NFC North Improving, Not There Yet

Since its creation in 2002, the NFC North has been regarded as one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. In those seven years, a 10-6 team has won the division three times and the division has never had more than one double-digit win team in the same year. 

On top of that, the NFC North has only earned one Wild Card, when the Minnesota Vikings scuffled into the playoffs at 8-8 in 2004.

Most years, there are only two legitimate contenders for the NFC North crown. This year, three teams have put themselves in the position to achieve the championship. Those teams are the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. While the Lions also drastically brightened their future, they are still at least a couple years away.

Minnesota Vikings (10-6 in 2008)

Key Additions: QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Percy Harvin, OT Phil Loadholt

With all the Brett Favre talk that has swirled around Minnesota, their offseason seems a lot more active than it was. They did add a QB, however, bringing in Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans.

The Vikings also added big-play receiver Percy Harvin to spark a passing offense that ranked 25th in yards last year.

While these additions are better than nothing, they hardly erase Minnesota's biggest question. Rosenfels has only started five games in each of the past two seasons and has thrown 10 or more interceptions in both of those seasons, despite his lack of playing time. 

Harvin is as talented as they come, but he is far from the possession receiver the Vikings need to complement their other burner, Bernard Berrian, who averaged over 20 yards per catch last year.

Key Subtractions: C Matt Birk, S Darren Sharper

Birk and Sharper are both on the back-end of their careers as they approach their mid-30's, but both had done a great deal for the Minnesota organization. Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, had been Minnesota's starting center since 2000, only missing four games in that eight-year span.

Sharper didn't do bad either, earning two Pro Bowl selections in four years. Darren had clearly been losing a step though, forcing him to transition from free safety to strong safety during his stint in Minnesota.

The Vikings will likely have a much easier time replacing Sharper than Birk this season.  Tyrell Johnson will be the new starting safety, immediately providing an upgrade in quickness. Johnson, Minnesota's top pick in 2007, ran a 4.45 40-yard dash in his pre-draft workout. 

Minnesota will turn to another second year player, John Sullivan, to replace Birk at center.  This should be a much bigger question, as Sullivan went undrafted and has minimal NFL experience.

Chicago Bears (9-7 in 2008)

Key Additions: QB Jay Cutler, OT Orlando Pace, OT Kevin Shaffer, S Josh Bullocks

Chicago made the biggest splash of the offseason, acquiring disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos.  After over 40 different quarterbacks in about 30 years, the Bears have finally solidified the signal caller position with the 26-year old Cutler. 

Jay threw for over 4,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with the Broncos in 2008.

Chicago also provided Cutler with as much protection as they could, adding veteran tackles Orlando Pace and Kevin Shaffer.  At 33 years old, Pace is no longer the dominating lineman he once was, but will undoubtedly provide security to Cutler's backside. 

On the other end, Shaffer has started 15 or more games over the past five years between the Falcons and Browns.

Key Subtractions: QB Kyle Orton, OT John Tait, S Mike Brown

Unlike the Vikings, who are replacing their subtractions with players already on their roster, Chicago matched their additions to their subtractions. Cutler and Pace will soon erase the memories of Orton and Tait. The most questionable change comes at the safety position.

Brown had been the Bears' starting safety for the better part of the last decade, but had struggled to stay on the field the last five years.  He will be replaced by Josh Bullocks, a promising hard-hitting safety who recorded over 65 tackles in each of his first 3 NFL seasons before losing his starting job last year. 

Bullocks' coverage skills have been brought into question, but his ability to stop the run will be crucial in the run-first NFC North division.

What This Means for the Green Bay Packers

Green Bay finished a lowly 6-10 in 2008, a full three games behind the Bears and a four games behind the Vikings. Both of those teams improving even more from last year will make it difficult for the Packers to regain their control over the division. 

The good news for the Packers is, neither of these teams are in the position to take over the NFC North either.

The Vikings still lack a passing game and sport a pass defense that ranked in the bottom half of the NFL last year.  Minnesota's pass defense is about average, but being able to attack them through the air is crucial given how impossible it is to run against them.

On the offensive end, the Vikings lack a consistent quarterback and a true number one receiver.

While the Bears added a very good quarterback in Jay Cutler, he will be throwing to the likes of Rashied Davis and Earl Bennett. Cutler will not be able to completely turn around the Bears' air production on his own. Until Chicago gets him some better targets to throw to, they will have to settle for average production.

Chicago's defensive dominance has also long since departed. Their pass defense was shredded for the third most yards in the NFL last year, and the Bears hardly addressed that problem. They might be able to get away with this ineptitude against the Vikings and Lions, but they will not be able to hide it against the Packers.

Green Bay has the ability to take advantage of all the holes in the NFC North.  They have added 340-pound nose tackle B.J. Raji to help stop the running game, and he will have an additional 310+ pound lineman on each side of him. 

With what will be one of the best linebacking groups behind him, Green Bay should be able to focus on the running games of Minnesota and Chicago and stop them.

Aaron Rodgers led the Packers offense to a fifth place ranking in points scored last year, and should continue to improve as he enters his second season as a starter.  He proved worthy of leading Green Bay, throwing for over 4,000 yards and logging 28 touchdowns.  He will be able to have his way with NFC North defenses yet again in 2009.

In the NFC East or South, Green Bay would not have much of a shot at making the playoffs. In the North, however, they are right in the hunt and a lock to at least be competitive.