NFC North Preview: Can the Green Bay Packers Repeat?

The NFC North is rapidly becoming one of the best divisions in the NFL. The division is loaded with talented teams and will bring great competition onto the football field. The Detroit Lions finally appear ready to take a huge step forward while the Vikings are hoping McNabb has one more good run in him. Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers seem primed for another Super Bowl run, and the Bears are still looking for some consistent offense in Jay Cutler.

1. Green Bay Packers: 13-3(5-1)

The reigning Super Bowl Champions have a ton of talent returning this year. They also seem to have found a returner in 2nd round pick out of Kentucky in Randall Cobb, who has shown flashes of greatness in the preseason. That should keep old returner Tramon Williams off special teams and rested for defensive purposes. The Packers will also get a healthy Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant back, which will vault the offense to perhaps the best in the league behind Aaron Rodgers. Safety Morgan Burnett should also help take the pressure off the defensive backfield of Dom Capers’ squad, which is quickly becoming the best in the league.

2. Detroit Lions: 8-8(3-3) 

After finishing their 2010 campaign on a four game winning streak, the Lions finished 6-10 and in a tie with the Vikings for third place in the division. The Lions undoubtedly upgraded their defensive line with the addition of Nick Fairley,  who is a great compliment in the middle with Ndamukong Suh owning the pass rush from the outside. Titus Young looks to be a fine addition to the passing game, which also includes Calvin Johnson. But the Lions will only go as far as Matthew Stafford can take them, and I see him being healthy all year for the first time this year.

3. Chicago Bears: 8-8 (2-4)

The Bears defense will remain a force like always. But the question is Jay Cutler. When you have a guy who people have to wonder whether he will show up or not game in and game out, then things don’t normally go well. Now last year they proved me wrong. Cutler didn’t put up amazing stats, but he did enough offensively to get by. The defense won’t be able to carry them like they did last year, so Cutler needs to prove himself this year. Even with Matt Forte running the ball, I don’t see the Bears making the playoffs this year.

4. Minnesota Vikings: 7-9(2-4)

The Vikings are relying on another old quarterback. The problem here is that Donovan McNabb is no Brett Favre. He has the very versatile Percy Harvin to look for down-field, while at the same time the addition of Michael Jenkins will help the Sydney Rice departure. Adrian Peterson is obviously there to  help take the pressure off of McNabb, which will be a good thing for McNabb. But I don’t think the offense can be as good as it needs to be to be successful, and the defense took a step backwards with the losses of Pat Williams, Ray Edwards and Ben Leber.