The Superbowl XLVI Champions were knocked down in the NFL season opener against the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday night. And so another season of football begins!
Some of your favorite MSF writers and NFC North fans have decided to pretend they know EXACTLY how the season will end and provide an educated guess on who will be at the top of the division when it’s all said and done.
Prefacing Predictions
I hate predictions.
No one knows who is going to get hurt. No one knows if that rookie was really worth the Round 1 pick in the draft. And no one knows who will magically step up when it matters most.
Since I was asked to do my first predictions on Thursday, I have been driving myself insane, questioning if I have picked the right teams.
Are the Packers really as good as I think they are? Etc…
I have even had the stupidity to think “Hey! While everyone is discussing the Sanchez-Tebow situation in New York, the Rams are busy building the next Superbowl contender!”
See? I am overthinking it and desperately need a beer.
This is why I have invited my fellow writers Chris Callaway, Tyler Juranovich, and Drew Lange to help me predict season. They are intelligent sports fans who know how to correctly analyze the odds of each match up.
MSF North Report gang before we read each others predictions. Friends!
Or at least that’s what I thought before I read their predictions… (Cracking open my Leine’s right now.)
Instead I began questioning each of their predictions. I even critiqued fellow Packers fan Chris Callaway, who aligned closely with my predictions. I am more right. Maybe that’s just the woman in me.
The truth is all four of us are wrong.
What the hell, let’s get to the predictions.
Chris Callaway
#1 – Packers 13-3
- Losses at Houston, at Seattle and at Detroit.
- Not as lucky as last year, but still as good if not better. Rodgers eclipses 40 TDs again, defense moves closer to the middle of the pack.
#2 – Lions 11-5
- Losses at Green Bay, at San Fran, vs. Atlanta, at Chicago, vs. Houston
- Solid but inconsistent, Stafford great but questions in running game.
#3 – Bears 10-6
- Losses vs. Indianapolis, at Green Bay, at Dallas, at San Francisco, vs. Green Bay, at Detroit
- I think Chicago starts 0-2, but then bounces back to sneak into the wildcard. Michael Bush helps Matt Forte stay healthy.
#4 – Vikings 4-12
- Losses at Indianapolis, vs. San Francisco, at Detroit, vs. Tennessee, at Washington, at Seattle, vs. Detroit, at Chicago, at Green Bay, vs. Chicago, at Houston, vs. Green Bay.
- Minnesota beats Jacksonville in the opener, and Christian Ponder proves he has a future playing QB, but not much else goes right for the Vikes.
Why Chris is wrong
The Bears are very angry at the Packers right now. VERY ANGRY. And they have fired up their team with some decent roster moves. They will beat the Packers at Soldier Field. (How can Chris not see this coming?!?!?!)
Now, take a look at the CORRECT predictions…
Yours Truly (Amanda Lawson)
#1 – Green Bay Packers 12-4
- Losses to Saints, at Houston, at New York, at Chicago.
- Packers are actually a stronger team this year, but so are their opponents. Chicago is ready to break their winning streak.
#2 Chicago Bears 11-5
- Losses at Green Bay, at Dallas, at San Francisco, at Minnesota, and at Detroit.
- Initially I thought the Lions would have a better season than the Bears, but I think the Bears have a schedule that suits them more.
#3 Detroit Lions 10-6
- Losses at San Francisco, at Chicago, vs Packers, vs Houston, at Green Bay, and vs Falcons
- They still have a good team and will make the Wildcard. I think the Bears and Packers will make the falter.
#4 Minnesota Vikings 6-10
- Losses vs San Francisco, at Detroit, at Washington, at Seattle, vs Detroit, at Chicago, at Green Bay, vs Chicago, at Houston, at Green Bay
- The Vikings have the easiest part of their schedule at the beginning of the season. I am not sure they can make it to the tough stuff and be ready to win.
I am right.
Tyler Juranovich
#1 – Bears 13-3
- Losses to Green Bay in Week 2, Carolina in Week 8, and Detroit in Week 17.
#2 – Packers 12-4
- Losses to New Orleans in Week 4, Houston in Week 6, Detroit in Week 11, and Chicago in Week 15.
#3 – Lions 9-7
- Losses to San Francisco in Week 2, Philadelphia in Week 6, Chicago in Week 7, Jacksonville in Week 9, Houston in Week 12, Green Bay in Week 14, and Atlanta in Week 16.
#4 Vikings 3-13
- Wins (that’s right Drew, he has no confidence in your team!) = Tennesse in Week 5, Washington in Week 6, and Seattle in Week 9.
I can only assume Tyler is basing his prediction off the silly illusion that the ‘Bears Dominate’
Why is Tyler wrong?
Why would I ever admit that I think the Bears could top the Packers?! Ok I would if I thought they could, but I really don’t see it happening this season. However, Jerod is siding with Tyler. (Do they know something I don’t?)
However, Drew doesn’t think so highly of this supposedly improved Bears team.
Drew Lange
#1 – Green Bay 13-3
- Losses vs San Francisco, at Seattle, and at New York Giants.
- Don’t love the running game. Don’t love the defense. AJ Hawk is a liability and isn’t it about time Charles Woodson stops making plays?
- As long as the offense stays healthy, Green Bay wins the division easy.
#2 – Minnesota Vikings 9-7
- Losses vs. San Francisco, at Detroit, at Seattle, at Chicago, at Green Bay, at Houston, vs. Green Bay.
- Before you start going all crazy, just look at their schedule. It is ridiculously easy. I am aware that this team went 3-13 last year and are going to be among the youngest teams in the league, but I for some reason have faith in them. If Ponder can be consistent and the defense can make plays and cause turnovers, the Vikings might sneak up on some teams.
#3 – Detroit Lions 8-8
- Losses at San Francisco, at Philadelphia, at Minnesota, vs. Green Bay, vs. Houston, at Green Bay, vs. Atlanta, vs. Chicago
- I don’t have a lot of faith in this Detroit team. They have no healthy running backs. Their secondary is still awful. They looked completely over-matched against New Orleans in the playoffs last year, and I’m not convinced they have made the leap to make the postseason on a regular basis.
#4 – Chicago Bears 7-9
- Losses at Green Bay, at Dallas, vs. Detroit, vs. Carolina, vs. Houston, vs. Seattle, at Minnesota, vs. Green Bay, and at Detroit
- I am not on the Chicago bandwagon. No matter how good the offense might be, the defense is just too old to carry the team in the second half of the season. I’m excited to see what the Bears can do with the ball, but it might have to be too much to get them into the playoffs this year.
Why is Drew Wrong?
Vikings? Second? Heck no! I did enjoy his prediction on the Bears (sorry Tyler).
This is how we look after we’ve read each prediction
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What do you think?
Who was spot on and who is way off? What’s your prediction?
Most importantly, who will win the NFL North this season?
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About Amanda Lawson
