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1. Chicago Bears: Team Outlook: Da'Bears are the favorites in the NFC to make it back to the Super Bowl as their record-setting defense makes up for deficiencies on offense. Specifically speaking, QB Rex Grossman must step up and move forward in his development for Chicago to win it all. This team will sink or swim with his performance and in the end, 2007 will determine whether he is the answer long-term for this for this franchise. QB: As noted above, Grossman is the key to the season and his maddening inconsistency is becoming intolerable. Blesses with a strong arm, Grossman can sling it with the best of them but his penchant for turnovers undermines the progress he has made. Either he performs in 2007 or he finds a new home in 2008. RB: After trading Thomas Jones to the Jets in the off-season, the Bears have entrusted Cedric Benson with the starting role. A tough inside runner with good speed, the jury is out on whether Benson can avoid the injury bug and can handle 300-plus carries. Has a chance to shine but also could fall on his face. WR: Old vet Mushin Muhammud is on the downside of his career but still is productive. Deep threat Bernard Berrian is on his way to becoming a big-time player. TE: Desmond Clark surprised many with a decent 2006 but can he is prone to vanishing for large chunks of games. Look for rookie Greg Olsen to push for the starting job. OL: C Ollin Kreutz is the star of this solid unit. Tackles Fred Miller and John Tait are fringe Pro Bowl players and the ageless Reuben Brown still gets the job done at LG. Roberto Garza is a mauler at RG. DL: End Adewale Ogunleye is a relentless pass rusher but a liability against the run. RDE Alex Brown is another solid pass rusher. Tommy Harris is the best DT in the NFC and maybe in football entirely. Antonio Garay is raw. LB: The strength of the defense, OLB Lance Briggs and ILB Brian Urlacher are perennial Pro Bowlers who are impossible to game-plan for. Hunter Hillemeyer is a high-energy, high-effort guy. S: SS Mike Brown is recovering from season-ending surgery in 2006 but is a big hitter who is great is run support. FS Daniel Manning excels in pass coverage and has a nose for interceptions. CB: Both Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman received new contracts and so expect another top-notch season from these two greats. K: Robbie Gould came out of nowhere to make the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. Very accurate kicker with great leg strength. P: Brad Maynard is a solid directional punter who is used to kicking in bad weather.

2. Green Bay Packers: Team Outlook: Ageless Brett Favre returns for possibly one more shot at a title but the Packers look to be nothing more than a middling .500 team. Favre was angry in the off-season when the front office failed to sign or draft help for the offense and it looks like another heavy dose of WR Donald Driver until his legs give out. On defense, the Pack look to be a much improved unit that could keep the team in games. QB: Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks this league has ever seen but sadly his best days are behind him. He can still sling the pigskin however and still gives his team a chance to win against anyone. However the bad interceptions will continue as Favre tries to carry the team on his shoulders. Don't expect anywhere near his Pro Bowl numbers from the late 1990's. RB: With Ahman Green off to Houston, the job is Vernand Morencey's to lose. A strong runner with some speed, Morency is likely just keeping the seat warm for rookie Brandon Jackson. WR: Donald Driver is a star in this league and has become Brett Favre's number 1, 2, and 3 option. Will pile up tons of receptions week in and week out. His toughness is unmatched. Greg Jennings will try to build off a solid rookie campaign. TE: Bubba Franks is no longer the receiver he was in his early years. A decent blocker who is a threat to score inside the 20. OL: Chad Clifton is a good LT, while Mark Tauscher is a mauler on the right side. Darryn Colledge and Jason Spitz are young guards who are still trying to find their way. C Scott Wells is a good signal-caller. DL: Aaron Kampman brings the heat and will rack up the sacks. Cullen Jenkins is a good run stopper but lacks pass rush moves. Ryan Pickett is trying to show St. Louis he wasn't a bust, while Corey Williams eats up space in the middle. LB: AJ Hawk is a future All-Pro who has all the tools. Nick Barnett is more than decent in the middle. Brady Poppinga has a decent pass rush. S: Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins are both young who will experience growing pains. Manuel is better in run support while Collins is good at coverage. CB: Al Harris is one of the better cover guys in the league who can pick off passes with ease. Charles Woodson is still a good cover man. K: Dave Rayner is on a short leash to start 2007 and could be replaced if he struggles like he did in 2006. P: Jon Ryan has a more than solid rookie season in 2006 and has a strong leg to fight through the stiff Green Bay winds.

3. Detroit Lions Team Outlook: After drafting yet another WR in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Lions go into the season with high expectations on offense. The trio of Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, and Mike Furrey will make life easy for QB Jon Kitna and this team will find itself in many shootouts due to a lackluster defense. Look for a season of around .500 with better things to come going forward. QB: Jon Kitna is back to keep the seat warm for rookie Drew Stanton. Kitna has talent and could put up huge numbers throwing to those incredible receivers. His penchant for turnovers however is a constant source of consternation for coach Rod Marinelli. RB: Mike Bell will start in place of the injured Kevin Jones. This looks to be a platoon situation with Bell's speed complementing Jones' power and receiving ability. WR: Roy Williams is a Pro Bowl receiver who could have an even better year in 2007 which is downright scary. Mike Furrey led the NFL in receptions last season and will continue to serve as a safety net for Kitna. Rookie Calvin Johnson will play a bunch and show he has the goods to be a star. TE: Dan Campbell is a terrific blocker who also can chip in with a few catches here or there. OL: LT Jeff Backus must rebound from a horrible 2006. RT George Foster is a monster who excels in run blocking. Damien Woody is still decent at RG and Edwin Mulitalo is just OK at LG. Dominic Raiola is a smart C with good technique. DL: Deawayne White and Kalima Edwards must show they can rush the passer which they haven't done in the past. DT Shaun Rogers had a bad 2006 after an excellent 2005. Cory Redding is a good run stopper. LB: Boss Bailey still hasn't lived up to his potential and the same could be said of Ernie Sims. Paris Lenon is raw in the middle. S: Kennoy Kennedy is a big hitter who strikes fear in receivers. Daniel Bullock is a good interception hawk. CB: Fernando Bryant is good in coverage but struggles against the run. Stanley Wilson needs to get better quick. K: Jason Hanson is still around and he is still a very accurate kicker. P: Nick Harris is decent and gets the job done.

4. Minnesota Vikings Team Outlook: The Vikings have entrusted their team to QB Tarvaris Jackson and many are looking at this season as one of development. Rookie RB Adrian Peterson will be a star someday and he joins incumbent Chester Taylor to give the offense some punch. Defensively this team is very good but a number of Pro Bowl players returning. At the very least, Minnesota will be a tough opponent who could surprise anyone if opposing teams underestimate them. Eight wins would be fantastic for this young squad. QB: Jackson has the tools to succeed as he combines a strong arm with very quick feet. Sounds like another QB up in Philly. There will be growing pains and many mistakes but in the end he could be decent. RB: Chester Taylor is a strong runner and great receiver who wears down as the season goes on. Rookie Adrian Peterson is a home-run threat whenever he gets into the action. WR: Major weakness here as Bobby Wade is just and OK receiver and rookie Sidney Rice will need time to develop. TE: Vishante Shiancoe is a good blocker who can contribute some as a receiver. OL: C Matt Birk is in the class of Ollin Kreutz as the best centers in the league. LT Bryant McKinnie is getting close to being a true shutdown tackle. LC Steve Hutchinson is a road grader who is almost impossible to get by. RG Artis Hicks and RT Ryan Cook are just OK. DL: DT Kevin Williams is one of the best pass rushing tackles in the game who also excels against the run. Fellow tackle Pat Williams is a mammoth man who fills the gaps to stuff most running plays. On the outside, Kenechi Udeze is looking like a non-pass rushing bust, while Erasmus James still has a chance to be effective. LB: Ben Leber, EJ Henderson, and Chad Greenway are all young, raw prospects who will learn on the job. S: FS Darren Sharper is a ball hawk who is a perennial Pro Bowl contender. FS Dwight Smith has a knack to make picks. CB: Antoine Winfield is a shutdown corner who also can stop the run. Cedric Griffin is nothing fancy but he can make plays. K: Ryan Longwell is money inside of 45 yards and still has the leg to get it through past 50. P: Chris Kluwe has a very powerful leg but is a poor directional kicker

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