NFC North Preview

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson.

There was a golden opportunity to get to the Super Bowl on that January 2010 evening in the Louisiana Superdome. The Minnesota Vikings, instead of running the ball and giving K Ryan Longwell a 40+ yard field goal attempt, decided to throw the football. QB Brett Favre rolled to his right and the New Orleans Saints covered it up pretty well. Instead of running and getting his team a couple more yards, Favre decided to throw it across his body, and for the second time in his career, his last throw in an NFC Championship Game was intercepted. After his usual offseason drama, Favre decided to rejoin the Vikings, but the success he had in the 2009 season was gone. The Vikings have not been the same since that fateful throw in the Superdome.

The class of the NFC North now happens to be the other three teams, while the Vikings hope they can rebuild around QB Christian Ponder, their first round draft pick last season. RB Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in the second-to-last game against the Washington Redskins, but he is probable to start the season. They are going to need him because there isn't much else to look forward to. WR Percy Harvin was seeking a trade in the offseason, but did not get his wish. Will he be unsatisfied with his position that it becomes a distraction for the team? The last thing this struggling team needs is an unnecessary distraction, so if trading him will eliminate that distraction, that may be the route best served for the Vikings.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

The Green Bay Packers weren't only dominant within the division, but they steamrolled the rest of the NFL as well. However, the Packers were clearly disappointed by their home playoff loss in the divisional round to the eventual champion New York Giants. With all of their main components returning this season, the Packers may be able to duplicate their 15-1 record from a season ago. The health of QB Aaron Rodgers is key to the Packers success, especially after backup QB Matt Flynn signed a lucrative deal to be the starter for the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers are not quite thrilled with QB Graham Harrell being the backup, so Rodgers' concussion history should be a concern.

Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall.

It could be argued that if QB Jay Cutler didn't get injured in that home win against the San Diego Chargers in November last season, the Bears could've changed the landscape of the division and the playoffs. After the victory, the Bears improved to 7-3 when they learned Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand, ending his season. Backup QB Caleb Hanie, now with the Denver Broncos, relieved Cutler in the 2010 NFC Championship Game when Cutler was injured as well, and did a serviceable job. However, he was not able to win any game for the Bears until the final game of the season, when they were already eliminated from playoff contention. This year, the addition of WR Brandon Marshall has everyone in Chicago excited about a potential deep playoff run once again. The health of LB Brian Urlacher will be key as the Bears try to hold their ground defensively.

The Detroit Lions made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999, and they were probably helped out by Cutler's injury. The Lions started off last season 5-0, after huge comebacks against the Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys in consecutive weeks. However, in a stretch where they had three consecutive home games, they only went 1-2. They were also 7-3 after 10 games, but they proceeded to lose their next two to the Packers and the Saints, putting their playoff hopes in a little bit of doubt. However, they finished off winning three of their last four to claim the final spot. The Lions do have a lot of question marks going into the season.

Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson.

The Lions did not necessarily stop the run very well, but they were effective in rushing the quarterback, led by DE Cliff Avril. CB Aaron Berry was expected to fill the role of starting corner opposite CB Chris Houston, but he was cut after being arrested twice in a month. Even if Berry would've been their starter, there would have been a lot of questions in that secondary. On offense, the Lions virtually had no running game due to the concussion issues of RB Jahvid Best and RB Mikel Leshoure's torn ACL in camp last season. Leshoure has to deal with his early suspension before he plays his first career game, but he should be able to help out their running game a bit. Even though QB Matthew Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, he does have a gunslinger mentality that dug the Lions huge holes in several games. They may not be able to recover from that this time around.

There isn't any reason to suggest the Packers wouldn't be division champions. They strengthened their running game by signing RB Cedric Benson, which is a scary thought considering how potent their offense is. The Lions will be a huge question mark. Can they build upon the success they had last season? Or will their offseason behavioral issues bring them a step back? Simply put, the Vikings need a dramatic improvement from Ponder in year two in order to show any kind of improvement.

Predictions

Green Bay Packers 14-2
Chicago Bears 11-5
Detroit Lions 8-8
Minnesota Vikings 4-12