2012 NFC North Preview

            Here’s the NFC North, aka “the worst possible division for the Vikings to play in”.

4. Minnesota Vikings

2011 Record = 3-13, Last in NFC North

2012 Schedule = JAC, @ IND, SF, @ DET, TEN, @ WAS, ARI, TB, @ SEA, DET, BYE, @ CHI, @ GB, CHI, @ STL, @ HOU, GB

Franchise Players = QB Christian Ponder, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Percy Harvin, DT Kevin Williams, DE Jared Allen

Key Free Agent Acquisitions = TE John Carlson
Potential Impact Rookies = T Matt Kalil (USC) 1-4, S Harrison Smith (Notre Dame) 1-29, CB Josh Robinson (Central Florida) 3-3

Outlook = Minnesota has some elite talent, but unfortunately had no one to block for their quarterback or defend opposing wide receivers. This year’s rookie class will help (especially Kalil, who looks like a franchise tackle), but being stuck in the most hellacious division in football doesn’t help their chances of making a surprise playoff run. They should consider the season a success if Christian Ponder establishes himself as a viable NFL starter, regardless of how many games they win.

Ceiling = 6-10

Floor = 2-14
No Credentials Prediction = 4-12

3. Detroit Lions

2011 Record = 10-6, Second in NFC North, Lost in NFC Wildcard Game

2012 Schedule = STL, @ SF, @ TEN, MIN, BYE, @ PHI, @ CHI, SEA, @ JAC, @ MIN, GB, HOU, IND, @ GB, @ ARI, ATL, CHI

Franchise Players = QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, TE Brandon Pettigrew, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Nick Fairley, K Jason Hanson

Key Free Agent Acquisitions = S Sean Jones
Potential Impact Rookies = T Riley Reiff (Iowa) 1-23, CB Dwight Bentley (Louisiana-Lafayette) 3-22, LB Ronnell Lewis (Oklahoma) 4-30

Outlook = Other than the Cowboys of the mid-90s, you’ll be hard pressed to find a club that was successful despite numerous off the field distractions. Detroit went for the team record for most off-season arrests (unfortunately, the 2005 Bengals can’t be touched in that department), which puts a damper on all of the hope generated by their wildcard berth last season. Detroit will still be exciting (how could Stafford to Megatron not be?), but look for a few of their 2011 comeback victories to morph into a few gut wrenching losses this season.

Ceiling = 12-4

Floor = 6-10
No Credentials Prediction = 7-9

2. Chicago Bears

2011 Record = 8-8, Third in NFC North

2012 Schedule = IND, @ GB, STL, @ DAL, @ JAC, BYE, DET, CAR, @ TEN, HOU, @ SF, MIN, SEA, @ MIN, GB, @ ARI, @ DET

Franchise Players = QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, WR-KR Devin Hester, DE Julius Peppers, LB Brian Urlacher, LB Lance Briggs, K Robbie Gould

Key Free Agent Acquisitions = QB Jason Campbell, RB Michael Bush, WR Brandon Marshall, CB Kelvin Hayden
Potential Impact Rookies = LB Shea McClellin (Boise State) 1-19, WR Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina) 2-13

Outlook = A promising start to the 2011 season was derailed by season ending injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Caleb Hanie threw together some of the worst starts in NFL history, which makes Chicago’s acquisition of Jason Campbell a wise move. The addition of Brandon Marshall provides Cutler with his best receiver since joining the Bears in 2009. Throw in rookie Alshon Jeffery (who has a bit of Kenny Britt to him, and I’m not talking about on the field), and Chicago should have its best passing attack since the glory days of Erik Kramer, Curtis Conway, and Jeff Graham (editors note: those glory days all happened during the 1995 season). Green Bay has more talent on paper, but the Bears aren’t that far behind.

Ceiling = 13-3

Floor = 8-8
No Credentials Prediction = 12-4

1. Green Bay Packers

 

2011 Record = 15-1, First in NFC North, Lost in NFC Divisional Game

2012 Schedule = SF, CHI, @ SEA, NO, @ IND, @ HOU, @ STL, JAC, ARI, BYE, @ DET, @ NYG, MIN, DET, @ CHI, TEN, @ MIN

Franchise Players = QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Greg Jennings, WR Jordy Nelson, TE Jermichael Finley, DT B.J. Raji, LB Clay Matthews, CB/S Charles Woodson

Key Free Agent Acquisitions = C Jeff Saturday, DE Anthony Hargrove
Potential Impact Rookies = DE Nick Perry (USC) 1-28, DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) 2-19, CB Casey Hayward (Vanderbilt) 2-30

Outlook = Has there ever been a more disappointing playoff team than last seasons Packers? After rolling through the regular season, Green Bay laid an egg at home against the Giants. Rather than go bonkers adding free agents, Green Bay addressed their defense deficiencies in the draft. If you’re willing to bet that the defense returns to its 2010 level of play, this should be the best team in football.

Ceiling = 14-2

Floor = 9-7
No Credentials Prediction = 13-3

Click here to read about the AFC East
Click here to read about the AFC North

Click here to read about the AFC South
Click here to read about the AFC West
Click here to read about the NFC East
Click here to read about the NFC South
Click here to read about the NFC West