The NFC is a question mark as of right now, and as I see it, is completely up for grabs. So, I have decided to take the task of deciding the NFC’s team to beat this year. For the next week, I will be looking at each NFC team in alphabetical order to find out who really is the NFC favorite heading into the 2008 season.

I will rank each team’s chances on a 1-10 scale, 1 being the worst chance of winning the conference, 10 being the best chance of winning the conference. The team with the worst chance will get a 1, while the team with the best chance will get a 10.

Today I will be discussing the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams.

Lions
The Lions have some huge holes to fill both on offense and on defense. Starting with the QB, Jon Kitna. He has thrown for 4,00 yards each of the past two season with Detroit. He had 18 TDs, 20 INTs, and was sacked an NFL-leading 51 times. His only problem is that Kitna tries to make plays where there aren’t any, which cost him interceptions, fumbles, incompletions and possible hurt players.

The OLine is not doing their part, either. They let by way too many defenders on almost every play. The QB can’t do good if his offensive line can’t stop 4 guys.

The running game was horrible last year. In one game, they ended up with -16 yards rushing! That never happens, and it is all the OLine’s fault, because with players like Kevin Jones, that wouldn’t happen.

The new RB appears to be rookie Kevin Smith, and I don’t know how confident I would be with a rookie having to play in that struggling backfield. If Gosder Cherilus, the rookie offensive guard out of Boston College, can handle the kind of pressure coming at him every play, I like the offense’s chances of being able to shred apart a defensive front 7.

The wideout game is incredibly strong on paper, but when they actually play, well, lack-luster would be the best word to describe it. Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams should be catching a hundred yards a game each, but last year, they only totaled 1,592 yards receiving combined. All the offensive issues come back to the OLine. If they give Kitna enough time to throw, then don’t be surprised if both of these receivers end up with 1,200 yards.

The defense needs some work, but there isn’t much you can say about I, because I don’t know much about it. They were hot one game, and cold the next. At the end of the year, if this team doesn’t have at least 9 wins, I think a coaching change is likely.

Scale: 5

Packers
The Packers have moved on from Favre, and are set with Aaron Rodgers as their starting QB. I have not had a chance to see this guy play yet, but I did see highlights from the Thursday Night game in Dallas last year, where he almost beat the Cowboys.

If he can have that kind of production this year, then I wouldn’t doubt they make it to the playoffs. The only problem is I don’t see him having that kind of production this season. In 4 years of being with the Packers, he has only thrown 58 passes.

Ryan Grant is currently holding out which mark my words, if he doesn’t play next year the Packers have no chance of returning to the playoffs. Him and Favre were the only two guys that kept the offense moving, combing for 84% of the offense’s production in 2007. The Packers need to fork over the extra money, which is most certainly worth and extend his contract. They can’t afford to lose 84% of the production in one off-season.

If Grant does not re-sign, the wide receivers will be the ones that make or break the season. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings were freakishly effective last year, and if you ask me, if one of them breaks free, there is absolutely no catching them. I don’t think there’s a single defensive back in the NFL that can effectively cover Greg Kennings for 60 minutes, and if he can, test that guy for steroids. No joke intended, but that’s how fast these guys are. This will make Rodgers’ job that much easier.

Scale: 6

Panthers
Jake Delhomme will be the key factor for the Panthers on whether or not they have a winning season. All of his injuries and loss of stamina will be put into question because this year could be his last as the Panthers QB.

Rookie RB, Jonathan Stewart should have a really good season. The division they play in can essentially be won by any of the teams in it, so overtaking the Falcons, Bucs and Saints will have to start in week 1. It is necessary that Stewart starts out great, because otherwise, this team doesn’t have momentum, and even if they did, it’s hard for them to carry it over week after week.

The Panthers technically re-signed WR Muhsin Muhammad. He ended his stint with the Bears this past- off-season, and signed with his former team. Him and Steve Smith will make for a fearsome duo against defensive backs.

Former Penn State LB, Dan Connor, is expected to replace Dan Morgan, the LB who was sent to the Saints and shortly afterwards, retired. Connor is a physical beast, and should have gone a lot earlier than he did, but he will fit right in with the Panthers and their defense.

This is the year that decides the future of head coach John Fox. If he gets anything less than a 9 win season, I expect him to be shooed out the door.

Scale: 4

Rams
Marc Bulger got a huge contract last off-season, and I expected the Ram to finish with 7 or 8 wins. The offense struggled, and the OLine could not block to save their lives. The only Rams game I saw last season was the one where they were at home against Seattle, and that game was a disappointment. Sure, they played strong al game and kept themselves in it, but at the end, the imploded on themselves. If Marc Bulger had not left the game injured, and Gus Frerrote stayed on the bench, the Rams would have won.

I am expecting a huge season from Steven Jackson, and I think he will be the one who wins the games for St. Louis this year. Look for him to explode all over opposing defenses and average 110+ yards a game.

Torry Holt is the only real wideout left, but knowing Bulger, I think they can figure something out with the new guys they have.

The defense is sure to be stronger and more focused, now that they have someone who can lead them instead of blundering around and giving up 300+ yards passing a game. Their run defense will be more emphasized with Chris Long, and I wouldn’t doubt that the Rams red-zone defense turns in a spectacular season.

They may be a team to watch out for, but until they prove something to me, I have to grade them low.

Scale: 2

Let me hear your thoughts, and please keep your swearing at me to a minimum.

-Mike Greenspire