NFC North Outlook

• 2002 statistics

• Sept. 7 at S.F., 10:15 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m.
• Sept. 29 Green Bay, 3 p.m.
• Oct. 5 Oakland, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 at New Orleans, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 19 at Seattle, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 26 Detroit, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 2 San Diego, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 9 at Detroit, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 16 St. Louis, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23 at Denver, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 30 Arizona, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 at Green Bay, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 14 Minnesota, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 Washington, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 28 at Kansas City, 8 a.m.

Detroit Lions

• Sept. 7 Arizona, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at Green Bay, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 Minnesota, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 28 at Denver, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 5 at San Fran., 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 19 Dallas, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 2 Oakland, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 9 Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 16 at Seattle, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 23 at Minnesota, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 27 Green Bay, 7:30 a.m.
• Dec. 7 San Diego, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at Kansas City, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 at Carolina, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 28 St. Louis, 8 a.m.

Green Bay Packers

• Sept. 7 Minnesota, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 Detroit, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 at Arizona, 10:05 a.m.
• Sept. 29 at Chicago, 3 p.m.
• Oct. 5 Seattle, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 Kansas City, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 19 at St. Louis, 7 a.m.
• Nov. 2 at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 10 Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
• Nov. 16 at Tampa Bay, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 23 San Francisco, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 27 at Detroit, 7:30 a.m.
• Dec. 7 Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at San Diego, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 22 at Oakland, 4 p.m.
• Dec. 28 Denver, 11:15 a.m.

Minnesota Vikings

• Sept. 7 at Green Bay, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 Chicago, 2:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21 at Detroit, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 28 San Francisco, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 5 at Atlanta, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 19 Denver, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 26 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 2 Green Bay, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 9 at San Diego, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 16 at Oakland, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 23 Detroit, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 30 at St. Louis, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 Seattle, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 20 Kansas City, noon
• Dec. 28 at Arizona, 11:05 a.m.

Outlook

PACKERS

• LAST YEAR: Won NFC North, but lost bye in final-game defeat, then lost wild-card game to Atlanta, first ever playoff loss in Green Bay.
• STRENGTHS: QB Brett Favre, below; RB with healthy Ahman Green and solid corps of backups.
• WEAKNESSES: OL, where OTs Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are coming off injuries; DE, where Joe Johnson missed most of last season.
• Top additions: CB Al Harris, LB Hannibal Navies, KR Eric Crouch, QB Akili Smith, K Owen Pochman.
• Rookies to watch: LB Nick Barnett, DE Kenny Peterson.
• Key losses: WR Terry Glenn, CB Tyrone Williams, DE Vonnie Holliday.
• Goals: Settling defense with as many as five new starters. Finding out whether backup QB Craig Nall is as good as he was in Europe. Are offensive tackles Clifton and Tauscher healthy?

VIKINGS

• LAST YEAR: Stumbled under first-year coach Mike Tice, but rebounded to win last three games and finish second in NFC North.
• STRENGTHS: If QB Daunte Culpepper cuts down turnovers, Doug Chapman or rookie Onterrio Smith can replace injured RB Michael Bennett and WR Randy Moss keeps head in games, can be a top offense.
• WEAKNESSES: Defense. DT Kevin Williams, No. 1 pick, should help free Chris Hovan, and free-agent LB Chis Claiborne was solid addition.
• Top additions: DT Billy Lyon, Claiborne, CB Denard Walker, QB Gus Frerotte, CB Ken Irvin, OT Mike Rosenthal, CB Ron Israel, RB John Avery.
• Rookies to watch: Williams, LB E.J. Henderson, Smith.
• Key losses: LB Patrick Chukwurah, FB Harold Morrow, QB Todd Bouman, CB Tyrone Carter.
• goals: Finding replacement for Bennett, who may be out for season with a foot injury.

BEARS

• LAST SEASON: Staggered to 4-12 after a 13-3 season. RB Anthony Thomas was ineffective behind banged-up OL. Couldn't stop the run.
• STRENGTHS: All-Pro LB Brian Urlacher; overall defense, although loss of LB Rosevelt Colvin will hurt.
• WEAKNESSES: Offense, unless line perks up and QB Kordell Stewart comes through.
• Top additions: Stewart, TE Desmond Clark.
• Rookies to watch: DE Michael Haynes, QB Rex Grossman, CB Charles Tillman.
• Key losses: QB Jim Miller, OT James Williams, Colvin, RB Leon Johnson, G Kevin Dogins, WR Marcus Robinson.
• Goals: Finding out whether change of scenery is what Stewart needs. Adjusting offense to fit mobile quarterback. Checking health of DT Ted Washington. Replacing Colvin and Williams. Solidifying left tackle spot.

LIONS

• LAST YEAR: Ran win total to five in two years with Matt Millen as president and failed to win on road for second straight year. Coach Marty Mornhinweg was fired and fired 49er coach Steve Mariucci hired.
• STRENGTHS: Based on his record, Mariucci is best Lions coach in years. OTs Jeff Backus and Stockar McDougle provide protection for second-year QB Joey Harrington.
• WEAKNESSES: Slow offense with no big-play running back, inexperienced QB and too many questions at WR. LB corps has rejected players.
• Top additions: Mariucci, CB Dre Bly, RB Shawn Bryson, LB Earl Holmes, LB Wali Rainer, WR Shawn Jefferson, CB Chris Watson, DL Dan Wilkinson.
• Rookies to watch: WR Charles Rogers, LB Boss Bailey.
• Key losses: KR Desmond Howard, WR Gerald Crowell, LB Clint Kriewaldt, LB Chris Claiborne, WR Jacquez Green, QB Jonathan Beasley, DT Travis Kirschke.
• Goals: Mariucci wants to hasten development of second-year quarterback Harrington, plugging in rookie receiver Rogers as quickly as possible. Offense ranked 28th last season, defense 31st, so rebuilding is more than summer job.