National Football Conference

One third of this years' NFL season is over, and already each division has asituation, a player or a change that has been a surprise. Before the season starts, every team has a plan they believe in 100% will create constant football success. It is amazing that for the vast majority, it never worksout. Read the comments for the American Football Conference (AFC) and the NationalFootball Conference (NFC) with their Divisions:

NFC East

By far the biggest surprise has been the New York Giants. I thoughtthey would have one or maybe two wins by game six. Instead, the intensityof Tom Coughlin has produced on field performance. A disappointing surprise has been the Dallas Cowboys. They are nowherenear as good defensively and Bill Parcells made a mistake in not drafting StevenJackson. Instead they selected an already injured Julius Jones. In Washington, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is making an impact andClinton Portis really is not. Most would have thought that the oppositewould have happened. In Philadelphia, there have been no surprises at all. This may be thebest football organization not located in New England.

NFC North

The Detroit Lions are the surprise team to me. If Ben Roethlisbergerdoes not win rookie of the year, how about Roy Williams? You cancompliment all the so-called skill players you want, but the Lions are a betterteam because of their offensive and defensive line improvement. Green Bay is no surprise, except for their Tennessee game on Monday NightFootball. I do wonder how much longer Brett Favre can separate hispersonal and professional life. He only has so much emotion to work with. Minnesota with Daunte Culpepper is a surprise, but remember the support thathe's getting from Mewelde Moore. When you can find a starter from the 4thround in the draft, you elevate an entire offence, especially the quarterback. I think Chicago will surprise people later in the year. I am sure theydid not anticipate using Craig Krenzel at quarterback by game seven. On amore positive note, Thomas Jones has been solid at running back.

NFC South

Watch out for Brian Griese and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Personally, Ireally didn't have a lot of faith in him but he may have found the perfectmentor in Jon Gruden. In the exact opposite, Atlanta is having a good year, but quarterback MichaelVick is not. By Week 10 or so, this West Coast Offence and his skillsshould begin to mesh, if not, the NFL's greatest athlete may need to sit downfor a game or two. With Carolina, losses in free agency in combination with injury have made aSuper Bowl participating team look very average. In New Orleans, the temptations of Bourbon Street seem to take the mosttalented players and diminish their skills to the average.

NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals are my surprise team of the year. I was going towrite all about how real they are, but I've yet to see them on TV.Arizona is turning it around because of head coach Dennis Green. The St. Louis Rams have no surprises in that they throw to win, and run tokill the clock. I have immense respect for Mike Martz but I do questionthat penalty assessment in the Miami game. With San Francisco, check out the next seven games on their schedule. ForSeattle, their November 14th game at St. Louis will probably determinewhether the Seahawks finish first in the division or even make the playoffs atall.