

Losing Shaun Alexander is a blessing in disguise for Seattle. He was becoming that “used-to-be-really-good-but-now-has-lost-a-step-and-may-not-even-be-the-best-running-back-on-this-team” veteran player. So, shipping him out of town took some weight off of the organization’s shoulders. It also provides Julius Jones, the newly acquired running back, with a chance to prove himself as an elite running back in the league as the featured back in the offense.

Expect pass-happy Mike Holmgren to regain some sense of sanity, and remember how to run the ball effectively. Last year the offense became so consumed with the pass, that they abandoned the run too early in games. Had they found some sort of consistent running attack, they may have been able to control the clock and protect the lead they built at Green Bay in the divisional round of the playoffs. This is the year that Seattle has a great chance of returning to the Super Bowl.