The 2009 NFC North Outlook

The last year the NFC North sent a team to win the Super Bowl (1997 Packers) it was still called the NFC Central. '

The last North team to go to the Super Bowl (2006 Bears) hasn't been to the playoffs since and bet the farm this off-season on the success of new acquisition Jay Cutler.

Needless to say, the former Norris Division is more black and blue than it's been making opponents. However, things are looking up. 2009 could be a big year with a retooled Lions squad, the Vikings looking to improve upon a playoff berth last year, the Packers switching to a 3-4 and adding two stellar defensive talents, and the Bears hope Cutler is the franchise QB they haven't had since Sid Luckman.

Let's take a walk around the division looking at what teams have done to improve, failed to do, and what their chances are next season.

Green Bay Packers

What they've done right: Aaron Rodgers had a great 2008 and has most of the fanbase behind him (especially after Favre's latest stunt).

Adding BJ Raji and Clay Matthews in the draft was a coup, although in my estimation, the steal of the draft was TJ Lang in the third. He's a big step in improving a offensive line that played poorly last year. 

What they haven't done: Adding veteran defensive talent would have been preferable but Dom Capers' read-and-react scheme shouldn't be hard to learn for new personnel. Ryan Grant is an enigma and probably not the long-term solution at RB.

Outlook: The Packers and the Vikings will be in a dogfight to win the division. The Packers did more to improve this offseason and look like division champs right now. Rodgers is the key. If he can be better at the end of games, the Packers can get back to the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings

What they've done right: Adding Sage Rosenfels will provide a caretaker-QB to complement Adrian Peterson who is the real story in the Twin Cities. I've met AP about a dozen times and he's one of the most likable guys in the league.

No one is happier about a real QB competition than he is. Percy Harvin will add some spice to the meat-and-potatoes offense. Phil Loadholt can shore up the right side of that line.

What they haven't done: The depth on the defensive line is dreadful and things could go wrong, quickly, if the Williams-Wall is suspended for multiple games. Loadholt was a great start, but the Vikings could still add one or two starting caliber linemen to give Peterson more lanes.

Outlook: A healthy season would probably equal a division crown, but suspensions and injury history are working against the purple people eaters. Adding Brett Favre could put them over the hump, but that seems unlikely at this point. I'm ranking them 1b and its close. A wild card would be possible but not likely.

Chicago Bears

What they've done right: Jay Cutler is the best QB in the division and can be a perennial Pro Bowler for the Bears.

The biggest move of the offseason might be adding Orlando Pace; he's 33 and could have seven more years of protecting Cutler's blind side (allowing the loser of the Chris Williams/Kevin Shaffer camp battle to play swing tackle).

Gilbert and DJ Moore were good draft picks but may be bigger names than talent at this point.

What they haven't done: For a team with an aging defense, Cutler may have come at too high a price. Depth is needed at every position on the defense especially in the LB corps which couldn't last a Urlacher or Briggs injury. There is still no true No. 1 WR and that could be the one thing standing between them and the playoffs.

Outlook: The Bears are making the right moves and are on the right side of the rebuilding phase. Rod Marinelli was a great D-line coach and may be the most underrated coaching addition in the league.

If the defense stays healthy and overachieves, this offense can win a lot of games. 7-8 wins is a modest estimate, but a lot of their games could be close. A playoff appearance wouldn't surprise me, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Detroit Lions

What they've done right: With a roster turnover at about 40 players and climbing, it would be impossible here to list all the things the Lions have done "right" because any change is an improvement from 0-16.

The biggest and best moves have been adding Peterson and Foote to a bad LB corps and drafting Pettigrew and Delmas, who should help right away.

Most underrated move? Adding Daniel Loper, who may be the LG the Lions have been searching for since the '50s.

What they haven't done: Stafford will contribute in 2010, but its too soon to ask for a lot from the first pick. The offense will have growing pains and could use at least one more lineman.

Backus and Raiola are playing for their jobs as the last real pillars of the Millen area. The special teams were dreadful last year and poor depth in the LB and defensive backfield corps portends similar coverage woes. (look for that to improve later in the offseason)

Outlook: The Lions have made a lot of right moves up to this point and Martin Mayhew has shown competence manning the helm.

The 2009 Lions are essentially a blank slate and won't be judged on wins-losses by a majority of pundits.

The fan base would be happy with 5-6 wins and I think that is a reasonable assumption. 0-16 is a huge weight and a Falcons-like turn around is unlikely until 2010.