Our NFL experts offer their predictions
We asked our NFL experts to share their predictions on the season, their comments on whether the Bears will make the playoffs, and their pick to win Super Bowl XLVIII in New York.
Bob LeGere
rlegere@dailyherald.com
Bears: 10-6
Offense takes a big step forward; defense takes a small step back; record stays the same, but this time they make the playoffs.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Minnesota
Detroit
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
New Orleans
Carolina
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
Dallas
Washington
New York Giants
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
New York Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Bears, Seattle
NFC title: San Francisco over Atlanta
AFC wild cards: Baltimore, Indianapolis
AFC title: Denver over Houston
Super Bowl: San Francisco over Denver
Colin Kaepernick, the NFL’s most athletic QB, leads the league’s most well-balanced team over Peyton Manning. Broncos D doesn’t stack up.
Mike Imrem
mimrem@dailyherald.com
Bears: 10-6
Jay Cutler will be better but still make myriad mistakes. The defense and rest of the offense will cover up for his shortcomings.
NFC NORTH
BEARS
Green Bay
Detroit
Minnesota
NFC SOUTH
Carolina
Atlanta
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
Dallas
N.Y. Giants
Washington
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
Seattle
San Francisco
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Kansas City
Denver
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Atlanta, San Francisco
NFC title: Seattle over San Francisco
AFC wild cards: Denver, Miami
AFC title: Denver over Houston
Super Bowl: Seattle over Denver
As a short man who is shrinking, I’m partial to short quarterbacks that don’t shrink. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson fills that role perfectly.
Barry Rozner
brozner@dailyherald.com
Bears: 8-8
Bears are in rebuild mode and this season will show it as they miss the postseason, but better days are ahead under Emery and Trestman.
NFC NORTH
Detroit
Green Bay
BEARS
Minnesota
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
Carolina
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
N.Y Giants
Washington
Philadelphia
Dallas
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Green Bay and Seattle
NFC title: Seattle over San Francisco
AFC wild cards: Indianapolis and Kansas City
AFC title: Denver over New England
Super Bowl: Denver over Seattle
Peyton Manning won’t be denied as he completes his NFL comeback and ties brother Eli with two Super Bowl victories.
Hub Arkush
harkush@shawmedia.com Bears: 9-7
There are too many questions for Bears to make playoffs. Even where we’re confident they’ll be better, how will they be good enough?
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Minnesota
Detroit
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
Carolina
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
Washington
N.Y. Giants
Dallas
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Baltimore
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Seattle, Carolina
NFC title: San Francisco over Green Bay
AFC wild cards: Baltimore, Kansas City
AFC title: New England over Houston
Super Bowl: San Francisco over New England
The Patriots are much better on defense and Tom Brady is, well, Tom Brady. But the 49ers are the most complete team and they’ll knock off the Pats.
Joe Aguilar
jaguilar@dailyherald.com
Bears: 10-6
They won 10 games with Mike Tice calling plays last year and have upgraded at OC, TE, LT and RG. They lost J-Webb. The D will be good enough.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Minnesota
Detroit
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Carolina
NFC EAST
N.Y Giants
Washington
Dallas
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
Arizona
St. Louis
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Bears, Seattle
NFC title: San Francisco over Atlanta
AFC wild cards: Indianapolis and Baltimore
AFC title: Denver over Indianapolis
Super Bowl: San Francisco over Denver
I’m still stunned San Francisco didn’t win Super Bowl XLVII. Younger Harbaugh wins this one, and Colin Kaepernick runs off with MVP honor.
John Dietz
jdietz@dailyherald.com
Bears: 9-7
Trestman’s thin squad could go 11-5 if everyone stays healthy, but a 5-11 mark is possible with 2-3 key injuries. I’ll take middle ground.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Detroit
Minnesota
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
New Orleans
Carolina
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
Dallas
New York
Washington
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Buffalo
Miami
New York
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: New Orleans, Seattle
NFC title: San Francisco over Atlanta
AFC wild cards: Indianapolis, Baltimore
AFC title: Denver over Houston
Super Bowl: Denver over San Francisco
No way Peyton Manning lets this season get away. Think Michael Jordan after losing to Magic in 1995. Broncos have stellar run game and top D.
Mike Spellman
mspellman@dailyherald.com
Bears: 10-6
I’m bullish on the Bears. Finally they have a real offense to go with their battle-tested D. If they get off to a good start, it’s wild-card time.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Detroit
Minnesota
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Carolina
NFC EAST
N.Y Giants
Washington
Dallas
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
Arizona
St. Louis
AFC NORTH
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
San Diego
Kansas City
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Bears, Seattle
NFC title: Seattle over New Orleans
AFC wild cards: Cincinnati, Indianapolis
AFC title: Houston over New England
Super Bowl: Houston over Seattle
Not quite the marquee match up that most NFL fans would hope for, but hey, it’s New York in February! Enjoy!
Michael Wilkening
wilkening.michael@gmail.com
Bears: 9-7
A schedule loaded with tricky games could be too much to overcome. NFC looks exceptionally deep and too competitive for Bears.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
BEARS
Minnesota
Detroit
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Carolina
NFC EAST
Philadelphia
N.Y. Giants
Washington
Dallas
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
Arizona
St. Louis
AFC NORTH
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis
Houston
Jacksonville
Tennessee
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
AFC WEST
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: Seattle, New Orleans.
NFC title: San Francisco over Green Bay.
AFC wild cards: Houston, Pittsburgh.
AFC title: Baltimore over Denver.
Super Bowl: San Francisco over Baltimore.
Why not a rematch? The 49ers have more upside, and the Ravens will again be strong. This time, though, San Francisco powers to the title.
Mike North
mike@northtonorth.com
Bears: 10-6
Bears get the wild card. The defense will be shaky, but the offense a lot better this season. Matt Forte may have MVP-type season.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay
Bears
Detroit
Minnesota
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
New Orleans
Carolina
Tampa Bay
NFC EAST
N.Y. Giants
Dallas
Washington
Philadelphia
NFC WEST
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
AFC NORTH
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Jacksonville
AFC EAST
New England
Miami
N.Y. Jets
Buffalo
AFC WEST
Kansas City
Denver
San Diego
Oakland
NFC wild cards: New Orleans, Bears
NFC title: Atlanta over San Francisco
AFC wild cards: Denver, Indianapolis
AFC title: Houston over Denver
Super Bowl: Atlanta over Houston
Atlanta wins its first Super Bowl as Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub throw for over 800 yards combined. Turnovers will decide the game.