The beginning of the NFL season is nearly upon us so I thought I would preview the season and have my say about each division. I’m going to do one division each day but that might not happen since I’m so lazy.
Starting us off this year will be the easiest division in the NFL yes you guessed it the NFC North.
Chicago Bears 
The Bears are a very strange team they have one of the leagues best defences, the best special teams in the league and one of the worst offensive, if not the worst. Although the defence was average last season you need to remember that this defence took the team all the way to the Superbowl only two years ago. Like a lot of teams though they have an excellent set of starters (Urlacher, Briggs, Vasher and Harris) but have a lack of talent in reserve.
The whole season for the Bears hinges on how well the QB and RB play. This will be a run first football team and they must surely be regretting letting Jones go to the Jets last season. Benson was never going to cut it being the main back and was rightly cut this off season. Will players like Wolfe and Forte be able to produce big numbers this season remains to be seen especially against the Packers and Vikings have. Lovie Smith must keep faith with Orton for the whole season and not chop and change the QB like he did last season.
Overall I think that the Bears will have a disappointing season and may only win 2 or 3 games and Hester might need to win these games himself with returns. Division Position: 4th
Detroit Lions 
Its been a quiet off season for the Lions this year with no wild predictions from veteran Jon Kitna. Detroit have little chance in my opinion of having a 8 – 8 season with a .250 season much more likely. The lucky thing for the Lions is the fact that they should win 3 of their first 4 games. The Falcons, 49ers and Bears are unlikely to put up much of fight.
The thing to watch in Detroit will be how the offence since it will no longer be the throwing made offence of last season, Mike Martz having left to run the 49ers offence. Though the team will still be looking for a big season from Calvin Johnston and Mike Furrey.
Overall I think the Lions will head up with a record of 4 -12 which will earn them another high draft choice next year which they will probably waste on a wide receiver again! Division Position: 3rd
Green Bay Packers
On Monday the 8th of September the Aaron Rodgers era finally gets under way for real against the Vikings. This Monday night game might end up deciding which of these teams ends up winning the NFC North, it is that tight between the Packers and the Vikings. In some ways it is a great starter for Rodgers since the Vikings traditional don’t have a great pass defence but in other ways it is a nightmare start for him. The Vikings having one of the best run defences in the league which means if the Packers are going to win the game Rodgers is going to have to do it himself.
Aaron Rodgers will be under pressure from the fans, himself and the organisation to produce at this level. From what I have seen of him in preseason games and the odd occasion he has came in for Favre in the past he looks like he will.
The Packers defence is an elite unit and this will allow Rodgers to have plenty of opportunities with the ball. Overall the Packers are still the team to beat in the NFC North and I expect them to win the division again. Division Prediction: 1st.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are this season’s hip team to tip for great things. Hopefully this they won’t be as bad as the last two hip teams, Cardinals and 49ers. I do think that they will be a good team again this year and the defence has gotten better with a pass rush presence in Jared Allen.
The big issues for this team will be the form of Adrian Peterson and Travis Jackson. Peterson had a decent season but should never have been given rookie of the year ahead of Joe Thomas. When you take the two huge games AP had against the Bears out of the equation you can see he just has average figures. Jackson on the other hand is a real worry for this team and it is easy to see why they courted Favre so much.
Overall the Vikings will be do well to get over .500 with games against Colts, Jaguars, Saints and Giants on their schedule. Division Prediction: 2nd.
