NFL Preview

Next I will Preview the NFC North division.  A division that is competitive but has been dominated by the Green Bay Packers.  But games have been very exciting, the Detroit Lions are surging back with a promising future, the Bears are always tough defensively, and the Vikings are trying to find their way period.

Green Bay Packers:  The Packers in 2011 look at times unstoppable, but also at times they also couldn’t stop anybody.  The defense gave up just about as many points as the offense put up.  But when you have Aaron Rogers arguably the best QB in the game right now, your chances are always good so they can get another super bowl, but only if they fix a defense that finished last in total defense a season ago. The season before that the Packers defense finished 5^{th in} total defense, and won the Super Bowl. SO that just proves true that defense wins championships.

Prediction:  The Packers will once again win their division with ease.  But will not win 15 games do to their defense.  The defense will improve but will have to out score just about every opponent like the season before, that will only take them so far especially against teams that have great defenses. 

Result: 12-4 with first week bye in playoffs

Detroit Lions:  What can I say about this team; they have had a big turnaround these last few seasons. Going from not winning a game at all (first time in history), to making the playoffs. This only means one thing the Lions are poised to really cause some problems in their own division let alone the whole league.  This team has become a very good all around team, with a few key pieces missing.  The defense went from being at the bottom of the league (08-09 32^nd) to making good progress to getting that great defense (2010 21^st 2011 23^rd).  The offense under Stafford has made great leaps and bounds to really become a force in the NFC.  In 08 they were 30^th, 09 26^th, 10 17^th, and 11 5^th.  Only behind New Orleans, New England, Philly, and Green Bay.  They will be a force period. They just have to get over the hump of Green Bay and keep getting better on defense.

Prediction:  The Lions will be a force as I stated above, but they still have a few things, a few kinks, to work out that can benefit them.  One they need to lose the bad boy attitude that gives them the wrong image. But they will go far in the playoffs how far only time will tell.

Result:  10-6 wild card berth. 

Chicago Bears:  The Bears will always be a tough team defensively, but offensively they are very inconsistent.  They have some good not great people in certain places.  But if the offense can’t keep the defense fresh and off the field your great defense becomes a good defense, a good defense becomes a poor defense.  So their flaw is the offense.  If this team can’t turn the offense around and make plays, then defense will become a non-factor always on the field.

Prediction:  The bears will finish third in their division again, maybe winning nine games this season, but I don’t expect really anymore than that this season. They will miss the playoffs again. Fix the offense, and it will be and get better.

Result:  9-7, and in the mix of the last wild card playoff spot

Minnesota Vikings:  The Vikings, what can we say?  They are in limbo, a few years ago they were riding high but not are rushing to get their identity back. So running they will do. But the Vikings may need to find a better plan.  Vikings went from being on top of the division in 2008 & 2009, to taking a very slow decent into the basement of the division.  A rookie QB a season ago in Ponder, he did ok.  But ok will not be enough, the passing game will have to come alive in order to get the offense and running game back on track.  For the last four seasons the Vikings have stayed steady in total offense, but they will have to improve a little more. The defense, which has been the lifeblood of this team, had its worst season in four seasons in 2011 finishing around 21^st. after finishing in the top ten from 2008-2010. So this team needs to find a way out of limbo. They have nice long way to go.

Prediction:  I would say the Vikings will finish last but will post at least 2-3 more wins from the season before, which they will make progress and hopefully they can stay on that path.

Result:  6-10 missing the playoff.