8 in 4: NFC North

By Jon

Last year we somehow convinced ourselves that we should do NFL previews. It wasn't the most accurate of experiments, but it was a nice concept at the time. We went through each division and predicted winners, then going back in January to examine how badly we did.

We weren't really planning on much for this week, but it was brought up by someone that we should do it again. Well, why not? We are a little short on time, however, so we present to you eight divisions in four days.

If you have learned not to believe the hype, please don't believe any of this, either.

4. Chicago Bears

The face of the franchise

Was it really just two years ago that the Bears were a Super Bowl team? It's pretty amazing how everything can go to hell. Terrible quarterbacks, bad wideouts, a shaky offensive line and a defense that isn't what it used to be will put the Bears in the basement of the NFC North.

3. Detroit Lions

The Chronic-WHAT?-cles of Millen.

As bad as the Lions have been, there is reason for optimism. Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson are sure to be one of the best WR pairings in the game, and Jon Kitna is consistently underrated (He is a much better quarterback than prognosticator, that much is for sure.) Rudi Johnson is a good pickup, though he has lost a step or twenty, and it gives rookie RB Kevin Smith time to mature into the role.

2.Green Bay Packers

Frequent Roost commenter JoeGoal, in the flesh.

Sure, Brett Favre handled his "retirement" pretty poorly this off-season, but that doesn't change the fact that the Packers are not as good without him. Aaron Rodgers has some pretty gigantic shoes to fill, and he may not be able to take the pressure in his first year as a starter. Ryan Grant should be eager to prove that last year wasn't a fluke. The defense is fighting off injuries already- never a good sign. Expect the Pack to be just above .500 this year, getting help from playing in a mediocre division.

1. Minnesota Vikings Pat Robertson is beyond offended.

There's a lot to like about the Vikings. Between one of the best RB tandems in the game (Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor) running behind one of the best offensive lines in the game, a stellar defensive line and good defensive backs, the Vikings shouldn't have much of a problem running away with this division. Don't expect them to get much farther than that, however- the passing game is atrocious.