2008 NFL Season Preview: NFC North

The NFC North is loaded with young talent, including the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson. Now that #4 is gone, the division is open for the other teams to take over. With the young Vikings improving drastically, and the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay finally beginning, this should be a fun division to watch this season.

In order of projected finish:

1. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are going to be an exciting football team to watch this year. With the emergence of Adrian Peterson last season, this team is favored to win this division. Peterson broke the record for most rushing yards in a single game in NFL history when he ran for 296 yards against the Chargers as a rookie. Had he not been injured towards the end of the season, Peterson would’ve lead the league in rushing yards. This season, Peterson has a better supporting cast, with Tavaris Jackson healthy, and with the addition of Bernard Berrian, this team finally has a downfield threat. Not only do the Vikings have an offense that is on the rise, but their defense is great as well. The Vikings D is lead by the two Williams’, Kevin and Pat. These two clog up the middle, and are two of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. The Vikings have a great D-line, but an even better secondary led by Antoine Winfield and Darren Sharper. If the Vikings D can perform as well as they have the past few years, and Peterson can continue to grow in his sophomore season, watch out for the Vikings this year.

2. Green Bay Packers: No more #4. Big Problem? Kinda. Aaron Rodgers isn’t as bad as many fans think he is. But he certainly is no Brett Favre. After the incredible season the Packers had last season, the expectations are extremely high for Rodgers. It will be a great story to follow him all season, and he is going to have to find a way to cope with that pressure. Rodgers is the only real problem for this team. Other than the QB, they have a great running back in Ryan Grant, who burst onto the scene last season, as well as a great receiving core including Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. At least Rodgers has some great targets to throw the ball to. And as usual, the Packers defense is very strong. The Packers will be a team in the Wild Card hunt this season.

3. Detroit Lions: The Lions have two great receivers, and it’s a shame because they have an average veteran quarterback and a crappy run game. Those two things combined do not lead to many wins. But Kitna is good enough to win this team at least 7 games this season. The lack of a running game will hurt, and so will the loss of Sean Rogers, but this team still has enough pieces to put together a better season then they have had in the past. The success or failure of this team really relies on how much their run game will produce. According to the Lions’ website, rookie Kevin Smith, their third round pick this season, will be starting at running back with Tatum Bell backing him up. If Smith can perform well, the Lions can maybe be a .500 team. But if he struggles, as almost all of their running backs have over the past few seasons, then they will once again be a sub .500 team and miss the playoffs.

4. Chicago Bears: The Bears suck. I really don’t understand their tactics. They always have a great defense. But with an offense as bad as theirs, they won’t win games. It seems that love below mediocre quarterbacks. This year, they will start Kyle Orton, but odds are Rex Grossman will step in shortly after and will suck just as much as Orton will. Not only does this team have no run game, but they also have no pass game. Their receiving core is extremely weak after losing Bernard Berrian to inner-division rival Minnesota. Berrian was the only good receiver they had. Although they still have Devin Hester, who can occasionally provide a spark in the passing game by catching a bomb, they need a true #1 receiver, not Marty Booker to headline their receiving core. The Bears are not going to be a very good team this season.

Projected Final Records:

Minnesota Vikings (11-5)

Green Bay Packers (9-7)

Detroit Lions (7-9)

Chicago Bears (5-11)