Like the optimism guys but I still see us behind the Vikings and the Packers, on paper anyway. We've made great strides in the off season with our defense and should be much improved but the Viking's D is still going to be better than ours and the Packers offense with Nelson back could easily start where it left off in 2014. I'm still worried about our offensive line and our secondary and there's a sense that these are being sacrificed this year to allow us to see which of the young players can cut it. I've no problem with that but it's obvious that we're going to suffer because of it, even if it makes us stronger long term. We also have zero depth at TE and I honestly have no idea what we do if Miller gets injured in pre-season. Play six linemen lol?
That said, I'm confident for the first time in three seasons that we'll be able to compete against anyone on our schedule and am not even that worried about the game at Lambeau. This is primarily due to Fangio being our DC. He managed to keep a bunch of players that could charitably be described as mediocre competitive as a unit. Also, special teams should go from being a disaster waiting to happen* to a rage at worst.
Anyway, my prediction...
1. Packers 11-5
2. Vikings 10-6
3. Bears 8-8
4. Lions 5-11
I can honestly see the Lions imploding, it could be worse than 5-11. I think the mental scars of that missed FG hurt the Vikings and the Packers just do enough.
*I'm still pissed off about the Cardinals game. I managed to take a day off work, pack the kids off on play dates, turned off the phone and settled in to a full morning watching the game live. As that kick off was in the air, I was like a kid in a sweet shop. Ten seconds later, I was like a kid in a sweatshop. God damn special teams, no-one laid a finger on him. Low point of the season for me.
