2010 NFC North Preview

I (Matt) am back after a long hiatus caused by laziness and a twisted left ankle. OK, there actually wasn't a twisted left ankle. Only laziness.

The 2010 NFL Season is right around the corner, so an NFC North preview is in order. Thanks to my loyal reader(s) out there who likes reading about my sports opinions!

A Look Back

Last year, the NFC North contained riveting drama with the unretirement of Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings. He had his revenge against the Packers by beating them twice and leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. The Packers had a great second half of the season and went to the playoffs as a wild-card entry before losing in the first round in dramatic fashion. The Bears and Lions did not win many games last year.

The Prognosis

I see the 2010 season shaping up to be similar to 2009 for the NFC North. The Packers and Vikings will be in the top tier and fight for the division crown, while the Bears and Lions will struggle to stay about .500. One notable tidbit about 2010 for the NFC North division is they are scheduled to play for the AFC East and NFC East divisions, which are two of the three most difficult divisions in the league (I'd also put the AFC North up there).

My prediction is that the Packers will win the division with a 10-6 record by relying on their high-powered offense and an easier schedule than the Vikings. Their defense will still give them trouble and will prevent them from getting to the NFC Championship game. The Vikings will finish second at 9-7 and miss out on the playoffs. The Vikings have question marks at the receiver position and secondary that will lead to their demise. Brett Favre should have another solid year, but it is expected that he will retire and unretire a couple times during the season.

The Bears may show some promise with a new offense and I expect Jay Cutler to have a good year, but I see them finishing at 7-9, leading to the probable firing of Lovie Smith. The Lions will be improved, but I don't see them doing better than 6-10. They're still a year or two away from being competitive in the division. And they're from Detroit.