The Cardinals are an interesting team. With quarterbacking continuing to be a question, the team could be on the brink of major improvements. Could this team be one of those surprising upstarts in 2012? They made some good moves in the draft that could help them, namely the drafting of Michael Floyd to play opposite of Larry Fitzgerald.

But I’ll let the expert from Raising Zona tell you about it.

See below … or check out the links provided above. There is some great stuff on our fellow websites here on the fansided network. Enjoy.

May 23, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws a pass during organized team activities at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

FantasyCPR, our fansided.com brethren, is hosting a series of team previews that should interest all National Football League fans.

They began the series with a Q&A with Keith Myers of 12th Man Rising, another fine site under the fansided.com umbrella.

Fantasy fans and fans in general will be interested in following this series diligently put together by FantasyCPR’s Zach Thompson.

This particular posting will be of interest to Green Bay Packers fans because it focuses on the Chicago Bears.

Anyway, you can go directly to the site here or you may just continue reading the posting below.

Chicago Bears – Fantasy Football 2012 Preview

The MLB All-Star break is always a good time to start your fantasy football preparations. We’ll have plenty of coverage  here at FantasyCPR leading up to preseason and  the highly-anticipated kickoff to the regular season.

Today we’re joined by Boomer from Bear Goggles On who helps us preview what we can expect from “da Bears” as they head into a tough season in the ultra-competetive NFC North.

Zach Thompson, FantasyCPR: Thanks again, Mike, for helping us with our season previews. We’ll start with the obvious one… The Bears looked good last year and appeared to be on their way to the playoffs before injuries completely derailed their season. Should we expect any lingering effects of either Matt Forte or Jay Cutler’s injury? And will the Bears O-line be able to keep Cutler upright

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: I don’t expect any lingering effects from the injuries to Forte and Cutler.  By all accounts, Jay has been zipping the ball around during OTA’s, showing no signs of damage from the broken thumb that ended his 2011 campaign.  Even though Forte has not been in camp with his contract status up in the air, he is always in top shape and I expect this season to be no different.

The offensive line question is another story.  The Bears didn’t make any significant moves this offseason, either in free agency or through the draft, to address one of their most glaring weaknesses.  This one still scares me a bit.

Z: Will Jay Cutler be a top 10 QB statistically this year?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On:  There’s no reason to believe Cutler can’t get to that upper echelon of quarterbacks now that the Bears finally put some weapons around him and scrapped Mike Martz’s offensive playbook filled with 7-step drops that the Bears offensive line couldn’t block.

Z: I’ve been surprised at the lack of love given to the newly-acquired Brandon Marshall. Do you think he’ll be a top-10 receiver this year?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: No question.  Marshall and Cutler were an elite duo in Denver and I expect them to pick up where they left off.  The Bears added Jeremy Bates and quarterbacks coach and de facto passing coordinator, so hopes are high for Marshall in the Bears offense.  He’ll get a ton of targets and should catch 90+ balls if things go according to plan.

Z: Would you rather have Brandon Marshall on your fantasy team or Hakeem Nicks?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: I’d take Marshall since I think he’s a better receiver and since there are fewer weapons around Marshall compared to Nicks, who has to compete with Victor Cruz for touches.

Z: Brandon Marshall or Jordy Nelson?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Marshall.  Nelson is 2^nd or 3^rd option in Green Bay.

Z: Brandon Marshall or Steve Smith

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Marshall. I think the Panthers and Cam Newton come back down to earth this season.

Z: Just one more, Brandon Marshall or A.J. Green.

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Marshall since he’s got a stronger track record than Green, who might suffer a sophomore slump in 2012.

Z: I agree with you on all of those. I might consider Smith over him, but I want to see what the Panthers are doing during camp, but other than that I’m liking Marshall over all those guys. Who do you think will be the #2 wide receiver in Chicago?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On:  That’s a great question.  Everyone in Bears camp has been pumping up Devin Hester now that he’ll be moved into the slot.  I think that Earl Bennett will emerge as the #2 in terms of targets.  Look for Alshon Jeffery to be a red zone threat as the season progresses.

Z: Will the Bears use the TE much as a receiver and if so who do you think will emerge as Cutler’s favorite target in that role?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Kellen Davis has been getting some preseason hype as a super sleeper TE for the Bears.  He’s 6’7”, so he should be able to get some red zone TD’s.

Z: Matt Forte seemed to wear down a little at the end of the year even before the injury. Who will serve as the Bears backup RB and will they use him in any kind of a rotation?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: I expect Forte and Bush to be sort of a lightening and thunder attack.  For all his success that Forte has had, he hasn’t been good in short yardage and red zone.  That’s where Bush will excel.

Z: The Bears D/ST is always one of the top units in all of fantasy football. Do you think they’ll take a step forward or backward this year?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Their defense is definitely on the decline with their top stars on the wrong side of 30, but with a Lovie Smith defense, it’s always about takeaways.  The Bears will continue to be opportunistic and should still be a top fantasy producer.  When you add Devin Hester and special teams to the mix, I think they’ll still be a top fantasy option.

Z: Last one, give me your realistic expectation for the Bears this season, and then your perfect scenario. How far can Lovie Smith and Da Bears go?

Mike Burzawa, Bear Goggles On: Realistically, I have the Bears at 10 or 11 wins this season and making a strong run in the playoffs. In a perfect scenario, Cutler stays healthy and he and Marshall live up to the hype while the defense gets another year out of Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers and Tillman and the Bears return to Super Bowl glory.

Will Charles Woodson and the Green Bay Packers defense show up Sunday? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

What’s been talked about most this week and will be discussed right up until game time of the Packers and Giants showdown this weekend will be just how the Packers are going to deal with that vaunted defense blowing into Lambeau Field.

Well, we know it’s not the Packers’ defense everyone is talking about, don’t we? No, we’re talking about the Giants defense – that same outfit that held the Atlanta Falcons scoreless in the first round of the playoffs.

The Packers defense, on the other hand, has been an enigma, a unit that fills its roster with All-Pros, but throughout the season looked like … well frankly, I’m not sure how to describe them.

They’ve been gashed week -in and week-out on big play after big play as even marginal quarterbacks such as Kyle Orton (twice), Christian Ponder, Josh Freeman, and Josh McCown moved their teams up and down the field, throwing pretty much at will.

More after the jump and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Aaron Rodgers is the leader of the Pack and the league. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This is getting to be a habit … Wait! I think that’s what I said last week when Aaron Rodgers was named the FedEx Air NFL Player of the week.

But it’s true. For the fourth consecutive week, Rodgers has won the award. His performance last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings earned him the honor once again as he helped propel the Packers to a 7-0 record and a two-game lead over the Detroit Lions in the NFC North Division.

Can he do it again this week? Wait! He can’t do it this week … It’s the Packers bye week, but what the heck, I think FedEx should just give it to him anyway. He’s playing heads and shoulders above the rest of the QBs in the league, so they might as well.

Just kidding.

But with that in mind, who do you think will win the battle of the rookies this week? Minnesota vs. Carolina?

I’m sticking my neck out on this one … I’m going with Cam Newton. I think he’s going to have a huge week against Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings … He will outplay the other rookie and continue to show us why he was the number one overall pick.

So, here’s to Aaron Rodgers and may he come back next week after the bye playing even hotter than he was before the bye.

There are more honors awaiting him.

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The matchup between the Packers and Lions will be a heated affair this Thanksgiving. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

People can pick their game of the week, follow their favorite teams, or just watch for fun. However, all eyes will be on Detroit on Thursday, November 24^th. What could be the biggest game of the season is on Thanksgiving Day!

Imagine watching two 10-0 teams play each other, and these two teams are in the same division. Who would not enjoy watching this intense game?

What are the odds that both teams go 10-0? Statistically, not very good, even if both already have four wins down. However, before shrugging it off, look at the schedules. The combined record of teams the Packers must face between now and then is a mere 8-16 (.333).

Both the Rams and the Vikings are winless, and Green Bay plays Minnesota twice in that span. The Falcons (2-2), Chargers (3-1), and the Buccaneers (3-1) are the other opponents. Green Bay can certainly pull it off. It may not be likely, but it is certainly attainable.

The Packers' win and Bears' loss today sets up a huge game next week. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I tend to lean toward the latter.
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A. Yes it has only been one week but I think Newton can and will be a special player. It is amazing what he did in such a short amount of time. He looked confident in the pocket and was extremely accurate with his passes on Sunday and nearly won the football game in his first ever NFL start.

The thing I think Newton has is that ‘It’ factor that certain quarterbacks have. He is a natural leader. Already, this is Cam Newton’s team. His teammates trust him and have confidence in him more so than any one they have had since Jake Delhomme. He is something special and I think the best is yet to come for the Panthers and Newton.

• Do you feel Newton has the intelligence and the skills to handle the multiple defensive looks the Packers will surely throw at him?

I think that this will be a real test for Newton. The Packers are one of the best if not the best defenses in the league and I don’t expect the same kind of game from Newton as last week. Having said that the Cardinals threw about everything in the book at Newton Sunday. They blitzed him every which way with corners, linebackers, from the outside, from the inside and he hung in there and delivered pass after pass with the Cardinals breathing down his neck.  I know the Packers have a much better defense then the Cardinals but I don’t expect Newton to get rattled.

To answer your question, yes I feel like he has the abilities to keep the Panthers in the game against the Packers. The Panthers may not win but I think that Newton will be effective even against the Packers defense.

• Will the Panthers go more to the run at the start of the game to set up the pass for Newton? Or do they go the opposite route – put the ball in the rookie’s hands to allow him to make plays and build his confidence?

I think that all depends on what the Packers defense gives them. If they load up the box to stop the run, Ron Rivera isn’t going to just run it right into them, he isn’t John Fox. Instead he will let Newton throw it and utilize a lot of play action to try and catch the Packers off guard, very similar to the gameplan the team had against Arizona. Don’t get me wrong, the Panthers are a run first team, but until opposing defenses begin to respect the passing attack, the Panthers will try and burn teams through the air.

• The Packers gave up 15 sacks in the preseason … though the offensive line played much better in the first game against the Saints, do you feel the Panthers have the weapons on the defensive side to dial up a rush and put pressure on Aaron Rodgers.

The Panthers definitely have play makers on the defensive side of the ball to get to Rodgers. That would be even more so if the team had captain and Pro Bowler Jon Beason on the field but Beason was lost for the season last week and the Panthers will have to replace him. Defensive end Charles Johnson signed a huge contract in the offseason and has earned his money so far this season. Look for him to keep the pressure on Rogers all game lining up at both defensive end and defensive tackle on passing downs.

• The Packers didn’t run the ball much against the Saints, but it seemed the Cardinals had some early success on the ground against the Panthers. Do you expect the Packers to also try to exploit the Panthers with their run packages? And if so, what will the Panthers try to do to stop the run.

If they are smart they will. The Panthers have two rookie defensive tackles starting and the team as a whole has had trouble stopping the run, especially up the middle. In the preseason it was a glaring weakness and that carried over into the game against the Cardinals. This may be the Panther’s Achilles Heel this season. They really get pushed around a lot at the line of scrimmage so I would expect pretty big days out of the Packers running backs.

• Kevin Kolb had success against the Panthers’ defense. Kevin Kolb is no Aaron Rodgers. What will the Panthers need to do to at least slow the Packers’ air attack and do you feel that if they do that, they will have a shot at a win?

Without a doubt. If the Panthers can slow Rodgers and that passing attack down then they will definitely have a shot to win but that is not a guarntee. I cannot stress how bad the Panthers run defense has been. But I do think the Panthers defense actually matches up pretty well against the Packers offense. Chris Gamble will be tasked with staying with Greg Jennings the entire game. Last week they matched him up against Larry Fitzgerald and he shut him down for the most part, limiting him to just three catches. The biggest key will be slowing down Jermichael Finley. More than likeley Thomas Davis will be matched up against him and he should be able to stay with him for the most part. Davis is a former safety and has really excelled in coverage on tight ends.

• It seems the Panthers have made some moves in the off-season to fill some needed holes. What other areas do you feel they have to address to become a complete team and have a legitimate shot at becoming a playoff-caliber team and one that could win a division title?

I think the past offseason was more about keeping their own guys. The Panthers focused on keeping the core group of players together and they did that. Their biggest weakness was at quarterback and it seems that Newton is the answer there. But the Panthers won’t be a legitimate playoff team until it shores up the defensive tackle position and gets a bit more depth at cornerback. I’ve told you about the problems at defensive tackle. They just need time there to learn how to play the position in the NFL. At cornerback, right now Captain Munnerlynn is starting at corner along side Gamble but Munnerlynn is much more suited for the nickle role. He is an undersized cornerback who doens’t play the run very well.

Outside of that the Panthers just need to get experience. They have the third youngest team in the league really just need to let their young players learn and grow in the new system.

There were some who thought this would be a cakewalk for the Packers … A setup game leading into their game at Chicago next week. 

However, with Newton carving up the Cardinals last week and his seemingly new-found best friend Steve Smith champing at the opportunity to catch more long balls from the rookie, this game could be a challenge for the Packers defense.

The Panthers would love nothing more than a shot at legitimacy with a win over the Packers, and while this game is prime with the possibility of intense drama, I don’t see it happening.

Yes, Newton will get the opportunity to throw for some yards and the defense will probably give up a couple of scores, but this game will come down to the overwhelming dominance of the Packers offensive firepower.

The Panthers will score a couple of times in the first half, but their offense will fizzle in the second half while the Packers offense gets rolling.

I give the Panthers 20 points in this one, but it won’t be enough … The Packers score at least 35 this week and could lay another 40 burger on the scoreboard.

Packers end the weekend at 2-0.

Neal was projected to have a breakthrough year, recovering from a season-ending injury last year and stepping into a starting role when Cullen Jenkins left in free agency.

Now with McCarthy’s declaration that Neal will miss a significant amount of time, some may be feeling a sense of urgency or even emergency.

I don’t think the Packers are to that point yet. If Wynn can continue to play at a high level, the line will be just fine as long as there are no other injuries at that position. Getting Wynn valuable playing time early in the season will, in fact, be to the benefit of the Packers. When Neal does recover from the surgery and gets back on the field, the depth at the position will be that much greater.

However, there are many “ifs” with that outlook. First, the Packers have to stay healthy and second, Neal does indeed need to make a full recovery and come back.

If Neal doesn’t, he will be quickly tabbed as injury-prone and could be on his way out of Green Bay as quickly as he arrived.

Many questions will be answered in the next few weeks. The defensive line will be tested this week as the Panthers will certainly try to establish a solid ground game to allow Cam Newton a chance to succeed with the pass. And with teams like the Bears and Vikings on the schedule – both of those teams like to pound the football – it will be interesting to see if the Packers line can stand up to the pounding.

Stay tuned …

For The Green Bay Packers, this was a weekend of rest and relaxation … A well-deserved weekend of relaxation with their Thursday night season-opening victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Though the weekend of games were entertaining, they also provided insight into the future. 

In planning for the immediate, the Packers watched Cam Newton, this year’s top pick and next opponent, pick apart the Arizona Cardinals’ defense for 422 yards and an impressive display in the vertical passing game.

Granted, the Cardinals’ defense isn’t the Packers’ defense, but the rookie has shown that the Panthers made a good decision in taking him first overall and that the Packers will have to plan well.

Dom Capers will need to design packages to confuse the rookie for 60 minutes … If he can do that the Packers should win going away. If the Packers allow the Panthers to stay in the game into the fourth quarter this could be one of those trap games that could come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

Another factor that stood out from the weekend was the NFC North’s domination of the NFC South.

Though the Packers game came down to the final play and the Lions/Bucs game to the final minute, the Bears’ creaming of the Falcons placed the final stamp of divisional domination on the weekend.

Yes, the Packers and Lions games were close, but all that matters at this point are the records: NFC North 3 NFC South 0.

Even the the Vikings showed some spunk against the San Diego Chargers by holding a lead for three quarters despite Donovan McNabb’s dismal debut – he ended up throwing for fewer than 40 yards total in the game.

Sure, had the Vikings been playing without Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson it wouldn’t have been close, but the fact of the matter is that the Vikings do have those players and they make a difference.

The Vikes’ performance also underscores the notion that the NFC North should be considered one, if not the toughest division in all of professional football.

It also creates a heightened awareness among all players, coaches and fans that when these NFC North teams meet this year, it’s going to be brutal. These games will be bitterly fought spectacles that should be well worth the price of admission. 

Looking around at some of the other games this past weekend, we really didn’t see any major upsets. The closest thing to an upset was the shellacking the Ravens put on the Steelers … But when a team turns the ball over seven times like the Steelers did, there’s no way they’re going to win.

Other mildly interesting games simply because of the score differentials came in the Buffalo vs. Kansas City game, and the Indianapolis vs. Houston game. 

Some of the most entertaining were the 49ers vs. Seahawks, Giants vs. Redskins, with honorable mention to (zzzzzzz) the Jags and Titans.

But without question the best game of the weekend was the Jets vs. Cowboys. There was enough drama what with the Ryan boys and the return of Plaxico Burress to last the week. And the high drama in action was highlighted by Tony (the fumbler) Romo showing his true colors.

So, all in all, the first weekend came to a close with lots of action (could there be a better showing than Tom Brady’s 500-plus yards, 4 touchdown performance and 906-total yards between him and Chad Henne?), lots of drama, but not a lot of surprises.

A great start to another season for America’s Game …

Can it get any better? Stay tuned …