2011 NFC North Predictions: Green Bay Packers Track a Second Straight Title

The famous "Black and Blue" division holds court to three of the NFL's most history-laden teams. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions have combined to win 25 championships. The newest team, the Minnesota Vikings, has been to four Super Bowls since joining the league in 1960.

Tons of blood, sweat and tears has been spilled over the decades between these teams. While the Packers currently are the defending champions, the Bears scrapped with them in the 2010 NFC Championship as a show of the division's excellence.

Though the Lions have reached the playoffs just nine times since their 1957 championship season, they are in the middle of a rebuilding job that has many expecting them to compete for the division crown this year. The Vikings are beginning their rebuilding job, but the roster still has enough talent to compete themselves.

What the Packers did last season caught the eye of many football fans. Bereft by injuries, the players left standing pulled together and won it all as a Wild Card team. Green Bay believes than it can win it all again now that their roster is healthy.

Whatever the end result is each season between these franchises, it seems that one of them is always on the brink of winning a championship. Trophies are something their fans are accustomed to and expect.

Here is how things may play out in 2011 :

1. Green Bay Packers

When you are coming off a championship season where you basically won it all with about half of the roster you expected to count on, there isn't a whole lot of need for overhauling your roster.  

Green Bay stayed away from the free-agent market this season, choosing to re-sign most of their own players while continuing to build through the draft. This is the formula that brought the franchise their 13th title, the most in NFL history. 

The biggest free-agent loss may have been defensive end Cullen Jenkins, but the Pack returns most everyone else on a defense that ranked second in points allowed and interceptions accrued despite all of the injuries to their back seven. 

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers permanently quieted any remaining critics about his replacing Brett Favre in 2008. At Rodgers' current pace, he may one day find himself with Hall of Famer Bart Starr for the title of greatest Packers quarterback ever.  

One of the best news Rodgers has received this year is the return of halfback Ryan Grant. Grant missed most of last year because of injury, but his return will help the four excellent wide receivers Rodgers loves to throw to. Jermichael Finley, the Packers best tight end, also returns after missing 11 games to injury in 2010. 

It is doubtful Green Bay will again experience the rash of injuries they incurred in 2010. Assuming their players stay healthy, this team will be very difficult to oust this year. If Rodgers stays on the field all season, the Packers have an excellent chance of completing the very difficult task of repeating as champions.

2. Detroit Lions

The young Lions are just about everyone's prediction for most improved NFL team this year. After watching them lose eight close games last year, one can see why there is so much optimism for this team. 

The defensive line, led by 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year Ndamukong Suh, is the star of this team. They are a nice blend of proven veterans and promising youth. This unit has the talent to dominate the NFL this year. 

Detroit also added two new starting linebackers and a cornerback. They expect this unit to do much better than last season, where they ranked 19th in points allowed and 21st in total yards allowed. 

The offensive line is the same group from last year. The onus will be on them this season to try and get quarterback Matthew Stafford to finally last a full year healthy. If Stafford stays on the field, his receiving trio of Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and Brandon Pettigrew has a chance to be explosive. 

If there is one weakness, it is at running back. Detroit is banking on Jahvid Best to stay healthy even though much of his 2010 season was riddled with nagging injuries. There isn't much behind Best, so his health may be critical to the Lions' offensive proficiency. 

A young team needs growing pains to improve. Detroit had their share of that in 2010, so they are now ready to build upon those experiences and progress even further this season. There is more than enough talent on this roster to seriously challenge for a division title.

3. Chicago Bears

The Bears' big story last year was quarterback Jay Cutler leaving the NFC Championship Game with an injury. Cutler's toughness and leadership has been questioned since, setting up a season where he has a lot to prove. 

Chicago's offseason saw them bring in three ex-Dallas Cowboys to upgrade the offense. While they have more depth at wide receiver now, Chicago decided to jettison their two main tight ends from 2010. The Bears are gambling Kellen Davis is ready at tight end after they spent the previous three seasons trying to mold this project. 

The offensive line has been an issue the past few Bears seasons. They moved Robert Garza to center after he spent the previous six years at guard. Newly signed free agent Chris Spencer can't beat Garza out, but things could change if the current starting guards falter. 

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is the leader of a Bears defense that was second in run defense in 2010, as well as fourth in points allowed and ninth in total yards allowed. Defense has always been king in Chicago, and that should not change this year. 

The main changes on the defense will be at safety and one defensive tackle slot. Chris Harris will now be joined by Major Wright at safety, and Henry Melton has supplanted Matt Toeaina at defensive tackle for now. The Bears also drafted Stephen Paea, who could soon replace Melton. 

Mike Martz is in his second season as the offensive coordinator for the Bears, so Cutler should be much more comfortable in the system now. If the Bears can do better than the 21st ranking in points scored last year, the defense is good enough to get them to a Super Bowl.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Rebuilding a team makes for tough decisions along the way. Minnesota already had done the easy part by hiring a new head with six games left in 2010. 

The team has revamped their roster by losing players to free agency and retirement especially. They also released several veterans who were once an important part to a team that never quite played up to expectations. 

Some critics wonder why the Vikes are replacing one old quarterback with another, but they have had success in the past making similar moves. Minnesota is hoping Donovan McNabb can be at least as effective as Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon and Brett Favre once were for the franchise. 

Though they got rid of their left tackle, the offensive line is still very solid and very experienced. This may help an older quarterback like McNabb, who is no longer as mobile as he once was. 

Losing their best wide receiver to free agency now puts the tiny Percy Harvin in the spotlight as their top receiver, even though much of Harvin's career has been hampered by migraine headaches. The rest of the receiving corp is pretty underwhelming. 

McNabb may rely heavily on his tight ends in the passing game. Visanthe Shiancoe is very underrated, and rookie Kyle Rudolph has a lot of promise. The Vikings may often run a jumbo package to get both on the field at the same time. 

One other reason for the jumbo sets is the fact that the team is carrying just three running backs on their roster. Adrian Peterson, one of the best halfbacks in the NFL, is the starter. Any injuries to this unit could send the team reeling further. 

Losing their run-stuffing defensive tackle to retirement hurt, but they will also not have Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams for a few games as he serves a suspension for ingesting a banned substance. Besides defensive end Jared Allen, the rest of the linemen are unknown as to what they will contribute when relied upon. 

The linebackers may now be the strength of the Vikings. Tackling machine Chad Greenway just signed a new five-year contract, and he will be playing alongside the Henderson brothers. While E.J. Henderson is a Pro Bowl middle linebacker, his younger brother Erin is starting for the first time in his four seasons. 

The secondary saw Minnesota release starting free safety Madieu Williams, but they did get back cornerback Cedric Griffin. Griffin missed much of last year with a knee injury and will be the bookend for Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield. 

There is still enough talent on the Minnesota roster to reach the playoffs, but rebuilding sometimes involves baby steps. Losing the salaries of a bunch of expensive veterans was a wise move, setting up the Vikings' future to look brighter than the present.