Atlanta at St. Louis

Since making the Super Bowl in 1978 the Falcons have struggled to find themselves.  At times they will look like the team that made such an exciting run through the NFC, but for the most part they look like a mediocre team that no one expects to be competitive.  They are making a change at quarterback hoping to spark some life by putting 4th year Guy Benjamin at the healm.  But the heart of the run in 1978 came from the defense and there the team will be essentially the same that they put out last season.  They are a fairly young squad, so there is a chance that they will show improvement.  Who knows with a resparked offense and an improving defense the Falcons could make a run at the playoffs. 

The Cardinals found life again last season with an improved defense and offense, but they still were missing consistency.  They haven't had a good running game for the last five years and need some kind of ground game to help their aging quarterback, Jim Hart.  Because of their struggles to control the ball, they put a lot of pressure on their defense and these guys are an odd mix of old and young.  They are definitely in a transitional phase with the team and it is hard to imagine them getting it together to compete for the top of the NFC, but they could be good enough to grab a playoff spot.