Tough Division Will Challenge The Lions

The Lions enter the 2009 season with three very tough divisional opponents. The Packers, Vikings and Bears all made solid upgrades to their teams in free agency and the draft. The Lions were not bad in the off season, just not great. Winning two divisional games will be a major success.

The Vikings arguably the division’s best team. The Vikings have a solid running game, which ranked number one in rushing yards per game in the NFL, with two time pro bowler Adrian Peterson. The Vikings also pose a dominant defense that finished eighth overall in total defense. No other team in the division had a defense quite as good. The good news for the Lions is their performance against the Vikings last season was as good as any. Playing the Vikings twice and not even losing a game by more than four points.

The Packers took a hard fall from grace last season. In the off season they forced Brett Favre to retire and when he wanted to change his mind they said no. Not a very fan friendly move. They shipped Brett Favre to the New York Jets after he led them to the NFC Championship game the previous season. However you can’t really blame them for that move. They were being held hostage every season by Brett Favre’s uncertainty and decision on whether to retire or not. They had a capable quarterback sitting on the bench in Aaron Rodgers patiently waiting his turn. When they made the decision they had to know there would be some bumps in the road. What they didn’t expect was for Ryan Grant to have a down season as well as their defense. Drafting B.J. Raji out of Boston College and Clay Matthews out of USC in the first round will seriously upgrade the depth and strength of the Packers defense.  

The Bears had a very public off season. Acquiring a franchise quarterback entering his prime almost never happens. But the Bears did just that, acquiring Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Cutler had a very public argument with Broncos executives after trade rumors involving Matt Cassel and new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. Culter requested to be traded and was granted that trade to the Chicago Bears.

The Bears on offense had a very mediocre season ranking between the middle and bottom in most offensive categories in the NFL last season. Getting a more established young quarterback in Cutler may be just what the doctor ordered. The defense however was the most disappointing group on the team after being highly ranked three of the previous seasons. Hopefully for the Bears a lot fewer injuries and more production from that unit will make a 9-7 team from a year ago a lot better. They pose the most difficult match up for the Lions because of their veteran defense and the Lions young and still developing offense.

I think the Lions are in the second toughest division in the entire NFC. They will definitely be on the outside looking in, maybe that can still wins from the Bears and Vikings at home.