NFL Northern Division Outlook

For this entry I will be analyzing the AFC and NFC North. The two Super Bowl participants from last year came from these divisions so there will be a lot to break down when it comes to these teams. From top to bottom these two divisions will be very competitive. There are some contenders and some upstart teams trying to make the next jump. With that said, let's dive right in!

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals: 4-12

There are few teams in the league that are worse than the Bengals this year. I believe they're headed in the right direction because they drafted wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton. That young connection should find their stripes in the coming years, but for now they'll be in a world of hurt. If they don't fire head coach Marvin Lewis at the end of this season then I give up on them as a franchise.

Cleveland Browns: 9-7

One of my surprise teams of the season are the Cleveland Browns. I love the way they have looked during training camp and preseason. General manager Mike Holmgren is buidling this team the right way: from the inside out. They have one of the best offensive lines which is led by Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Young quarterback Colt McCoy has looked good in the west coast offense. Defensively they've switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3 front. They have a lot of young guys who like to compete, and with a soft schedule they should be in the playoff hunt.

Baltimore Ravens: 13-3

The Ravens are one of the most well-run organizations in the NFL. Year in and year out they're a contender for a Super Bowl championship. The face of the team is middle linebacker Ray Lewis who is still as fierce as ever. He leads a great defense that knows how to make life hell for the oppositions offense. When talking about the Ravens, the big question mark always is quarterback Joe Flacco. Can he make the next step and lead this to team to a Super Bowl? I don't think he can this year, but the talent is definitely there to make a run deep into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 14-2

The defending AFC Champion Steelers are looking poised to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy in 2011. They're bringing back most of the core pieces from last years team. I believe the Steelers are the only team in the league that has an elite quarterback and an elite defense. Just by having that you're guaranteed 10-11 wins a season. What works in their favor as well is they have a very soft schedule. This team could very easily jump out of the gates 8-0. The offensive line is a question mark but with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underneath the center they should be able to cruise to another AFC North title.


Now onto the NFC North

Chicago Bears: 7-9

Last season the Bears won the NFC North and made it all the way to the NFC Championship game. This year their schedule is a little tougher which is why I believe they'll take some significant steps back in the win column. It's going to be a long season for quarterback Jay Cutler because that offensive line is absolutely atrocious. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz doesn't seem to care to run the football so don't expect for Cutler to have a clean jersey on Sunday. On the positive side, their defense is still one of the best in the league. They'll be competitive in a lot of games but I don't see them getting anywhere near the playoffs.

Detroit Lions: 8-8

The Detroit Lions are everyone's upstart team. I don't blame people because there is a lot to like about them. They seem to be following the strategy of building from the inside out on defense but not on offense. Their offensive line is the reason why quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't been able to complete a full season. They have some nice pieces offensively with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Jahvid Best so they should be able to put up a decent amount of points. I absolutely love what they've done with the defensive line. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is a monster. They definetly get after the quarterback which disrupts timing routes. I still believe they're a year a way from making the playoffs though.

Green Bay Packers: 14-2

If there was ever a chance for a team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since the Patriots did it, this is the best chance. The Packers are loaded from top to bottom. They're led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers who elevated himself to the elite level after the postseason he had. The scary thing about this team is that they had several starters on injured reserve last season and they still won the Super Bowl. Now that they have those guys back it gives them an extreme amount of depth. Another advantage they have is everyone is looking at the Philadelphia Eagles since they're the "Dream Team" of the league. With all the pieces in place, it wouldn't shock me if they repeated as champs.

Minnesota Vikings: 7-9

For the first time in about 3 years we don't have to hear about the Brett Favre talk when it comes to the Vikings. This offseason they acquired Donovan McNabb to fill the role until rookie quarterback Christian Ponder develops. This is a team that has a lot of talent and can run the rock because of running back Adrian Peterson. The dude is a flat out stud. I have my issues with their offensive line though. They haven't looked too good this preseason. One thing you can expect from the Vikings this season is that they'll play hard from head coach Leslie Frazier. With that said, they don't have enough know how to make a serious run at the postseason.

Check back later today or tomorrow for analysis of the Eastern divisions...