In one of the strangest seasons in recent memory, the Chicago Bears shook off their considerable issues and ended up taking down the NFC North, holding off eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay in the process.  The Packers happen to be the team that everyone is talking about heading into the season, and for good reason considering how the ended the last one, but the Bears still are in a great position to be a potential thorn in their side.  With Jay Cutler rebounding and getting mostly back on track in 2010 after a dreadful 2009 season, the Bears may only be a piece or two away from being legitimate contenders in the NFC.

But the Bears also need to find someone to step up and become more of a playmaker offensively for them to have a chance to stick with the more explosive teams in the league.  Though they boast Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers on defense, which is a deadly combo, they have yet to find the top-end receiving threat that can make them as dangerous as the Packers, something that eventually came back to bite them last season.  With the NFL and the NFLPA looking to finally get over the differences and get back to the gridiron, it will be interesting to see what coach Lovie Smith and his staff will come up with as the Bears look to defend their NFC North title.

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