NFL Quarterly Review: NFC North

The NFL regular season is a quarter over, and with that, let’s take a look at how all the divisions stack up so far. Who are the MVPs, players who need to step up (let’s call them LVPs), players to watch going forward, and favorites to win the division crowns?

NFC NORTH

MVP: Bears’ D

Off to a weird start—giving the MVP to a defensive unit rather than a player—but hear me out. So far, Chicago has looked like the class of the division, and most of that is thanks to their D. The Bears have allowed the fewest points in the division (5th fewest in the league, heading into the weekend), are always a threat to score (as evidenced on Monday night), and are allowing opposing teams to convert only 26.1% of third downs (second only to Houston). These guys either get the ball back to their offense, or take it to the house themselves. 

Julius Peppers and co. have silenced opposing offenses this year

LVP: Greg Jennings

So I’m being a little unfair here, as Jennings has battled injury throughout the young season and hasn’t played all that many snaps. However, the Packers offense currently looks like a shell of their former selves, and I’ve got to blame somebody, right? Jennings will likely shake the LVP tag by the end of the year simply by hitting the field, but for now he has definitely underwhelmed.

Player to Watch: Aaron Rodgers

I know I just downplayed the Packers offense a second ago, but if the Packers are going to emerge as the powerhouse they were last year, it’s likely going to come down to Rodgers. He looked fantastic for the most part on Sunday, as he torched the Saints, but who can’t torch New Orleans these days? If the Pack want to take the division title, Rodgers will have to flash the discount double-check a little more often.

Rodgers is going to have to flash The Belt
more often for the Pack to win the division

Division Winner: Chicago Bears

The Packers are still the favorite to most, but I think the Bears will continue to play well. Matt Forte is healthy again, and when Jay Cutler isn’t chewing out his own offensive line (or offensive coordinator) he’s finding Brandon Marshall down the field. The defense will continue to play well, and Chicago will manage to hold off Green Bay.

Division Dog: Minnesota Vikings

They’ve played really well so far, and Christian Ponder has actually looked capable as a quarterback. So why am I picking them for the bottom of the division? Well, I’m just not ready to sell the Lions quite yet. Matt Stafford and co. will improve past their bye week, which leaves the Vikings for the bottom of the pile. This isn’t to say they’ll fall apart from here. But c’mon, they’re not as good as the rest of the teams in the NFC North, are they?