Now we get to the NFC! Though some may be of the opinion that the NFC is the weaker conference of the two (and this may be true) several teams, including a few in this division should be playoff contenders, or even Super Bowl favorites.
I also want to go on record saying that the Lions, yes the LIONS, are going to break out this season.
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers
Remember, they didn’t win the division last year. But this year, things should be better, if that’s possible. The Packers won it all last year with an injured core of players. With Rodgers, elite since his jump from behind Favre, at the helm, the offense will perform. With Grant, Finley both coming back, Rodgers can settle in and manage the game. Grant needs to stay healthy and Starks might continue to breakout. With Jennings, Driver and Nelson out there catching passes, Rodgers always has an open target. If the running game can become consistent, then this offense could be hard to stop. Dom Capers' defense was a machine led by Clay Matthews last season. His fellow LBs, Bishop and Hawk, will be the core of this unit. In the secondary, Sam Shields could be the heir for the aging Woodson. Add in Williams and Nick Collins and the secondary seems good to go for many years. Cullen Jenkins (DT) left, but the remaining line of Raji and Pickett should be passable, if not stellar.
Remember, they didn’t win the division last year. But this year, things should be better, if that’s possible. The Packers won it all last year with an injured core of players. With Rodgers, elite since his jump from behind Favre, at the helm, the offense will perform. With Grant, Finley both coming back, Rodgers can settle in and manage the game. Grant needs to stay healthy and Starks might continue to breakout. With Jennings, Driver and Nelson out there catching passes, Rodgers always has an open target. If the running game can become consistent, then this offense could be hard to stop. Dom Capers' defense was a machine led by Clay Matthews last season. His fellow LBs, Bishop and Hawk, will be the core of this unit. In the secondary, Sam Shields could be the heir for the aging Woodson. Add in Williams and Nick Collins and the secondary seems good to go for many years. Cullen Jenkins (DT) left, but the remaining line of Raji and Pickett should be passable, if not stellar.
Overall, the Packers, if they can avoid injury, can make another decent playoff run. Repeat, anyone?
2) Detroit Lions
I’ve been saying this for ages – wake up world, the Lions are good! They’re a team who lost seven games by one score and four of those games by three points or less. They ending last year on a four game win streak. The key to the offense is Matthew Stafford remaining healthy all year long. He will show why he was a number one overall pick this year. Best, a star last year until he was injured, will be complimented in the backfield by draft pick Mikel Leshoure. On the outside you’ve got Johnson, Pettigrew (TE) and draft pick Titus Young. If the offensive line can prove itself and keep Stafford upright, this team can be good. Defense in Detroit = Ndamukong Suh. However, the line backing core needs to improve. DeAndre Levy is good in the middle, but both outside LBs (Carpender and Palmer) need to improve or be replaced. They didn’t draft much in this position (Doug Hogue, 5th round), so it’ll be interesting to see if the improvement from last year last. Can you name a single player from the secondary? No – probably not. Fix it, Detroit.
Overall, the Lions were right on the edge last year and small improvements on dense with a healthy Stafford could equal more consistent wins.
3) Minnesota Vikings
The only reason I put them here is McNabb. Favre showed that what this team lacks is a consistent QB. Despite one fluke year in Washington, in Minnesota he has the weapons and support to play better. Adrian Peterson will be the key for success. New coordinator Bill Musgrave will make him the focal point and take pressure off McNabb. There’s not a ton of WRs here, just Harvin, after Rice’s departure. Left are Berrian, Camarillo, Areeneaux, Webb, Shiancoe and Rudolph. If any one of them can have a breakout season, it would make a huge difference. On defense the line needs rebuilding around Jared Allen. If some of the young guys, like Guion, Robison and Ballard can fill those gaps, it might free up Allen more. Henderson, Greenway are the two consistent LBs left – another major gap to fill. Chris Cook (CB) is the only player worth noting in the secondary. Another hole to be fixed.
Overall, the offense could be a bright spot, along with Frazier as the head coach, but the defense needs to be more than Jared Allen.
4) Chicago Bears
The Bears are in trouble – or Jay Cutler is. I’ve always been a defender of Cutler because he plays with diabetes, but the rest of the league is haunted by the NFC championship games. Forte has proved he’s a good back, but behind him Taylor and Unga are question marks. I don’t think that an aging Roy Williams is the answer at receiver, but he’s probably better than Knox and Hester. However, if the offense is going to succeed under Martz, they need to step in and fix the line to take pressure from Cutler. On defense, the line of Peppers and Idonije is good but needs a supporting cast – lest they get burnt out. Briggs and Urlacher (LBs) are getting older, but not necessarily worse. Once again, depth is needed here, to prevent an injury to one of those guys. The secondary is bad in any position – with Harris, Tillman and Wright. Draft pick Chris Conte (3rd round FS) might be the nickel, if Moore becomes a starter. Look for Moore and Moore (yes, there are two) to have break out seasons.
Overall, remember the Bears only won three games against teams with winning records last year. Pray for Cutler’s confidence, Bears’ fans.
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