NFC North

Chicago Bears
Will this team have a Super Bowl loss hangover?
Yes. This is the NFC. Super Bowl representatives are a dime a dozen. In the past seven years, there have been seven different Super Bowl representatives from this conference. The odds are the Bears won’t return. Teams that make the playoffs — particularly the teams that lose — seem to lose a focus the next year. The Bears aren’t a dominant team anyway, so this recent trend may continue.

Is Cedric Benson ready to be the top running back?
The Bears think so. They shipped reliable Thomas Jones to the New York Jets for a third-round pick. Chicago thinks Benson, a former No. 4 overall pick, was ready to take over. It could be risky. Benson has one career start in two seasons and just 224 career carries, though he averages 4.1 yards per carry. He's a big, stout back who has the potential to wear down defenses. And that’s what he’s going to have to do since he is the now the primary back.

Is Rex Grossman ready to be The Man?

Nam Y. Huh / AP file Rex Grossman

No. This situation should be watched closely, especially early in the season. If the Bears falter and Grossman is the reason, Brian Griese may get the call. The Bears made the Super Bowl last season in spite of Grossman. After a solid start, he was horrendous toward the end of the season, and was lousy in the Super Bowl. Rex is definitely on a short leash.

What about a Super Bowl return?
Tough call. The Bears have some good things going with stellar defense featuring star linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Coach Love Smith is the real guy. And the NFC isn’t power packed. The Bears will compete, but the odds say no.

Green Bay Packers
Is this really it for Brett Favre?

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Brett Favre

This is Brett Favre. Of course it’s not it. There is absolutely no reason to think Favre will quit. For the past eight years Favre allows that quitting speculation. But Favre, who’ll turn 38 during the season, keeps on plugging. Actually, the guy had a good season last year. As long he stays healthy and doesn’t embarrass himself, Favre will keep playing. Here’s the bottom line: Whenever Favre leaves the game, barring a major injury, we likely won’t know until the season is over and we’ve seen the last of him, anyway.

Will he get any help?
Not on offense. Packers management should be ashamed of themselves. The offense struggled last season and Green Bay, even though it had a pile of salary-cap room, ignored its offensive needs in free agency and in the draft. It could have traded for receiver Randy Moss, who Favre wanted badly, or it could have drafted a top running back. It did neither. This will catch up to the team.

Was the strong 2006 finish a fluke?
Most observes think so. Green Bay won its final four games of the season to finish 8-8. However, the win streak wasn’t against elite competition. The only team Green Bay beat in December with a wining record was Chicago, and that was the season finale when the division-winning Bears had nothing to play for. While the strong finish could be overblown, the Packers themselves don’t care. They feel good about themselves and that means a lot to a team.

So are they a playoff contender?
No. Overall, the Packers are not an improved team and there is just isn’t enough offensive firepower to go on a big roll. The defense isn’t strong enough to carry Green Bay to the playoffs, either. The Packers will be lucky if they finish .500 again.

Detroit Lions
Is Calvin Johnson worth another first-round WR pick?

Scott Boehm / Getty Images Calvin Johnson

Yes. They finally nailed it. Johnson is going to be special and the Raiders will rue taking JaMarcus Russell over Johnson. After blowing a top pick on Charles Rogers and Mike Williams and getting a decent player in Roy Williams, the Lions find a gem. This kid has all the goods. He’ll be an instant star.

Will Jon Kitna do Johnson justice?
Yes. For the immediate future, Kitna is a solid quarterback who can get the job done. He’s closer to being a backup than a solid starter. But the guy can spray the ball around and he is a savvy player. For this year, he and Johnson will make a decent team.

Can running back Tatum Bell carry the load?
Bell struggled being “the man” in Denver last year when he was given the job. He had trouble staying healthy and holding onto the ball. But with Kevin Jones hurt, the Lions think Bell can be their starter. Bell, acquired along with tackle George Foster in the deal for cornerback Dre’ Bly, must prove he is durable enough to last a season. The problem is, Detroit’s offense relies on running like Denver's, which will be a test.

Is this it for Matt Millen?
Perhaps Kinta is right and the Lions will win 10 games this season. If not, Millen is out. He has to be accountable for all of the Lions misadventures since he took over the operation in 2001. Detroit fans want him out of town and if the Lions fail to make the playoffs — which is likely — the Millen era will be over.

Minnesota Vikings
Who is Tarvaris Jackson?
The man who had Brad Childress’ future in his hands, that’s who. Childress, in his second season as the Vikings' coach, believes Jackson is ready to be his starting quarterback. Yikes. Jackson, a second-round pick last year, has some raw skills, but it would be a major shock if he can put together a successful season. He just isn’t ready.

Can Adrian Peterson stay healthy?

Nati Harnik / AP Adrian Peterson

Durability was the Peterson's big drawback coming out of Oklahoma. His final season was interrupted because of a collarbone injury. He is supposed to be healthy, but the NFL's increased physicality could be a factor. But this kid can play. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a star.

Is Troy Williamson a worthy No. 7 pick?
The Vikings need him badly. There isn’t much talent among their receivers. Williamson — who was the Vikings’ prize in the Ready Moss trade and was drafted No. 7 in 2005 — has underachieved and failed to live up to his expectations. The Vikings' passing game has been futile, which puts pressure squarely on Williamson.

Was Brad Childress the right hire?
That one's up in the air. There is talk around the league that Childress could be on thin ice. Andy Reid’s former offensive coordinator was just 6-10 last season after the Vikings added talent to a 9-7 team that got Mike Tice fired. If Childress goes 6-10 or worse and there are some issues, he could be shown the gate. Minnesota's lack of talent makes this a real possibility.

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