Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

[QUOTE=steveo395]they added Jim Bates who is one of the top defensive coordinators[/QUOTE]

we'll see, i think the players were the bigger problem, KC switched DCs last offseason and wound up with absolutely no improvement.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Vikings: 11-5: They'll do enough to win the division but I'm still making the bold prediction that next year the Vikings coach will be none other than Maryland's Ralph Friedgen

Lions: 9-7: It's do or die for Joey Harrington this year. No more excuses

Packers: 7-9: Some off-field questions surrounding Ahman Green. The team won four games on last second field goals last year. If they lose just two of them that's an 8-8 team. Nothing too spectacular. I just don't want to see Favre play longer than he should.

Bears: 6-10: The defense will help the team win about 4 games and they'll be lucky to take a couple more elsewhere

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Vikings: 10-6, I really really like what they did defensivley. It remains to be seen how they will do on offense. They have one of the leagues best at QB, but no real running threat and we'll see how the reciving game is w/o Moss. Still, I think their defense has been upgraded bigtime and their offense will still be decent, so they will win a weak division.

GB Packers: 7-9. For Favre's sake, I really hope they do better than this. However, this is a team in decline. They lost some key interior olinemen, a couple of good secondary guys, and as much as I love Favre, he's not the same anymore.

Detriot Lions:7-9. If the preseason game they played against the Rams is any indication, they are going to have a long, long season. Their offensive line is just horrible, and Joey Harrington wont even have time to throw the ball to his reciving corps. I still think they are better than the Bears.

Chicago Bears: 3-13. You almost have to feel for Beras fans. Every year they have at least some hope, that seems to be taken away almost immediatley. 3-13 might be kind of harsh, but their offense is going to be horrible in my opinion. They still have an ok defense, so that should keep them in alot of games.