NFC North

[Fritz]

. . . Or is it the NFC Central? Ah, hell. The point is, we haven't talked much about the other teams in the division. What are people hearing and reading? Usually at this point we're cracking wise about Minnesota being crowned off-season paper champions, but nary a word this year so far.

I can tell you the Lions have not looked good. Their offensive line has been the biggest issue - the first-team offense has yet to hit paydirt this preseason. They just traded a backup WR for a backup guard from SF. At tight end, They're waiting to see if Eric Ebron will heal enough to start the season, still have Brandon Pettigrew on PUP, so right now Andrew Quarless, two game suspension and all, is in line to be the starter in game three if Ebron and Pettigrew aren't healed.

The defensive line looks very good - Ziggy Ansah is the real deal and then some. Ngota being rested. Darius Slay looks good at one corner, but there's less certainty around him. Andre Levy working his way back.

It doesn't look great in Detroit - they'll be shopping the waiver wire for a TE and possible an O-lineman. But who knows?

Other teams? What have you heard?

[red]

ummm, the bears still suck

i know that much

[Patler]

There was this about the Bears:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ra...son-takeaways/

2. The Bears' offense was embarrassingly bad

The Bears' starters (most of them, anyway) were simply embarrassed by the Chiefs in the first half. The ugly numbers: Chicago ran 18 plays before halftime en route to being out-possessed by the Chiefs, 21:54 to 8:06. Those 18 plays totaled 20 yards. That's an average of 1.11 yards per play. They were out-gained 239-20. They totaled -7 (yes, negative 7) passing yards in the first half, and only 27 rushing yards.

They allowed the Chiefs to go on three drives of 10 plays or more, all of which ended in scores. Had Andy Reid not elected to kick two field goals from inside the 10-yard line, they might have totaled more than 13 points, too.

The final indignity showed up on the last two plays of the first half. After Spencer Ware was penalized 15 years for unsportsmanlike conduct on his touchdown celebration, the Bears got the ball on a short field with six seconds left in the half. They attempt to run a quick-hitting pattern to gain a few extra yards, but Jay Cutler threw the ball into the ground, missing a wide-open receiver by a mile.

On the next play, he was strip-sacked by Dontari Poe. The fumbled was recovered for a loss of 10 yards.

The final: 23-7 Chiefs, but it wasn't really as close as the score.

[Upnorth]

I think we will have our hands full with the vikings. They have a top 8ish defence, top 10 special teams and an improving quarter back. I think ap will be slightly less of a focus and they may throw the ball more. Unfortunately their ol likely will be better since they are confident in the player who is replacing the old center, whose name is escaping me. All in all, I think they improved in the off season and will be more of a challenge than last.

I have no idea what to think of the lions.

As previously mentioned the bears will suck.

[Tony Oday]

Bridgewater is still just flat out bad. Can't hit the deep ball or intermediate routes, only has 5 yard passes. That being said if AP plays well what does it matter?

Their D is solid but not spectacular. Beatable on the corners.

[Upnorth]

Bridgewater is still just flat out bad. Can't hit the deep ball or intermediate routes, only has 5 yard passes. That being said if AP plays well what does it matter?

Their D is solid but not spectacular. Beatable on the corners.

I disagree with Bridgewater being flat out bad. While he has had the benefit of facing defenses which may be more keyed to defending peterson, he has done fairly well behind a fairly poor pass blocking oline. He is not great at the deep ball, but he does remind me of a chad pennington in the making (unfortunately). I do think he has slightly better arm strength than pennington though.

This also makes me very concerned about Bridgewater
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/fil...dy-bridgewater

[Guiness]

Bridgewater is still just flat out bad. Can't hit the deep ball or intermediate routes, only has 5 yard passes. That being said if AP plays well what does it matter?

Their D is solid but not spectacular. Beatable on the corners.

Siding with you on Bridgewater over my kingly fellow Canuck. Bridgewater looks to be mediocre at best, notwithstanding the job he did against Seattle in the playoffs last year.

[pbmax]

I can't predict Bridgewater to be incapacitated like I did Romo in the NFC East thread. Obviously, my prediction caused his injury.

Seems poor form to wish for Rastak's QB to be injured. So I predict only that he will be limited this year for a time in some form.

[Radagast]

Lions and Vikings and Bears , o my !

[hoosier]

I can't predict Bridgewater to be incapacitated like I did Romo in the NFC East thread. Obviously, my prediction caused his injury.

Seems poor form to wish for Rastak's QB to be injured. So I predict only that he will be limited this year for a time in some form.

Yikes. You are not a man to be trifled with. Please, please, please keep all thoughts about hypothetical Packer injuries to yourself this year. Don't even tell us who you think won't get injured. Just keep it to yourself.

[Upnorth]

I can't predict Bridgewater to be incapacitated like I did Romo in the NFC East thread. Obviously, my prediction caused his injury.

Seems poor form to wish for Rastak's QB to be injured. So I predict only that he will be limited this year for a time in some form.

could you tell us your thoughts on cam newton and drew brees perhaps?

Also carson palmer and ryan wilson???

[pbmax]

Yikes. You are not a man to be trifled with. Please, please, please keep all thoughts about hypothetical Packer injuries to yourself this year. Don't even tell us who you think won't get injured. Just keep it to yourself.

could you tell us your thoughts on cam newton and drew brees perhaps?

Also carson palmer and ryan wilson???

The Packer injuries have already happened, so they are pretty much in the clear I would think.

In order to appease the injury juju, we must keep same format. Must preview another Division first.

[pbmax]

I wonder if McGinn will come out with a column about how smart it was to sit Rodgers for the first two game?

On a more sour note, didn't their backup, Shaun Hill, pull a Paul Justina and beat the Packers in Detroit a while back?

[ThunderDan]

I wonder if McGinn will come out with a column about how smart it was to sit Rodgers for the first two game?

On a more sour note, didn't their backup, Shaun Hill, pull a Paul Justina and beat the Packers in Detroit a while back?

You have that backwards. McGinn can now write an article about how dumb it is that the Packers allow ARod to participate in non-contact drills.

[ThunderDan]

I wonder if McGinn will come out with a column about how smart it was to sit Rodgers for the first two game?

On a more sour note, didn't their backup, Shaun Hill, pull a Paul Justina and beat the Packers in Detroit a while back?

Maybe on Det. I remember being at the game in GB where Det moved the ball at will but we held them to 6 FGs to win. Hill was the QB in that game.

[Zool]

KFAN has a lot of homerism from 9-noon, but the shows around it are decent. Sounds like the Vikes are a bit worried about stopping the run on D. Teddy B has a sore shoulder. Their C and RT situations aren't super awesome either. Their LBs and DBs are no joke though. Cook and Dickrod will be the keys to the Packers winning on O. Stopping AP is always the key on D. McKinnon looks like a keeper.

Fans are excited about the new stadium but are questioning why they brought in the Packers for the first game. Image if they lose to GB in the stadium opener? Juicy.

[HowardRoark]

Teddy down. Practice halted.

[Travbrew]

Teddy down. Practice halted.

ESPN reporter said they put him in an air cast.

May not be too good for the Vikes. Too bad if that's the case...always want to beat the competition when they're at their best.

[MadScientist]

ESPN reporter said they put him in an air cast.

May not be too good for the Vikes. Too bad if that's the case...always want to beat the competition when they're at their best.

Can't find the report of him in an air cast. Did the report you hear say it was the arm that was sore or some leg injury? It was supposed to be a non-contact practice, so did you hear accidental contact or just a freak thing?

Really sucks for him and the Vikes. Also may suck for the Packers as it may be harder to sneak Callahan to the PS.

[red]

Can't find the report of him in an air cast. Did the report you hear say it was the arm that was sore or some leg injury? It was supposed to be a non-contact practice, so did you hear accidental contact or just a freak thing?

Really sucks for him and the Vikes. Also may suck for the Packers as it may be harder to sneak Callahan to the PS.

Left knee, it was a non contact injury