minnesota vikings
Projected Record: 11-5
Brett Favre returns. Brett Favre doesn’t want (and probably doesn’t need) training camp, and he and the Vikings both know it. I guess the only reason this is a story is because the Vikings don’t want to come across as a team that openly allows a player to miss training camp. Make no mistake, the number 4 will be under center when the Vikings take on the Saints to open the season.
Adrian Peterson still runs like a bull. The problem is that he still carries the ball like a loaf of bread. Everyone is criticizing Brett Favre for throwing that interception late in the NFC title game (with good reason), but don’t forget Peterson’s late-half fumble that cost the Vikings at least three points. While Peterson will get his yards, rookie Toby Gearhart will likely take Chester Taylor’s place as the third running back. Sydney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe emerged as primary targets in the Vikings’ offense last season and their production should continue to increase this season.
Jared Allen and The Williams Wall (Kevin Williams, Pat Williams) make up one of the four most dominant forwards in all of football. Reports say linebacker EJ Henderson’s recovery from a terrible knee injury is ahead of schedule, which is key for the Vikings. His health could be the difference in whether the Vikings’ defense is good or very good. Second-round pick Chris Cook adds youth to a veteran secondary led by Antoine Winfield.
The Vikings were one step away from the Super Bowl last year and without a significant drop in talent, they appear to be in a great position to reach the big game this year. Obviously, Favre’s health is key, but the Star Caps case could affect the Vikings’ defense if the ruling fails this season. I don’t think he does, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Green Bay Packers
Projected Record: 11-5
Aaron Rodgers was amazing in the playoff loss at Arizona. I don’t think I remember a quarterback playing this well in his first road playoff outing. Rodgers certainly had the respect of the organization before that performance, but I think the world as a whole now sees Rogers as a difference maker and elite quarterback in the league.
The Packers recruited Brian Baluga to help secure an offensive line that had some trouble protecting Aaron Rodgers last year. Baluga is coming off a thyroid issue, but the Packers felt he was healthy enough to warrant a first-round pick. Offensively, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jermichael Finley still give defenses matchup trouble across the board. Ryan Grant, while not spectacular, continues to be a reliable workhorse as a running back.
The defense, which had been a strength for the Packers, really fell apart in the playoff loss to Arizona. The Packers recruited defensive end Greg Neal and safety Morgan Burnett to add youth and speed to a defense that was susceptible to big plays at times last season. The line backup corps remains the strength of the unit with veterans Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Clay Matthews returning. The secondary is also strong with Charles Woodson, Al Harris and Atari Bigby patrolling the passing airways.
The Packers should be able to challenge Minnesota for the NFC North. The defense will be better in his second year under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, and Aaron Rodgers should continue his excellent play. Green Bay should not be seen as a dark horse, but as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
chicago bears
Projected Record: 8-8
Last offseason, the Bears made a major move by trading Jay Cutler. The Bears were applauded for bringing the first potential franchise quarterback to town since Jim McMahon. This season, the Bears still have high hopes for Cutler, but the 26 interceptions he threw and his erratic play last year have to be a bit worrisome for a player they’ve invested so much in.
To maximize their investment in Cutler, the Bears hired offensive coordinator Mike Martz. The Bears don’t have a true No. 1 receiver, but they think their committee-focused receiver can get the job done. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Aromashodu should have plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents in the Martz system. The Bears are hoping one of them will become the big playmaking threat Chicago desperately needs. The acquisition of free agent Chester Taylor should be a nice compliment to Matt Forte in the backfield. Taylor’s pass-catching skills will be used frequently in the Bears’ new offense.
Defensively, the Bears made a big upgrade on the defensive line with the signing of defensive end Julius Peppers. Peppers should help Chicago add to a pass rush that has been lacking in previous seasons. Brian Urlacher also appears to be in top form after suffering a wrist injury that sidelined him for 15 games last year. Chicago added safety Major Wright, as well as defensive end Corey Wooten and cornerback Josh Moore via the draft. The Bears hope to infuse some youth into a defense ravaged by injuries last season.
I like most of the things Chicago did this offseason, signing Martz will help offense and signing Julius Peppers will help defense. However, I don’t think the Bears are any better than the Vikings or Packers who also play in their division, which puts them out of the postseason.
Detroit Lions
Projected Record: 4-12
The good news for Detroit is that they posted a 2 game improvement on their win total from the previous season. The problem is that they didn’t win any games last season. Head coach Jim Schwartz is heading into his second season with second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the Lions back to respectability. Stafford showed flashes of brilliance last year, but it’s too early to tell if he’s the franchise quarterback this team desperately needs.
The Lions got a lot of help in the draft by taking world defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and speedy, explosive running back Jahvid Best. Cornerback Amari Spievey should help in the secondary and tackle Jason Fox will provide additional depth along the offensive line.
On offense, wide receiver Calvin Johnson (aka Megatron) is second to none in terms of talent. He routinely beats double teams and is developing into one of the best receivers in the league. The addition of free agent Tony Scheffler should also provide another receiving threat at tight end for the Lions.
Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch reunites with his former head coach Jim Schwartz and hopes to spark a Lions pass rush that was lacking last season. Veteran linebacker Julian Peterson and cornerback Dre Bly bring experience to a defense still trying to find its identity.
The Lions helped each other immensely in this year’s draft. If Stafford continues to develop, the Lions could become a contender in the next season or two. Unfortunately for Lions fans, the results may look a lot like last year, but crawling is a prerequisite for walking.
