Last season, the NFC North championship wasn't decided until the very end of the last game of the season. Then, Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb with a 48-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-eight. That last second pass was too much for the Bears to rebound from, and the Packers were the North's representative in the playoffs.
Expect it to be another grind this time around, with plenty of defensive struggles and close games. All of the teams are pretty evenly matched, and it's going to be a close race.
Green Bay Packers:
Green Bay has won the division the last three years. They have to be the favorite to once again take the crown. Green Bay somehow found a way to win it last year despite a host of injuries. Aaron Rodgers missed nearly eight full games with a broken collarbone, and star offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga missed the whole season with a torn ACL.
Rodgers has recovered admirably, and has looked incredibly sharp so far this preseason. He says he feels great, and he should be able to return to his past greatness. Meanwhile, Bulaga rejoins an offensive line that was forced to learn on the run last year. Bulaga can play either left or right tackle, and he should make the offensive line even better than it was in 2013.
The defense has undergone some makeovers as well. Clay Matthews is fully healthy, they signed pass rusher Julius Peppers in the offseason, and they addressed their glaring safety weakness in the most recent NFL Draft. The Packers selected Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round, and he should be able to solidify a secondary that struggled at times last season. Clinton-Dix might not be able to make an immediate impact, and Micah Hyde is a solid fallback option at strong safety.
The real strength, though, is the offense. Aaron Rodgers is going to be outstanding, and they found a gem in Eddie Lacy. Rodgers has plenty of options to throw to, such as Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and highly-touted pass catcher DeVante Adams. They have to replace tight end Jermichael Finley, but he was injured most of the time anyway. Andrew Quarless is a good blocker, and rookie Colt Lyerla has the talent to be a star.
Defenses are going to have to pick their poison against the Pack. If they choose to stop the pass, Lacy will gash them up the middle. If they choose to come up and stop the run, they are just asking for trouble because Rodgers will make them pay.
Don't be shocked if most opponents pick the second option, and Rodgers will tear them apart through the air.
Chicago Bears:
In Marc Trestman's first season at the helm, the Bears were very impressive. Usually known as a defense first team, their offense really made strides. Jay Cutler played well when he was healthy, recording his highest QB rating since his rookie year, and Alshon Jeffrey had a monster breakout year as a wideout.
The Bears offense is going to build on last year's success and be really, really good. Cutler is going to have a big year, not only because he has a strong arm but because he has an abundance of weapons at his disposal.
Matt Forte is one of the top running backs in the league, in both rushing and receiving. The Bears also have two of the most dominant receivers in the game. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey are both big, physical receivers on the outside, and Martellus Bennett is a talented tight end if he can stay out of trouble. Earl Bennett is also a consistent option in the slot.
The Bears are similar to the Packers in that they are very versatile in the ways they can attack the defense, but they aren't quite as efficient. Cutler throws a few too many interceptions, and the offensive line is suspect at times.
Also like the Packers, safety is one of the bigger questions on the defensive side of the ball. Both safety spots are open, and they have a plethora of candidates. They drafted Minnesota safety Brock Vereen in the fourth round of the draft, and he is already looking very good at camp. For what it's worth, ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay called Vereen the best pick by any NFC North team in the draft. That's pretty high praise, and the Bears hope he can produce at a high level.
It will also be interesting to see how the coaching staff handles former first-rounder Shea McClellin. The former Boise State star is slated to play a little more linebacker this year after playing predominately defensive end in the past. He has a chance to win the job for strongside linebacker, and he is a potential difference maker. Lance Briggs will be his ever consistent self, and will be the defensive leader.
They will have to replace special teams guru Devin Hester, now a Falcon, but he had lost most of his productivity so it's not a huge loss. They signed returners Armanti Edwards and Michael Spurlock in the offseason, and these two speedsters should be able to pick up the slack.
Chicago has the necessary pieces to make the playoffs, but they just aren't as good as the Packers. It's going to come down to how the two teams produce head-to-head, and the Packers are too good.
Detroit Lions:
Coming off a very disappointing 2013 season, the Lions just don't produce when it counts. Many continue to be flummoxed at the team's inefficiency in meaningful situations. They have the most explosive offense in the league when they are clicking, but they don't click enough to reach their fullest potential.
Matthew Stafford has arguably the strongest throwing arm in the league, and he has the best receiver in the game, Calvin Johnson, to throw to. Last year's addition of Reggie Bush added yet another option to the offensive repertoire, but they finished on a sour note and failed to make the playoffs.
It is just unbelievable how they can look so good in the first half of games or when the score is already basically decided. When the going gets tough, though, they fold. They were in a prime position to claim the NFC North crown last year, but they found a way to lose six out of their last seven games to finish a mediocre 7-9 season.
They fired Jim Schwartz in the offseason and replaced him with Jim Caldwell, and maybe he can turn the tide. Caldwell took the Colts to the Super Bowl, and he is widely recognized as a tremendous offensive minded coach. The Lions might be even more efficient in the upcoming season, and they definitely have the pieces needed to win the division.
The emergence of Joique Bell helped the offense last year, and he should be yet another weapon this year. They added Golden Tate to solidify the receiving corp, and tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria are scary red zone targets.
There are plenty of holes in the defense, but if the offense is firing on all cylinders, they will win some shootouts. For now, the Lions as the darkhorse to win the division, but they won't be able to beat the Packers.
Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings have a new coach, former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, but the quarterback controversy is the main headline. Zimmer is deciding between the incumbent Christian Ponder, rookie Teddy Bridgewater, and veteran Matt Cassel. Bridgewater is the most talented of the bunch, but they might elect to let him learn the offense before putting him on the field.
They are obviously the weakest team in the division, but whoever is named the starter can rely on a strong running game. Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the league, and he has shown that he can carry the load.
Kyle Rudolph has the potential to be a big time star, but he hasn't been able to put it together yet. Greg Jennings had a solid first season in Minnesota, but he is not a prototypical number-one receiver. He is good, but not good enough to be the go-to guy. If Cordarrelle Patterson can live up to the hype, he has the speed to be a deep threat.
The Vikings' offense wasn't very good last year, and if there is any improvement in 2014, it will be marginal.
Defensively, they spent some money in the offseason. They signed Everson Griffen to a $42.5 million contract to shore up the defensive line, and also signed Linval Joseph and Captain Munnerlyn. The unit allowed at least 30 points in seven games last year, so they have some work.
Zimmer will immediately upgrade the schemes, as he is a very respected defensive mind, but it might require some more than that. They looked really bad last year and couldn't stop the run or the pass.They gave up more points than any other team in the NFL (yes, even the Cowboys), and it's going to be tough to rebuild such a struggling group.
Their defense is one of the worst in the league, and their offense is only a little bit better. Zimmer has a chance to turn around the franchise, but 2014 is definitely not their year. It is projected to be a long year in Minnesota with another last place finish in their future.
Conclusion:
The regular season is getting closer every day. Fans across the country can't wait until the overhyped preseason is over and the real games can begin.
It is going to be an exciting season, especially in the NFC North. Expect some rough conditions coming up, and when it is below freezing and snowing, anything can happen. The North might be the division where the teams are the most evenly matched, but the Packers are just too good.
1. Packers
2. Bears
3. Lions
4. Vikings