After going 5–1 against the NFC West, the 49ers believe the pieces are in place for a long-awaited playoff trip. They are so confident in their roster that they barely made a peep in free agency, reasoning that continuity and the infusion of a strong draft class will be enough to push them into the postseason for the first time since 2002.
After trying an unsuccessful handoff from Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora last year, Seattle has gone for a complete makeover. The Seahawks brought in coach Pete Carroll and new general manager John Schneider to reconstruct the organization.
It’s not difficult to come up with a story line for the Cardinals’ 2010 season: Is there life after Kurt Warner? Everything else is in place. But it’s impossible to overstate how much Warner meant to the Cardinals the last couple of years. And it’s folly to think Matt Leinart can even approach Warner’s skill level.
After picking second overall in the previous two drafts, the Rams had the No. 1 selection this year and spent it on Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, hoping that he’ll become a franchise quarterback. And soon. The team patched some holes during free agency and believes that it had a solid draft. Steve Spagnuolo is eager to put 2009 is his rear-view mirror.
Join hosts Braden Gall and Steven Lassan for Athlon's College Football podcast Section 120, the best seat in the house for all things college football. Recaps of media days from the SEC, Big 12 and ACC, all the national news and notes, an in-depth Big 12 conference preview and much more on this edition of Section 120.
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It took 43 years for the Saints to win their first Super Bowl, and when they finally did it last season, the celebration in New Orleans lasted well into the offseason. Now the challenge is to try to recapture the magic and momentum from the cathartic run.
In 2009, Atlanta completed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. But now it’s time to turn the corner. The Falcons failed to make the playoffs last year, and expectations are high that they will get there in 2010.
