I know what you are thinking?  How did I plan this so perfectly?  Strategically placing a bye week in the middle of my NFL previews, all to guarantee that the NFC North wasn’t covered until number 4 put on that purple.  Ok, I’ll be honest.  It was dumb luck, but I’ll take it.

So we must begin with the purple elephant in the room, Brett Favre.  Yeah, that guy.  In case you have been under a really big rock, the future hall of famer (whenever he decides to really retire) and long time Green Bay Packer legend is now officially a member of the Minnesota Vikings.  Adding more spice to a division that has become very interesting since the end of the 2008 season.

This year the North has some intriguing story lines.  The Packers, Vikings games will no doubt be must see TV.  The Bears acquired Jay Cutler, giving them a topnotch signal caller for the first time since….well, ever.  Then there are the Lions, who will be continuing their quest for a victory.  Something Detroit hasn’t tasted since December of 2007!  It should be an entertaining year.

Detroit Lions

There are many ways to ensure your place in NFL history.  Being the first team to lose all 16 games in a season is not the way you would like to do it.  Too bad, beggars can’t be choosers.  And make no mistake, in the NFL, the Detroit Lions are beggars.  But it is a new year, a fresh start, and there is no place to go but up.

Detroit used the number one overall pick to draft their latest savior, Matthew Stafford, from Georgia.  Stafford has all the tools to be a big time NFL quarterback.  He is a big confident kid, with a cannon arm.  Then again, if any team can destroy the confidence of a young QB, it’s the Lions.  The good news is Stafford has maybe the best receiver in the league, Calvin Johnson to throw the ball to.  Stafford would be well served to use Johnson, a physical freak, as a crutch until he has gained a better understanding of the offense.  Just drop back and look for number 81 kid.

Word out of Detroit is that the Lions intend to sit Stafford to start the season.  He won’t be watching long.  The reigns will be given to Dante Culpepper, who will quickly bumble his way to the bench.  Look for Stafford to be starting by week 4.

While the Lions are not short on skill players on both sides of the ball, they are even more weak where it matters most: in the trenches.  The offensive line is a mess.  Last year, the unit was bruised and battered, and even when they were healthy, they flat out stunk.  Not much has changed this year, meaning whoever is playing quarterback will spend more time on his back than Paris Hilton.

On defense, the story is the same.  Can’t stop the run,  can’t rush the passer; bad combination.  The Lions added massive but aging Grady Jackson to plug up the middle.  His presence should help keep blockers off of Detroit’s linebackers, which will improve their run defense.

Things can’t get any worse in D-Town.  They won’t get much better either.

Best case: 6-10. Worst case: 1-15. Most likely: 4-12

Fantasy Focus: Calvin Johnson: If he played for anyone else, Johnson might be the first receiver taken.  As it is, he is an incredibly gifted receiver on a bad team.  Despite an 0-16 season, Johnson had pretty nice numbers last year: 1,331 yards and 12 TDs.  Look for the same this year.

Chicago Bears

Until this week, it was the Bears who had made the biggest off season acquisition in the division, when they traded for disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.  Cutler instantly gives Chicago something they never had: a strong-armed, star QB who can throw the deep ball through the swirling winds of Soldier Field.  Cutler’s new best friend will be second year running back Matt Forte.  Forte, drafted in the second round out of Tulane in ‘08, burst onto the scene last year, rushing for 1,238 yards and eight touchdowns.  With an improved offensive line, the Bears should have a balanced attack with big play capability.

The vaunted Bears defense has been getting by on reputation that last couple of years.  In reality, this is not the same defense that carried Chicago to the Super Bowl a few years ago.  For the most part, the names are the same, however, they are bit older and a bit slower.  Brian Urlacher is still the leader of the unit, but he is no longer the dominant force.  The same goes for Lance Briggs and Tommy Harris–who signed a $40 million contract extension before last season, then went out and played like a journeyman.  Harris and the rest of the defense say they plan to return to form this year.  They better if they hope to contain the likes of Adrian Peterson and Aaron Rodgers.  Their best days may be behind them.

Best case: 10-6. Worst case: 7-9. Most likely: 9-7.

Fantasy Focus: Matt Forte: the addition of Jay Cutler will make life much easier for second year sensation.  Defenses will not be able to stack the box to stop him, like they did last year.  Look for Forte to put up big numbers in the Bears run first offense.

Green Bay Packers

On Monday I was ready to pencil the Packers in as 2009 NFC North champions.  They have a solid nucleus of young, talented players and a rising star coach, Mike McCarthy.  Despite only winning six games a season ago, Green Bay was a lot better than its record showed.  But now that their old gunslinger is the new sheriff in Minnesota, the Packers may find themselves fighting for a wild card birth.

Aaron Rodgers sure grew up quickly.  After all he was put through last off season, we would have given him a pass if he faltered as Brett Favre’s replacement in Green Bay.  We didn’t have to.  Rodgers handled the entire situation with incredible poise and class.  He said and did all the right things.  Best of all, he performed.  Packers fans can sleep easy, knowing their franchise is in good hands for years to come.

After a break out season in 2007, Ryan Grant struggled mightily last year.  As a result, the Packers offense became very one dimensional.  Grant and the offensive line will have to play more consistent if Green Bay wants to get the Pack to the playoffs.

Similar to Grant and the running game, the Packers defense laid an egg in ‘08, after a solid ‘07 campaign.  This was due in large part to the fact that they rarely fielded the same 11 guys in consecutive weeks.  The injury bug hit the defense harder than Atari Bigby hits receivers crossing the middle.  Despite the excuse, Green Bay used two first round draft picks to beef up its defense.  B.J. Raji should anchor their defensive line and wreak havoc on opposing running games.  Clay Matthews should fit perfectly into Dom Capers 3-4 attacking scheme.

This may not be the year for the Packers, thanks in large part to you know who, however, Green Bay should be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC North in the near future.

Best case: 11-5. Worst case: 7-9. Most likely: 9-7

Fantasy Focus: Aaron Rodgers- the passing game didn’t skip a beat last year without Brett Favre.  Rodgers has a great receiving corp and loves to throw the deep ball.  He tailed off a bit at the end of last season, but look for him to finish stronger this year.  Rodgers is especially valuable in leagues that reward big plays.

Minnesota Vikings

As tired as the Brett Favre story has become, you have to be intrigued to see him in a Vikings jersey.  While it may make Packers fans want to puke, big things could happen in Minnesota this season.  Lost in all of the hoopla surrounding Favre is how good the Vikings were before he arrived.  This is a team that won ten games last year with virtually nothing at quarterback.  They feature the best running back in football and the fiercest defensive front seen in these parts since the “Purple People Eaters.”  Add the iron man to mix and Minnesota could be scary good.

Adrian Peterson ran for over 1,700 yards last season, with every defense focused on stopping him on each and every play.  This year, teams that cheat to stop A.P. will be burned deep by Favre and speedy receivers Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin.  What does this mean for Peterson?  2,000 yards is well within reach.  The Vikings offense should be fun to watch.  Unless of course you are trying to stop them.  Brad Childress is a very creative play caller who will no doubt leave defenses guessing and score board operators busy.

On defense the Vikings are anchored by the Williams brothers.  While not actually related, these two mammoth men make life hell for running backs and heaven for their linebackers.  On the edge, the Vikings have Jared Allen.  Allen is a gamer.  Playing through multiple injuries last season, Allen showed Minnesota that he was worth every penny of the blockbuster deal he signed last off season.  Offensive coordinators have to game plan for Allen.  If not he will be in the quarterback’s ear hole all day long.  In all, the Vikings defense is big, strong and fast.  With a balanced offense this year, a lot of pressure will be off the defense to keep them in games.

How long is the flight from Minneapolis to Miami?

Best case: 13-3. Worst case: 9-7. Most likely: 11-5

Fantasy Focus: Adrian Peterson: If A.P. wasn’t already the number one pick in your league, he sure is now.  With Favre keeping defenses honest, Peterson should have a career year.  If you don’t have the number one pick, don’t bother lusting after the former Oklahoma Sooner.

Next week: NFC West

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Matt Venuto was forced into the writing business when those close to him held an intervention and demanded that he find an outlet for his endless opinions and ranting, because, frankly, they were tired of listening to him. Matt is a USC alumnus and majored in psychology in an attempt to figure out why everyone around him was nuts.  He failed in his endeavor.  Like Hootie and the Blowfish, the Dolphins make him cry and he doesn’t understand why more people don’t find Kevin Garnett extremely annoying.  Calm down Kevin, please.

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