NFC North projections: Favre, shmavre. It's his old team's year.

Packers: 14-2 (6-0) I knew, going into my process of predicting a whole season, that I liked the Packers a whole lot. I wasn't quite sure how much until i actually sat there and decided the first time they're gonna lose is week 15 in Pittsburgh. I'm in love with every unit on this team. I even love AJ Hawk, and I FUCKING HATE AJ HAWK! They have a pair of backs who can pound it up the middle but bust it outside, a bunch of big, quick receivers who catch every perfect pass Aaron Rodgers throws them. I could go on forever. The Packers are, for my money, the best team in the NFC this year.

Bears: 11-5 (3-3) As much as I hate to say it, given my previously stated opinion of Jay Cutler, I think the Bears' offense is, for the first time in a long time, the best unit on the team. Which isn't to say I think their defense is bad, though it is getting rather old, doesn't have a great pass rush without blitzing, and lost a key contributor in Dusty Dvoracek at a position where Tommie Harris is always one snap from injury. But it isn't that. I like the Bears' offense. Matt Forte is a beast, Devin Hester, much to my surprise, is a good receiver, and Greg Olsen is poised to show why he was a first round talent. They should score points, play tough defense, and constantly win the field position battle as teams either punt to or away from Hester. I'm still not sure if Lovie Smith is over or under rated as a coach, but I like his squad this year.

Vikings: 9-7 (3-3) Brett Favre or no Brett Favre I'm just not sold on this team. Yes, they stop the run, but no one runs on them anymore. Problem solved. They still have issues against the pass which aren't going to be solved just because Antoine Winfield, good as he is, got a year older, and they did nothing else of note to solve them. Some would say they upgraded the quarterback position, but I say in name alone. Tarvaris Jackson didn't go out and win games for the Vikings, but he didn't lose them either, if only because he never had the chance. Brad Childress didn't stake his job and reputation to Brett Favre just to have him manage the game. They won't be the Eagles or Saints, but Brett will get the chance to make an impact on games in ways Tarvaris never did. I continue to believe, as I have for years, that Brett will lose his team more games than he'll win them. I dock them one for Favre's incompetence.

Lions: 3-13 (0-6) I've got the Lions winning a game on the road @Seattle. I find it hard to justify but both times I looked at that game I immediately thought "Lions." But if Stafford can find a way to avoid the oncoming defensive ends long enough to get the ball in the vicinity of Calvin Johnson, they'll score enough points to maybe make some games interesting? Yeah, I don't believe it either. But I'll root for them. Just on principle. It's just sad otherwise.