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NFL: Predicting the NFC’s division winners

By Michael Burke

Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers: 11-5

Barring another Aaron Rodgers injury, the NFC North is Green Bay’s division. (Yes, even with the loss of B.J. Raji.) I won’t argue that the Packers have the most talented team in the division, but they do have a top-three quarterback, which, in today’s NFL, is all you need to win your division.

2. Chicago Bears: 10-6

I like the Bears a lot. Not enough to finish ahead of the Packers, but enough to give them a spot in the playoffs as a wild card.

I believe 2014 will be Jay Cutler’s season. He has everything he needs: the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the NFL, one of the league’s most productive running backs, and an offensive line that is quickly improving.

Combine the offense with a fairly favorable schedule and a defense that added Jared Allen in free agency, and you have a team in Chicago that should win 10 games and get back to the postseason.

3. Detroit Lions: 8-8

With a 6-3 start, the 2014 Lions had a real shot at the playoffs before falling apart and losing six of their final seven games. With Jim Schwartz out and the even-keeled Jim Caldwell in, the Lions shouldn’t have the discipline-related issues that have so often plagued them in recent history.

Still, in an NFC full of playoff-caliber teams, I can’t put Detroit in the postseason. Even if they managed to be 8-6 after 14 weeks, they close the season at Chicago and at Green Bay. For a dome team in late-December, those are nearly impossible games to win.

4. Minnesota Vikings: 5-11

My prediction might not indicate it, but I do like the Vikings’ personnel.

Minnesota’s defense, even without Jarden Allen, should be better this season. The Vikings’ defensive starters held the Kansas City Chiefs to only three points last week and forced two Alex Smith interceptions.

The offense is full of weapons, namely Adrian Peterson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, and Kyle Rudolph, but the question mark is at quarterback. Matt Cassel was named the starter, and if he can be the Matt Cassel that was around for most of last season, the Vikings should be O.K. Remember, Cassel went 4-3 as a starter last season and was the only quarterback to beat the Eagles in the regular season post-week 8.

I’m not predicting it, but don’t be shocked if the Vikings are this year’s surprise team.

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