NFL Preview: NFC North

This is the first in a series of divisional previews before the NFL's opening game on September 4 in New York. We start with the NFC North.
Packers: Probably the biggest news-making team this offseason, with the entire Brett Favre saga. Now that Favre is a Jet, this is a team that doesn't have a proven quarterback. At running back, Ryan Grant owns Packers franchise records for rushing yards and touchdowns in a playoff game, both set last year against the Seahawks. This Packers team is pretty much the same one as last year's 13-3 team, except for the quarterback. Prediction: 10-6. Aaron Rodgers manages the games well enough for the defense to win games.
Vikings: Are probably the team to beat in the NFC this year. They have a very solid defense, even if their passing defense ranked 32nd in a 32 team league, they had the best rushing 'D'. Despite that number one ranking, the strength of this team is the running game. With last year's rookie of the year Adrian Peterson, they have one of the league's best running backs, and have one of the best backups in Chester Taylor (who could be a starter on the Bears). Probably this team's biggest question mark is the passing game. With ex-Bears Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage as starters, the receiving corps is average at best. Tarvaris Jackson must prove that he can be a consistent QB in the NFL. Prediction: 13-3. Peterson makes up for Jackson's so-so performance.
Lions: This a team of habitual underachievers. They got rid of their most annoying one in Kevin Jones, but still have Jon Kitna, and are going to be relying on a defense that can't do very much in the way of stopping high-powered offenses such as the Viking's. They probably have the second best receiving corps in the division behind the Packer's. Prediction: 9-7. Can't establish a running game, and Kitna can't do it all for the offense.
Bears: Can't really decide whether they are in a rebuilding year or should be trying to win now. The offense relies on unproven players at running back (Matt Forte), wide reciever (Devin Hester, Earl Bennet), quarterback (Kyle Orton), and left tackle (Chris Williams upon his return). The defense is full of veterans, most of whom were on the team that went to Super Bowl XLI. The biggest strenght of this team is the special teams, where it has teh best unit I have ever seen. Prediction: 6-10. The offense starts strong, but shows its youth down the stretch. The defense also starts slow, and then shows its experience.

Predicted Finish:
Vikings, 13-3, (Team MVP) Adrian Peterson
Packers, 10-6, Nick Barnett (linebacker)
Lions, 9-7, Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Bears, 6-10, Tommie Harris (defensive tackle)

Monday Windy City Roundup

Bears: As this pitiful-looking team prepares for the annual preseason finale against Cleveland, there is a lot of work to be done. As tough as Chicago fans are on quarterbacks, playing a game in Soldier Field has to be easier than playing Cleveland. Last week's game was at home against the 49er's. The true test of Kyle Orton's ability will come on Thursday night at the Browns. Normally Cleveland fans would be pretty mellow compared to say, Packers fans in Lambeau, but there is the little issue of the Dawg Pound, and Orton's history at Cleveland (29-47, 258 yds, 1 td, 1 int). Even with all of that, it's still the defense that worries me. After what J.T. O'Sullivan did last week, Oregon State grad Derek Anderson could absoutely torch this secondary. Well, we will see.

Cubs: Open a three-game series in Pittsburgh tonight, and have a four-game series at home against Philadelphia this weekend. The Pirates series is Jeff Karstens, Ian Snell and Zach Duke vs. Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano and Jason Marquis. Karstens shut out the Cubs through six innigns on August 1st, which was his major league debut, and was the day after the Cubs finished their four-game sweep of the Brewers. Snell and Duke should be fairly easy wins, and I predict a sweep. Against the Phillies, Ryan Dempster vs. Cole Hamels on Thursday is the only sure thing, with Rich Harden going on Friday expect to see Lilly and Zambrano finish up the series this weekend. My prediction is 6-1 this week.