Chicago Bears
The NFC North, like the East, is an ultra competitive league with the possibility of three playoff teams and a fourth team that has some nice pieces. The Chicago Bears have become a popular pick to win the division and, with their offensive talent, seem to have a reasonable chance at this. QB's being the centerpiece of top NFL teams, Jay Cutler is the key to the Bear's success. Before being injured last season, Cutler was a top QB and with average weapons. The Bears added Brandon Marshall, who was a stud with Cutler in Denver, and rookie Alshon Jeffery, out of South Carolina, who has looked excellent in preseason. Devin Hester is still in Chicago and while never producing how some think he should from the wide-out position, having Marshall and Jeffery in the mix will take pressure off of him to produce every week and open him up from defenses planning for his speed. He is of course still a dangerous special teams player so expect only bad coaches to ever kick to him. Matt Forte proved himself to be an elite RB last season (how Chicago has not paid him like one I will never understand). Forte is a game changing player. He runs and catches as well as anyone out of the backfield. He is consistently among league leaders in total yards and with the addition of Michael Bush from the Oakland Raiders, the Bears running attack should be very impressive. The defensive side of the ball has been up and down for the Bears. Their middle of the road unit will look to get more pressure on opposing QB's and lower total yards and points against numbers that were sub-par. They addressed this with a defensive end selection in this year's first round of the draft. The pieces are in place for the Bears to have a very good year, their only problem will be the tough division they play in.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are the up and coming team of the NFC North. They are build similarly to the other division title contenders with an outstanding young QB in Drew Stafford and a big time play maker in Calvin Johnson. Stafford, when not injured, is a top flight QB in the NFL. He has a big, accurate arm and seems to have figured out how to approach NFL defenses. Megatron, the best WR in the NFL, gives Stafford a great target anywhere on the field. The fact that Johnson will go anywhere on the field including across the middle to catch a ball is what makes him special amongst a group of great wide-outs in the league right now. He is ultra reliable and is only getting better. The Lions also added WR Ryan Broyles, who despite coming off injury has been very highly rated coming out of Oklahoma. The Lions offense will not slow down from last season. The Defense will hope to pick up where it left off as well. Led by Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, the Lions bring a strong pass rush. Unfortunately for them, their LB's and secondary are not up to the same level allowing opposing QB's who can think quickly to attack them in the passing game. These shortcomings have been addressed in the draft and in training camp. Time will tell if the Lions can hang with the elite of the NFC North.
Green Bay Packers
At 15-1, the Packers were the best regular season team last year. This meant nothing as they lost in their first playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Aaron Rodgers is well known as one of the top QB's in the NFL and has shown no let down in the preseason. His accuracy is well documented, but what has separated Rodgers is his ability to scramble and either make a throwing play on the run or pull the ball down and make smart decisions with his legs. Rodgers has plenty of weapons around him with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, rookie Marc Tyler, and recently signed Cedric Benson. Scoring points will once again not be an issue for the Packers. The defensive side of the ball is another story. The Packers were last in total defense last season, and while these stats can be somewhat deceiving (31 Int's), Green Bay must make a drastic improvement here. They drafted six straight defensive players in June and will hope to develop some sort of pass rush to help their solid group in the secondary. If the Packers can piece together an average defense, look for them to not only win the division but contend for another Lombardi trophy.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are the one team in the North that is in a minor rebuilding phase. Adrian Peterson looks to be recovering quickly from his obliterated knee injury last season. If he can return to his prior form, the Vikings will be in a much better place than they are currently. Toby Gerhart is a valuable backup, but does not look like an elite starting RB. Percy Harvin is the only proven WR on the team. Harvin can be electrifying, but if he is the only option, defenses will shut him down with double coverage. The Vikings must find some more weapons to enable Christian Ponder to unleash in the passing attack. Ponder is a nice young prospect at QB, but with no one to give the ball to, his growth this season may be tough. The defense starts and ends with Jared Allen. He is a work horse on the D-line and is a perennial league sack leader. If the Vikings D can continue to pressure opposing QB's and keep their games close, there is the possibility of some upset wins. This is a team with some nice pieces both offensively and defensively, but they will be hard pressed to not be swept by their division rivals.
Final Standings:
- Green Bay Packers: 13-3
- Detroit Lions: 11-5
- Chicago Bears: 11-5
- Minnesota Vikings: 5-11
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