NFL SWOT Analysis: NFC North

Chicago Bears

Strengths – Matt Forte was the offensive MVP of this team last season. That should continue this season. Do not expect a sophomore slump. He is also probably the best receiver on the team. To help his cause, Forte will be running behind an offensive line that should do great in the run-blocking game. The defense is led by a LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Both should receive a boost from the addition of Pisa Tinoisamoa, who will take on a lot of the coverage tasks, freeing up Urlacher and Briggs to attack the line of scrimmage.

Weaknesses – The DBs on this team need to step up. If Tillman and Vasher have a repeat of last season, it will be a long year for the Bears. If Kevin Payne and Craig Steltz don’t have aces up their sleeves, the outlook will be very bleak. The WRs aren’t as desirable as most would think. Someone will have to step up, or the Cutler addition may backfire. A combined 16 sacks out of the four sack specialists on the team will not fly this year either.

Opportunities – Speaking of Cutler – he has the opportunity to be everything this franchise thought it was getting in the last few young QBs it has brought aboard. If a WR is going to step up, look for Earl Bennett to take the first shot. He apparently looked great in mini-camps and has been penciled in as the starter. The former Vanderbilt product was one to watch going into last year’s draft, he was projected higher than the 3rd round, and could end up being a steal.

Threats – Another spot where Cutler is key, yet for entirely different reasons. If Cutler loses any time to injury, the team is looking at Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez to pick up the slack. Many teams have proven that a good backup QB is extremely important to the team’s success. On defense, an undersized front seven makes the team susceptible to a power running team.

Passing/Receiving the Torch – Greg Olsen (finally) from Desmond Clark. This has been a few years in the making, but Desmond Clark has been fighting it tooth and nail. Olsen is ready to step into the #1 role, and many are predicting a breakout year.

Position Battle – DT: Dusty Dvoracek vs. Marcus Harrison, Jarron Gilbert and Anthony Adams. Dvoracek might even be fighting for a roster spot. He regressed last year, coming off a very promising year.

Rookie Contributor – Juaquin Iglesias could break into the WR rotation. He will battle Rashied Davis, Earl Davis and Devin Hester for balls to be thrown his way.




Detroit Lions

Strengths – How many strengths can you have coming off an 0-16 season? Going through with a fine-toothed comb, one strength that appears is the WR/TE corps. Calvin Johnson welcomes two free agent additions that will go a long way to ease the pressure on him. Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt are the type of receivers who know their roles and at times have played those roles very well. If Brandon Pettigrew lives up to his hype early on, he will give Stafford/Culpepper a big safety-valve target. The defense is underrated, yet could be the brightest spot on this team. It may take a few games for them to gel, because of the new faces, but there is talent.

Weaknesses – Somehow, the offensive line is not very good. This was a big problem last season, and they may have even taken a step back this year. The running game will probably continue to suffer. The defensive line doesn’t look like it will get many sacks. They are up there in years and do not possess the speed to get into the backfield. Cliff Avril will have to step up big to get the pass rush going.

Opportunities – This team has many opportunities. After a last year’s disaster, they have nowhere to go but up. Jim Schwartz has the attitude to toughen this team up, and under his guidance this team will not go winless again

Threats – The biggest threat to a team like this is for them to get stuck in that “Loser Mentality”. While the front office purged many players, there are still a bunch that have been here for a few years.

Passing/Receiving the Torch – First one must have a torch to carry. Someone on either side of the ball has to emerge as a leader. On offense, Calvin Johnson has every opportunity to take on that role. On defense, Ernie Sims needs to re-take that role.

Position Battle – QB: Daunte Culpepper vs. Matt Stafford. Look for Culpepper to seem like he’s getting the shot to take this team for the season, but don’t be surprised if Stafford sneaks in. The team has nothing to lose by starting Stafford from Day One.

Rookie Contributor – QB Matt Stafford should get in there early. Hopefully he can survive the potential bumps in the road. SS Louis Delmas could spend a lot of time out on the field and rack up a mess of tackles. I put him at the top of my list for potential Defensive Rookie of the Year. Brandon Pettigrew could end up becoming Stafford’s favorite receiver in the clutch.




Green Bay Packers

Strengths – The Packers potentially have one of the best QB to WR passing attacks in the league. Aaron Rodgers proved that he could play at a high level. Greg Jennings proved that he can be a #1 WR. With Donald Driver, James Jones and the emerging Jordy Nelson, there could be a lot of defenses that won’t be able to keep up. On defense, the front seven has quantity and quality. If they can adapt to the new defense early, the team might be able to lean on them on days where the offense sputters.

Weaknesses – The offensive line is in a transition. Four of the five spots are up for contention in camp. LT Chad Clifton is the only lineman who won’t have a big fight on his hands for his starting spot. The team also needs to distance itself from the fact that the team goes how Ryan Grant goes. When Grant does well, the team generally does well. When he struggles, the team struggles. This is especially true in the win/loss column.

Opportunities – The Dom Capers 3-4 defense gives the opposition a look they haven’t seen in Green Bay. Capers usually has early success with his defenses. There hasn’t been a 3-4 defense in the Black and Blue division for a long time. McCarthy plans to give Jordy Nelson every opportunity to earn playing time. Nelson may not be the most athletically gifted, but he will catch anything thrown to him.

Threats – Aaron Kampman has made it no secret that he doesn’t want to play OLB. Kampman is the most productive player on this defense, so keeping him happy should be a priority. Could this also result in a drop in production? The team brought Kevin Greene aboard as a consultant, probably for this very reason. If there is one former player who could convince Kampman that this move can work, it's Greene. Also, I don't know how many years I will be wrong on this, but will continue to beat this to death for another season: When are Charles Woodson (32) and Al Harris (34) going to show their age?

Passing/Receiving the Torch – Nothing dramatic, other than Donald Driver possibly giving way to Jordy Nelson if Nelson steps it up this year.

Position Battle – There are several. Many eyes will be on B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett for the Lion's Share of the playing time at NT. However, every position on the offensive line is up for grabs outside of LT. Allen Barbre should be able to beat out Breno Giacomini at RT. Daryn Colledge, Josh Sitton and Jason Spitz will battle it out for both G positions. Scott Wells and Duke Preston will battle it out for the C spot.

Rookie Contributor – Raji and Clay Matthews will get a lot of playing time (and most likely both start). Don't rule out Jamon Meridith. He was a steal in the draft. He can play any offensive line position (except C). If Chad Clifton gets hurt, Meridith could be the top option.



Minnesota Vikings

Strengths – Adrian Peterson is the best RB in the league, and the Vikings offense follows his lead. If he can stay healthy for the full season, the MVP award should be no problem. Althought most know who Percy Harvin is, the remaining trio of contributors make up a decent no-named bunch. Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice will team up with Visante Shiancoe to give the QB several decent targets. As much as the offense is flirting with success, the defense is the strength of this team, and could prove to be dominant.

Weaknesses – QB is still the biggest weakness on this team. Regardless of who wins the battle, neither option will scare a defense. Travaris Jackson has proven that he is erratic and cannot make the clutch throws. Sage Rosenfels may be the more stable option but has a very low ceiling. On the offensive line, from the C over to the RT there is more potential than proven talent. If John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt don't prove themselves in camp, the team could be looking for options on the waiver wire.

Opportunities – This team has "Surprise" written all over it. Sure, they were 10-6 last season. But, don't be surprised if they look like the best team out of the gate. I'll even go out on a limb and say they could be the last team in the league to get their first loss. The opportunity lies in the chance that regardless of last season's success teams may not take the Vikings seriously enough.

Threats – Let's just say I'm VERY wrong about my prediction of the Vikings flying out of the gate. How long before the fans start chanting Favre's name. Favre's flirtation with this team this off-season could prove to be the worst thing that happens to this team this season.

Passing/Receiving the Torch – The torch will eventually be passed to Percy Harvin, as a playmaker. The question is, who will be the passer? (Double-Edged Question?)

Position Battle – QB: This is the obvious battle. Ryan Cook and Phil Loadholt will also battle at RT. Loadholt is penciled in. Cook is a more versatile/athletic player, while Loadholt is the kind of player that blocks out the sun. If Loadholt wins the job early, Cook could slide over and battle for the starting C spot.

Rookie Contributor – Harvin and Loadholt. Harvin reminds me a lot of Devin Hester, and could have a similar impact as Hester did as a rookie. Loadholt reminds me of Jon Runyan.

So it's come to this...NFC-Style

In case you've been hiding under a collapsed brick wall today...NFL seedings are set.

Let's get a few things straight...

This is the guy - for me, at least - who will have the most to do with who ends up representing the NFC in the Super Bowl this season.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

NFC

..."The Guys You DREAM about Being"...
#1. (12-4) New York Giants
Comment: Despite the Plaxico-incident, Jacobs missing two weeks/being banged up for a month, and the difficult task of defending a championship...the G-Men remain the team to beat in the NFC as the #1-seed.
Guy to Watch: Brandon Jacobs. Eli is the epicenter of this team; however, this season - unlike last year's playoff team - hinged on the ability of their monster back to brutalize defenses in the first half. 3 more dominant efforts and they may very well again hoist the Lombardy Trophy.

#2. (12-4) Carolina Panthers
Comment: 12-4 is a lot easier when you're undefeated (8-0) at home, which is exactly where the Panthers will be in the Divisional Round in two weeks. Plenty of rest for DeAngelo Williams (1515 yards and 20 total TDs) and company.
Guy to Watch: Steve Smith has more ability than any receiver his size. In fact, it's not even close. He's got to have his head straight and his legs ready to burst through secondaries throughout January. He'll need to carry this team - even more than Williams/Stewart - late in close playoff (potential shootout) games.

..The Guys Everyone Else WISHES to Be"...
#3. (10-6) Minnesota Vikings
Comment: Don't forget what Gus Frerrote did for this team; however, Tavaris Jackson did just enough to lock up the NFC North and a home playoff game for the Vikes. The health of Pat Williams and their psyche against a dangerous Philadelphia team loom ominous. By the way, welcome to the NFL Playoffs Adrian Peterson.
Guy to Watch: Tavaris and A-Pete are the easy gets. I'm watching to see if Bernard Berrian can continue his recent torrid month and prove the contract was well worth it. His speed dramatically changes games downfield.

#4. (9-7) Arizona Cardinals
Comment: As ugly a 9-7 team you've ever seen, they still won their division for the first time since Kennedy was in the Whire House AND will host an actual playoff game.
Guy to Watch: Darnell Dockett is the only defender - outside possibly Wilson/Rolle - who defenses gameplan against. Michael Turner can't be allowed to easily pass through the guard and tackle spots or this game will be well over before the first half ends.

#5. (11-5) Atlanta Falcons
Comment: At the beginning of the season (or even the mid-way point), if you had the Falcons at 11-5 and a favorite in their opening playoff game...you need to hit up Cesar's Palace immediately. This team is playing with house money. Enjoy watching 'em.
Guy to Watch: John Abraham has shut it down in previous playoff games, going as far to not even suit up. He'll need to be all over Kurt Warner next weekend...or the Falcons won't leave Arizona victors.

#6. (9-6-1) Philadelphia Eagles
Comment: Somehow, the tie-game didn't come back to bite them. Meanwhile, Andy Reid and Donovan F. McNabb are playoff bound yet again. Don't look now Giant fans, but the Iggles might be coming to town in two weeks. Look out.
Guy to Watch: We all know how Brian Westbrook makes this team go. I got it. Instead, I'm taking two. Correll Buckhalter showed Dallas what a "change of pace" nightmare he can be; especially in the passing game as of late. Meanwhile, A$$ante $amuel needs to earn a few more of those $$$ back A$AP.

"One of a Kind...for better or WORSE"
#7. (9-7) Dallas Cowboys
Comment: The biggest off-season train wreck resides in Dallas (sorry Favre & Jet haters). Not only is there the issue of Wade "The Babe" and Jason Garrett's futures, but you also get to deal with TO, the never-ending Romo-saga, and the same December questions that continue to plague this franchise. 1996 was their last playoff win. Man, that seems so long ago...
Guy to Watch: TO. Of course.

..."The Others"...
#8. (9-7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Comment: John Gruden, Jeff Garcia, and the entire organization should be ashamed for losing at home to the Oakland Raiders. Half this roster is out the door and Monte Kiffin is leading the way. One word: regression.
Guy to Watch: The next QB added to this "rotation". Good luck.

#9. (9-7) Chicago Bears
Comment: Kyle Orton may be the future of this franchise at QB; however, the only "skill players" worth feeling confident are Matt Forte and (probably) Greg Olsen. This team needs to unearth a playmaker or two in the upcoming draft, somehow and someway.
Guy to Watch: Is it me or was Brian Urlacher missing this season?

#10. (8-8) Washington Redskins
Comment: Starting 6-2 becomes null and void when you finish 2-6. The real question becomes: is Jason Campbell the QB of the future? You better find out real soon, Mr. Snyder.
Guy to Watch: How soon can Jason Taylor exit the Redskin roster?

#11. (8-8) New Orleans Saints
Comment: Picking up also-rans (McKenzie, Fujita, Vilma, Shockey) isn't working. Meanwhile, what is going on with the RB position - even without Deuce in the mix after this year - and when will this defense be able to stop a JV offense, no less an NFL-one.
Guy to Watch: Is the Jeremy Shockey-experience over already?

..."The Other Others"...
#12. (7-9) San Francisco 49ers
Comment: Mike Singletary put this team on his back and they went 7-9. Kudos. But I gotta ask: what happens when they no longer "sneak up on people", is Shaun Hill their future QB, can Frank Gore stay healthy, and is Mike Martz still have any "genius" left in him?
Guy to Watch: In case you couldn't tell, I'm wondering where Shaun Hill is on the depth chart before Week 1 next season?

#13. (6-10) Green Bay Packers
Comment: Backward steps to say the least. BIG ONES. Rogers seems fine; however, this team too easily slipped to 6-10. What is to be done for a team that likely overachieved in '07 to reach 3-13, yet drastically underproduced its way to double-digit losses in '08?
Guy to Watch: Was giving all that money to Ryan Grant a big mistake?

..."How the 'Mighty' Have Fallen..."
#14. (4-12) Seattle Seahawks
Comment: The team got injured and old all in the same season. Dangerous duo in all the wrong ways. By the way, how stupid does that Deion Branch-deal continue to look???
Guy to Watch: By the way, how much longer is Matt Hasselbeck going to be able to stand up right for more than 10 games in a season, new head coach Jim Mora Jr? What if he can't any longer?

...And then there's "THEM"...
#15. (2-14) St. Louis Rams
Comment: Players L-O-V-E "player-friendly coaches" like Jim Haslett. Duh. But how much do players love losing their last 10 games in a season and appearing to have little to nothing in the pipeline for the future (sorry, Chris Long)?
Guy to Watch: Is Tory Holt much longer for St. Louis?

..."0-16 says it ALL"...
#16. (0-16) Detroit Lions
Comment: I made a real mistake last season thinking the Falcons (post-Vick) were the ugliest situation in football. Motown is in mourning over their "football" franchise. 0-16 shouldn't be wished upon any players or fans. Not even those surviving the post-Millen "Era of Shame" in Detroit.
Guy to Watch: Whichever future #1 overall pick (likely a QB) gets his career ruined next by this franchise. Beware Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford.

I thought I'd hand out some hardware, but I'll save that for later.
AFC coming soon...