NFC North Preview

Can the Packers run away with this division again, even without Brett Favre? Can Adrian Peterson stay healthy for a whole season? Will the Bears ever have a quarterback? Will the Lions select something that isn't a wide receiver in the first round of their draft this year?

Honestly, Brett Favre became my least favorite football player this offseason. For someone who has made more bad decisions on the field than anyone else all-time (288, to be exact), he's brought his bad decision-making off of the field (now standing at 2). You're killing me, Brett. I thought you'd like to end your career with some dignity--now, I'm not sure which team in the AFC East will catch the majority of your touchdowns--and I have a hard time believing it will be the Jets.

However, since Brett Favre no longer plays in this division, he will not be discussed for the rest of this preview. In fact, I apologize for the above Favre discussion. He has nothing to do with the NFC North anymore. With that said, here's my preview of perhaps the weakest division in football, the NFC North (the only division that might rival them would be the NFC West, often referred to as the "NFC Worst.")


Minnesota Vikings (11-5)

Could this possibly be right? The Vikings, at the top of the division? You bet your tail it's right. The last time the Vikings won their division was in 2000, when they were still in the NFC Central, beating out the Bucs by one game. However, while the loss of He-Who-I-Will-Not-Name means fewer interceptions for this defensive unit, it also means an easier division for everyone involved, except for the Packers. And, honestly, this team's schedule for this year can't possibly yield more than 4 losses. Especially not with a healthy AP, who could be, by all means, the best running back in the National Football League. Tarvaris Jackson is a huge question mark, but we all know that a good running game, stifling defense, and 7 passing plays a game can win you a division, and even a championship (see: 2005 Steelers*).


*I know that Ben Roldfjdlfnoisberger (sp?) threw more than 7 times a game, but you get the picture.


Green Bay Packers (9-7)

That's right. The loss of Sir Interception (and Touchdown, to be fair) sends this team into second place for this season. While Greg Jennings will most likely catch all 26 of Aaron Rodgers' touchdown passes (fantasy team), the team will not be able to get over the hump due to key fan booing of Rodgers in extremely important situations, like a trip to the local deli (where Rodgers was actually booed, no lie). Rodgers will lose confidence near the end of the year when they'll need it most, and the Week 15 loss to the Jaguars will absolutely send this team into a tailspin. Honestly, the first two could be switched here, but I just like the Vikings more. They're a more exciting team, and I just plain don't like it when a team's fans boo their starting quarterback before the season even starts. Real classy, Favretown.



Chicago Bears (7-9)

Even though they'll take 90% of this season's snaps without a quarterback behind center, the Bears will finish a respectable third in the division. With Matt "running is my" Forte calling most of the plays (90/10 running), the offense will be potent enough to score more points than the opponents 7 times this season. Considering this defense, the offense doesn't have to be extremely potent--however, somehow they've developed such a wreck of an offense that it's actually difficult for them to score 12 points in "only" four quarters. I like the defense, but I hate the offense. Until Forte can show me that he can rush for 2400 yards and 25 scores in a season, I can't see this team finishing higher than third in this division.

Note: most numbers in this preview are exaggerated.



Detroit Lions (5-11)

OK, Detroit. It's honestly about time you take a non-receiver in the first round--and you better hope that Gosder Cherilus shores up that offensive line so that a running game and some quarterback protection could possibly be present this year. I could see this team finishing better than 5-11 if that offensive line can give Jon Kitna some time to find his freakish set of wide receivers, but I'm not sure one offensive tackle will be able to get he job done, since there are holes everywhere else. Kevin Smith could be a good pickup at running back, so the offense is actually starting to take the form that the owners have wanted for years--but that defense could really use some help. Without a defense, every mistake the offense makes is magnified--and we all know that Kitna is reasonably mistake-prone. Maybe this team can finish better than 5-11 this year, but I'll believe it when I see it.


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