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NFC North Experts Unimpressed With Chicago Bears

By Erik Lambert

Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears defensive back Adrian Amos (38) at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears defensive back Adrian Amos (38) at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Most thoughts regarding the off-season work of the Chicago Bears have been high, but when it comes to their place in the division, not much has changed.

The NFC North has historically been competitive from top to bottom, but the preeminent rivalry that tends to garner the most conversation is the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. Part of this is due to the fact that the two teams have met several times in the playoffs over the years and are often battling it out for the division title near the end of every season.

So when the beat writers for ESPN who cover the North were polled on who they thought would make the playoffs in 2016, it’s no surprise they all had the same answer ready.

Packers writer:

"“This isn’t 2001, when the old NFC Central sent three teams to the playoffs: Chicago at 13-3, Green Bay at 12-4 and Tampa Bay at 9-7. Nor is it 2012, when the Packers (11-5), Vikings (10-6) and Bears (10-6) all had double-digit wins. This looks like a two-team race again. Last season, the Vikings ended the Packers’ run of division titles at four straight, but the Packers still seem like the team to beat.”"

Vikings writer:

"“I believe there are only two teams from the NFC North that are good enough to make the playoffs, and I think both of them will: The Packers and the Vikings will both be back in the NFC field come January, and they’ll once again battle for the division title.”"

Lions writer:

"“I’m higher than most on the Vikings, as I believe they are the best team in the NFC. The Vikings’ defense should be the best in the division. Minnesota has the best running back in the league and a potential star in Bridgewater. The makeup of the Vikings is strong, and as long as Peterson continues to play at a level close to what he’s reached in the past, the Vikings have a good shot of going back-to-back in the division. Two teams will make the playoffs from the NFC North: the Vikings and Packers.”"

This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Experts tend to maintain the status quo when it comes to season predictions. Since both the Vikings and Packers made it to the playoffs last year and seem to have their same strong rosters in place, it makes perfect sense for them to be the favorite choices to reach January.

At the same time, what have the Bears done of late to convince anybody they are close. They finished 5-11 in 2014 and improved only slightly to 6-10 in 2015. Jay Cutler will have yet another new offensive coordinator to mesh with while there are several new moving parts on defense that make it difficult foresee how things will go this year. There is no doubting the talent has been upgraded, but the NFL has proven many times that talent is just one part of the winning equation.

If the Chicago Bears are going to be taken seriously, they’ll have to do better than the 1-3 record they had against the Vikings and Packers last season. To be the best, one must beat the best as the saying goes.

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