Division: NFC North 2003 Record: 7-9 2003 Offensive Stats: 273.8 yards gained per game (28th overall) 2003 Defensive Stats: 309.2 yards allowed per game (14th overall)
Key Players:
The Chicago Bears begin 2004 with a much different look than the 2003 squad. A one-year experiment with Pittsburgh castoff Kordell Stewart at quarterback didn't end well; he's already moved on the Baltimore. Instead, the Bears look to the future and have presented the reins to Florida Gator quarterback and first-round defeat pick Rex Grossman. He's a young star and his stats show it; they certainly aren't fantastic but he does have decent power and accuracy and suited for a pocket passer style of game.
Journeyman Thomas Jones (from the Cardinals to the Bucs now to the Bears) starts at running back--decent speed, acceleration, and break tackle ratings gives you some options in the running game (though running behind all-pro center Olin Kreutz isn't a bad idea). Marty Booker is the best Chicago Bear receiver, though his ratings have slid a bit since last year's game. Note that at the time of this writing, Booker had just been traded to the Miami Dolphins. A roster update could make this change.
Look for high percentage passes to offset Grossman's meager statistics. Keep your play calling unpredictable with passes out of run sets and runs out of passing sets. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is the Bears' leader on defense. He's one of the top linebackers in the game next to the Ravens' Ray Lewis and the Buccaneers' Derrick Brooks.
Division: AFC North 2003 Record: 8-8 2003 Offensive Stats: 333.1 yards gained per game (13th overall) 2003 Defensive Stats: 351.2 yards allowed per game (28th overall)
The Cincinnati Bengals surprised a lot of teams in 2003--almost to the point where many will forget their nickname, the Bungles. From 2-14 in 2002 to a respectable 8-8 in 2003, the Bengals' hopes are high for an even better 2004 campaign. During the NFL off season, Coach Marvin Lewis named first-overall draft pick Carson Palmer the starting quarterback over incumbent Jon Kitna. Checking the ratings, both quarterbacks are extremely close. Kitna gets the nod with awareness for his veteran status but Palmer is faster and has a slightly stronger arm. They're virtually interchangeable the statistics are so close.
Having let long-time Bengal Corey Dillon move on to AFC rival New England, Cincinnati starts upstart Rudi Johnson at running back--good, but not superstar ratings--and even have a first-round draft pick Chris Perry behind him if needed. Chad Johnson is your star at wide receiver (he's seen a good boost in rating over last year's game); Johnson's counterpart Peter Warrick is also a good, fast option that can test defenders deep.
Division: NFC North 2003 Record: 5-11 2003 Offensive Stats: 281.5 yards gained per game (26th overall) 2003 Defensive Stats: 309.9 yards allowed per game (15th overall)
The Cleveland Browns started 2003 with a quarterback controversy: would it be Kelly Holcomb or Tim Couch? The Browns finally answered that question definitively in 2004: it would be neither! Cleveland reached out to former San Francisco 49er Jeff Garcia to become the team's new offensive leader. If ratings are any indication, the Browns made the right choice: Garcia provides veteran awareness, excellent accuracy, quick feet for a quarterback, and near tank-like durability (the high injury rating). Utilize his mobility with roll outs and even some scrambles.
William Green and Lee Suggs offer the Browns a new controversy: who to start at running back? Ratings are nearly indistinguishable from one another. Utilize both in two back sets for a duo of decent options as both runners and pass catchers. First round draft pick Kellen Winslow provides a decent option at tight end: expect his ratings to soar higher in coming releases.
