2010 Season Preview, #3: NFC North

Brett Favre, perhaps you've heard of him? It's amazing how there are headlines saying Favre sent some texts to teammates saying his ankle is too bad to play, and then two weeks later he says his ankle is better than ever. Meanwhile, his old team is brimming with confidence and looks like a Super Bowl contender.

Green Bay Packers
This offense is bursting with playmakers. Aaron Rodgers finished last season as a top 4 in QB rating, passing yards and touchdowns. He has plenty of people to give the ball to again: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley are all capable of 1000-yard receiving seasons, and Ryan Grant looks to get his third straight season over 1200 rushing yards. ARod is mobile himself and scrambled for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. The defense made the most of a soft schedule, leading the league in rushing defense and top 5 passing defense. However, they had their share of bad games, and 30 was the magic number: Packers were 0-6 when allowing 30 or more points and were 11-0 when keeping opponents under that. The road schedule is challenging (Eagles, Jets, Falcons, and Patriots) but the schedule in the first half is very generous; they could start 6-0, but don't get too excited because they could lose their next 6.

Key Games: Vikings on 10/24, Cowboys on 11/7, @ Vikings 11/21, 49ers on 12/5, @ Patriots 12/19.
Projection: 11-5

Minnesota Vikings
It feels that Brett Favre has been playing forever and it's true. He is coming off the best season of his career. His 7 interceptions were an outlier: he's had 14 seasons of 14+ INT's (twice last season's total), and his passing yardage was his highest in ten years. But there is no way that this gunner can repeat that miracle season. He's approaching 41 and he's already a grandfather. He has no ankle left. His favorite target Sidney Rice will miss the season with an injury and Percy Harvin's health is a huge question mark. But the Vikings still have Adrian Peterson and one of the league's best defenses. I'm a little concerned about AP's fumbling problem and I expect Favre to throw about 9 more interceptions this year (if he stays healthy). Like the Packers, the Vikings have a real tough stretch of games in October.

Key Games: @ Saints on Thursday 9/9, @ Jets on Monday Night Football on 10/11, Cowboys 10/17, @ Packers on 10/24, Packers on 11/21.
Projection: 10-6

Detroit Lions
When you are really bad for a long time you get a lot of good young talent in the draft. I don't think the Lions are ready to make a Dolphins-like leap in the standings, but the Lions will be much better. The offense has lots of weapons for former #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford: Megatron Calvin Johnson, newcomers Nate Burleson and TE Tony Sheffler, 2009 first round pick TE Brandon Pettigrew, 2010 first round pick RB Jahvid Best. The awful defense added monster Ndamukong Suh and Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch, and with Coach Schwarz having a year on his belt with the Lions, that unit should be better. Matthew Stafford will make lots of mistakes, but when you're coming off a total of 2 wins in two seasons there isn't a lot of pressure.

Key Games: Rams on 10/10, Redskins on 10/31, Bears on 12/5.
Projection: 5-11

Chicago Bears
After a disastrous season, you would think that hiring Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator and picking up Julius Peppers on defense, along with bringing back Brian Urlacher, would bring some optimism for the season. It doesn't seem to be working. Jay Cutler is having a miserable preseason and it appears that he doesn't trust his offensive line. The most important players on defense (Briggs and Urlacher) are hurting. It would be nice for Matt Forte to have a bounce-back season, but Jay Cutler will play like a poor man's Brett Favre from a few years ago. They better beat the Lions in Week 1 because if not they will be 0-5.

Key Games: Lions on 9/12, Packers on Monday Night Football on 9/27, Vikings on 11/14.
Projection: 5-11