NFC CONFERENCE NORTH

Pre-season Standings

Detroit Lions 4 - 0
Chicago Bears 1 - 3
Green Bay Packers 1 - 3
Minnesota Vikings 1 - 3

A wide open division and a less interesting one now Brett Favre has gone. He dominated last year for the Packers but now I see little to impress other than Adrian Peterson's superb silky running for the Vikings.

Chicago Bears - defense has been superb for seasons but their offensive line is now aging and they still do not have a secure, big name QB. As they have got older their chances have gone as they have not had enough fresh blood to keep the franchise fresh. Is Brian Urlacher fit? If so defense is stronger - a lot stronger. Can Devin Hester become a wide receiver? If so then they have a weapon to pass to. But the offense has imploded and the defense last year was awful.

Minnesota Vikings - defensive line can be awesome and it needs to be as the offense is one man - Peterson running hard. He has the gas but he receives the ball a lot and knows he has the yards to make because the passing game doesn't do it. Can he take them to Division champions and the play-offs? Possibly because the Vikings are an improving side. They need Tavaris Jackson to perform at QB in his second season. Pass well, move the chains, keep the defense honest and not turnover the ball.

Detroit Lions - need to adapt their passing game from last year and gain more on the ground but what they have this year is the easiest start of all. They could be 4-2 from the first six weeks but from then on the hard yakka begins.

Green Bay Packers - Keys here are Ryan Grant having a big season at RB as his last 7 games last year were unreal and poor old Rodgers has to replace Favre and then be compared to him every week. These are a young, fun outfit but Favre made them tick. Rookies cannot compare with that and while Rodgers has played in the last 3 years it is asking an awful lot of the man.