NFC North: 2015 NFL Divisional Preview
Oct 6, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; The Green Bay Packers line up for a play during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 22-9. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
How will the NFC North look by the end of the season?
Carlson, Vikings: Sadly, I still see the Green Bay Packers winning the division with the Minnesota Vikings hopefully grabbing a Wild Card spot. I think the Lions will end up just outside the playoff picture with the Chicago Bears finishing the season in last place.
Roethlisberger, Packers: Detroit and Minnesota will be the only variables in the NFC North this season with both of them battling for the number two position in the division. The Packers are the heavy favorite and its going to take another substantial injury to bring them down in 2015. Chicago will sit last in the division with little chance of doing anything this season on the back of Jay Cutler.
Payton, Lions: Right now, I don’t see the NFC North changing much at all. The Green Bay Packers are still the team to beat, and will likely win the division again. I have the Lions right behind them. The Vikings are everybody’s hype tea in 2015, but there are still many issues this team needs to fix in order to make a run for the playoffs. The Bears are clearly rebuilding and there’s nothing wrong with that. The youth on this Bears team will make them very competitive in the coming years.
Schmelzer, Bears: The only part of the question I can answer with relative certainty is the Bears finishing last in the division. It is unfortunate, but I am trying to be as realistic as possible. The Packers are the favorite, but I think they will continue to have defensive problems. Rodgers is amazing, but the Lions and Vikings are very talented teams as well.
My official prediction for the NFC North this season has the Lions taking home the crown, followed closely by the Packers who probably grab a Wild Card spot. The Vikings will narrowly miss the playoffs, and the Bears round it out as a less than .500 team. However, I could see the top three teams shaking out in any order.
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