1. Green Bay Packers
If a team goes 15-1, there is a pretty good chance that they
are still going to be very good the next season. And as long as that guy named
Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback for the Packers, they’ll be very good
every season. That’s really what it comes down to for the Packers. They have
Rodgers, the other 31 NFL teams don’t. He is clearly the best player in the
league, and he knows how to utilize his weapons of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson,
Jermichael Finley, and others. The offensive line has also matured and gained
veteran Jeff Saturday, so Rodgers should stay well protected all season. The
defense isn’t great all around, but Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews alone
make it respectable. BJ Raji, AJ Hawk, and Tramon Williams are also good
players that can compensate for the mediocre starters on the Packer defense.
Still, as long as this defense doesn’t allow over 30 points a game then they
will be fine. Rodgers and the rest of the offense are really that good. Expect
another dominant season with a first-round bye.
Projected Record: 13-3
2. Chicago Bears
The Bears have a ton of hype coming into this season. Jay
Cutler and Matt Forte are back from injury. They traded for Brandon Marshall,
Cutler’s old Denver buddy. While I do think this team will be good, I don’t
think they will meet most expectations. Sure, Cutler and Marshall put up huge
numbers when they played on the Broncos together. But they played in as many
playoff games as I have (hint: that answer is zero). They also relied on a
great offensive line that gave them time to develop big plays downfield, and
they do not have that this year in Chicago. The running game should be awesome
with Forte and Michael Bush, barring that they both stay healthy. Defensively,
the Bears are good but nowhere near their level from a few years ago. Julius
Peppers is still a stud, and Lance Briggs is also still great. It’s tough to
say the same about Brian Urlacher. He’s so banged up at this point in his
career and has a lost a few steps. The secondary is very average, and they’ll
get burned for that playing in the same division as Aaron Rodgers and Matthew
Stafford. Bears fans do have many reasons to be excited about this upcoming
season. While I think they will have a good record, I see them as the first
team to get burned for playing in the loaded NFC.
Projected Record: 10-6
3. Detroit Lions
Last season was fun for the Lions, wasn’t it? Only a few
years removed from the worst season in NFL history, the Lions took the last
wild card spot and went to the playoffs. Sorry to be the buzzkill, but I don’t
think that will happen again this year. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson
were both undeniable awesome last season, and there’s a chance they can do it
again. I’m skeptical though. Stafford played the entire season last year, but
it was the first time in years that he did. I’d honestly be shocked if he
played all 16 games again. The main reason I’m not convinced though is that the
Lions’ offense is throw to Johnson, throw more to him, and some more after
that. They have absolutely no running game, and aside from Titus Young don’t
have any other intimidating weapons. On defense, the line is very good. Cliff
Avril and Ndamukong Suh are young stars in the making. Aside from them though,
every other unit is okay at best. This team lacks in durability, character, and
maturity. I think it will show this season, leading to a very disappoint end
result for the Lions.
Projected Record: 8-8
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings can just never catch a break. I’d like to tell
their fans that things are going to get better this season, but I don’t like to
lie. This season is clearly a rebuilding year for Minnesota, and they are in a
terrible division to do so. Christian Ponder can be a nice starter in the NFL
someday, but that won’t be the case this year. They do have the best running
back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson, but he tore up his knee late last season
and won’t be himself at the beginning of the season. I do really like Percy
Harvin at wide receiver and Matt Kalil at left tackle, but the rest of the
offensive starters suck. Aside from Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, and Chad
Greenway, the rest can be said about the defensive starters. Note how not one
of those three exceptions play in the secondary. Translation: this season might
be historically bad for the Vikings’ pass defense. There is light at the end of
the tunnel for the Vikings, but that light is very far away.
Projected Record: 4-12
Hope you enjoyed reading this segment! Expect more greatness
from Chris tomorrow as he previews the AFC North.
-PJ Moran
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