NFC North Preview
By Marc Lawrence
Has the 'love' worn off in Chicago? Would Matt Millen be wise to register at Monster.com before the Christmas rush? Is Brett's farewell for real? Can the Vikings ride the legs of Adrian Peterson to the playoffs? If this were a soap opera we'd call it Days of our Lives. In the NFL it's called life in the NFC North.
With future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre now on the sidelines, the race for the top spot in this division is wide open.
Here is my take of teams in the NFC NORTH DIVISION for 2008.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO
Team Theme - UNBEARABLE
From the Super Bowl to the cereal bowl in one year, it was not a good season for Bear lovers last year. Lovie's huggables suffered the worst fall of all NFC teams in 2008 when the dreaded "Super Bowl Loser Jinx" bit them hard. While most will point a finger at an unstable quarterback situation, the fact of the matter is Chicago's demise was directly attributable to a soft running game and a porous defense, the worst ever in Lovie Smith's career. The Bears addressed the offense in the draft with OT Chris Williams, hard-nosed RB Matt Forte and WR Earl Bennett. They also re-signed LB Lance Briggs to multi-year contract giving them major insurance against a potential signing problem with Brian Urlacher. The most disturbing number, though, was Chicago's 4-12 ITS (In The Stats) mark last year, meaning they managed to outgain only four opponents. That is not acceptable.
PLAY ON: as a dog vs. Detroit (10/5)
DETROIT
Team Theme - MILLEN'S MALADY
The best we can figure is Matt Millen is a cat and he's got nine lives. How else do you substantiate a 40-88 record in eight years - every one a losing year - as GM of the Lions? He's back for the ninth, and likely last, campaign needing to win like fish need water. Head coach Rod Marinelli, back for his third year, improved Detroit's lot by four full games last season. Nevertheless they collapsed like the Giants-on-Brady down the stretch, finishing on a 1-7 slide the 2nd half of the season in 2007. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz was pink-slipped in favor of OC Jim Colletto and assistant head coach/passing game coordinator Kippy Brown. Martz's complicated offensive scheme is history. So, too will be Millen if his 9th life doesn't cross over onto the winning side.
PLAY ON: as dog vs Green Bay (9/14)
GREEN BAY
Team Theme - BY FAVRE THE BEST EVER
It was with a tear in his eye and trepidation in his heart that Bret Favre announced he was officially retiring at the conclusion of playoffs last season. In 17 magnificent seasons with the Packers, the 3-time MVP leaves the NFL with most career passing yards and TD's. His 160 wins as a starter in regular season games is also the best the league has ever witnessed, topping John Elway by 12. Stepping in the almost impossible-to-fill shoes is Aaron Rodgers, a QB who has been auditioning for the job the last three years. Rodgers finds himself in the unenviable position of replacing an NFL icon and having only two years left on his contract to accomplish the feat. QB's Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn were selected in this year's draft as insurance. Anything less than a return trip to the playoffs will likely seal Rodgers' fate in Green Bay.
PLAY ON: at Chicago (12/22)
MINNESOTA
Team Theme - AP ROY
What does having the league's Rookie of the Year mean to a team? Ask the Vikings and you're likely to hear "everything". Little did Minnesota know when they selected RB Adrian Peterson with the 5th pick in the 2006 NFL draft that he would lead the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards at 5.6 yards per carry. Peterson's efforts left the team one game short of a playoff spot after the Vikings dropped each of their final two games in disappointing fashion. Nonetheless, the groundwork is laid and, thanks to the off-season acquisition of Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen from the Chiefs, Minnesota has playoff aspirations this season. Even with AP in the backfield, it won't be a stroll in the park considering only three teams in the entire league will take on a tougher schedule than the Vikes in 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Arizona (12/14)
VegasInsider.com