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NFC
NORTH |
| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
GREEN
BAY PACKERS
Outlook:
The Packers have geared up for a Super Bowl run, signing troubled
but talented wideout Terry Glenn and oft-injured but talented
defensive lineman Joe Johnson. But the heart and soul is still QB
Brett Favre, the game’s best. The offense will be explosive and
the defensive line exceptional. There are no major weaknesses and
if the Pack gets home field for the playoffs they won’t lose at
Lambeau.
Forecast:
The Pack is back. Green Bay beats Pittsburgh to win the Super
Bowl. |
1 |
GREEN
BAY PACKERS
Outlook: The Packers have some strong reasons
to be hopeful about this season.
Brett Favre is a proven leader; Ahman Green is a proven
go-to featured back; their defense is possibly better than it
was in the two years they won the NFC. They’re going to be good, no doubt: just not great. Their
biggest problem in reaching the NFC Championship is that they
play in a conference with two teams who are clearly better than
they are: the Rams
(who waxed them, 45-17, in last year’s playoffs) and the
Eagles. If the Pack
can capture home field advantage for the playoffs, they have a
better shot; if not, they’ll be back to the drawing board in
January.
Forecast: 11-5. After blaming the
receiving corps last year, who will the Packers blame for this
year's disappointment? |
CHICAGO
BEARS|
Outlook:
The Bears must travel 120 miles to play their home games at the
University of Illinois while Soldier Field is being renovated. So
much for home cooking. Don’t expect the Bears to repeat their 13-3
mark of 2001; it was fluky. Chicago has great linebackers, led by
Brian Urlacher and their defense will keep them in games.
Quarterbacking is shaky; expect Jim Miller and backup Chris
Chandler each to get hurt during the season.
Forecast:
It’s back to reality and .500 for Chicago. |
2 |
MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Outlook: You
should note that my perception of the Vikings are completely
tainted by my love for Randy Moss, “the greatest player in the
history of the NFL” (go ahead, Jim).
What I love most about this team’s offseason was the
two people they lost:
1) Coach Denny Green, who said recently on a radio show
that Michael Bennett is the fastest guy on the team (which must
be why he tried so hard to not feature Randy Moss in the offense
last year); 2) Cris Carter, the “whiny little bitch” who has
never dropped a pass or made a bad cut in the NFL because it’s
always someone else’s fault.
This team needs a good start to contend, and they have a
great chance of starting 3-2 (or, even, 4-1).
With a favorable schedule, the Vikes could be thinking
playoffs entering December.
Forecast: 9-7. Their potent
offense will return; the bad defense will as well. |
MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Outlook:
Wide receiver Randy “I’ll Play When I Want to Play” Moss is on the
cover of Sports Illustrated’s NFL preview. Says New Orleans guard
Kyle Turley of Moss: “As a player, I like Randy Moss …. but if he
was on my team and pulled the shit he pulls, I’d walk right up to
him on the sideline and punch him in the fucking face.” Won’t see
the two of them exchanging Christmas cards. Moss will have an
awesome year, but he can’t play defense and the defense will doom
Minnesota.
Forecast:
Moss will be a fantasy football stud but the playoffs are only a
fantasy for the Vikings. |
3 |
CHICAGO
BEARS
Outlook: Ask
Titans coach Jeff Fisher about playing in different stadiums.
Over the course of three years, his team had three
different homes.
This year, the Chicago Bears must play their home games
at the University of Illinois, a 2 1/2 hour drive from Chicago.
Last year, they went 8-0 in games decided by a touchdown
or less.
While that shows some guts, I’m more inclined to think
this team just got away with a few.
Their gift is playing Tampa Bay at home in December
again.
But, they must contend with talent that simply isn’t
that good.
The karma gods are not smiling on the Bears this year.
Forecast: 6-10. They have all the
pieces, except for a home field. |
DETROIT
LIONS
Outlook:
The Lions have a new stadium in downtown Detroit and the players
love it. "Getting tackled on this stuff is almost fun,"
lineman Luther Elliss said about the soft, new artificial turf at
Ford Field. Fun doesn’t describe the 2-14 Lions in 2001 and this
year looks only marginally better. The defense, led by Elliss and
Robert Porcher, is decent and the offense has a bit more speed.
But rookie QB Joey Harrington isn’t yet ready to shine.
Forecast:
Last place again but somewhat improved. |
4 |
DETROIT
LIONS
Outlook: The
Lions have to be better than last year.
Don’t they?
Let’s consider:
1) QB - they have Mike McMahon (who was terrible last
year) and Joey Harrington (who could be great - but, even Peyton
Manning struggled his first year in the League; 2) WR - their
featured receiver was the #3 receiver for the Rams last year and
has never been a featured go-to guy; Hakim is good, but is he
reliable?; 3) THE JOKERS - Matt Millen and Marty Mornhinweg
surely learned plenty in their first year at the helm, but I
just don’t think either of these guys have it.
Forecast: 5-11. Something to
build on, but not much. |
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