For once, it seems Bears quarterback Jay Cutler might actually have a little bit of time to throw, given Chicago's acquisition of left tackle Jermon Bushrod. In his NFC North predictions, Ufford picked the Bears will get over 8.5 wins and make the playoffs.
If Cutler finally has some protection, the same can't be said for Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay Packers won the NFC North last season, and they did so despite a meager offensive line to protect their star quarterback. The best player on that line, tackle Bryan Bulaga, is out for the season with a torn ACL -- so Ufford took the under on the 10.5 wins for the Packers.
Ufford noted that of the six running backs to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season, none rushed for even 1,500 the next year, and with Christian Ponder still the team's quarterback, Ufford chose the Vikings to hit the under on 7.5 wins. After a breakout year in 2011 and a breakdown year in 2012, Ufford thinks the Lions' will find something in the middle in 2013. For him, that's good enough to take the over on 7.5 wins, calling them "solid but unspectacular."