2013 NFL Predictions: NFC North Division Odds and Picks – Packers the Favorite

2013 NFL Predictions: NFC East Division Odds and Picks – Cowboys the Favorite: The NFC North has enjoyed plenty of success as a whole in recent years, and two teams from the division have reached the postseason in each of the past two years. In fact, all four teams from the division have made the postseason during the stretch. The one constant during the run has been the Green Bay Packers, and after winning the Super Bowl as a wild card team in 2010, they have won the division in each of the past two seasons. Of course, last year’s division crown was a far cry from the 2011 season when the Packers went 15-1 and steamrolled their way to the NFL’s best record. In 2012, Green Bay had to outlast Chicago and Minnesota, eventually finishing one-game ahead of both teams. Considering three teams from the NFC North won at least 10 games last year, the division should be one of the more interesting on either conference in 2013. With that in mind, here is a closer look at how the division stacks up in the upcoming NFL season.

1.      Green Bay Packers (Prediction: 11-5)

The two-time defending division champs should be able to three-peat as long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers stays healthy. There isn’t a more efficient QB in the game today, and despite the loss of Greg Jennings, he still has the likes Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones at his disposal. More importantly, Green Bay drafted running back Eddie Lacy to jumpstart the ground game. Losing left tackle Bryan Bulaga in the preseason isn’t ideal, but the offense should still be a juggernaut. Meanwhile, the defense is as loaded as it has been in several years, especially in the front seven with the addition of first-round pick Datone Jones and the return of a fully healthy Clay Matthews. Rodgers and company should be championship contenders and control the NFC North.

2.      Chicago Bears (Prediction: 9-7)

Last year, Chicago’s two biggest issues were a lack of offensive weapons and a lack of adequate blocking for quarterback Jay Cutler. After adding tackle Jermon Bushrod in free agency and drafting tackle Kyle Long in the first round of the draft, the Bears did what they could to fix the line. Meanwhile, the addition of tight end Martellus Bennett to a receiving corps that features stud Brandon Marshall and second-year player Alshon Jeffery gives Cutlers three legitimate targets. The defense did lose a major leader in Brian Urlacher, but defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman are among the stars that remain for a solid overall unit. In the end, the Bears did what they could do to improve their problem areas, and they should be a major player for a wild card spot in 2013.

3.      Minnesota Vikings (Prediction: 8-8)

The good news for the Vikings is that super-human running back Adrian Peterson is still in the backfield. The bad news is that the defending NFL MVP had to nearly break the single-season rushing record just to sneak Minnesota into the playoffs last year. He will likely have to have a similar effort in 2013 to make up for the mediocre play of quarterback Christian Ponder and a receiving the corps that remained below average by adding Greg Jennings but losing Percy Harvin. The defense didn’t make any major upgrades either. First-round picks Sharrif Floyd and Xavier Rhodes should eventually help the defensive line and secondary, respectively, but the unit is still lacking in playmakers outside of defensive end Jared Allen. Peterson is good enough to keep the Vikings in contention by himself, but he won’t be able to carry them into the postseason two years in a row.

4.      Detroit Lions (Prediction: 6-10)

The Lions have several great players, but they simply aren’t a great team. On the offensive side of the ball alone, receiver Calvin Johnson is the best player at his position in the NFL, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has star potential. Not to mention that running back Reggie Bush should be a perfect fit for Detroit’s pass-happy system. Meanwhile, tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley form a formidable defensive front. That being said, the offensive line was ravaged in free agency, and the Lions’ current group of linebackers and secondary are both below average. Granted, Detroit did add defensive end Ezekiel Ansah and cornerback Darius Slay in the first two rounds of the draft, but the fact that both are slated to start immediately says more about the overall lack of talent that Detroit is dealing with. The Lions will score plenty of points in 2013, but their opponents will, too.

Odds to win the NFC North
Green Bay Packers win NFC North -145
Chicago Bears win NFC North +400
Minnesota Vikings win NFC North +570
Detroit Lions win NFC North +590

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