The Sporting News Doesn’t Think Very Highly of the Purple

The Sporting News has come out with its predictions for the various divisions.  They see the NFC North shaping up this way: Green Bay 11-5 Chicago 10-6 Minnesota 9-7 Detroit 3-13 Hold on a second while I get done laughing at that Lions prediction… Okay, now back to the Vikings.  9-7?  I guess I can understand it.  Nobody's sold on Tarvaris Jackson yet.  The receiver corps has issues.  We don't have a tight end.  I'm not going to get too upset about such a pick. Um…but the Bears at 10-6?  Based on what?  Their dynamic quarterback?  Their young, never-injured defense?  Their awesome receivers?  Their depth at running back?  Sorry but I don't get it.  Put the Bears side-by-side with the Vikings and tell me where the Bears are a game better than them.  Can you even argue that the Bears have the superior defense at this point?  How did they play last year?  Did Brian Urlacher get a year younger?  Didn't he have surgery in the off-season? That one puzzles me…way more than even the Packers being picked at 11-5.  If Aaron Rodgers plays well?  Yeah, I can see the Packers having a nice season.  But if he doesn't…forget about 11-5.