Eleven weeks into the 2008 NFL season, the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings all sit atop the NFC North division with identical 5-5 records. The Bears have overachieved, the Packers the opposite, and the Vikes are right about where I thought they would be. Here's a quick look at the remaining schedules for both teams, and how I think each will fare down the stretch...
MIN: @ JAX (L), vs. CHI (W), @ DET (W), @ ARI (L), vs. ATL (L), vs. NYG (W) = 8-8
CHI: @ STL (L), @ MIN (L), vs. JAX (W), vs. NO (L), vs. GB (L), @ HOU (W) = 7-9
GB: @ NO (L), vs. CAR (L), vs. HOU (W), @ JAX (W), @ CHI (W), vs. DET (W) = 9-7
So, with six weeks left, I have to give the slight division title edge to the Green Bay Packers at this point. However, none of those three teams have shown any sort of dominant stretch in them all season, so a team like Detroit or Houston could prove to be huge spoilers. One thing is almost certainly clear...with the dominance of the NFC East and NFC South divisions, only one team (the division winner) from the North will be playoff-bound.
Go Vikings!!
Keywords: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South
