2011 NFL Preview: Part 7 - NFC North

Almost there...

1. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - I'm up and down on the Packers... they have all the talent in the world AND return 2 impact guys that missed the playoff run (Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley) to that already loaded roster... but then there's the problem with trying to repeat... everyone wants their own, etc... but in the end, returning the nucleus with a shortened pre-season can only help, and the fact that they have an elite QB in Aaron Rodgers gives them the upper-hand... the Starks/Grant running back tandem doesn't scare anyone, but combine that with the 300-400 yards that Rodgers will get and the array of wideouts, and that's a great offense... the defense is LOADED with upper-echelon guys led by Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson... the previous "best secondary" title resided in GB, and while Philly/NYJ may have vaulted them, it's still a very good unit... 11 wins is safe...
2. Minnesota Vikings (9-7) - I'm planting my flag... Donovan isn't as bad as he was last year, and I think he makes a resurgence... couple that with the best running back alive in Peterson, and a (hopefully) healthy Percy Harvin, and you have an offense good enough to compete (not to mention the best guard alive as well in Steve Hutchinson)... the defense is where the key lies... Jared Allen had an awful year by his standards, but I fully expect a return to 12-15 sacks... they are hurt by the 2-game suspension for all-world DT Kevin Williams, but he's back soon enough to anchor that D-line and this is just a better roster than that of Chicago or Detroit... it's on you Donovan...
   
3. Detroit Lions (8-8) - I'm kind of hedging my bets here... if Matthew Stafford plays all 16 (a GIANT if), I actually think they win 9 or 10... he's uber-talented (there's a reason he went #1 after all), and with Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson, they have home-run hitters... but I can't in good conscience predict more than 8 wins with Stafford and Best as the QB/RB combo... too much injury risk... on defense? it's actually looking pretty nice... Ndamukong Suh is the best young DT in the game (and maybe the best one overall), and he forms a really nice D-line with Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and rookie Nic Fairley (when healthy)... the back-end is improved as well, and while it won't be an elite unit, they'll make plays when that defensive line is cooking... big-time upside with this club...
4. Chicago Bears (6-10) - That's the cliff... yep, right there... I haven't met a single person who thinks they can repeat their 2010 record, but nobody has them this low either... well, hello... Jay Cutler is Jay Cutler... huge arm, he'll get you numbers, but no one actually LIKES him and I'm betting he lost some respect with the playoff disappearance... I actually like Matt Forte, but they seem content to under-use him (cough, Mike Martz), and the receiving corps is pretty putrid after Johnny Knox (who's more like a #3)... but the biggest issue for them outside of the receivers is the O-line... it's a problem... the defense has guys you know, and therefore, you may assume it's going to be an elite unit... meh... Peppers was fantastic in 2010, but he's known for having one good year and one bad... Urlacher isn't getting younger, and the secondary is banged up... they're going to need an elite year from Briggs, and the hope that Urlacher can still go... I don't see it...

Stay tuned for the NFC East and the league-wide wrap...