2011 NFC North Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were the favorites to win the NFC North coming into last season, but it was the Chicago Bears who ended up stealing the top spot with a 11-5 regular season mark. The Packers would join the Bears in the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Oddly enough, these two teams would face off in the NFC Championship game, with the Packers taking down the Bears 21-14 on their way to a Super Bowl win. As for the Vikings, they ended up finishing tied with the Detroit Lions for last in the division at 6-10.
Green Bay is the clear favorite to win the division in 2011, but there isn’t a lot that separates these four teams. Here is a look at how I see the division playing out this season.
1. Green Bay Packers – When you consider the talent this team lost throughout the season to injuries and in the Super Bowl itself, it’s easy to see why people are talking about this team returning to the Super Bowl as soon as this year. They have arguably the top young quarterback in the game in Aaron Rodgers, who is just 27-years-old. They are loaded with playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and feature a defense that is quickly making a name for itself. I think Green Bay will build off their late season run and easily take down the North in 2011.
2. Detroit Lions – It might come as a bit of a surprise to see the Lions picked this high in the division, but I feel like both the Bears and Vikings are on the down hill side of things. Detroit is an extremely young and talented team that finished 6-10 last year, with seven of their 10 losses coming by eight-points or less. The used their first round pick on defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who will be a menace playing alongside Ndamukong Suh, add a couple of talented outside linebackers in Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch, and added promising rookie wide out Titus Young. Still the key to the Lions finishing in the top half of the North is the health of starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who played in just three games last year.
3. Chicago Bears -The Chicago Bears surprised a lot of people with the way they turned things around last year, and a lot of it had to do with a defense that features Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. These three are all pass their peak, but are still some of the most talented players in the league. My concern with the Bears comes on the offensive side of the ball, as I just don’t trust Jay Cutler to take this team to the promise land. Cutler received a ton of slack for leaving the NFC Championship game with a sketchy knee injury, and it may be do or die for the over-confident quarterback in 2011.
4. Minnesota Vikings – While I have the Vikings picked to finish last in the division, I wouldn’t rule this team out of the picture just yet. They went out and added veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb, who could see his career turn for the better with running back Adrian Peterson taking all the attention of the defense. If McNabb plays like he did in his days with the Eagles, Minnesota could see a huge jump in production on the offensive side. The only thing is, the defense may take a step back with the loss of starting defensive tackle Pat Williams and starting defensive end Ray Edwards.
Individual Team NFL Season Predictions
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