NFC North: Talent should overcome Vikes' QB questions

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A year ago I said this division was a one-team race, and it was. Only it was Green Bay, not Chicago, that lapped the field.

Now it looks like a game of solitaire again, with Minnesota the trendy pick.

The Vikings have everything but an experienced quarterback, and that would be a problem if it weren't for Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen and Bernard Berrian and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams and Steve Hutchinson and Darren Sharper and ... I think you get the idea.

There's enough talent here to make Minnesota the team to beat, QB or no QB. So where does that leave Green Bay? Let's go back to the quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers looked good against Dallas last season and not-so-good at times this summer. All I know is the Packers had enough faith in him to move on without Brett Favre but not enough of a conviction to prevent them from drafting two quarterbacks.

As for how they stack up against Minnesota, tune in Sept. 8. That's when the two meet in their season opener at Green Bay.

Then there's Chicago and Detroit, and, frankly, I don't see a winner in either city. The Bears will try it again with Kyle Orton, but who runs the ball here? Who catches it? Who scores? If I'm drafting a Bear in Fantasy Football it's the kicker. Period.

Detroit has the division's best quarterback in Jon Kitna and pockets of young talent, but that's not good enough. Besides, how seriously can you take someone that hasn't had a winning season in seven years?

That's why I'm standing by the Vikes.

Minnesota

Significant additions: DE Jared Allen, S Madieu Williams, WR Bernard Berrian, QB Gus Frerotte, RB Maurice Hicks, FB Thomas Tapeh, CB Benny Sapp

Significant subtractions: WR Troy Williamson, DE Erasmus James, FB Tony Richardson, S Dwight Smith.

Biggest offseason move: Making the trade for Allen. They needed a pass rusher as much as they needed a big-time wide receiver. Maybe more. Allen led the league in sacks while missing two games. Now he's next to Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, and you tell me: Which one do you double?

Will go the playoffs if ... Tarvaris Jackson doesn't play like Rex Grossman.

Rookie to watch: Some people considered Tyrell Johnson the best safety in this year's draft. The Vikings would like him to gain experience slowly, but he might not have that chance. If Madieu Williams doesn't come around from a neck injury it could be Johnson who starts in Week 1.

Overview: This team is sound everywhere but one position. Unfortunately, it happens to be the most important one. Jackson insists he's a more comfortable, more confident and more accurate quarterback this season, and the Vikings better hope so. He's the one guy who could hold them back.

Green Bay

Significant additions: LB Brandon Chillar, QB Brian Brohm, WR Jordy Nelson.

Significant subtractions: QB Brett Favre, TE Bubba Franks, CB Frank Walker, DL Corey Williams, LS Rob Davis.

Biggest offseason move: Cutting ties with Favre. It wasn't pretty, but it was necessary. And the Packers made the best of an awful situation.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Rodgers plays as he did against the Cowboys last season.

Rookie to watch: I wanted to make it Brohm. Then I watched him this preseason. So it's on to somebody named Kregg Lumpkin, a free-agent running back from the University of Georgia. All he did was lead the team in rushing, score once and catch seven passes for 59 yards. He's no threat to Ryan Grant, but he is a safety net.

Poll Who will win the NFC North?   11%  Bears     13%  Lions     24%  Packers     53%  Vikings     Total Votes: 27696

Overview: There is a lot of talent here, but there's also the same problem as Minnesota. We just don't know about the quarterback. At least the Vikings were 8-4 a year ago under Jackson. Rodgers barely played in his first three seasons with Green Bay. Credit the Packers for standing by their man, but you have to wonder how much faith they have in him after this year's draft.

Chicago

Significant additions: RB Kevin Jones, WR Marty Booker, WR Brandon Lloyd, T Chris Williams, RB Matt Forte.

Significant subtractions: RB Cedric Benson, WR Bernard Berrian, TE John Gilmore, LB Brendon Ayenbadejo, G Reuben Brown, T Fred Miller, WR Muhsin Muhammad, S Adam Archuleta, DT Darwin Walker.

Biggest offseason move: Cutting Cedric Benson loose. Talk about a bust. A year ago he was supposed to be a franchise running back waiting to happen. Now he sits by the phone waiting for the next tryout. Unimaginable.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Devin Hester touches the ball 55-60 times a game.

Rookie to watch: Well, it's not Chris Williams ... unless, of course, you want to study him rehabbing his injured back. Running back Matt Forte is the only choice because he'll start and should carry the ball plenty. In this offense, if you can't run you can't score. Chicago better hope Forte can run.

Overview: A year ago they were coming off the Super Bowl. Now they're an unsure pick to make it to 8-8. There's a lot not to like about this team, particularly on offense, where scoring could be harder than finding the owner to autograph your menu at Ditka's.

Detroit

Significant additions: RB Rudi Johnson, CB Leigh Bodden, CB Brian Kelly, S Dwight Smith, DT Chuck Darby, LB Gilbert Gardner, TE Michael Gaines, T Gosder Cherilus, RB Kevin Smith.

Significant subtractions: RB Tatum Bell; DT Shaun Rogers, LB Boss Bailey, LB Teddy Lehman, G Damien Woody, S Idrees Bashir, CB Fernando Bryant, S Kenoy Kennedy, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, RB Kevin Jones, RB T.J. Duckett

Biggest offseason move: Dumping Rogers. He's a terrific player ... when he decides to play. Guaranteed, a new environment produces a new Shaun Rogers.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Matt Millen is named Executive of the Year.

Rookie to watch: RB Kevin Smith. The guy was a third-round steal and should get the bulk of the carries here unless Rudi Johnson can regain his form. All he did at Central Florida was rush for 2,500 yards in one season. He had a lot of carries, took a lot of hits and produced a gazillion yards. Let's see how that translates to the NFL.

Overview: I gave up on these guys a couple of years ago. There's just too much turnover in personnel and not enough consistency in play. Now offensive coordinator Mike Martz is gone, and the Lions pledge to running the ball. That's great, but only if you stay close to your opponent. My guess is Kitna will be forced to throw plenty as Detroit tries to dig itself out of last.