CHICAGO BEARS
Last year's record: 13-3 (0-1 in playoffs)
Head coach: Dick Jauron (4th year with Bears, 24-25 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Jim Miller (6-2, 221, 9th year); RB- Anthony Thomas (6-2, 227, 2); FB- Damion Shelton (6-0, 258, 6); WR- Marty Booker (6-0, 209, 4), David Terrell (6-3, 215, 2); TE- Fred Baxter (6-3, 252, 10); LT- Marc Colombo (6-7, 313, R); LG- Rex Tucker (6-5, 315, 4); C- Olin Kreutz (6-2, 290, 5); RG- Chris Villarrial (6-3, 309, 7); RT- James Williams (6-7, 325, 12).
Offensive strength: Thomas proved to be a franchise back last season and Booker is now one of the NFL's highest paid receivers after his 100-catch season.
Offensive weakness: Rookie Colombo starts at the critical left tackle position for a line that allowed only 17 sacks last year.
Defensive starters: DE- Bryan Robinson (6-4, 283, 6), Phillip Daniels (6-5, 284, 7); DT- Ted Washington (6-5, 355, 12), Keith Traylor (6-2, 330, 11); OLB- Roosevelt Colvin (6-3, 242, 4), Warrick Holdman (6-1, 230, 4); MLB- Brian Urlacher (6-4, 251, 3); CB- R.W. McQuarters (5-10, 198, 5), Jerry Azumah (5-10, 189, 4); S- Mike Green (6-0, 185, 3), Mike Brown (5-10, 203, 3).
Defensive strength: The linebacking corp of Urlacher, Colvin and Holdman are young and maybe the best group in the NFL.
Defensive weakness: Small corners McQuarters and former running back Azumah will have trouble.
Crystal ball: Having a rookie left tackle for brittle quarterbacks Miller and Chris Chandler is not good. Playing a first-place schedule will knock the Bears down a peg or two.
DETROIT LIONS
Last year's record: 2-14
Head coach: Marty Mornhinweg (2nd year with Lions, 2-14 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Joey Harrington (6-4, 215, R); RB- James Stewart (6-1, 226, 8); FB- Cory Schlesinger (6-0, 246, 8); WR- Bill Schroeder (6-3, 205, 8), Az-Zahir Hakim (5-10, 178, 5); TE- Mikhael Ricks (6-5, 237, 5); LT- Jeff Backus (6-5, 308, 2); LG- Tony Semple (6-5, 303, 9); C - Eric Beverly (6-3, 294, 5); RG- Brenden Stai (6-4, 312, 8); RT- Stockar McDougle (6-6, 350, 3).
Offensive strength: The offensive line, when healthy is solid.
Offensive weakness: Stewart leads a bad running game that will make Harrington take a lot of lumps.
Defensive starters: DE- Robert Porcher (6-3, 282, 11), Kalimba Edwards (6-5, 264, R); DT- Luther Elliss (6-5, 305, 8), Shaun Rogers (6-4, 331, 2); OLB- Barrett Green (6-0, 232, 3), Brian Williams (6-1, 238, 9); MLB- Chris Claiborne (6-3, 255, 4). CB- Terry Fair (5-9, 184, 5), Andre Goodman (5-10, 182, R); S- Brian Walker (6-1, 205, 8), Corey Harris (5-11, 200, 11).
Defensive strength: Porcher, Elliss, Rogers and Edwards can be a top line.
Defensive weakness: Underachieving Claiborne moves to middle linebacker where he will have to make all the plays.
Crystal ball: This team is bad and needs to rid itself of underachievers to win.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Last year's record: 12-4 (1-1 in playoffs)
Head coach: Mike Sherman (3rd year with Packers, 22-12 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Brett Favre (6-2, 225, 12); RB- Ahman Green (6-0, 217, 5); FB- William Henderson (6-1, 253, 8); WR- Terry Glenn (5-11, 195, 7); Donald Driver (6-0, 185, 4); TE- Bubba Franks (6-6, 260, 3); LT- Chad Clifton (6-5, 327, 3); LG- Mike Wahle (6-6, 310, 5); C- Mike Flanagan (6-5, 297, 7); RG- Marco Rivera (6-4, 310, 7); RT- Mark Tauscher (6-3, 320, 3).
Offensive strength: Favre is still one of the best and Green is among the top 5 runner/receivers.
Offensive weakness: Troubled Glenn needs to be healthy and happy because he's the best of the receivers.
Defensive starters: DE- Vonnie Holliday (6-5, 290, 5), Joe Johnson (6-4, 270, 9); DT- Gilbert Brown (6-2, 339, 9), Cletidus Hunt (6-4, 300, 4); OLB- Nate Wayne (6-0, 237, 5), Na'il Diggs (6-4, 238, 3); MLB- Torrance Marshall (6-2, 255, 2); CB- Mike McKenzie (6-0, 190, 4), Tyrone Williams (5-11, 193, 7); S- Darren Sharper (6-2, 205, 6), Marques Anderson (5-11, 211, R).
Defensive strength: Depth and talent at DE means a great third-down pass-rush group.
Defensive weakness: Rookie Anderson is forced into the lineup at SS with LeRoy Butler's retirement.
Crystal ball: As long as Green stays healthy, Favre will find a way to put points on the board and win the division.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Last year's record: 5-11
Head coach: Mike Tice (1st year with Vikings, 0-1 career record)
Offensive starters: QB- Daunte Culpepper (6-4, 260, 4); RB- Michael Bennett (5-9, 211, 2); TE- Jim Kleinsasser (6-3, 274, 4), Byron Chamberlain (6-1, 254, 6); WR- Randy Moss (6-4, 204, 5), Derrick Alexander (6-2, 206, 9); LT- Bryant McKinnie (6-8, 343, R); LG- Everett Lindsay (6-4, 302, 9); C- Matt Birk (6-4, 308, 5); RG- David Dixon (6-5, 359, 9); RT- Chris Liwienski (6-5, 321, 3).
Offensive strength: If Culpepper gets Moss the ball 150 times this year, don't be surprised. Bennett could be the NFC leader in rushing.
Offensive weakness: Although he has great talent, McKinnie is a rookie left tackle protecting Culpepper's blind side.
Defensive starters: DE- Kenny Mixon (6-4, 275, 5), Lorenzo Bromell (6-6, 268, 5); DT- Chris Hovan (6-2, 294, 4), Fred Robbins (6-4, 313, 3); OLB- Raonall Smith (6-2, 244, R), Patrick Chukwurah (6-1, 238, 2); MLB- Henri Crockett (6-2, 238, 6); CB- Corey Chavous (6-0, 204, 5), Ben Kelly (5-10, 197, 2); S- Ronnie Bradford (5-10, 198, 10), Tyrone Carter (5-8, 190, 3).
Defensive strength: Potential All-Pro Hovan will lead a run-stuffing line.
Defensive weakness: A defense that has two players - Henri Crockett and Bradford - the Falcons didn't want off last year's 30th-best defense are playing key roles. Not good.
Crystal ball: The Vikings will need to outscore their opponents again this season, but not by as much as last year.
