NFL Divisional Predictions: NFC North

Our latest installment of our 2008 NFL Divisional Predictions brings us to the NFC North. And no, I’m not even going to mention Brett Favre—not anymore, anyway!

This division was pretty lackluster in 2007. If it weren’t for the Minnesota Vikings late push, only one team would have reached the .500 mark. The Green Bay Packers were that team, finishing with an astounding 13-3 record as they ran away with the NFC North.

Will that happen again this season? Let’s find out. Here are TheSportsWatchers.com’s NFC North Division Predictions:

1. Green Bay Packers (10-6) – While I have the Packers in first place, I do not have them finishing with the great record of 13-3 they had last season. I am an Aaron Rodgers believer, but unless your name is Ben Roethlisberger, most newly minted starting quarterbacks have some type of learning curve when they become main man—even Peyton Manning was not perfect! But, other than the expected up and downs that Rodgers will have, this team is pretty much the same squad that got to the NFC Championship game last year, and I expect them to contend for that same playoff finish this season. The defense has great depth on the line and two of the best cornerbacks in the league. The offense is stacked at wide receiver with Greg Jennings turning into an outright threat downfield. And the running game should continue to improve with Ryan Grant finally in camp and ready to take on his first complete season as a feature back. The Packers have a rough schedule, but some of the games against these lesser opponents within the division should propel them into the playoffs.

2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) – Yes, I am a Minnesota Vikings believer this season. You have to be if you watched any part of the second half of the 2007 NFL season. And I don’t just mean tuning in for the Adrian Peterson fantasy football highlights either! This team was very complete last year, and they bring back an even more complete team in 2008. They have added a wide receiver threat in Bernard Berrian, and the word is that Sidney Rice is looking a lot better at wideout in training camp this year. On the defensive side, while the Vikings have had no trouble stopping the run, they have had problems rushing the quarterback, but by trading for Jared Allen, rushing the quarterback will be a lot easier for the Vikings. And the addition of Madieu Williams at safety gives them another defensive back that can make plays in the secondary. So the talent and balance on this team is there. It really all comes down to how well Travaris Jackson plays. His performance will determine whether this team is a serious Superbowl contender, or if they are pretenders. But as far as his regular season play goes, he has the talent around him to get them to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth.

3. Chicago Bears (4-12) – Here is where the cookie crumbles for the NFC North. The Chicago Bears have officially missed their window of opportunity. The last 3 seasons that they have spent trying to figure out who their quarterback has now brought this team to a point where their defense is no longer young and fast and where their best wide receiver is now Devin Hester. Granted Hester has been their best scoring talent for quite some time, but at least when the team had Berrian and Mushin Muhammad, they had a legitimate wideouts. If the Bears really expect Hester to go out and give them 75 plays on offense where he produces like a #1 receiver, they have to be crazy. And to pay him #1 wide receiver money—are they serious? The man has never played a full season at the position. Maybe they know something I don’t know. What I do know is that with no good running backs, no quarterback, a broken down offensive line and no proven wide receiver, the only hope for this team is their defense, and I really think we have seen their best days already.

4. Detroit Lions (4-12) – I’m not sure what the Lions are doing. They draft three first round receivers in 3 consecutive years, and now that two of them are ready to take the league by storm, they fire Mike Martz, who is probably the best pure offensive coach in the NFL? Are they serious over there? How does Matt Millen continue to keep his job? Not to condone anyone being fired…but he should be fired! Granted, this team did have a 7-9 record last year, much more than anyone expected and their best record in years. But is that the standard that Millen has set for this team? Should we really be praising the Lions for a near-.500 season? I would hope not. Especially after they started the season 6-2 and finished 1-7. So to tell you the truth, I don’t know where this team is headed. Word is that their head coach wants a more run-oriented, ball-control, style of offense. I guess he nobody told him that they have Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson on the squad, huh? I’m exasperated with this team. Good luck, Lions fans. You’ll need it.

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