2013 Super Bowl Odds: Analyzing Early Title Chances for Each NFC North Team

The New York Giants have yet to be sized for their Super Bowl rings, but that doesn't mean we can't indulge in a little pre-pre-preseason prognostication about next year.

The NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in football, and it's quite possible we will see more than just one of its members take the field once the playoffs come around again.

With that in mind, here are the chances that each of the division's four teams can make it all the way to the Super Bowl in the 2012-2013 season.

Chicago Bears

Things didn't go as planned for the Chicago Bears in the 2011 season. Just as everything seemed to come together, it fell apart. It started in Week 11, with quarterback Jay Cutler being lost for the season after breaking the thumb on his throwing arm and then running back Matt Forte suffering a partial tear of his MCL in Week 13.

At full health in 2012, the Bears should be able to bounce back and be a truly tough team to beat, not just in the division, but in the league as a whole as well.

With Mike Tice as the team's new offensive coordinator and Phil Emery the new general manager, the Bears should take on a different form in 2012, but one that is ultimately much better for the team.

The main concern is whether the Bears can find at least one big-play receiver for Cutler, and if their defense can stop the powerful offenses of division-mates Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

As it stands now, I see the Bears being a playoff team, but not having quite what it takes to reach and win the Super Bowl next season. While it seems possible they can get there in the next three seasons, I don't see it happening in 2012-2013.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions' 2011 was their best since 1995, and it marked their first playoff appearance since 1999, but the team and their fans aren't ready to think that's the peak of the Matthew Stafford-Jim Schwartz era.

Luckily, it's not going to be. Detroit has issues they need to deal with in the offseason, such as improving their running game and secondary, and keeping their starters healthy is always a concern with memories of Stafford's shoulder issues still fresh in everyone's minds.

If they can shore up their deficiencies and remain as strong in the passing game in the 2012 season, then the Lions will be one of the most unstoppable forces in the NFL.

At this very early point, I can almost guarantee another playoff appearance. A Super Bowl win seems more far-fetched, but certainly not out of reach for the NFC North's most improved franchise.

Minnesota Vikings

Of all the teams in the NFC North, it seems that the Minnesota Vikings have the lowest chance of winning the Super Bowl next season. While they should finish the year better than 3-13, their 2011 record, they don't look like a playoff team at this point.

The Vikings have a number of strikes against them heading into the 2012 season. Quarterback Christian Ponder might be the future of the franchise, but he's certainly got a lot of work to do in the coming months in order to improve his game.

Running back Adrian Peterson won't likely be back on the field for his team until at least Week 8, after tearing both his ACL and MCL in Week 16 of the 2011 season. They'll need to find a way to make up for his prodigious production, either on the ground, in the passing game or both—a feat far easier said than done.

On defense, the Vikings will need to field more than Jared Allen if they are going to stop opponents on a regular basis.

The Vikings could end up one of the surprises of 2012, especially if they handle Peterson's injury well, make smart moves both in the draft and in free agency and Ponder makes significant progress. But I don't see them reaching the postseason next year and certainly not winning the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers

On the heels of their Super Bowl-winning year, the Green Bay Packers went 15-1 in 2011 and were heavily favored to repeat as champions. Instead, they couldn't shake the bye week rust and fell to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, in the divisional round.

The Packers will still be a team to beat in 2012, but I do see them taking a step backward, albeit not a significant one. They're the second-favored team to win the Super Bowl this coming season and are well-managed enough to assume the organization will fix the issues on defense via the draft and free agency.

But the NFC North is going to be even more dangerous a division in the 2012 season and the Packers aren't my lock to be its top team.

Green Bay won't miss the playoffs, that's for sure, and it's realistic to say they can make it to and win the Super Bowl. They just might have to do it as the conference's fifth or sixth seed this year.

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