Power Rankings Heading Into Week 2

Week 1 has come and gone, and what a week it was. An overtime Thursday night game between two AFC powerhouses, a six touchdown performance by Drew Brees, an offensive explosion by the defensive minded Ravens, a nail-biter on Sunday night and two near upsets on Monday night.

 

If week one is any indication, the 2009 NFL season is going to be one to remember.

 

*Teams ranking from previous week in ( ).

 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (1)

 

The Steelers defense showed why it was number one in the league last season, but they will be without Pro-Bowl safety Troy Polamalu for three to six weeks due to a knee injury.

 

As for the offense, they showed they are capable of winning games even if they have to throw it over 40 times. Straight up, this team is dominant on both sides of the ball and will contend for their NFL record seventh Super Bowl title.

 

 

2. New England Patriots (2)

 

What an odd performance by the Pats. For the first 56 minutes they looked like an average football team for the most part. Then in the final four minutes they looked like the Patriots we’re all accustomed to.

 

In all honesty though, they had no business winning that game. There is no doubt they have the potential to be the best team in the league, but until the Steelers slip up, the Pats remain No. 2.

 

 

3. San Diego Chargers (3)

 

The Chargers avoided a first week upset with a late comeback win against the Raiders. San Diego is notorious for getting off to slow starts, but once this team gets going they are one of the most talented teams in football.

 

They should remain near the top of the rankings all season.

 

 

4. Philadelphia Eagles (7)

 

The Eagles put up 38 points on a decent Panthers defense, but their leading passer only threw for 79 yards and their leading rusher only ran for 64 yards. The Eagles defense and special teams accounted for two of their five touchdowns.

 

However the biggest story of this game is the injury to Donovan McNabb. McNabb cracked a few ribs, and despite head coach Andy Reid saying there is a possibility McNabb will play in week two, there is a chance he will be out for at least a couple weeks.

 

 

5. Green Bay Packers (5)

 

The switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense looks to be just what the Packers needed. Their defense played extremely well overall and had four interceptions, two of which were nearly returned for scores.

 

If they can find a way to stay healthy, something they did not accomplish last season, they have a legitimate chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

 

 

6. Atlanta Falcons (4)

 

Michael Turner did not play like most thought he would, but Matt Ryan did what he does best, and that’s play solid football and win. It’s hard to believe he is only one game removed from being a rookie because he looks like a seasoned veteran every time he takes the field.

 

The addition of TE Tony Gonzalez is going to pay huge dividends for this team. Their defense is still suspect, but I believe this is still a top team in the NFC.

 

 

7. New York Giants (8)

 

There was nothing special about the Giants performance, but a win is a win.

 

Eli Manning played well and young wideouts Steve Smith and Mario Manningham look like they could be solid options in replacing Plaxico Burress. The ground game wasn’t really there but that’s in part to the solid D of the Redskins.

 

Nothing flashy about the Giants, but there is no reason to believe they won’t be a legitimate NFC contender.

 

 

8. Baltimore Ravens (6)

 

Despite playing against a poor defense, the Ravens looked good in their first game. Joe Flacco threw for over 300 yards and three scores and RB Ray Rice carried 19 times for 108 yards.

 

Giving up 24 points to the Chiefs, who were without QB Matt Cassel, is a bit of a concern. Nonetheless, I still think the Ravens can be a legitimate contender.

 

 

9. Minnesota Vikings (10)

 

Adrian Peterson is hands down the best running back in the NFL. The Browns did a nice job containing him in the first half, but Peterson finished with 180 rushing yards and three scores.

 

Brett Favre only threw for 110 yards, but with a solid defense and stellar running game, Favre will not be asked to do more than he has to. Despite Peterson’s performance I stand behind my prediction that they will not have a very successful season. For now though, they do crack the top 10.

 

 

10. Dallas Cowboys (16)

 

I must admit Dallas really impressed me. Their defense wasn’t great but Tony Romo and the offense were clicking. Romo threw for 353 yards and three scores.

 

Many people weren’t sure how they would play without Terrell Owens, but it appears that the Cowboy wideouts are more than willing to answer the call. If their defense can improve, they may go farther than most people think.

 

11. New Orleans Saints (13)

 

Drew Brees and the Saints offense picked up where it left off. Unfortunately for them, so did their defense. Nonetheless, Brees threw four touchdowns in the first half and six for the game.

 

However, beating the Lions is nothing special and giving up 27 points to them is not acceptable. 

 

Jeremy Shockey did score two touchdowns, (two more than he scored all of last season) which just makes the Saints that much scarier on offense. If this team can ever play some decent D, they could be elite.

 

 

12. Indianapolis Colts (12)

 

No. 2 WR Anthony Gonzalez left the game with an injury. That could prove costly for the Colts, but with star pass catchers Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, Peyton Manning still has plenty of weapons.

 

Beating the Jaguars isn’t overly impressive but the Colts always seem to find a way to win and can be as dangerous as anyone if they make the postseason.

 

 

13. Tennessee Titans (14)

 

Despite losing, the Titans still played extremely well. Two failed field goals in the first half did them in. Nonetheless, the way they hung in with the defending Super Bowl Champions on the road was very remarkable.

 

The defense is still dominant and the running game will improve. It’s hard to say a team that went 13-3 could be a sleeper the following year, but that’s the case with Tennessee. Rookie WR Kenny Britt had an impressive debut with four catches for 85 yards.

 

 

14. New York Jets (21)

 

The Jets were one of the most impressive teams in week one. Their defense pitched a shutout against a very good Texans offense. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez played extremely well, and Thomas Jones ran for over 100 yards and two scores.

 

It’s only been one week, but the Jets may be for real. I’m not sure they can compete with the Patriots, but a wildcard berth is a possibility.

 

 

15. Seattle Seahawks (18)

 

Seattle is another team that impressed me. I know the Rams are terrible, but aside from their running game, the Seahawks have a very solid offense now that their receivers are mostly healthy.

 

If their defense can hold their own, they could definitely surprise some people and win the NFC West.

 

 

16. Houston Texans (11)

 

I was extremely disappointed in the Texans. I picked them to win their first division title this year, and though I am not jumping off the bandwagon yet, they better turn things around in a hurry.

 

They ran for under 40 yards and barely reached 200 yards of total offense. It doesn’t get any easier for them next week however, as they play the Titans.

 

 

17. Arizona Cardinals (9)

 

I won’t say the Cardinals are going to become the Cardinals we are all accustomed to, but I will say I believe they will be the mediocre team that finished 9-7 last year.

 

There is no doubt their offense can score, but their defense truly is not that great and they still lack a reliable running game. And there is always the possibility Kurt Warner will get hurt or that his age will catch up to him for a three or four game stretch.

 

The curse of the Super Bowl loser is likely to strike again, as the Seahawks will challenge the Cards for the division.

 

 

18. Buffalo Bills (19)

 

Ever since the signing of Terrell Owens, I have loved this team. I know they have been 7-9 three years in a row, but I believe this team can finally make the playoffs.

 

With that said, they have no shot at the playoffs if they can’t hold an 11-point lead in the final four minutes of a game. Fred Jackson filled in nicely for the suspended Marshawn Lynch.

 

We’ll find out if this team is for real depending on how well they bounce back from an extremely tough loss.

 

 

19. Chicago Bears (15)

 

Chicago nearly stole a game in their week one effort against the Packers, but were unable to overcome a career high four interceptions from QB Jay Cutler.

 

Devin Hester had a nice game but it’s clear the Bears are going to have to rely on sophomore RB Matt Forte. The Bears defense looked excellent, but star LB Brian Urlacher missed the second half with a wrist injury and has reportedly had season ending surgery.

 

The Bears have some talent but with the lack of depth at wide receiver and the loss of Urlacher, they are likely looking at a third place finish in the NFC North.

 

 

20. San Francisco 49ers (31)

 

Even though I don’t think the Cardinals are very good, going into Arizona and beating them is still impressive. I am not sold on the 49ers, mostly because beyond Frank Gore I just don’t think they have a whole lot on offense.

 

The defense is decent and may keep them in a lot of games. I don’t think they have a shot at the playoffs, but if that’s the Cardinal team we’re going to see week in and week out, anyone outside of St. Louis could take home the NFC West.

 

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (26)

 

Maurice Jones-Drew will have to carry the load all season for this team, and as good as he is, he won’t be able to do it. He’s never been the feature back and with a mediocre quarterback and lack of talent at the other skilled positions, teams will stack the box against MJD and the Jags will be in for a long season.

 

Their defense kept them in this game but they are going to have to score more than 12 points a game if they want any chance at the division title.

 

 

22. Carolina Panthers(17)

 

Don’t worry, DeAngelo Williams owners, your star running back will still have a monster season. However, Steve Smith owners may want to look elsewhere. He’s still a great receiver but I believe Jake Delhomme will be benched in the near future, which will hurt Smith’s value.

 

The Panthers are a decent team on both sides of the ball, but they play in a tough division and I just don’t see them winning more than seven or eight games. And oh yes, seven turnovers a game is not going to get the job done.

 

 

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22)

 

The Bucs played far better than the final score indicated. They were right in the game with the Cowboys until early in the fourth quarter.

 

I still think it could be a rough year for Tampa, but Cadillac Williams ran for 97 yards on only 13 carries and WR Michael Clayton hauled in five catches for 93 yards. Nonetheless, this team just doesn’t have the talent level of the rest of the division.

 

 

24. Washington Redskins (23)

 

The Redskins are a fairly talented team and would compete for a division title in most divisions. Unfortunately for them, their own division is not one of them.

 

The other three teams they play with are far superior and finishing the season at 8-8 would be something to be proud of. 

 

 

25. Miami Dolphins (24)

 

The Dolphins were the most improved team in the league last season, going from one win to 11. However I predicted they would suffer a set back this season and though it’s only been one week, it appears I might actually have gotten something right for once.

 

They couldn’t run the ball and their passing game was average at best. I just can’t see this team being overly successful this year.

 

 

26. Oakland Raiders (27)

 

The Raiders hung tough with the Chargers. If they can get that kind of defensive performance every week, they will be a competitive team.

 

They most likely will not make the playoffs, but their division as a whole is relatively weak, and if they pull off a couple upsets or the Chargers pull off a couple choke jobs, anything is possible.

 

 

27. Kansas City Chiefs (28)

 

Brodie Croyle played exceptionally well considering he wasn’t sure if he was even going to play until the morning of the game. Larry Johnson was never able to get going but the Chiefs battled their hearts out against a tough AFC opponent.

 

With a healthy Matt Cassel I think the Chiefs might be able to pull off a couple upsets this year, but it won’t be enough to compete for the playoffs.

 

 

28. Cincinnati Bengals (20)

 

I had high expectations for this team this year, if you can call 8-8 high expectations. With a healthy Carson Palmer I thought they would put up decent points.

 

However, it took them over 59 minutes to put up any points against one of the league’s worst defenses. Looks like it may be another typical, disappointing season for the Bengals.

 

29. Denver Broncos (30)

 

For those that missed it, the Broncos beat the Bengals on one of the craziest catch and runs you will see all season. Thanks to that bizarre play, the Broncos emerged victorious in one of the dullest games of the week.

 

Running the football will be a struggle for Denver, but Kyle Orton did play fairly well, albeit against a weak defense. I still don’t see this team winning more than about five games all year.

 

 

30. Cleveland Browns (29)

 

The Browns are just flat out a bad football team. I love Brady Quinn, and Braylon Edwards has great potential, but they have very little running game and almost no defense. This team is likely to have a top five pick in next year’s draft.

 

 

31. St. Louis Rams (25)

 

Steven Jackson should still have a nice year for fantasy owners, but beyond that there is nothing positive about the Rams. Their offense is extremely weak and their defense is just as bad.

 

It’s hard to go backwards after a 2-14 season, but this team could pull it off. Their only saving grace is they play in a relatively weak division.

 

 

32. Detroit Lions (32)

 

Giving up 45 points is not good. However the Lions did put up 27 of their own. They were forced to throw most of the game, mostly nullifying solid RB Kevin Smith.

 

This team is still the worst team in the league for now, but at least it appears they will be somewhat competitive.

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NFL Power Rankings Heading Into Week One

The 2009 NFL Season is almost upon us! I know you are all as excited as I am.

So without further ado, I present to you my beginning-of-the-season power rankings.

 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers – I am not sure how good the Steelers will be this year, but their defense is still top-notch so I have no choice but to give the defending champs the nod at No. 1.

2. New England Patriots – This offense will be close to its 2007 form assuming Tom Brady is able to stay healthy. Look for Moss and Welker to have big years again.

3. San Diego Chargers – This team came on strong at the end of last season. The consensus is that Adrian Peterson is the best back in the league, so look for LT to be very motivated and turn in one last dominant season.

4. Atlanta Falcons – This team went from very good, to very very good. Adding Tony Gonzalez is huge for this team. Their defense could still use some work, but adding an offensive weapon for Matt Ryan, and a good blocker for Michael Turner, this offense will be scary.

5. Green Bay Packers – This team is one of the most talented in the entire league. They switched to a 3-4 defense under Dom Capers. Don’t be surprised if they play deep into January.

6. Baltimore Ravens – The defense isn’t getting any younger, but it also doesn’t seem to be getting any worse. They will need to rely on their 3-headed monster at running back for their offense to put up points.

7. Philadelphia Eagles – If this team incorporates Michael Vick into their offense in the right way, they could be very scary. No team in the league can potentially put three guys on the field at once that are as athletic as McNabb, Vick, and DeSean Jackson. Not to mention, that Westbrook guy is pretty good too.

8. New York Giants – The Giants wide receivers are going to have to step up. The defense is still one of the best in the league. Expect them to challenge Philly for the division.

9. Arizona Cardinals – The Cinderella team of 2008, don’t expect them to repeat. Their offense is still one of the most potent in the league, but Boldin still isn’t happy and that defense just isn’t that great.

10. Minnesota Vikings – Many people think the Vikings can reach the Super Bowl. I disagree. They have a great D and a great running game. I just don’t think the rest of the offense is enough.

11. Houston Texans – This team is kind of a combination of Green Bay and Arizona to me. Very talented on offense, but not a stellar defense. Nonetheless, I am predicting the Texans will win their first division title since moving to Houston.

12. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts defense is a little shaky, and their offense lost Marvin Harrison. Not a huge problem as they still have Wayne, Clark, and young wideout Anthony Gonzalez. This team will still put up decent points, but nothing like we have seen in the past.

13. New Orleans Saints – By my calculations, the Saints should score approximately 743,292 points this year.  Okay, I kid but their offense is going to be extremely good. Unfortunately, their defense is extremely bad. But on the bright side, they should play a lot of exciting games.

14. Tennessee Titans – When will Vince Young become the starter? I am guessing before the midway point of the season. Still a great defense and a good ground game, but I don’t expect Tennessee to be on the same level as last year.

15. Chicago Bears – Jay Cutler and Matt Forte.  They are great, but that is not nearly enough on offense. The defense is still very good, but unless they can hold opponents to 13 or less every week, this team may struggle more than they think.

16. Dallas Cowboys – T.O. is gone, and I believe Dallas’ playoff hopes went with him. Romo and Witten will put up great fantasy numbers, and they have the best trio of running backs in the league, but I don’t see that being enough to get them a wildcard berth.

17. Carolina Panthers – Steve Smith is a stud. DeAngelo Williams is a freak. Julius Peppers is a flat-out beast. Unfortunately, the other 50 players on the team aren’t really anything special.

18. Seattle Seahawks – This may be too high for the Seahawks, but their defense isn’t terrible, and they added a great wideout in TJ Houshmandzadeh. I still believe they are probably looking at an 8-8 season at best.

19. Buffalo Bills – I fully expect this team to rise almost into the top 10 at some point. Getting Marshawn Lynch back will help. They have a top-5 combo at WR with TO and Lee Evans. I think this team could surprise a lot of people.

20. Cincinnati Bengals – If Palmer can finally stay healthy, the Bengals will surprise many people. It won’t be an 11-5 type of surprise, but a .500 season would be a good start for this team. And besides, who doesn’t love watching a guy with a last name that translates to ‘EightFive?’

21. New York Jets – Mark Sanchez is going to be a very good quarterback. Unfortunately, his first season isn’t going to go as well as he would like. This team lacks talent at the WR position and Thomas Jones will not repeat his solid season from last year.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I can never get a good read on the Bucs. If I think they will be good, they suck. If I think they will struggle, they win five straight. So I have good news Bucs fans: I think they will really struggle this year.

23. Washington Redskins – Santana Moss is still one of the most underrated wide receivers in the league, and Clinton Portis is still one of the hardest working backs. This team has the potential to compete for the division, but I just don’t think they have quite enough talent overall.

24. Miami Dolphins – I am a little shocked I have them this “high.” I do not expect much from the Dolphins this season. If they have any success, it will ride on the legs of Ronnie Brown. Watch for Ted Ginn to potentially have a break-out season at wide receiver.

25. St. Louis Rams – This team was bad last year. In fact that’s putting it nicely. But when healthy Steven Jackson is a top-5 running back. Whether that’s enough to keep them from the NFC West cellar, I’m not sure.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars – This team has a very average quarterback and extremely below average wideouts (sorry Torry Holt). They have a great running back in MJD, but he is now a full-time back and I’m not sure he can carry the load all season.

27. Oakland Raiders – Being ranked 27 out of 32 is no accomplishment. However, when you’re the Oakland Raiders it sure seems like it. They have been number 31 or 32 for the past few seasons. Their defense is underrated and their running game isn’t bad. If Jamarcus Russell can even reach some of his potential, they could fight for the second spot in the AFC West. (In fairness, it might only take about 6 wins to do so)

28. Kansas City Chiefs – They upgraded at quarterback, but downgraded at tight end. They still have a very good back in Larry Johnson, and a very talented receiver in Dwayne Bowe, but the defense leaves something to be desired.

29. Cleveland Browns – Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?  It doesn’t much matter because their defense stinks and beyond Braylon Edwards they have almost no talent on offense.

30. Denver Broncos – No Jay Cutler. An angry Brandon Marshall for their best case scenario. A bad defense. I know Denver seems to turn out a 1,000 yard runner every year, but this team is going nowhere and they’re going there fast. Going to be a long year for new head coach Josh McDaniels.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Frank Gore is still a stud. Vernon Davis has yet to reach any of his potential. No matter what, I don’t see this team being any good. The only good thing is they play in a pretty weak division which could give them a few cheap W’s.

32. Detroit Lions – No, they won’t go 0-16 this year folks. But it is possible they will be 0-6 right out of the gates. I would be shocked if this team wins more than four games. However, watching Stafford to Johnson all year should be very entertaining.

 

There you have it. I am one of millions that create power rankings at some point. You may disagree with some of my choices but there’s one thing we can all agree on…ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?! 

 

Five WR’s That Will Break Out In 2009.

Dwayne Bowe. Eddie Royal. Roddy White. These are a few Wideouts that surprised a lot of people in 2008. However, it is now 2009 and the NFL season is nearly upon us and I will try to figure out the five wide receivers that I think will be this years surprises. A few players that came up just short of making my list include Chris Henry, Bobby Wade and Miles Austin.

Begin Slideshow

Are the Green Bay Packers for Real?

At the beginning of the beginning of the 2007 NFL season, no one really knew what to expect from the Green Bay Packers. Four weeks into the season, there was no question anymore; the Packers were for real.

Some guy named Favre had led his team to a 4-0 start and broke the all-time touchdown pass record. The Packers continued to play well all season and were just a play away from facing the New England Patriots in the Superbowl.

The following season, despite the ugly exit of the aforementioned Favre, the Packers had high expectations, even with a quarterback that had seen about as much of an NFL field as yours truly.

Unfortunately for Packer fans, 2008 was not what they had hoped for. The Pack finished with a record of 6-10, and were arguably the greatest 6-10 team in the history of the NFL. Of those 10 losses, Green Bay lost seven of them by a grand total of 21 points.

The Packers led in every fourth quarter of those seven games, but were unable to play defense late in games.

Despite the poor record, there was a lot of positives for the Packers. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for over 4,000 yards, 28 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 93.8.

So as the 2009 preseason begins to close, the Packers find themselves with a 3-0 record. Their first string defense has given up just one touchdown, and as a team they have 16 takeaways and eight sacks in the three games.

But the improved defense is only part of it. The Packers first string offense has gotten even better, if thats possible. Against the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, the Packers put up 38 first half points. Rodgers completed 14 of 19 passes for 258 yards and three TDs (those are great stats for an entire game, let alone just two quarters).

So the question remains, are the Green Bay Packers a legitimate contender in 2009?

The answer is yes.

First of all they play a very favorable schedule. Second of all they play in the NFC North. Yes the Chicago Bears added pro-bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, but whom exactly is he supposed to throw to? Yes they still have a top running back in Matt Forte, and a fairly imposing defense. However I still don’t see the Bears being a real threat to the Packers.

If anyone is going to threaten the Packers, it’s going to be the Minnesota Vikings. However I still believe the Vikings best chance to win is with Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback.

After watching Brett Favre finish last season with the Jet’s, there is no way he can handle a full season, and it is only going to hurt the Vikings chances.

That leaves the Detroit Lions. Do I really need to explain why they won’t give Green Bay any problems?

So with the fairly weak division, the easy overall schedule, and the switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense thanks to bringing in Dom Capers, the Green Bay Packers are a legitimate contender for 2009, provided they are able to stay relatively healthy.

Why I Became a Green Bay Packers Fan…

I am a sports fanatic and I live in Arizona.

I take quite a bit of heat for only following and rooting for one Arizona team, the Diamondbacks.

I am often asked, “Why are you a Lakers fan?” and “When did you become a Packers fan?”  Every time, I give the same response, “My dad is a Lakers/Packers fan, and I just grew up rooting for whoever he was a fan of.”

That’s all there is to it.

Growing up, my dad was a Packers and a Raiders fan (there was two leagues back then, so he rooted for one from each). As I grew up, I was a fan of both as well, but even as young as eight or nine years old, I always seemed to be a bigger Packers fan than a Raiders fan. And once the Packers took down the Patriots in Superbowl XXXI, I was on board with them and only them.

Which turns out to be a very good choice, seeing as how the Raiders have performed the past number of years.

I can’t really put my finger on exactly why I chose the Packers. Was it the beauty of the green and gold uniforms? Was it because they play in one of the greatest football stadiums of all time? Was it because they had a gun slinging quarterback, whose smile reminded everyone just how much fun he had every time he went to work on Sundays?

Or, being the young age I was, was it a sign I once saw on TV that said, “Give ’em a wedgie, Reggie!,” referring to late, great Reggie White.

It could have been any of these things or any combination of them, but all I know is that I am very thankful my dad grew up as a Packers fan and passed it on to me. If not for him, I may have had to follow the Arizona Cardinals, who until this past season, really weren’t worth anyone’s time.

The Packers have had numerous incredible games in my lifetime, and I look forward to many more in the future. Thanks dad, I owe it all to you!

Favre or No Favre: How Will the NFC North Shape Up in 2009-’10?

In 2009-2010, the NFC North will be a very interesting division to watch. If Brett Favre attempts to make yet another comeback, it will be the MOST interesting division in all of football.

Reports today indicate that Favre told the Vikings coach Brad Childress that he will not sign with the team and will stay retired. It is only mid-May though, so things could change a dozen times between now and August.

Each team will have something for everyone to keep an eye on. 

In Detroit, how will first overall pick Matthew Stafford perform for a team that went an unprecedented 0-16 the previous season.

In Chicago, will offseason addition of quarterback Jay Cutler be what the Chicago Bears need to reach the postseason?

In Green Bay, how will Aaron Rodgers perform in his second full season as a quarterback, and will switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 improve the Packers’ defense?

And in Minnesota, will Favre feel the itch to play again? If Favre keeps his word and remains retired, then is Sage Rosenfels the answer at quarterback for the Vikings?

 

If asked how strong this division is, I would have to say that right now it’s in the middle of the pack, with the potential to be very strong.

Once again the Vikings will have a top notch defense, and the best running back in the NFL, Adrian Peterson. But will rookie wide-out Percy Harvin be able to contribute right away? And if not, who is going to step up?

There is good news for both Chicago and Detroit. For the Bears the good news is that they have Adrian Peterson. The bad news is, it’s not THAT Adrian Peterson. The good news for the Lions is they have the No. 1 overall pick at quarterback and a top-five wide receiver. The bad news is they are still the Lions and don’t have much of competing for the division.

In Green Bay, once again expectations are high. The Packers are very talented on offense and might have the best group of line backers in the entire NFL. If not for a ton of injuries, and atrocious fourth quarter defense, the Packers would have run easily won the division last season.

 

So, what are the Packers’ chances to win the division this season? One would have to think pretty good. They will continue to put up points, and should have a much improved defense. One question will be whether or not Aaron Kampman will be able to make the transition from Pro-Bowl linemen to linebacker.

I believe (if they can stay healthy), the Packers should win at least 12 games. Their schedule outside of the NFC North looks to be quite friendly. Tough games at Pittsburgh and at Arizona will be tough, and they have two home games against quality opponents (Dallas and Baltimore) but beyond that the Packers should have no problems.

If I had to pick a team that could give the Packers a run for their money in the division I guess it would have to be the Vikings. I like what the Bears did in adding Jay Cutler, and though neither Minnesota or Chicago is great on offense, I have to say that having Adrian Peterson and a great defense is more than enough to try and defend their division title.

However, when it’s all said and done I firmly believe the Packers will be NFC North champions and be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

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