The Healthy Scratch

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He’s back folks. And just how does Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers fair in their final season together?

 

 

We all witnessed Brett Favre’s worst season a year ago. Everything just seemed to go terribly wrong with the Packers in 2005.  The holdout of receiver Javon Walker at the beginning of the season.  The injury to Ahman Green that devastated the team and started the carousel of running backs in and out of the starting lineup.  All this plus the fact that Brett Favre had his worst statistical season ever having thrown 29 picks, of which 23 were when the team was behind, were big reasons why the Pack found themselves finishing the season 4-12.

I don’t see this repeating in 2006 however. With Ahman Green available for a full season.  With the drafting of A.J. Hawk who will make a huge impact with the linebacking core, I expect Brett Favre to showcase a bit more patience as he’ll be able to play with some leads unlike most of last season.

Under rookie head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers will be a much more competitive team, especially in the black and blue North division where they went 1-5 last season.  I see a huge improvement with the Packers and if they can spread the ball out and not have Favre throw too many times per game, they could finish 9-7.

Another team with a new leader on the sidelines this year is the Minnesota Vikings. Brad Chilldress becomes the 7th coach in franchise history and he’s walking into a great situation. Despite losing Duante Culpepper to the Miami Dolphins for a 2nd round draft choice, he has a veteran quarterback in Brad Johnson who is very familiar with his surroundings.  A very young offensive line that is solid all the way through.  And very talented players on both sides of the ball starting with the acquisition of running Chester Taylor from the Baltimore Ravens.  The wide receiver position is loaded with talent.  Young Troy Williamson is set to step it up and help out veterans Koren Robinson and Travis Taylor, with Marcus Robinson also very capable of making big plays.

Chad Greenway, the Vikes 1st round pick, is a monster, but what will make or break their season is just how well the defense will hold up as a whole.  In a tight division that should see the first place and fourth place teams with 2 or 3 games of watch other, the Vikes will finish 8-8.

The Detroit Lions.  I was so shocked that they didn’t select another wide receiver.  Come on, it would have been 4 seasons in a row. What was Matt Millen thinking you ask? He finally saw the light and drafted some talented players that could help improve that mediocre defense he’s had since he’s been with the team.  Ernie Sims, the 5′11″, 221 pound linebacker out of Florida State brings alot of speed to the team and will provide a physical presence alot with their number 2 pick, safety Daniel Bullocks.

As Rod Marinelli sets to put together his team, which will consist of guys who will want to put in the time to succeed or bye bye, the Lions offense will be under the controls of former Rams head coach Mike Martz.  Martz has his work cut out for him as he’s been given Josh McCown and Jon Kitna as his quarterbacks.  They both suck and will only hurt the Lions.  Kevin Jones is a nice back and all, but I don’t see Detroit doing much of anything this season.  6-10 is my prediction.

This brings us to the division winner of a year ago.  The only team in the division that has their head coach returning for another season.  The Bears played in alot of low scoring games last year, due in large part to a wicked defense that shut down the competition with ease for the most part.  Ricky Manning will replace the retired Jerry Azumah this year. Mike Green is out after being traded to the Seahawks for a 6th round pick.

The weak link was that they had to rely on Kyle Orton as the pivot on offense.  Not this year, as Brian Griese was brought in with a new 5 year contract to help out the cause.  Other than Muhsin Muhammed as the primary receiver, he has no one to throw the ball to.  The running game will be the focal point in the offense as Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson will all have opportunities to carry the ball this season. Again, these teams are going to beat up one another, and with that their records will be very close.  I respect the Defense of Da Bears and they will finish 10-6.

I want to hear from you!, NFC North fans.

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