LogFAQs > #926852373

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears

Man, the Vikings have seen sooooo many retirements over the past several offseasons, and the rest of the division has absolutely wasted the opportunity to bridge the gap, even accounting for S10 when the Packers won the division and Vikings finished last. The Vikings could become the first team to wrap up their division this year. I say that fully aware that they have a tough schedule. They might be always underachieving in the playoffs (never appeared in NFC Championship), but they are one of the best regular season teams. They have quite the balanced team. They are no slouches at throwing the ball, and they get efficient results out of their running game. The defense is effective at stopping both the run and pass. The special teams have never been especially good, especially at kicker where they probably have among the lowest career FG% in the league. Perhaps that is why they don't make it far in the playoffs, but they spent a 3rd round pick on a kicker in Cairo Santos, so maybe they can get over the hump and make a run at the SB.

The Packers made quite a few mistakes last season but were in the playoff hunt until Week 17. They spent this offseason fortifying their strengths and rectifying some past decisions (most notably getting a genuine FB). They still have a fatally flawed offense, but as long as it can be respectable, whatever that entails with a team like this, their stout defense should be able to carry the team. They need to start out strong to keep their playoff hopes alive as Weeks 13-16 are pretty rough.

Yes I know the law is that the Lions must finished second, but it's very hard for me to do so. To begin with the positives, I am cautiously optimistic about their defense this season. The Lions have invested heavily in trades, free agency, RFA, and the draft to fix the leaky D. They definitely get an A for effort, but they would much rather see some results, and I think they can, but I would ultimately need to see it to believe it. Unfortunately, I am pessimistic about their offense. QB E.J. Manuel seems like he's going to be a league-average QB at best. HB DeAngelo Williams is injured...again. The OL is always injured and with them moving on from stalwart LT Kevin Shaffer (they had little choice but to let him walk), there's nobody truly fearsome there. The Lions are perennial overachievers in the win column, but I think that their luck runs. The overachieving makes it hard for me to fully dismiss them though.

Along with the Pats and Titans, we might be seeing three teams vying to have the worst offense in B8NFLL history. It is going to be ugly in Chicago with its extreme lack of talent. It's a shame too since their OL has a case to be named the league's best. I imagine them manhandling defenders, giving QB Zach Mettenberger 10 seconds to throw a pass only for him to air mail it and the OL looking at each other shrugging and thinking, "What more can we do?" This defense though has a chance to be great with the signing of DT Vince Wilfork among my favorite offseason acquisitions. The Bears aren't making the playoffs this season. Let's get that out of the way. What they can hope for is for a rookie or second year player or two on the offense emerge as a someone who truly has a future and place on the team, and the defense to keep them competitive enough to ensure more development than regression.
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KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
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