The Minnesota Vikings ended last season on a high note, the team won the NFC North for the first time in six years and were a missed field goal away from advancing the Divisional round of the playoffs. With the team opening their new stadium this season and returning most of the key players from last season’s team, they looked like a team poised for big things this year. Everyone was so high on the Vikings this season that they had favorable NFL betting odds to make the playoffs again this year, and some were even expecting them to make it as far as the NFC Championship Game.
All the high hopes and expectations people had for the Vikings ended on Tuesday when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a torn ACL and broken knee during the team’s final preseason practice.
With Bridgewater out, the Vikings are looking for a new quarterback that can significantly contribute and lead them back into the playoffs, but at the time of the year, it will be impossible to find a decent starting quarterback unless they make a big trade, which is very unlikely.
With the injury to Bridgewater and the return of the team’s top receiver from a season ending injury, the Green Bay Packers will once again be the favorites to win the NFC North. Jordy Nelson, who missed the entire 2015 season, is expected to be ready by the time the season begins, which is a relief for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who struggled without his top receiver last season.
Rodgers, who says he is in the best shape of his life thanks to a dietary change, is entering his 12th season in the league, but isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. With a healthy Rodgers and Nelson, the Packers are once again one of the top teams in the NFC.
In a little bit of a twist, the Packers and Vikings will play each other in week one in what will be their regular-season opener at the brand spanking new U.S. Bank Stadium. However, the injury to Bridgewater will take away some of the luster of the game.
Despite being pegged to win the division now that Bridgewater is hurt, the Packers still have a lot of work to do on the defensive end, which has been their weakness for the past five seasons. The Packers tried to address their defensive problems through the draft, and are hoping their young defensive players can contribute significantly this season.
The Chicago Bears have a chance to challenge the Packers this season because receiver Alshon Jeffery, who was the only player to surpass 500 receiving yards on the team last year, is healthy after playing in only nine games last season.
Jeffery will be joined by last year’s first round pick Pat White, who missed his entire rookie season with a shin injury. Jeffery and White will give quarterback Jay Cutler some weapons to throw the ball to, which is something he didn’t have last year.
The Detroit Lions on the other hand seem to be the odd team out in the division. They lost their best player after the season when Calvin Johnson announced his retirement at the age of 30. Now, the team has to find a player that can produce at the level Johnson did, and an effective running game, which they didn’t have last year.
