2008 Woodie Awards
Place Your Bets, Part Deux: NFL Preview
By Matthew Pusard
9/17/07 - Sports
NFC North
Chicago Bears (13-3)
It is just fitting that the class of the NFC starts off the NFC side of things. "Da Bears" are a team built out of clichés for what wins championships: an unmovable defense, a powerful running game (albeit with an inexperienced RB starting full time now), and some big play potential from the receivers. The only thing they lack is consistency from their QB Rex Grossman. A turnover machine in the vein of Jake Plummer, Grossman became a football pariah last season. However, he did incredibly well for just 8 games of previous NFL experience, posting an amazing 8 games with a QB rating over 100. Look for Rex to mature more this season. And even if he doesn't, even Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions (8-8)
The Lions started the season competing for first runner up in their own division. However, these cats can deal out some serious damage offensively. Armed with QB Jon Kitna, WRs Roy Williams, #2 overall draft pick Calvin Johnson, and Mike Furrey, and the soon-to-return RB Kevin Jones, they can rack up serious points under the guidance of offensive guru Mike Martz. But they'll let in more than they score. If their offense is top 5 in the league, their D is bottom 5 and you just can't beat the Bears with that.
Green Bay Packers (7-9)
It's the Brett Favre retirement tour… for the third year in a row. He's like the Rolling Stones. The Pack has potential this year, with a strong willed defense in tow for the first time in years, but they seem to be doing 2 things at once. They are raising a lot of future talent on offense this year, like rookie RB Brandon Jackson and WR James Jones, but with an old QB who will conceivably retire after the season with every QB record known to man. Rookies tend not to lead teams to playoff glory, but a Hall of Famer like Favre might just have one good run left in him. Still, don't expect Favre to retire on top.
Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
They have a deceptively good defense, ranked #1 against rushing last season, but probably the worst QB situation in the league. No one really claims that 2nd year QB Tarvaris Jackson has the stuff of a NFL QB, but he's starting here anyway. Call him the Andrew Walter of 2007. Jackson and a staff of no names at wide receiver will weigh this team down. However, watch for rookie RB Adrian Peterson to be the Reggie Bush of 2007 with incredible runs and highlight plays. Too bad it'll be for a cellar-dwelling team.
Chicago Bears (13-3)
It is just fitting that the class of the NFC starts off the NFC side of things. "Da Bears" are a team built out of clichés for what wins championships: an unmovable defense, a powerful running game (albeit with an inexperienced RB starting full time now), and some big play potential from the receivers. The only thing they lack is consistency from their QB Rex Grossman. A turnover machine in the vein of Jake Plummer, Grossman became a football pariah last season. However, he did incredibly well for just 8 games of previous NFL experience, posting an amazing 8 games with a QB rating over 100. Look for Rex to mature more this season. And even if he doesn't, even Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions (8-8)
The Lions started the season competing for first runner up in their own division. However, these cats can deal out some serious damage offensively. Armed with QB Jon Kitna, WRs Roy Williams, #2 overall draft pick Calvin Johnson, and Mike Furrey, and the soon-to-return RB Kevin Jones, they can rack up serious points under the guidance of offensive guru Mike Martz. But they'll let in more than they score. If their offense is top 5 in the league, their D is bottom 5 and you just can't beat the Bears with that.
Green Bay Packers (7-9)
It's the Brett Favre retirement tour… for the third year in a row. He's like the Rolling Stones. The Pack has potential this year, with a strong willed defense in tow for the first time in years, but they seem to be doing 2 things at once. They are raising a lot of future talent on offense this year, like rookie RB Brandon Jackson and WR James Jones, but with an old QB who will conceivably retire after the season with every QB record known to man. Rookies tend not to lead teams to playoff glory, but a Hall of Famer like Favre might just have one good run left in him. Still, don't expect Favre to retire on top.
Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
They have a deceptively good defense, ranked #1 against rushing last season, but probably the worst QB situation in the league. No one really claims that 2nd year QB Tarvaris Jackson has the stuff of a NFL QB, but he's starting here anyway. Call him the Andrew Walter of 2007. Jackson and a staff of no names at wide receiver will weigh this team down. However, watch for rookie RB Adrian Peterson to be the Reggie Bush of 2007 with incredible runs and highlight plays. Too bad it'll be for a cellar-dwelling team.
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