Kyle’s View

The Minnesota Vikings made a splash recently with the signing of Brett Favre. The Vikings have made strides in the past couple season towards being a super bowl contender. Built around a solid defense with the Williams boys up front and Adrian Peterson leading the Vikings offense. The Vikings need to remember this is the way their team was built and to let Favre compliment the run game. This could be a big year for Bernard Berrian to emerge as a big play receiver that will provide excitement for Vikings fans all season. The Vikings go into the season with high expectations and they need to do more than just make the playoffs.

The Green Bay Packers need to make their high-powered offense reflect in the standings. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, as well as top talents at running back, Ryan Grant, and wide receiver, Greg Jennings. They made additions to solidify their defense although they have yet to sign their top pick BJ Raji. The Packers need to make noise in a competitive division.

The Chicago Bears made noise in the offseason aquiring a pro bowl caliber quarterback in Jay Cutler. Cutler is coming off an impressive statistical season. The concern Bears fans should have is whether or not Cutler can put up the same kind of numbers in an offense with less than stellar receivers as opposed to the talent he had in Denver. This looks to be the breakout season for Greg Olsen. He is the best pass catcher on the team and a strong season from Olsen will help Matt Forte see more running room and open up the deep passing game to Devin Hester. Their defense should be strong like in past years led by Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, and Tommie Harris.

Lastly we get to the 0-16 Lions who can win one game and improve over last season. The made steps this offseason to help the future of the franchise. They drafted Matthew Stafford number one overall and drafted a solid pass catching tight end Brandon Pettigrew who has serious upside. Add these guys to Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson who not only have another year under their belt but are emerging as legit offensive studs. The future is surprisingly bright for this team. It wont be this year but in the next two to three years the Lions could be a legitimate force if Stafford progresses and they keep making smart decisions in the draft and within free agency.

Vikings                                    11-5

Packers                                    10-6

Bears                                           7-9

Lions                                          3-13

Breakout Player

Kevin Smith emerges to become a solid back that consistently is counted on by the lions and consistently around 100 yards and a touchdown.

Rookie to watch

Percy Harvin will make his presence known to the NFL. He can impact the game in so many ways; his play can make a huge impact on his team.

Brandon Pettigrew is a big, pass catching tight end that will be a vital piece to the Lions offense, no matter who’s at quarterback

Over the next couple weeks i will be breaking down the NFL as i see it as the season approaches.

The NFC West looks like a division with a lot of question marks. The 49ers need to figure out who their Quarterback will be, can the Seahawks be the team they used to be, what will Steve Spagnuolo bring to the Rams, as well as what version of the Arizona Cardinals will show up.

The quarterback battle in San Francisco seems to be settling it self out. Shaun Hill looks to be the guy with Alex Smith fading into the back up role. Shaun Hill is getting the plays better, making better reads and the receivers seem to react better to him. With the selection of Michael Crabtree and the emergence of Josh Morgan, the 49ers expected with Alex Smiths bigger arm, that he could make strides and open the offense. That didn’t happen, Crabtree is still unsigned, and the offense is going to be a run first, run often team.

The Seattle Seahawks look like they could make a return to perennial playoff team and super bowl contender. The made strides in the offseason to acquire impact players like TJ Houshmandzadeh. They expect Matt Hasselbeck to be back to old form and be able to run the offense. The injury to Walter Jones hurts a offensive line that was already looking very average. They have a interesting defense that can make plays and be aggressive with players like Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. If they can get any semblance of a running game from Julius Jones and TJ Duckett, the Seahawks could make noise and make a run at Arizona for the division.

The St Louis Rams have all signs pointing to a subpar season and another appearance in the top 5 of the NFL Draft. The Rams are in rebuilding mode, especially with their defense. Injuries to Donnie Avery and Marc Bulger only hurts the ailing franchise. This will be a long season for Rams fans but, they can look forward to a chance at drafting Sam Bradford.

Now to what looks to be the class of the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals got Kurt Warner Resigned to throw to the three-headed monster in Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston. The running game looks to get better with the addition of Chris “Beanie” Wells. Although being a Ohio State fan and watching Beanie Wells for three years, I think he’s inline to be the next Kijana Carter or Rashaan Salaam. That said I think the offense will be there and as long as the defense follows suite this could another deep playoff run for the Cardinals. Although the schedule is a tough one for the Cardinals having to play the AFC South, one of the best divisions in football.

That said the Seahawks will win 9 games and the division. The additions they made between the draft and free agency will give them the edge and take them to the division crown.

Seattle Seahawks                                9-7

Arizona Cardinals                              8-8

San Francisco 49ers                           7-9

St. Louis Rams                                    2-14

Breakout  Player

John Carlson will emerge as a dominant tight end and will become a target of Matt Hasselbeck in the red zone.

Rookie to watch

Aaron Maybin will emerge to help the Seahawks defense and make serious noise.