NFC Conference Chaos Leaves South on Rise Again

Filed under: Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, Saints, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West, NFL Analysis

NFL parity never ceases to amaze, does it?

Even in a year when much has gone as anticipated -- on the AFC side, most preseason prognostications would have had the Patriots, Ravens, Jets and Steelers as the top Super Bowl contenders -- it's hard to believe how really wrong so many were. Even in a league that for 19 straight years has placed at least five playoff teams in its 12-team field that missed the postseason the year before.

Rewind 12 months.

In the final week of the 2009 season, the Minnesota Vikings routed the New York Giants 44-7 to wrap up a first-round bye. The Dallas Cowboys rolled the rival Philadelphia Eagles 24-0 for their second shutout in as many weeks to capture the NFC East Division. And the San Francisco 49ers went on the road and pounded the St. Louis Rams 28-6 to finish 8-8 and put a wrap on the first non-losing season since 2002, thus fueling anticipation for good things to come.

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/28/nfc-conference-chaos-leaves-south-on-rise-again/

players association David Stern Cliff Lee Shaun Rogers Michael Vick