2009 NFL Preview Part 3: NFC North

This one took some debate....

1. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - I really, really like this team.... I'm very high on Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant responded well at the end of 2008, and the Jennings/Driver combo is quite solid...add in Donald Lee and newly drafted athletic freak TE Jermichael Finley, as well as a veteran O-line...it's an above-average unit... on defense... wow, the talent level is almost staggering when you look at it for the first time... Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett, and newly drafted BJ Raji on the d-line.... AJ Hawk, Nick Barnett, and rookie Clay Matthews at LB....lockdown corners (when healthy) on both sides in Charles Woodson (a personal favorite) and Al Harris... and even a very good kicker in Mason Crosby...This is definitely a playoff team if they stay healthy....
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) - I've wavered alot here.... but settled on this b/c of their dominant lines on both sides of the ball...the offensive line is very stout with Mt. McKinnie, Steve Hutchinson (the best guard in the league), and even newly drafted Phil Loadholt on the right side... the defensive line is flat-out exceptional as well with Jared Allen terrorizing the end while the Williams' brothers (who aren't brothers) dominate inside.... and we haven't even gotten to Adrian Peterson yet...so there's immense talent... the problem? You already know it's at QB...I actually like Sage Rosenfels....as a backup...but if you have him and the always-riveting Tarvaris Jackson competing to lead a supposed playoff contender...it makes me a little wary (especially with no receivers outside of Bernard Berrian)...nonetheless...all they need to do is manage the game...so i'll give them a wild-card look
3. Chicago Bears (9-7) - If there's an advantage Chicago has over Minny...it's at QB...Jay Cutler probably has the livest arm in the entire league and has shown the ability to wing the ball around...is he marginally crazy? yes...but he's a big-time upgrade...I also expect Matt Forte to come back with a 1500-yd+ sophomore campaign....Receiver is a question mark...Devin Hester has all the talent in the world and I think Cutler can bring out the same things in him that he got out of Eddie Royal in Denver...but the other side is laughable...Here's where Chicago falls behind... this defense is old...and oft-injured...in theory there are names on that side of the ball that get you excited...but Urlacher, Harris, Tillman, and even Ogunleye aren't the players they once were....This is a team that can beat anybody...but injuries and age keep them out of the show...
4. Detroit Lions (4-12) - Four wins! Needless to say that'd be a huge improvement...and I don't think I've EVER seen this kind of roster turnover in one offseason...Julian Peterson...Larry Foote... Philip Buchanon...Anthony Henry...Grady Jackson...and I digress...The root of the problem is on defense...but those guys help that enough where that should be only a slightly below-average unit... the offense? Let's just say I'm not sold on Stafford or Culpepper this year...Kevin Smith is quite good...and Calvin Johnson is named Megatron for a reason... Marked improvement...yes.....competing for the playoffs? no...