The Shark's Divisional Review (2)
We will stay in the NFC and this time look at the NFC North Division
NFC NORTH - Teams : Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears
Last Season :
1. Green Bay Packers 13-3 (Lost NFC Champ. Game to New York Giants
2. Minnesota Vikings 8-8 (Did not qualify for playoffs)
3. Detroit Lions 7-9 (DNQ)
4. Chicago Bears 7-9 (DNQ)
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay enjoyed a stellar season last time, primarily due to the continuing talents of Brett Favre, who enjoyed a record breaking season with two excellent WR's in Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, but also due to the discovery of RB rookie Ryan Grant, who after keeping the bench warm for the first half of the season got his chance due to injury and ran teams ragged. Green Bay looked certs to reach the SB but ran headlong into the Giants who beat them in their own backyard to reach the SB. This season though, as has been mentioned, Brett Favre retired, then didnt, then retired, then rejoined, but was traded to the New York Jets to allow rookie QB Aaron Rodgers a chance to develop into another franchise QB. Another 13-3 season is too much to expect though and Green Bay will have a fight on their hands to win the division. Lambeau Field remains a hostile environment though that few teams enjoy playing at....the Pack will be competative as always.
Offensive Rating : 7/10 (Favre-less now!)
Defensive Rating : 7/10
My Prediction : Playoff chances, but may be a wildcard route only
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
I've always had a soft spot for Minnesota, and they have threatened consistently to have a breakout season, but rarely have they done it. This season though they will surely not get a better chance to go deep into the playoffs. Adrian Peterson was "just" a rookie RB this time last year....This time this year he is the NFL's hottest property and expected to be the #1 RB come January. Ably assisted by Chester Taylor, the Vikes have a running game to be proud of, and there is no doubt that HC Brad Childress will run teams into the ground, behind a very big O line. The passing game though is questionable, with QB Tavaris Jackson misfiring all too regularly to get the Vikes out of trouble when their running game is stuffed at source. But the Vikings also have the #1 rated Defence, and it is this that could carry them to the big dance at the end of the season. It must also be noted that Minnesota play their home games indoor on astroturf....when they are away, playing outdoors on grass, in inclement weather, they do tend to suffer for it...
Offensive Rating : 8/10 (would be higher with a better QB, would be lower without Peterson)
Defensive Rating : 9.5/10 (still a little suspect against the pass)
My Prediction : Playoff football for the Vikings - could do with home field advantage in the playoffs though
DETROIT LIONS
Wheres Barry Sanders when you need him? Detroit usually flit somewhere between competative to woeful, and this season looks to be erring more to the latter than the former. Their QB, Jon Kitna, reckons the Lions should be winning 10 games this season....he said that last season as well, and though the Lions started promisingly, they soon faded and become the one dimensional team we know and chuckle at. A pair of talented WR's they have its true, but their O line is paper thin and their running attack is almost non existant. Could be a long season for the Lions...
Offensive Rating : 6/10
Defensive Rating : 5/10
My Prediction : Should be in line for a decent early draft pick next April....
CHICAGO BEARS
Now here is an enigma of a team. Last season much was expected of them, and they disappointed massively. Reason is they depend too much on their very good defense, whilst their offense struggles to put any sort of drives together. Last season Chicago's biggest scoring weapon was a special teams player called Devin Hester - this guy had a habit of running punts and kick offs straight back for TD's - so much so that teams started to kick it straight out of bounds and take a penalty rather than try and stop him. Hester has been promoted to WR this season and chances are they will just dump the ball to him with short screen passes and let him laser his way to the endzone. That alone wont be enough though, and Chicago need more consistency to be competative. Problems at QB and RB dont fill you with confidence, though their Defense remains as rough and tough as ever.
Offensive Rating : 6/10
Defensive Rating : 9/10
My Prediction : Not sure they can put enough points on the board to win more matches than they lose.
NFC NORTH OVERALL
Minnesota should take the division, though alot will depend on Peterson staying fit and them finding a few wins away from their Dome. Green Bay will be their biggest challenger, but only if they get rid of the Favre effect sooner rather than later, whilst Chicago could make it a three horse race if they find some offensive consistency. Cant see Detroit being competative, though they wont be the worst team in the NFL either.
1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Bears
4. Lions
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