NFL 2010 Preseason Predictions/NFC North

The Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre have their sights set on a Super Bowl in 2010. After narrowly losing out to the Saints in 2009, revenge is on the minds and in the hearts of every Minnesota Vikings fan. In a division that also includes the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, it will be a long hard road for the Vikings in 2010, but a return trip to the NFC Championship game may be bit harder this season. Not only do they have to worry about the Saints, but the entire NFC East is also very strong and the 49ers are getting better in the West. While the Vikings, Bears, and Packers all have the makings of a playoff caliber team, it is possible that the only team to advance to the playoffs will be the winner of the division. While the NFC North may be a very strong division, it is still not as good top to bottom as the NFC East, which may cause some problems come playoff time.

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

Minnesota Vikings

QB Tarvaris Jackson will again have to wait his turn in order to lead the Minnesota Vikings offense. The legendary Brett Favre will again be back in 2010, and along with RB Adrian Peterson and a very tough defense should control the NFC North and be a tough out in the NFC playoffs. Peterson is a strong, quick runner who can bull you over or run around you and is a threat to score every time the Vikings have the ball. Although RB Chester Taylor is now in Chicago, the Vikings drafted rookie RB Toby Gerhart, who should be productive in relief of Peterson and enable the Vikings to keep him fresh. Favre still has WR's Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Bernard Berrian at his disposal, and Harvin also provides the Vikings with an excellent kick returner. TE Visanthe Schiancoe has made the Giants look like buffoons for letting him depart to Minnesota three seasons ago and has developed into a more productive NFL TE than ex-Giant Jeremy Shockey and current Giant TE Kevin Boss. The Vikings also have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL that features All-World G Steve Hutchinson and T Bryant McKinnie. The Vikings should again have one of the top offenses in the league, making them a Super Bowl contender.

On defense, the Vikings have DE Jared Allen and two of the best DT's in the league in Kevin and Pat Williams. DE Ray Edwards may not be as good as Allen, but there isn't another DE in the league who is as good as him anyway, and Edwards has become a more than reliable starter across from Allen. LB Chad Greenway is also one of the top LB's in the league, and a healthy E.J.Henderson and Ben Leber gives them a solid LBing crew. The Vikings may have to suffer through a game or two with CB Cedric Griffin sidelined due to injury, but Antoine Winfield, Asher Allen, and Benny Sapp make up a secondary that is solid enough to cover his absence for a game or two. Tyrell Johnson has also become a reliable starting safety, and their only weakness may be at the other safety spot where Madieu Williams has always had problems staying healthy and Jamarca Sanford and Eric Frampton may struggle at times. Overall, the Viking defense should again be one of the top seven defenses in the NFL and help them retain the division title.

The Vikings should be among the NFL elite again in 2010 and will likely finish with around 13 wins to clinch the division. While the Packers and the Bears will present some stiff competition, the Vikings are still the best team in the division and should have no problem advancing to at least the second round of the playoffs and could even show up in the NFC Championship again if they can find a way to fend off any of the NFC East teams that might be their opponent. Personally, however, I think the Eagles may be too much for them too handle.

Green Bay Packers

If the Packers were in the West they would have a good shot at winning the division. Even in the South they might have a great shot at a wild card. Unfortunately, being in the same division as the Vikings and the Bears and having to play against the NFC East and the Jets and Patriots of the AFC East, they may be on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff time.

The Packers have a championship caliber offense, with Aaron Rodgers taking over where Brett Favre left off and flinging TD's to WR's Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and James Jones. RB Ryan Grant is also one of the most productive RB's in the NFL and rookie James Starks should also provide more depth at the RB position along with Brandon Jackson. TE Jermichael Finley exploded onto the scene as one of the most dangerous TE's in the game as well, and with an offensive line that now includes rookie G Marshall Newhouse and T Bryan Bulaga, they have the depth to protect them from the injuries that plagued them in the past. If K Mason Crosby can become more consistent, this is an offense that has the talent to put points on the board every time they have the ball.

The thing that may prevent the Packers from making the playoffs in 2010, however, is their defense. While they made great strides in 2009, the suspension of DT Johnny Jolly for the 2010 season could prove devastating to their run defense. Cullen Jenkins, Ryan Pickett, and 2nd year DL B.J.Raji are all decent players, but without Jolly in the lineup they will likely be less effective, especially in the 4th quarter when defensive lineman tend to get winded. They have a talented LBing corps, however, with 2nd year phenom Clay Matthews leading the pack along with A.J. Hawk, a healthy Nick Barnett, and the under-rated Brad Jones. CB Charles Woodson is one of the top three corners in the NFL and CB Tramon Williams is a playmaker that would be a star with any other team. Al Harris is also a veteran who is no slouch either and safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby can provide run support as well as create turnovers. While they have some talent on this side of the ball, it still seems like teams with a potent running game might give them problems.

The Packers may be a playoff team with Jolly, and could turn out to be one without him, but their chances would be a lot better had he been able to be on the filed in 2010. The Packers should win at least 9 games, but because of the strength of the NFC East and even the Falcons being a wild card threat in the South, they may find themselves falling a game or two short of the playoffs in 2010.

Chicago Bears

The Bears should be a better team in 2010, unless the injury bug hits them again, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Bears may be in contention for a playoff spot in 2010, but much like the Packers may fall just short of making it this season.

QB Jay Cutler suffered through a horrendous season in 2009, and it is not likely that he will be as bad in 2010. The offensive line that includes C Olin Kruetz, G's Roberto Garza and Josh Beekman, and T's Chris Williams and Kevin Shaffer should be much more reliable and consistent in 2010. This will also mean more production from starting RB Matt Forte, and both Forte and ex-Viking Chester Taylor are also excellent receivers, giving Cutler extra receiving targets out of the backfield. TE Greg Olsen is also one of the top ten TE's in the game, and the receiving corps of the speedy Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, and Devin Aromashodu will also give Cutler a chance to spread the ball around and put up some points for the offense. The offense may not be as explosive as the Packers or the Vikings, but they should be able to put up enough points to win a good amount of games.

The defense added the services of DE Julius Peppers, but for them to be considered an elite tam once again they will need rookie Cory Wootton, Mark Anderson, or Henry Melton to become as productive as free agent Adewale Ogunleye. DT Tommie Harris will also have to play as well as he is capable in order for them to be able to stop the run. LB's Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, and Hunter Hillenmeyer make up a vicious LB trio, and Nick Roach has also proven to be a productive player when in the lineup. CB Charles Tillman remains one of the top CB's in the league and CB Zachary Bowman is slowly moving up the rankings as one of the better CB's as well. They also signed ex-Colt CB Tim Jennings, who will be a nice addition to their nickel and dime packages. Ex-Panther safety Chris Harris will be a welcome addition to the secondary and S Danieal Manning is also a nice starter to have on your squad. 2nd year player Al Afalava provides some nice depth and gives the Bears a defense that should once again be among the top 10 defenses in the league. Their playoff hopes could depend on finding another defensive lineman to provide pressure on the QB other than Julius Peppers.

While the Bears should field a solid team in 2010, having to compete in the same division as the Vikings and the Packers and having a tough non-division schedule could prevent them from making the playoffs in 2010. They will likely battle the Packers for 2nd place in the division and should be able to win around 9 games, but it just may not be enough to have them playoff bound in 2010.

Detroit Lions

The Lions seem to have a lot of young talent, but with that comes growing pains and inconsistency, making them a team that should once again be at the bottom of the league in 2010. It sure doesn't help that they have to play in the same division as the Vikings, Bears, and Packers, but this is nothing new and you have to start to wonder if this franchise will ever turn around.

QB Matt Stafford suffered through a sub-par rookie campaign, but he should continue to improve and give them something to look forward to in the future. The offensive line needs to improve, and if it wasn't for T Jeff Backus, who is one of the top five tackles in the NFL, they could be in a lot of trouble. They definitely need a lot of help on defense, but it amazes me that they did not draft another lineman other than 4th round pick Jason Fox to try and keep Stafford protected. First round pick, RB Jahvid Best, has a chance to become a starter and should provide a nice check down option for Stafford as a receiver out of the backfield. RB Kevin Smith should be productive as a number two RB and TE Brandon Pettigrew should also continue to improve and make the offense a little better. With the addition of ex-Seahawk WR Nate Burleson, the Lions receiving corps should also improve. WR Calvin Johnson is one of the biggest scoring threats in the NFL and the experienced Bryant Johnson will also give Stafford some help in the passing game. The offensive line and the progress of Stafford will have a huge impact on how well the Lions offense will play in 2010, but until they can perform well on a consistent basis they will not be a valid threat, especially having to deal with the defenses in their division.

While the Lions are trying to improve their defense, it may take some time for them to come together as well. The acquisition of ex-Titan DE Kyle Vandenbosch and ex-Seahawk DE Lawrence Jackson should help, and DE/LB Cliff Avril should continue to get better and help improve the defense as well. Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh gives them talent up the middle and veteran Corey Williams should also help improve a defensive line that needed lots of help. LB Julian Peterson is still a very good player and 2nd year LB DeAndre Levy is an emerging talent, but LB Jordan Dizon is already out for the season, meaning Ashlee Palmer or Landon Johnson will have to step in as the third LB. The Lions brought back CB Dre' Bly to help their pass defense and signed ex-Falcon CB Chris Houston as well, but they still lack depth at CB and will likely have trouble stopping the opposing teams passing game. 2nd year safety Louis Delmas is a potential perennial Pro-Bowler and C.C.Brown and Ko Simpson also provide some talent at the safety position. While the Lions are beginning to show some signs that they are improving on this side of the ball, they are still a long way from becoming one of the better defenses in the NFL.

With a defense that will likely have trouble stopping most teams and an offense that will likely be up and down for much of the season, it is hard to see the Lions winning more than one or two games again in 2010. With some good young players at some key positions, the Lions might actually be able to become an average team in 2011, if they use their draft picks wisely.