NFC North preview...

Green Bay Packers: Well they are already better off this year than last year because they don't have to deal with Brett Favre's annual crying game swan song, that's someone elses problem for now. The Packers have the best QB in the division in Aaron Rodgers and they have the best wide receiving core also. Rodgers threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 TDs last season and the offense ranked 8th overall in the NFL in his first year as a starter. Greg Jennings got a nice new, fat contract so he should be happy and Donald Driver is back and healthy. The offensive line returns 4 of 5 starter but the big question for them will be whether they can get Ryan Grant to put up huge numbers like he did at the end of the 2007 season. The Packers defensive unit was horrible last year and cost them at least three games but this unit was basically the same defense that was a shut down D in 2007, so the question is which year was an anomaly. These guys are young in the front 7 with rookie B.J Raji, Clay Matthews Jr., Justin Harrell, and A.J. Hawk but that youth is offset by the experience in the secondary. Veterans Charles Woodson and Al Harris return at the corner spots, but Harris needs to stay healthy for this defense to thrive. Nick Collins had a stellar season last year being second on the team in tackles and interceptions. The Packers have an easier schedule this year which will be beneficial and the offense will put up big numbers again to make them win the division. Key Games: Home games against Cincinnati in Week 2, Dallas in Week 9, and Baltimore in Week 12. Road Games at Pittsburgh in Week 15 and in Arizona for the season finale. 2009 overall record: 13-3, Division winner, #1 seed

Minnesota Vikings: My prediction for this team is pre-Brett Favre joining them, but even with him he doesn't make much of a difference. The jury is still out on Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels isn't very good, so I understand where management is coming from in trying to get Favre but really they just need someone who can hand the ball of to Peterson. Speaking of Peterson, Minnesota returns the best running back duo with last year's rushing champion Adrian Peterson and his always capable and sometimes just as good Chester Taylor. Bernard Berrian is coming off of a decent year, 48 catches for 964 yards and 7 TDs, but the team is hoping he will put up bigger numbers with the addition of speedy rookie Percy Harvin. Harvin gives them the option to run a wildcat type formation with Peterson and Jackson which would be pretty tough to stop. The offensive line lost starting center Matt Birk to free agency but he will probably be replaced by third year player John Sullivan. Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie will protect the left side of the line. Anthony Herrera returns as a the starter at right guard and rookie Philip Loadholt will probably start at the right tackle to get playing time before eventually getting moved to the left side. Their defense is anchored up front by the Williams, Pat and Kevin, who as of right now will not be suspended due to a court ordered injunction. Jared Allen flanks the defensive end position but Ray Edwards needs to step up his sack production to really help the defense terrorize the QB. The Vikings have a solid linebacking group lead by Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, and Ben Leber. Minnesota's secondary contains young guys like Cedric Griffin(4th) and Tyrell Johnson(2nd) with Madieu Williams(6th) and Antoine Winfield providing the veteran leadership. This team can be dangerous with Peterson and Harvin on the field but they will be hampered by whoever plays QB for them. Key Games: Home games against Baltimore in Week 6, Cincinnati in Week 14, and the Giants to finish the season. Road games at Pittsburgh in Week 7, Arizona in Week 13, and at Carolina in Week 15. 2009 overall record: 10-6, Wild Card, #6 seed

Chicago Bears: The Bears improved drastically on offense by trading for franchise QB Jay Cutler. The only problem is he doesn't have anyone to throw it to, they don't have a legitimate number one and they lack depth of overall quality receivers. Devin Hester is their best receiver but he hasn't been nearly as effective as he was when he just returned kicks. The Bears drafted tall receiver Juaquin Iglesias from Oklahoma but rookie receivers very rarely make immediate impacts, although Cutler has done that before with Eddie Royal in Denver last year. Matt Forte rushed for over a thousand yards as a rookie and should only get better with Cutler taking some heat off of him. Greg Olsen has been Jay Cutler's best friend since the trade which could mean good things for the underachieving Olsen. The o-line returns last years starting guards, Roberto Garza and Josh Beekman, and starting center Olin Kruetz but they got a big upgrade with the free agent acquisition of Orlando Pace . 2nd year man Chris Williams will have to step up for them to be successful. The Bears defense is lead by the linebacking group of pro bowlers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek clog up the middle of the line with Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown putting pressure on the edges. The Bears released veteran free safety Mike Brown because he can't stay healthy so the question is who will fill the void in the secondary. Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman return at the cornerback positions. The Chicago Bears have a lot of pieces in place but their lack of a big play wide receiver will ultimately be their down fall. Key Games: Home contests versus the Steelers in Week 2 and the Eagles in Week 11. Their road games are at Atlanta in Week 5, Cincinnati in Week 7, and at Baltimore in 15. 2009 overall record: 7-9

Detroit Lions: The Lions are better just for not having Matt Millen in their front office. The offense will be lead by either rookie Matthew Stafford or Daunte Culpepper, either way one of them is going to take a beating. Kevin Smith had a nice rookie season and he should only get better with Terrelle Smith now blocking for him. Calvin Johnson proved he was the real deal putting up big numbers last year but he also had Roy Williams opposite him for most of the season, he will see how hard it is with no viable second or third option. The Lions upgraded the tight end position by drafting Brandon Pettigrew but will he be able to step in right away and contribute. The offensive line got better by picking up Jon Jansen for a tackle spot and they should have a lot of good competitions for starters during training camp. The line backers are lead by Ernie Sims and offseason pickups of Julian Peterson and Larry Foote who should bring lots of leadership and playmaking ability to the defense. The defensive line is the question mark for this group with the aging Grady Jackson probably being the best player on the line. The secondary upgraded by picking up Anthony Henry and Philip Buchanon but they have unproven guys manning the safety positions in rookie Louis Delmas and Daniel Bullocks. The Lions are still a few years away from doing anything significant but they have taken the right steps in the right direction. Key games: Home games with Washington in Week 3, Steelers in Week 5, and Arizona in Week 15. They play road games at New Orleans to begin the season, and Cincinnati and Baltimore in back-to-back weeks. 2009 overall record: 3-13