Packers - Lions: Two of the top 5 offenses in the entire NFL

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The NFC-N is loaded offensively with the Packers averaging 35 points per game and the Lions around 30 points per game.

Last season we had a losing record against these two (1-3) and they outscored us by an average of over 11 points per game in our losses. Our lone win over these two was in a game we scored 37 points.

If we are to take over the division this year we have to have a serious scoring machine (defense alone isn't going to stop the power offenses in the NFC-N this year). We will need more than just a "mediocre" oline to accomplish this.

Our O should keep up w/their O. The difference is going to be how good the D is, and if our Running game can slow games down when we need it too.

That is going to be the future key in stopping these unstoppable qb' and the passing games of teams capable of throwing 5K+yards. Run the ball, slow the game down and keep the pressure on them when you score.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Our O should keep up w/their O. The difference is going to be how good the D is, and if our Running game can slow games down when we need it too.

That is going to be the future key in stopping these unstoppable qb' and the passing games of teams capable of throwing 5K+yards. Run the ball, slow the game down and keep the pressure on them when you score.

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That is a great point about our running game helping to slow games down. Our defense should be able to slow down the high-powered offenses we face. Not stop them by any means, but they shouldn't go crazy on our defense. But our offense is going to have to generate a decent level of points for us to win some of games against elite teams - and the NFC-N should be a powerhouse division this year. And FWIW, Leslie Frazier may surprise some people with the Vikings improvement this season. That may no longer be an automatic 2 wins for us.

I think their points over us is a little misleading. When we were on our roll we were putting up points in bunches but we also faced the Lions and Packers twice while we were reeling from injuries. Our second match-up with Detroit we stomped them and the 37 points we put up were aided by two pick 6's as well as a Devin Hester return. Then we lost Cutler and Forte before our second Green Bay match-up. So even though on paper we're better than last year.. they didn't even face us at our best LAST year. I'm confident we'll be in all those games and confident we can win them all.

Like everyone, I am concerned about the O-Line. As we add WR firepower, other division teams respond with DE, DT and CB upgrades. Our OL has to keep up. But honestly, other than the OL, we have (IMHO) the best balance of O in the division. No one has the combination of recieving and running threat that we have.

As was said, that is going to be harder to defend. The only addition I want is a dominant OL. In the playoffs, we are going to run up against DLs like the Giants have. We need to be able to handle those kind of playoff caliber DLs. With an improvement in OL, I think we could turn our attention more to the D. We still have to get after their threats. McClellin(sp) was brought in to do that, but I do not think he is enough. We have some serious firepower in the division and there was just no way we could fix all our issues in one offseason. I am happy and surprised that we addressed as many as we did.

I think we will be a playoff team for sure and quite possibly a SB contender. But I am also anxious to see what happens next offseason. Usually I am looking forward to the next offseason because the current year has been a failure, but now I am looking forward to it because I think we have a long range planner in Emery and I like what he has done. I'm anxious to see the next installment.

And obviously can't wait to see how his work this year has affected the playing ability of the team. Can't wait for the season to start.

I don't see anything coming from the Packers or the Lions that we haven't seen before. We're the team whose improved our offense by a significant amount. If we could play them tight before now that we have an offense that can move and control the ball we should match up even better.

Adding Marshall and Jeffrey gives us two guys that will help us to do that. We can also look at Bush, Bennett and Davis as guy who should be important as far as keeping drives alive. One way or another Forte will be back and that just adds on more weapon to make the others miserable and I'm curious to see how they work Hester into this. For a change there's a lot of talent on this offense and I'm gonna remain optimistic about the line. We've won behind these guys before and they will have improved a lot by this year. I'm real curious to see who'll win those training camp battles. There's a lot of vets vying for those spots.

The key to the defense as always is the pass rush. When we can bring pressure we shut down those high power passing attacks and neither team runs on us well. We have the speed and the experience to counter that but they can eat us alive passing the ball if we give them time to do it. That pass rush need to take a major step forward this year. We need more than just Pep and Melton getting in there and causing trouble.

I agree Soul, and I gotta take the Lions thing one step further:

1. If Cutler doesn't go down, the Bears would've been the fifth seed if the Lions were to make it (Cutler would've shredded KC, Oakland, Denver and Seattle)

2. With that said, the Lions are over-hyped every year, hell, they were even getting hype before the 2008 season...

I've been kind of watching the Lions. There is no doubt that they have had their management issues. I don't think they are done with them either. However, there is no doubt that they are trending up. Green Bay has been very well managed for years. And obviously, they are near the top of the NFL food chain. Its a tough division. I see the Lions getting better again this year, although perhaps not as much as some people think.

At this point (still in the honeymoon stage with Emery maybe), I see the Bears being a better managed team than the Lions and thay have taken the largest step forward of the three teams this year (IMO).

It's funny how things change. A few years back, I would have said that the Vikings were the team that worried me. It's a shame to see them so far down the NFL foodchain as I take pride in the toughness of our division. Although two easy wins during the year is nice also!

I cant wait to see how our offense stacks with the other modern nfl offenses in the league. On paper it looks like we going to have fun watching this team.

Overall, our team is much better than DET. That Monday night loss to DET occurred more due to the momentum and excitement DET was building because of the win streak than it was a talent gap. Defensively, DET is not built well at all and there are ways to neutralize Calvin Johnson. As far as GB, I would not be surprised of the Bears swept GB this season. This is a radically different team than the one from the last 2 seasons. The Bears have done well against Rodgers and our biggest problem in our matchups has been getting pts out of our offense. I'm a firm believer that the Bears are going to shock the NFL this year with how potent our offense has become. We've never had an offense this stacked with weapons and with a QB that can fling it. So this is going to be an unprecedented season for our offense.