If You Want To Crown Them...

Say hello to the 2009-2010 NFC North Divisional Champions the Minnesota Vikings.

A friend of mine is a Chicago Bears fan, and I, a Detroit Lions fan.  Every year we place a steak dinner bet on who will win the NFC North...and needless to say, I haven't picked the Lions in about...well, that's not important.  Every year he picks the Chicago Bears, and why not?  There was a stat that was flying around the Chicago Bear world that the only team who had more wins in the last three years than the Bears was the New York Football Giants.  They had a Super Bowl appearance, a couple of division titles, solid defense and special teams...a solid running game...things were good for the Chicago Bears.

Enter Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson, Bernard Berrian, and Brett Favre.

While Jay Cutler was a huge addition to the Chicago Bears in which the Bears gave up two first round picks and Kyle Orton.

The Vikings gave up...their dignity maybe?  I mean, who wants to sign the guy who spent his career tearing your defense apart.  Oh, a team that wants to win...now...that's who.  And that is exactly what they will do.

The defensive line is the best in football.  As long as rookie offensive tackles don't try to take out Jared Allen at the knees (*cough Gosder Cherilus cough*) and the Williams Wall can stay off water pills, there is not an offensive line that won't lose sleep before playing these guys.

Their running game is one of the best in football.  Let's face it, AP is not slowing down, and as long as someone is there to fall on the dozen or so fumbles he will cough up (9 last year) he should be a top contender for the rushing title again this year (although Michael Turner may have something to say about that).

And now Brett Freaking Favre.  The only thing he hasn't done is retired to play another sport and then come back to football (or was that a suspension for gambling?).  My opinion...Brett was ready to retire...and was just about to hang 'em up when Brad Childress gave him a call and said "Brett...here's what we are gonna do...we hand the ball to AP or we play action to him and let you throw the ball to Bernard Berrian or Visanthe Shiancoe or throw the ball away and we do it again...it's that easy."

My prediction is this...if the Vikings can win 10 games without Brett, they can win 11 with him, and that should win the North.  If they really wanted to seal the deal, they would sign Marvin Harrison before the Bears do, if just to keep him away from the Bears.  The Bears should win 9 or 10, and the Packers will pick it up from last years disappointing 6-10 season.  My Lions?  I hope for 6 wins...but I'm not holding my breath