As the 2012 NFL season kicks off, every fan knows February seems only a few short weeks away. In the National Football Conference, many teams are making a strong case for being the NFC Champions and ultimately making their way to the Super Bowl.
When it comes down to it, there are two teams favored to be atop of this list: the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Representing the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are one team heavily favored to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in just three years. Last season, the Packers finished with a 15-1 record before getting knocked off by the New York Giants in the Divisional round.
Blame it on the two-week break the team had, but the Packers fell out of contention early despite having the best record in the entire NFL. With Aaron Rodgers coming off a 4,643 passing yard season and 45 touchdowns, the reining MVP will do whatever it takes in 2012 to get his team back on top and right where they left off last season.
The second team many experts think will finally break through and live up to their “dream team” expectations are the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles had a rather disappointed season last year, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs entirely by one game. With a great offseason full of added players and talented rookies emerging in the spotlights, it’s hard to look at this team and doubt them in 2012.
Coach Andy Reid lost his son Garrett in early August and with the season devoted to him, the team won’t look back until they can put a ring on Coach Reid’s finger.
With a deadly offense and a greatly improved defense, the only hindering factor on this team is the health of quarterback Mike Vick. If Vick can stay on the field and hold those late leads, this year may be the first year Philly fans can celebrate a Super Bowl victory.
Both teams are a team that once they catch fire, there is no slowing them down.
If the two franchises make it to the NFC Championship game, I’d have to bank on the Philadelphia Eagles coming through to represent the NFC in the 2012 Super Bowl.
The Eagles will go on to win 27-17 and make it to the big game for the first time since 2004.