NFC NORTH: PRESSURE’S ON COUSINS IN MINNESOTA AFTER CASHING IN

1 VIKINGS

COACH: Mike Zimmer 2017 RECORD: 13-3 O/U WINS: 10 SUPER BOWL ODDS: 10/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: It’s Super Bowl-orBust for new QB Kirk Cousins. He’ll love throwing to WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph. RB Dalvin Cook is a difference-maker returning from a torn ACL. DE Everson Griffen, CB Xavier Rhodes and S Harrison Smith are Purple People Eaters on Zimmer’s defense. DE Danielle Hunter can be a double-digit sacker. MLB Eric Kendricks has the speed and OLB Anthony Barr has the size. DT Sheldon Richardson adds toughness alongside NT Linval Joseph. First-round rookie CB/KR Mike Hughes averaged 31.8 yards on kickoff returns at Central Florida last season. FOURTH-AND-LONG: The offensive line is nothing special. New OC John DeFilippo comes highly touted, but he’s replacing Pat Shurmur. The coverage units have struggled, although special teams coordinator Mike Priefer is solid. PK Daniel Carlson has a big leg … but he’s a rookie.

2 PACKERS

COACH: Mike McCarthy | 2017 RECORD: 7-9 O/U WINS: 10 | SUPER BOWL ODDS: 10/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: Rodgers, Rodgers, Rodgers. Pro Bowl WR Davonte Adams is his Go-To Guy. TE Jimmy Graham should be a redzone monster. WR Randall Cobb is a dependable slot receiver. LT David Bakhtiari and RT Bryan Bulaga give QB Aaron Rodgers (right) comfort. Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark and Muhammad Wilkerson — if he’s motivated and not late to meetings — is a stout defensive line. A trio of high draft choices at cornerback — Kevin King last year, Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson this year — will make new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine happy. OLB Clay Matthews is 32, but he’s Clay Matthews. OLB Nick Perry has 18 sacks over the past two years. ILB Blake Martinez registered 144 tackles in 2017. FOURTH-AND-LONG: Bulaga is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 9. Aaron Jones serves a twogame suspension but will be an afterthought along with fellow RBs Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams. Matthews and Perry have been injury-prone and depth is a problem. The strength of schedule is the most difficult in the league.

3 BEARS

COACH: Matt Nagy 2017 RECORD: 5-11 O/U WINS: 7 SUPER BOWL ODDS: 60/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: DE Khalil Mack (below) is a game-changing Monster of the Midway who makes Da Bears a top-five defense. Nagy is a creative playcaller. The idea is for him to have the same impact on Mitchell Trubisky as Sean McVay had on Jared Goff. The talent has been upgraded for Trubisky: WRs Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel and TE Trey Burton. RB Jordan Howard has averaged more than 1,200 rushing yards in his two seasons and rookie LG James Daniels boosts a quality line. RB Tarik Cohen can be Tyreek Hill Lite. Second-round WR Anthony Miller has swag and a chip on his shoulder. OLB Leonard Floyd can be a doubledigit sacker if he can finally stay healthy. DE Akiem Hicks (8.5 sacks last season) is ascending. Shutdown corner Kyle Fuller highlights an impressive secondary. First-round MLB Roquan Smith is a leader. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is widely respected. FOURTH-AND-LONG: Trubisky has played 12 games. OLB Aaron Lynch is not a trustworthy bookend for Floyd. Somebody needs to step up opposite Hicks. Punter Pat O’Donnell was signed to a oneyear, $500,000 guaranteed deal.

4 LIONS

COACH: Matt Patricia 2017 RECORD: 9-7 O/U WINS: 8 SUPER BOWL ODDS: 50/1 FIRST-AND-GOAL: Clutch Matthew Stafford (left) has an 85-33 TD-INT ratio over the past three seasons. Deep threat Marvin Jones and slot receiver Golden Tate complement each other beautifully, and second-year WR Kenny Golladay is a stock riser. Football isn’t rocket science, but don’t tell the rookie head coach Patricia. OC Jim Bob Cooter was retained, and you just can’t say or write Jim Bob Cooter enough. Rookie RB Kerryon Johnson looks like a keeper. LeGarrette Blount can still move a pile. Theo Riddick has caught 186 passes out of the backfield the past three seasons. Rookie first-round LG Frank Ragnow adds physicality to a line that should be much improved (47 sacks allowed in 2017). A healthy Ziggy Ansah will provide the pass rush. CB Darius “Big Play” Slay (eight INTs) should be avoided by QBs. FOURTH-AND-LONG: The run defense will be vulnerable. MLB Jarrad Davis struggled as a rookie. The new TEs are Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo, not exactly John Mackey and Rob Gronkowski. Who on the defensive line helps Ansah rush the passer? Answer: Patricia’s schemes. The corner opposite Slay will be busy.