Looks like SI's Peter King pegged the NFC North. The Lions will start slow and finish the season strong. <span style="color:blue"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">NFC North</span></span> Jon Kitna threw for threw for 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns with the Bengals in 2003. AP 1. Detroit, 10-6: Just remember one free-agency and salary-cap era stat from this week's Sports Illustrated NFL preview issue: Over the past 13 years (since free agency with a cap came into play), 13 teams went from worst one year to first in their division. In the previous 26 years, 13 teams jumped from worst to first. Now, Detroit wasn't even worst in the NFC North last year. Green Bay was. But the Lions, as always, were close. Three reasons they turn around: Rod Marinelli is a my-way-or-the-highway guy, a desperately needed commodity in Detroit right now. Jon Kitna will make few of the glaring errors Joey Harrington made. And Mike Martz is the breath of offensive fresh air this stale offense needed. 2. Chicago, 9-7: The schedule says pick the Bears. Every expert says pick the Bears. I can't. I can't because they're too unsettled on offense. Who's the quarterback? Who's the running back? Who's the offensive weapon anyone fears? Love the defense, if the front-liners stay healthy. If the Bears do go down, they could go down on one of the freakiest schedule stretches ever. Chicago plays three straight non-division road games, all on I-95 in the Northeast Corridor, all in a 15-day November span: at Giants, at Jets, at Patriots. Weird. 3. Minnesota, 8-8: Chester Taylor's my Fantasy darkhorse running back. I think he'll run for 1,500 yards behind a great left side of the line, which added Steve Hutchinson in free agency. Hutchinson will be sandwiched between Matt Birk and Bryant McKinnie. But Erasmus James had better be able to rush the passer, and Brad Johnson had better stay upright for 16 weeks. I like the ultra-organized Brad Childress, but I'd like the Vikings better if I could trust them on defense. 4. Green Bay, 4-12: I just don't see this being a better team. Brett Favre in the preseason looked like he's still going to try to do too much. (By the way, wouldn't it be ironic if the Pack won the right for the first draft choice, and GM Ted Thompson was sitting there next April with the ability to put Brady Quinn on the same team with his brother-in-law, A.J. Hawk?) I wish someone on that defense was scary to an offensive coordinator.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zackman)</div><div class='quotemain'>Looks like SI's Peter King pegged the NFC North. The Lions will start slow and finish the season strong. <span style="color:blue"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">NFC North</span></span> http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/peter_k...p1_kitna_ap.jpg Jon Kitna threw for threw for 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns with the Bengals in 2003. AP 1. Detroit, 10-6: Just remember one free-agency and salary-cap era stat from this week's Sports Illustrated NFL preview issue: Over the past 13 years (since free agency with a cap came into play), 13 teams went from worst one year to first in their division. In the previous 26 years, 13 teams jumped from worst to first. Now, Detroit wasn't even worst in the NFC North last year. Green Bay was. But the Lions, as always, were close. Three reasons they turn around: Rod Marinelli is a my-way-or-the-highway guy, a desperately needed commodity in Detroit right now. Jon Kitna will make few of the glaring errors Joey Harrington made. And Mike Martz is the breath of offensive fresh air this stale offense needed. 2. Chicago, 9-7: The schedule says pick the Bears. Every expert says pick the Bears. I can't. I can't because they're too unsettled on offense. Who's the quarterback? Who's the running back? Who's the offensive weapon anyone fears? Love the defense, if the front-liners stay healthy. If the Bears do go down, they could go down on one of the freakiest schedule stretches ever. Chicago plays three straight non-division road games, all on I-95 in the Northeast Corridor, all in a 15-day November span: at Giants, at Jets, at Patriots. Weird. 3. Minnesota, 8-8: Chester Taylor's my Fantasy darkhorse running back. I think he'll run for 1,500 yards behind a great left side of the line, which added Steve Hutchinson in free agency. Hutchinson will be sandwiched between Matt Birk and Bryant McKinnie. But Erasmus James had better be able to rush the passer, and Brad Johnson had better stay upright for 16 weeks. I like the ultra-organized Brad Childress, but I'd like the Vikings better if I could trust them on defense. 4. Green Bay, 4-12: I just don't see this being a better team. Brett Favre in the preseason looked like he's still going to try to do too much. (By the way, wouldn't it be ironic if the Pack won the right for the first draft choice, and GM Ted Thompson was sitting there next April with the ability to put Brady Quinn on the same team with his brother-in-law, A.J. Hawk?) I wish someone on that defense was scary to an offensive coordinator.</div> LMAO! At least you won the preseason peter king title. That counts for something. Oh wait, no it doesnt. Better luck next GM
Predictions are fun, but they are just predictions. The Lions just might come out and surprise everyone - then again, so could the 49'ers or any other team.
Building on what BF1 and VF have posted, there is a reason they play the games. Until proven otherwise, Chicago is the class of that division just as New England is the best in the AFCE. I am still amazed at all the love Martz gets. He is a great OC but will wear out his welcome in the Motor City. His ego will not allow him to play 2nd fiddle for long.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'>Flip the standings upside down and you might be closer...</div> What? I haven't seen anyone <u>not</u> pick your Packers last. Kenn, didn't you say Peter King was your cousin in a previous post? Where's the love?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I am still amazed at all the love Martz gets. He is a great OC but will wear out his welcome in the Motor City. His ego will not allow him to play 2nd fiddle for long.</div> Well millen is still there so u may be suprised
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What? I haven't seen anyone not pick your Packers last. Kenn, didn't you say Peter King was your cousin in a previous post? Where's the love?</div> I wasn't trying to say that the Packers would be first...but if you flip it upside down, the Lions would be in last. I think: Chicago 10 - 6 Minnesota 8 - 8 Green Bay 6 - 10 Detroit 6 - 10
