By Trey Crosby

Green Bay Packers

Last Season Record: 8-7-1

2014 Record Prediction: 11-5

Impact Players: Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, AJ Hawk

Rookie Impact: HaHa Clinton-Dix

Top Pickups: Julius Peppers

Needs to Step Up: Julius Peppers 

Overall Thoughts: This team won the division last year without Aaron Rodgers for a considerable amount of time. Aaron Rodgers stays healthy and Green Bay should run away with this thing.

Chicago Bears

Last Season Record: 8-8

2014 Record Prediction: 9-7

Impact Players: Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Charles Tillman

Rookie Impact: Kyle Fuller

Top Pickups: Jared Allen

Needs to Step Up: Jay Ratliff, Stephen Paea

Overall Thoughts: “DA BEARS” will look the same as they did for the most part last season. The offense will carry them and keep Chicago in every game, but defensively they will be in a lot of trouble. Can’t win the division if your only chance in stopping Aaron Rodgers is hoping he’s injured. Until the Bears answer their problems on the defensive end they will forever find themselves looking up at the Packers in the standings column.

Detroit Lions

Last Season Record: 6-10

2014 Record Prediction: 7-9

Impact Players: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh

Rookie Impact: Eric Ebron, Kyle Van Noy

Top Pickups: Golden Tate

Needs to Step Up: Nick Fairley

Overall Thoughts: The Detroit Lions had a horrible meltdown last season after a great start and ended with them on the outside looking in when it came time for the playoffs. While I don’t foresee an epic collapse, I do see a team with tons of potential that like always, just doesn’t get the job done.

Minnesota Vikings

Last Season Record: 5-10-1

2014 Record Prediction: 4-12

Impact Players: Adrian Peterson, Matt Kalil

Rookie Impact: Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr

Top Pickups: None

Needs To Step Up: Everson Griffen

Overall Thoughts: The Vikings are in rebuilding mode. I wasn’t a fan of Bridgewater before the draft, but I have liked what I’ve seen so far in the preseason. I think the Vikings should let Teddy go out and play and let him go through his bumps in the road like any other rookie quarterback with potential. The Vikes’ are 3-0 in the preseason. With a deadly start to their schedule, they will be lucky to win three games all year. Skol’ that.