2009 NFC North Prediction
Here are my predictions for the NFC North in 2009:
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Prediction: 10-6 (Packers Schedule | Packers Forum)
While the Vikings have the best rushing game and run defense in the NFC North, I think the Packers are the most balanced team in the division. They also have the division's best quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who played remarkably well in what was the equivalent to his rookie season. The Packers also have talented weapons on offense -- RB Ryan Grant, WR Greg Jennings and WR Donald Driver. Grant wasn't 100 percent to start last season, but he finished strong rushing for over 1,200 yards. He's healthy heading into 2009. The defense should be aggressive under Dom Capers, but they may struggle a bit early in the year as they transition to a 3-4 scheme.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .428 winning percentage in 2008 (30th)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): at Minnesota, vs Minnesota, vs Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 27 (9.0 per season)
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Prediction: 10-6 (Packers Schedule | Packers Forum)
While the Vikings have the best rushing game and run defense in the NFC North, I think the Packers are the most balanced team in the division. They also have the division's best quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who played remarkably well in what was the equivalent to his rookie season. The Packers also have talented weapons on offense -- RB Ryan Grant, WR Greg Jennings and WR Donald Driver. Grant wasn't 100 percent to start last season, but he finished strong rushing for over 1,200 yards. He's healthy heading into 2009. The defense should be aggressive under Dom Capers, but they may struggle a bit early in the year as they transition to a 3-4 scheme.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .428 winning percentage in 2008 (30th)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): at Minnesota, vs Minnesota, vs Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 27 (9.0 per season)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Prediction: 10-6 (Vikings Schedule | Vikings Forum)
With all of the will-he-or-won't-he-unretire drama surrounding Brett Favre this off-season, he eventually signed with the Vikings and was even named one of five co-captains. Provided he stays healthy (a big if), he gives the Vikings better QB play than they would have received from Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson. Adrian Peterson, who is the league's best RB, should benefit from a few less eight-man fronts with the addition of Favre and rookie playmaker Percy Harvin. The defense gets a boost in the first quarter of the season as well. Instead of beginning the season serving four-game suspensions, the Vikings will have both Pat and Kevin Williams for the entire season. But I'm not sold that Favre can stay healthy for the full year and I'm curious to see how either Jackson or Rosenfels performs when/if needed as injury replacements.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .420 winning percentage in 2008 (31st)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): vs Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona, at Carolina, vs NY Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 (8.0 per season)
CHICAGO BEARS
Prediction: 8-8 (Bears Schedule | Bears Forum)
While the Bears got their man in Jay Cutler, the pressure will be on for him to win. And it's something that he didn't do in Denver (17-20) although that wasn't completely his fault as their defense was awful, too. In Chicago, he will lack the offensive weapons that he had in Denver, but he is reunited with Earl Bennett, his old college teammate. Greg Olsen is one of the league's better tight ends and he should have a great year. Second-year running back Matt Forte was the Bears' workhorse in 2008 and the Bears lost Kevin Jones, his back-up, for this season. Now, they will need Garrett Wolfe and Adrian Peterson to fill the void in order to spell Forte and make sure he doesn't get overworked. The Bears' defense isn't the same defense it was earlier in the decade. Last year, they ranked 21st in total defense (334.7 yards per game) in the NFL.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .414 winning percentage in 2008 (32nd)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (7): vs Pittsburgh, at Atlanta, vs Arizona, vs Philadelphia, at Minnesota, at Baltimore, vs Minnesota
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 29 (9.7 per season)
DETROIT LIONS
Prediction: 4-12 (Lions Schedule | Lions Forum)
A rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. Last year, that was a recipe for success (Atlanta and Baltimore). However, don't expect that to happen again. The league's first-ever 0-16 team should be considerably better in 2009, but, of course, it would be impossible for them to be worse. For the future, the team has a strong QB-RB-WR-TE combination with Matthew Stafford (rookie), Kevin Smith (second year), Calvin Johnson (third year) and Brandon Pettigrew (rookie). While Stafford will likely struggle at times as a rookie quarterback, he has all of the tools and intelligence to be a franchise quarterback in the future. The defense is still bad, but their linebacking group with Ernie Sims and newcomers Julian Peterson and Larry Foote is the strength of the defense. And rookie safety Louis Delmas should provide some highlight-reel hits.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .467 winning percentage in 2008 (21st)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): vs Minnesota, vs Pittsburgh, at Minnesota, at Baltimore, vs Arizona
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 10 (3.3 per season)
Prediction: 10-6 (Vikings Schedule | Vikings Forum)
With all of the will-he-or-won't-he-unretire drama surrounding Brett Favre this off-season, he eventually signed with the Vikings and was even named one of five co-captains. Provided he stays healthy (a big if), he gives the Vikings better QB play than they would have received from Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson. Adrian Peterson, who is the league's best RB, should benefit from a few less eight-man fronts with the addition of Favre and rookie playmaker Percy Harvin. The defense gets a boost in the first quarter of the season as well. Instead of beginning the season serving four-game suspensions, the Vikings will have both Pat and Kevin Williams for the entire season. But I'm not sold that Favre can stay healthy for the full year and I'm curious to see how either Jackson or Rosenfels performs when/if needed as injury replacements.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .420 winning percentage in 2008 (31st)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): vs Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona, at Carolina, vs NY Giants
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 24 (8.0 per season)
CHICAGO BEARS
Prediction: 8-8 (Bears Schedule | Bears Forum)
While the Bears got their man in Jay Cutler, the pressure will be on for him to win. And it's something that he didn't do in Denver (17-20) although that wasn't completely his fault as their defense was awful, too. In Chicago, he will lack the offensive weapons that he had in Denver, but he is reunited with Earl Bennett, his old college teammate. Greg Olsen is one of the league's better tight ends and he should have a great year. Second-year running back Matt Forte was the Bears' workhorse in 2008 and the Bears lost Kevin Jones, his back-up, for this season. Now, they will need Garrett Wolfe and Adrian Peterson to fill the void in order to spell Forte and make sure he doesn't get overworked. The Bears' defense isn't the same defense it was earlier in the decade. Last year, they ranked 21st in total defense (334.7 yards per game) in the NFL.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .414 winning percentage in 2008 (32nd)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (7): vs Pittsburgh, at Atlanta, vs Arizona, vs Philadelphia, at Minnesota, at Baltimore, vs Minnesota
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 29 (9.7 per season)
DETROIT LIONS
Prediction: 4-12 (Lions Schedule | Lions Forum)
A rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. Last year, that was a recipe for success (Atlanta and Baltimore). However, don't expect that to happen again. The league's first-ever 0-16 team should be considerably better in 2009, but, of course, it would be impossible for them to be worse. For the future, the team has a strong QB-RB-WR-TE combination with Matthew Stafford (rookie), Kevin Smith (second year), Calvin Johnson (third year) and Brandon Pettigrew (rookie). While Stafford will likely struggle at times as a rookie quarterback, he has all of the tools and intelligence to be a franchise quarterback in the future. The defense is still bad, but their linebacking group with Ernie Sims and newcomers Julian Peterson and Larry Foote is the strength of the defense. And rookie safety Louis Delmas should provide some highlight-reel hits.
Strength of Schedule: 2009 opponents had a .467 winning percentage in 2008 (21st)
2008 Playoff Teams on Schedule (5): vs Minnesota, vs Pittsburgh, at Minnesota, at Baltimore, vs Arizona
# of Wins Past 3 Years: 10 (3.3 per season)
