[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

IM gunna bring up this thread again once the packers win the north once again. There record wont change that dramatically because favre has retired. a .500 team? I dont think so.

Originally Posted by Bette

Yeah, and I'm going to help you.

I have a feeling that I will be the one digging this up to show you two how the rest of us were right.

[bears9]

I'll dig this up when the Bears in biased opinion win the NFC North

Or maybe I'll stick with the Vikings

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

IM gunna bring up this thread again once the packers win the north once again. There record wont change that dramatically because favre has retired. a .500 team? I dont think so.

Just wait and see. You'll be shocked what a difference maker he was. Without him it'll be 8 or 9 in the box and the offense will sputter.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Weird harold

We have prediction threads, and those are stickied, but we need a special place to put predictions that we make day to day, so we can find them later, and laugh hysterically.

Note I include my own predictions as possibly laughable in the future.

I'll start one in the football forum. This is a good idea Weird.

Originally Posted by Weird harold

I put it there basically to get your gander up.

That's ok. Besides, the Cowboys can beat anyone in the NFC north with one hand tied behind their backs.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Just wait and see. You'll be shocked what a difference maker he was. Without him it'll be 8 or 9 in the box and the offense will sputter.

This is exactly what I would do if I were a defensive coordinator, at least until Rodgers starts proving that the D should start respecting him.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by bears9

I'll dig this up when the Bears in biased opinion win the NFC North

Or maybe I'll stick with the Vikings

Yeah, I would stick with the Vikings on that one.

[Bryan88]

This is from whatifsports.com, a really cool website, that is doing previews of the upcoming season. Check it out.

2008 NFL Preview - NFC North From WhatIfSports' Beyond the Boxscore

Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
In 2008, they may not be as good as historically great defenses such as that of the 1985 Bears or 2000 Ravens, the Vikings figure to have the best defense in the NFL. Jared Allen is the perfect addition to this team. He should benefit by a strong interior defense (and vice versa). The expected wins keep creeping higher despite the questions at quarterback, but whomever the Vikings ultimately settle on as the answer to those questions could mean plus or minus a few wins. The Vikings average 25.3 points per game (#9 in the NFL) and allow 18.1 points (#1) against a schedule featuring seven games against 2007 playoff teams.
Absolute Record: 14-2
Most Significant Newcomer: Jared Allen, DE - This is just the second topic,and we have already talked about how much Allen can mean to this team. In 2007, the Vikings gave up just 3.1 yards-per-carry on the ground, but were sometimes susceptible to big plays in the passing game and finished near the middle of the league in passing yards-per-attempt and sacks. Allen will help the latter two relative weaknesses without hurting the rushing defense. Playing in all 16 games, the simulated season has Allen with 76 tackles and a league-best 18 sacks.
Biggest Strength: Defense - Have we told you it is the best in the league yet? With the addition of Allen and the maturation of young players Brian Robison, Cedric Griffn, Marcus McCauley and Chad Greenway, Minnesota is not just a run-stuffing, strong-up-the-middle team. The Vikings have great talent at every defensive position. Everyone knows about what Pat and Kevin Williams, E.J. Henderson and Darren Sharper mean to this team, but bringing in veteran free safety Madieu Williams and drafting Tyrell Johnson were great moves to offset off-season losses to the position. And we still have not even mentioned Adrian Peterson and the offensive line...
Most Exploitable Weakness: Passing Game - Not only has this been a theme for the Vikings since Randy Moss left, it will be a theme this year in the division. The team seems confident in Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback, and Bernard Berrian was a great pickup, so this phase will be improved. Jackson has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and his career 58.1% completion rate is not spectacular. Plus, with the best defense and rushing attack in the league and a very strong special teams, the passing game would have to be on par with that of the Colts or Patriots not to be mentioned here.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Bernard Berrian, WR - We are not going too deep here, but few think as highly of Berrian as this analysis. We have the deep threat catching 71 balls for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns.
Closest Game: @ Jacksonville (Week 12) - The Vikings play five games where the average score is within three points, so there are some from which to choose. Jacksonville presents a very similar opponent. The Jaguars have given Minnesota the blueprint. We will see in Week 12 if the new kid on the block can thwart the team that has been there before.
Fantasy Notables: Tarvaris Jackson (22) 2,652 yards, 19 TDs, 14 INTs; Adrian Peterson (3) 1,921 total yards, 15 TDs; Chester Taylor (3 804 total yards, 8 TDs; Bernard Berrian ( 71 receptions, 1,160 yards, 8 TDs; Visanthe Shiancoe (31) 30 receptions, 312 yards, 2 TDs; Ryan Longwell (14) 43/43 XPs, 26/29 FGs

The rest of the division

2. Green Bay Packers (9-7)- Apparently, Brett Favre retired. That's going to make a difference for this team. However, the numbers think the Packers will still be in the playoffs. This may be the most difficult team to project because it is so difficult to figure Favre's impact on things like yards after the catch and the success of the running game. The defense is too good and Ryan Grant is too promising for the Packers to completely fall out of the hunt. The Packers average 24.9 points per game (#11) and allow 21.8 points (#12) against a schedule featuring six games against 2007 playoff teams.
3. Detroit Lions (6-10)- Wait, Jon Kitna was talking about losses in his prediction, right? Maybe he meant that the team would be favored to win or lose by a touchdown or less in ten games. The Lions average 20.6 points per game (#25) and allow 27.0 points (#25) against a schedule featuring seven games against 2007 playoff teams.
4. Chicago Bears (6-10)- While no one really has any idea what this team is trying to do on offense, the defense is not getting any younger. In 2008, most teams at the bottom of NFL divisions seem to have some kind of plan or reason for hope. Unless Matt Forte becomes the next Walter Payton, Chicago seems to be a team that may fall even further after 2008. The Bears average 19.9 points per game (#30) and allow 25.7 points (#23) against a schedule featuring six games against 2007 playoff teams.