Formerly known as the "Black and Blue" division, the NFC North is now the "Air and Space" division, with four legitimate quarterbacks and each team's ability (on paper anyway) to score bundles of points. Will Brett Favre and the Vikes repeat as division champs or will the Pack catch up with them?
Detroit Lions
With a total two wins over the last two seasons, things have nowhere to go but up for the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford seems to be a legitimate NFL quarterback, showing the leadership skills and toughness you want at the position with the arm to back it up. He'll be throwing at an abundance of targets this season, as the Lions signed receiver Nate Burleson and traded for tight end Tony Scheffler. Add them to the freakish Calvin Johnson and second-year tight end Brandon Pettigrew and you have the makings of a 28-points-a-game offense. Rookie Jahvid Best may be the kind of running back the Lions haven't seen since Barry Sanders, but the offensive line is still suspect. Trading for guard Rob Sims from Seattle helps bolster the interior, but Jeff Backus is a serviceable left tackle at best in a division with Julius Peppers and Jared Allen. Whoops.
Up front is where the Lion defense is at its best. They signed veteran DE Kyle Vanden Bosch in the off-season to bring his non-stop motor and leadership to their defense. Drafting DT Ndamukong Suh was a no-brainer, as the man is a monster that will wreak havoc in the middle for the next ten years. That's where the positives stop. Julian Peterson is still a decent outside linebacker, but DeAndre Levy and Zack Follett (who and who?) aren't going to help much. Chris Houston and Jonathan Wade are going to be abused at the corner position. Safety Louis Delmas is the only starter returning to the secondary after racking up the second most tackles on the team last season.
Last year's record: 2-14
2010 prediction: 4-12
Twice as many wins! Woo! The Lions are undoubtedly a better team, but they're still a year or two away from getting back to respectable. Sorry Lions fans. Enjoy Stafford slinging it all over this year and still losing.
What troopers.
Chicago Bears
Since the main focus of my football writing is my beloved hometown Bears, you'll have to wait for the in-depth preview over the weekend for my record prediction and analysis. (Though if you want to take the records of the other 31 teams and do the math, be my guest.)
Last year's record 7-9
2010 prediction: ???
Not yet...
Green Bay Packers
Well, that didn't take long. After only two full seasons under center, Aaron Rodgers has allowed Green Bay fans to completely move on from the legend that was Brett Favre. His ridiculous 30 touchdown and 7 interception season opened eyes around the NFL and have him creeping up to Manning/Brady/Brees levels. He's only missing the ring. As Green Bay is known for, they barely made any free agent signings in the offseason, preferring to build through the draft. Running back Ryan Grant is a perfect fit for this offense, racking up over 1200 yards in 2009. The Packers still boast the best wide-out corps in the NFL, with the veteran Donald Driver, the speedy Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson all ready to break it after the catch. Add in tight end Jermichael Finley (who is really just a big receiver) in his second year and there's no telling how many points the Packers can put up. Despite giving up way too many sacks on Rodgers early last season, the offensive line should prove much steadier in 2010. Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton are good enough tackles, but first round pick Brian Bulaga could step in if they falter early.
With the best rush defense in the NFL last year, the Packers desperately need to improve their pass defense to take that next step to greatness. Ryan Pickett and Cullen Jenkins are solid 3-4 defensive ends, but nose-tackle B.J. Raji is easily the star of that line. Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk are excellent young linebackers, and Matthews adds his pass-rush skills to the mix. Charles Woodson was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, but this year he'll be another year older and without Al Harris on the opposite side for part of the season (PUP). Still, Woodson is used in so many ways it's mind-boggling. Morgan Burnett and Nick Collins at safety concern me, as Atari Bigby joins Harris on the PUP list and Will Blackmon was lost to injured reserve.
Last year's record: 11-5
2010 prediction: 12-4
Honestly, it wasn't that difficult to pick the Packers. My hatred for the Vikings has far out-weighed any Packers ire. If that secondary can just slow offenses down, Aaron Rodgers will win the day. Playoff and probably Super Bowl-bound.
Aaron Rodgers, cuddly soft.
Minnesota Vikings
All hail the miraculous Brett Favre! He doth rise again! With a spectacular regular season in the rear-view mirror, Favre finally returned to lead a Vikings team that is not the same. They still have the electric Adrian Peterson, who still has fumbling issues. (Until I see otherwise, I don't believe he's changed.) Rookie Toby Gerhart will spell Peterson often, but Peterson has to overcome his problems to keep his "top back" status. Favre-favorite Sidney Rice will be out an extended period of time after hip surgery, leaving the Vikes thin at receiver. Bernard Berrian still has imposing speed outside the numbers, but he and Favre haven't quite caught on yet. Hopefully Percy Harvin overcomes his migraine problems and becomes a fixture in the slot. Trading for Greg Camarillo gives Favre a reliable target, if not quite a dynamic one. As it was last season, the offensive line has its faults. Tackle Bryant McKinnie was owned on the outside on a regular basis and the center position wasn't as solid as they'd like after Matt Birk left. Current center John Sullivan has missed the entire preseason and training camp with a calf injury, but is likely to start the season.
If the Vikings do anything well, it's rush the passer. Jared Allen is an absolute beast, whether teams double-team him or not. Ray Edwards is oft-forgotten, but he's not to be over-looked. The Williams Wall (DT's Kevin and Pat) is intimidating and gigantic. E.J. Henderson is a skilled middle linebacker amidst a very dependable unit. On the back end, the Vikings secondary is not at full strength. Antoine Winfield and Lito Sheppard will start the season at corner, but after that it gets rough. Madieu Williams isn't a horrid safety notching 62 solo tackles in '09, but he's not the ball-hawk they need at free safety.
Last year's record: 12-4
2010 prediction: 10-6
There are just too many questions about this team. Will Brett Favre last 16 games? Can they live without Sidney Rice for eight games? Is the o-line as terrible as it looks? Will the lack of corner depth catch up to them? Is Brad Childress a super Bowl-caliber coach? There's still undeniable talent there, but I can't in good conscience get them past 10 wins right now.
Effing leave already!
