2011 NFL Preview NFC North Edition: Green Bay Packers Won't Fail Their Mission
Note: This is Part Eight of an Eight Part Series of NFL Divisional Predictions
The core of the old black and blue division has transformed into more of a passing based offense in recent years. The defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers reside in this division even though they are not the defending NFC North champions. From top to bottom, I think this is going to be the best division in the NFL this year.
The Green Bay Packers might not repeat as Super Bowl Champions, but I think they will at least win the NFC North this year. They return the majority of their Super Bowl squad and get several key players back that suffered injuries for virtually all of last year. I think they only go 11-5, which is more a testament to the strength of their schedule than the talent level of the team.
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Almost everyone has forgotten that the Chicago Bears won the division last year. They are returning the majority of their core and have added some nice pieces this offseason. However, you can’t help but feel they are due for a step back this year. Something just does not feel right about this team. Maybe it is the way the season ended with questions regarding Jay Cutler's knee injury by some people around the league and the media. The Bears feel like a 9-7 team to me this year. That should tie them with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last Wild Card spot. Too convoluted to predict who wins that tiebreaker.
I really wanted my sleeper pick to be the Detroit Lions this year. If QB Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, I think the Lions have some serious potential this year. However, with the season ending Achilles rupture of Mikel Leshoure and Nick Fairley’s foot surgery, I like the Lions odds less than I did a month ago. I might be too bullish in taking them to finish 8-8, but I am relying on Stafford staying healthy this year.
The Minnesota Vikings may finish in last place, but in my opinion, they will be the best last place team in the league. I know that is of little consolation to Vikings fans, but the team is just stuck in a brutal division this year. McNabb despite his flaws is still an upgrade over Brett Favre at this point in both of their careers. Adrian Peterson is still the best RB in the league bar none. Don’t forget this team was in the NFC Championship game just two seasons ago. There are just too many holes for them to make a true run at the division title in my opinion. I predict they finish a respectable 7-9 at the bottom of the division.
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