Onion Sports’ 2014 NFL Preview: NFC North

With the 2014 NFL season kicking off this week, Onion Sports has in-depth analysis on each team in the NFC North.

Bears

Strength: Pass-heavy offense potent enough to keep pace with 40-odd points that defense will give up every game

Weakness: Just gave $126 million to quarterback with grand total of one playoff win

Offense: Possesses all the key elements needed for anyone other than Marc Trestman

Key Defensive Asset: Brian Urlacher

Biggest Question: How are they going to fuck it up this time?

Lions

Strengths: Franchise has consistently maintained standard of Lions football for several decades; Team excels at putting previous weeks’ games behind them

Weakness: Effectiveness of pass rush hinges on consistent performance of mentally unstable psychopath

Key Player: Matthew Stafford’s cannon arm capable of putting ball into deepest reaches of triple coverage

Coaching Philosophy: Head coach Jim Caldwell should return to successful strategy of ensuring Peyton Manning is his quarterback

Goal: Home attendance spike due to greater number of vagrants living in Ford Field

Projected 2013 Record: 7-9

Packers

Strengths: Clay Matthews entering prime of pitchman career; Team’s porous defense allows its dominant offense to stay on field for most of game; Running back Eddie Lacy excels at gaining yards after contact from flailing bodies of his blockers

Weakness: As the NFL’s smallest market, Green Bay simply lacks depth at the 18- to 34-year-old demographic to be a contender in modern era

Key Player: Aaron Rodgers is a proven collapsed pocket passer

Injury Update: B.J. Raji’s season-ending biceps injury creates massive headache for Packers’ team cafeteria

Key Offseason Acquisition: Signed defensive end Julius Peppers away from rival Chicago, suggesting that players might not actually buy into any of that bullshit

Goal: Eddie Lacy still motivated to prove Packers wrong for passing on him during first round of 2013 NFL Draft

Fun Fact: Roger Goodell still waiting for right moment to ban Lambeau Leap as a touchdown celebration

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Vikings

Strengths: Departure of defensive end Jared Allen significantly boosts team’s likability; After six years with Bengals, rookie head coach Mike Zimmer already accustomed to making objectively shitty team look half-decent

Weakness: Team still unable to fill proselytizing gap left by departed punter Chris Kluwe

Training Camp Controversy: Matt Cassel chosen over Christian Ponder and rookie Teddy Bridgewater to lead Vikings to a 4-12 season

Key Position Battle: It remains to be seen whether quarterback or cornerback will win out as team’s biggest liability

Stopgap QB Expected To Miraculously Keep Team In Contention Despite Middling Abilities: Matt Cassel

Defense: No

OSN Stat: Vikings have not lost a single game in 2014

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