This division, along with the NFC West, might be the strongest divisions in the league from top to bottom. I don't think the North is as top heavy, but the floor is much higher.
Common opponents on schedule: NFC East, AFC North
Last year: 11-5 (1st), Lost in NFC Divisional Round
There's a pretty common truth in the NFL that if you have an elite quarterback, your team is going to be in a great position to make the playoffs. When you have the best quarterback in the league, I'd argue this is all but a certainty. So it is with Green Bay; as long as Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers are going to be all right. They lost two of their long time receivers in Donald Driver (retirement) and Greg Jennings (free agency), but still have some really good targets, and Ted Thompson added a ground game with Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin via the draft. Releasing Charles Woodson was tough, but Casey Heyward might be the successor to that nickel role. Really, as long as Dom Capers has learned how to defend against the read-option, this team is a strong contender for the Super Bowl.
2013 Prediction: 12-4
Last year: 10-6 (2nd), lost in NFC Wild Card
I named one Viking the 2012 Most Valuable Player, when really, another was the main reason for whether or not these guys won or lost. We learned last year that Adrian Peterson is a freak, but I don't think a freak to the extent of 2500 yards in a season. Ultimately it all depends on how well Christian Ponder has developed in his first couple years. He has some decent weapons now in rookie Cordarrelle Patterson and signee Greg Jennings (who I've lost some respect for for not shutting his mouth) to help keep defenses honest. On the other side of the ball, the big question is whether or not their secondary can stop anyone. Jared Allen will do his damage, but if he can't get to the quarterback, can the back seven contain the quarterbacks this division boasts?
2013 Prediction: 9-7
Last year: 10-6 (3rd), missed playoffs
A lot of people were surprised that the Bears fired longtime coach Lovie Smith after a really good regular season that just wasn't quite good enough, but maybe a change was due. Their defensive scheme will stay the same, but the retirement of Brian Urlacher leaves a big gap in the middle of their defense as well as in the locker room. This defense will still do its thing, especially the Master of the Ball Punch. What will make this team succeed or fail in 2013 though is how well Marc Trestman adjusts the offense. I've taken great joy in the last four or five years laughing as Jay Cutler throws passes straight to Green Bay defenders or DeAngelo Hall while trying to avoid getting sacked for the umpteenth time. The offensive line should be better this year, but can they help clear lanes for Matt Forte? And can Cutler utilize a passing game that doesn't revolve around, "Eff it, I'm throwing to a triple covered Brandon Marshall!"? They'll be a decent team, but I don't think the playoffs are in the cards this time.
2013 Prediction: 8-8
Last year: 4-12 (4th), missed playoffs
This was a team that had horrible luck in close games last year, so regression to the mean is due. Matthew Stafford now has a decent running back in Reggie Bush to help out the running game, which should help take a little pressure off his connection with Megatron. He also still has some other decent targets even with Titus Young being released. They'll score plenty of points; the question is whether or not they can keep other teams off the board. They lost defensive ends Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch in the offseason, and while there are decent pieces in place, I'm not sure how well they'll be able to help that interior combination of Suh and Fairley. The other issue remains that secondary. In this division, if you can't stop opponents' passing games, you will have problems.
2013 Prediction: 7-9
Seven down, one more to go. I'll be back tomorrow morning with a look at the AFC North, including the defending Super Bowl champs.
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