Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Alright let's get back to our divisional breakdowns.

2004 NFC North Standings:

Packers 10-6: The Favre-led Packers were bounced from the playoffs by division rival Minnesota, exposing us to Randy's infamous moon shot.

Vikings 8-8: Stumbled into the playoffs but were outclassed by eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia.

Lions 6-10: Young team with alot of talent at the skill positions. Perhaps ready to roar in '05?

Bears 5-11: Look for more of the same in 2005, the Bears will have a strangle hold on the North basement.

Predictions:

Packers 11-5: Everyone seems to be predicting the demise but I'm not buying in to it. I think the Pack will remain strong and their defense will be improved.

Vikings 9-7: The Vikes seem to always have the talent to make some serious noise, but they always find a way to stay mediocre. Will the subtraction of Moss actually be a plus for them?

Lions 7-9: I think the Lions are still a year away from being a potential playoff contender. Look for Jeff Garcia to take over at some point this year, probably sooner rather than later.

Bears 5-11: What are the Bears gonna do without Rex Grossman?? Probably the same as if they had him the entire year... not much.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Vikings 10-6: Much stronger defense. Loss of Moss is huge, but Burleson can be the real deal, and Troy Williamson is enough of a serious deep threat to keep teams from doubling Burleson. The running game is underrated with Bennet, Mewelde Moore, and Moe Williams. But I'm not a fan of Tice. I think they have 12-4 talent, but he'll squander some of it.

Packers 9-7: Favre is still the man. But he's going to get chased more often, that offensive line isn't what it used to be.

Lions 7-9: If Harrington falters they can always turn to Garcia. Great weapons on offense. Not so sure about the defense, so ultimately I'm saying it's a losing season. But it wouldn't surprise me if they jumped up and made the playoffs.

Bears 3-13: Without Rex, it's HOPELESS.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Vikings 11-5: I do believe they have gotten better 1 of the things that always hold the vikings back was their Defense it was just terrible they allways got beat and this offseason they improved their secondary (Sharper and Smooth) and williams is going to be amazing. Also Eramus James and Williamson are 2 good draft picks in 2 pressing needs They're going to miss Moss playmaking ability but even that could get them in the SB the last 8 years I think is good they decided to change the focus of a 1 player offense to a more complete and balanced 1 they don't have to score 30 point per game they just need to beat their opponents.

Lions 10-6: I'm sorrry but this Offense is scarry even if harrignton is the QB and if he's not doing the job Garcia will take over I see them as a Wild Card team for sure they still ahve 1 of the best D-lines in the NFL they're getting some injured players back (Bly and Bailey).

Packers 8-8: I'm sorry but I see this year as Favre Downfall he did alot of work in the offseason but that O-line is going to hurt him alot and A.Green won't be able to run trought those thinny holes. Their D is still young not alot of playmakers and they just lost their leader in sharper

Bears 2-14: Their season is over with Rex gone I still didn't give them much but they're gonners hey theire 1st round pick doesn't whant to play for them lol

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

vikes, GB, lions, bears...

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Gotta be brief on this one..

1. Vikings, 10-6.. Moss is addition by subtraction, Culpepper is an MVP candidate, defense is much improved

2. Lions, 8-8.. Harrington is better but still not good.. Running game struggles until Schlesinger comes back, defense is much improved..

3. Packers, 7-9.. Defensively one of the league's worst teams, they will lose a lot of high scoring games.. Favre is very good, but not great due to a weakened offensive line..

4. Bears, 4-12.. Just a bad football team.. Offensively they never get it going, on defense they are able to stay in some games, but just can't score enough points to get it done.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

My upset pick of the year!

Lions (10-6)

Vikings (9-7)

Packers (9-7)

Bears (4-12)

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Brud and I are together!
Lions 10-6 -- This offense could be nasty. If Harrington isnt doing it Garcia will be plugged in quickly and already knows the system. Love the WR/RB position, getting some injured defense back. Extremely young team but VERY talented.
Vikings 9-7 -- Is it true? Do the vikings have a defense! They do, I think they could easily win the division too. No Randy Moss is a change, still no stud RB but a gaggle of good ones.
Packers 8-8 - Brett Favre and Javon Walker will try. Ahman Green seems to have found the fumbles again, the O line is hurting, and the defense is just awful.
Bears 3-13 - Their season went down with Rex Grossman. Mushin Muhammad is good but not worth what they paid, their #1 pick still isn't in camp, and they have lots of holes all around. I do like Lovie SMith though. WIth time they'll be better.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

1. Packers (11-5) - Favre will be even better than last year. He stopped cutting corners and it might be his last year, so he'll want to make it a good one. Their defense will improve with new coordinator Jim Bates

2. Vikings (9-7) - Their offense will be worse without Moss. Now they have less depth at running back without Onterrio Smith. Michael Bennett gets hurt every year. Their defense will be better, but not much better because the coaches are morons and we all know how teams do when they just add a million overpaid players.

3. Lions (8-8) - Joey Harrington is not good enough to lead this team. The talent at receiver is not enough to help him. They will improve when they put in Garcia, but it will be too little, too late and they will miss the playoffs

4. Bears (6-10) - Muhsin Muhammad will help and they have a great defense, but with Grossman out again, their offense will continue to struggle and they will finish last in the division

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

1. Vikes - 11-5: Culpepper is still the heart of the team with a much improved defense.
2. Pack - 10-6: Favre is good for 3 wins alone. Looks younger this year.
3. Lions - 8-8: Until Harrington shows something, they won't break from the mediocre ranks.
4. Bears - 6-10: Defense isn't bad. Offense will improve when Benson finally signs but no QB is death in this division.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

[QUOTE=Daseal][B]Brud and I are together![/B][/QUOTE]

Uh-oh.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

i dont see how you guys are picking GB over the vikes... yeah favre, but they lost 2 Olinemen, their RB fumbles a bit and their defense got WORSE not better.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

Vikings 10-6: A team full of guys looking to prove something. Culpepper wants to show he's the reason for Moss's success and not the other way around. Bennett wants to stay healthy and contribute. Smoot always plays with a chip on his shoulders. Burleson wants to show he's the man at WR and that they don't need Moss to win. Overall a better team this year than last with a much improved Defense and a better team feel (thanks to Moss's departure).

Packers 9-7: The loss of two starting pro-bowl caliber guards takes its toll on a once mighty offensive line. Favre and Green struggle as a result. One of the top 2 or 3 WR corps. in the league, but too much to overcome on defense to keep the Packers rolling through the NFC North.

Lions 8-8: Gotta love Kevin Jones and a great, young WR corp. Still skeptical about the defense and the QB. QB controversey plagues them throughout the year and they miss the playoffs even with one of the most talented offenses in the league.

Bears 4-12: The defense is the only thing that keeps the Bears from snagging next year's #1 draft pick away from either the Browns or Titans. Without Grossman (and maybe even with him), this team stuggles on offense (even with two very strong RBs). They will only start seeing some of their 4 wins after realizing they need to name Kyle Orton as the starter. Mushin Muhammad hangs himself at season's end after suffering the single greatest dropoff in production over one year for a WR in the history of the NFL and realizing that there really is more to football than money. Darkhorse prediction: Benson finds a way to get himself suspended for at least a few games in his rookie year.

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

[QUOTE=That Guy]i dont see how you guys are picking GB over the vikes... yeah favre, but they lost 2 Olinemen, their RB fumbles a bit and their defense got WORSE not better.[/QUOTE]
they added Jim Bates who is one of the top defensive coordinators

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

[quote]Uh-oh.[/quote]
You said it bro. Soon you'll love Spurrier as much as me!

Re: Around the NFL: NFC North
 

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

That's exactly why I think they'll be improved.

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.