2009 NFC North Preview: A Division In Shambles

Well, my week long vacation is upon me. So while I relax on the beach, I will not be posting daily previews. Instead, the combined AFC West and NFC North previews will have to be sufficient enough until I return. The daily previews should return Monday, August 24th.

NFC NORTH
1. Chicago Bears
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: B-
Defense: A-
Coaching: B-

What’s new: Jay Cutler arrives from the Broncos, complaining all the way. Despite completely selling out his teammates in Denver, Cutler is a major upgrade at quarterback, a position that is very weak among the rest of the North teams. Other than Cutler, the Bears did little through free agency and even less through the draft (mostly because they gave all their picks to the Broncos).

What’s good: The gamble on Cutler should pay off. Especially in the North. One starting quarterback is Aaron Rodgers. The other two teams haven’t even named a starter yet. There is no more controversy in Chicago behind center. Cutler also brings balance to the Bears offense. No longer can teams key on Matt Forte, who had an exceptional rookie year. The defense, despite losing a step the last couple of years, is still one of the NFL’s most feared.

What’s bad: Cutler had Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to throw to in Denver. He’ll have Devin Hester (who has never proven anything as a wideout), Rashied Davis, Earl Bennett and Juaquin Iglesias to throw to in Chicago. This is a major downgrade. The Bears safeties, which used to be one of the league’s best tandems, are now Craig Steltz and Kevin Payne. That won’t help a devolving defense.

What to expect: The NFC North is wide open. Getting Cutler gives the Bears the best quarterback in the division. They have the second best running back in the division. They have a good offensive line and a very good defense. These things usually add up to a division title. However, just because the Bears are the North’s best team, that doesn’t necessarily make them one of the NFC’s best teams. This is still a squad that would probably finish in 3rd or 4th place in either the NFC East or NFC South. They still have to play Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Minnesota twice. So the Bears are still looking at a maximum of 10 wins.


2. Minnesota Vikings
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: B-
Defense: B
Coaching: B-

What’s new: Thankfully for 99.9% of the country, not Brett Favre. The Vikings fans should also be very happy about that. He would have done nothing but sink what could be an exciting 2009 season. You saw how well it worked for the Jets last seasons and the Packers before that. The problem is, the Vikings didn’t do much of anything in the off-season, and this was a team that couldn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs. The status quo is not good enough for Minnesota.

What’s good: Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. With those two, the Vikings figure to have the best running game in the NFL. The Vikings defense continues its Jekyll and Hyde routine. They continuously are #1 against the run and near the bottom of the league against the pass. Still, they force plenty of turnovers and score their fair share of touchdowns.

What’s bad: The quarterback and receiver situation. The Tavaris Jackson-Sage Rosenfels combination pretty much assures the Vikings of not making the Super Bowl this season. Rosenfels is the better of the two and should start, but the Vikings may as well be making a choice between Kyle Boller and Tony Banks. Further complicating the passing game are the receivers. Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice are barely legitimate NFL #3’s. They are the starting wideouts for Minnesota. Percy Harvin does intrigue me, but it remains to be seen how Brad Childress will use him.

What to expect: Thanks to the division, the Vikings could win 10 games easily. I think their upside is much higher than the Bears. However, their potential for disaster, especially because of the quarterback situation, is also much greater. This is the same Viking team as last season. If they get a lead in a game, they can pound you to oblivion. If they get behind, they are almost helpless. Minnesota will probably keep pace in with Chicago, but they’ll have to settle for another one and done in January.


3. Green Bay Packers
Projected Record: 7-9

Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Coaching: C

What’s new: Basically the entire defensive coaching staff. Along with the new coaching staff, the Packers are switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Green Bay was non-existent in free agency and instead added a couple of components through the draft.

What’s good: The Packers have a good, but not great, starting lineup on both sides of the ball. There are enough weapons to keep the offense moving if Aaron Rodgers continues to progress. On defense, there are holes in each one of the units, but more than enough good players on the line, the linebackers and the secondary to camouflage some of the weak points.

What’s bad: The right side of the offensive line is basically untested and unreliable. Ryan Grant is a good running back, but he’s always injured. Expect more of the same from “Fred Taylor, Jr.” in 2009. Aaron Rogers showed only glimpses of being ready to start in the NFL. Most of his season was marred by terrible decisions. He should progress, but he may not be able to progress far enough until next season. Also, the Packers should not be switching to a 3-4 defense in a division with Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte. Good luck stopping those two with only three down-linemen.

What to expect: The Packers may have the league’s easiest schedule…otherwise they’d be looking a 5-win season. Look at the opening six games: Chicago, Cincinnati, at St. Louis, at Minnesota, Detroit and at Cleveland. Anything less than 4-2 would be an embarrassment. They don’t have to play Minnesota after November 1st. However, the Packers better be around 8-3 by the time they get into their final five games (Baltimore, at Chicago, at Pittsburgh, Seattle, at Arizona). Anything less than 8-3 would assure the Packers of not grabbing a wild card spot. I see them getting to that stretch at 7-4, then losing five straight to end the season.


4. Detroit Lions
Projected Record: 2-14

Offense: D-
Defense: D
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Matt Stafford has been drafted to save this franchise. If he can’t save it, Detroit fans would probably settle for a win or two. You know, nothing major. Jim Schwartz is now the head coach. Another blah hiring if you ask me. The Lions also added Larry Foote and Julian Peterson to their defense, which means only nine more players to go until the unit is respectable.

What’s good: At least Stafford gives the team some hope of the unknown. Calvin Johnson is a very good receiver. Foote should provide some sort of leadership to the defense. The logo change looks good! That’s something!

What’s bad: Everything else, and that’s too much to list here. Here are the cliffnotes. The offensive line is one of the worst in the league. The defensive line is one of the worst in the league. The secondary is one of the worst in the league. The running back situation is anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s Kevin Smith. Maybe it’s Maurice Morris. Stafford probably won’t start the season, and when he comes in, he’s sure to beaten to a pulp behind that line. Plus, there’s the 17-game losing streak hovering over the entire franchise’s head.

What to expect: I’d like to say there is some sign of a turnaround in Detroit. You know, something like Miami or Atlanta pulled off. But there are no signs that indicate that has any chance of happening. It’s going to be another awful, awful season in Motown. The Lions won’t go 0-16 again, but they won’t move out of the NFC North cellar, which in itself is pretty pathetic. I would say the Lions are AT LEAST three seasons away from being able to field a respectable team.