The Green Bay Packers are the ruling oligarchs of the NFC North. The Pack have won it four years straight and appear to be the favorites once again this season. Not just in the division, but quite possibly the conference. We spoke with NFL on CBS Analyst Bart Scott and he believes the Packers are still a Super Bowl contender even despite the loss of Jordy Nelson to injury.
Very few people in the Chicago Bears chances this season, understandably so, but I had to ask if there was any hope for them.
“That division is hard to crack because they’ll have to fight for a Wild Card. I don’t think they’ll win the division, and within that division I believe Minnesota is going to be a well improved team with a motivated Adrian Peterson.”
Bart Scott said that he loves what he saw out of Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, and then praised Mike Zimmer and Norv Turner. I agree with Scott in that the Vikings should be one of the NFL’s most improved teams this season. I think they had as good a NFL Draft as anyone in the league, and their free agent comings and going equaled a net positive as well.
With the Bears, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Head Coach John Fox is the best thing going for them right now. They have a proven commodity now when it comes to leadership. Another positive is new Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio; when you combine these two elite defensive minds, the Bears defense can only improve.
Yes, in spite of how bad the personnel is.
“Inside the industry he’s so respected,” said Jim Nantz, part of the NFL on CBS’ lead announcer team.
“Football people know that John knows what he’s doing. He’s very highly regarded, and if it wasn’t going to be Chicago, I’m sure it was going to be someone else. I’m sure they were lined up,” Nantz continued.
Still I just can’t place the Chicago Bears anywhere but fourth in the NFC North this season. There are some good pieces though as Bart Scott pointed out:
“I think Kevin White being injured has really set that offense back a little bit.”
“(Martellus) Bennett is great, Alshon Jeffrey is great, this is really Jay Cutler’s team to run. They got rid of Brandon Marshall who was maybe seen as kind of a distraction to Cutler, so it’s all on him.”
NFL on CBS, NFL Network Media Day Preview Series
–Tony Gonzalez very optimistic on Raiders prospects, loves uniform and colors
–John Fox is the best thing the Chicago Bears have going for them
-Does Chicago Deserve a three-peat as NFL Draft host?
-Erin Coscarelli Oakland Raiders Season Preview
-Erin Coscarelli Chicago Bears Season Preview
-Tony Gonzalez sees Khalil Mack becoming the NFL’s best Linebacker
-London Fletcher on the art of NFL punditry (coming Friday)
-Bart Scott sizes up the NFC North race
-Can Vic Fangio be the Chicago Bears savior?
-Curtis Conway analyzes Bears off-season
–Jim Nantz sees Raiders returning to relevance soon
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
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