NFC North: Week 1 Preview

The Chicago Bears begin the season with a visit from the Buffalo Bills.

Once again the NFC North figures to be a competitive division, with three teams looking like potential division champions. There’s a big asterisk beside this remark though.

Injury has struck the NFC North hard these past few seasons, with both Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler being forced to watch their postseason contending teams from the sidelines. While the division’s four representatives have plenty of differences, you can bet that they all share the same desire for their teams to remain healthy.

Week 1 in the NFC North got underway on Thursday. Betting Sports now brings you an overview of the rest of the schedule.

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Seattle Seahawks 36, Green Bay Packers 16

CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA (Thursday)

Having opened the season as the favorite to win the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers (0-1) stumbled against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (1-0) on Thursday, losing the game 36-16.

The Packers didn’t look like championship contenders in the season opener, but with 16 more weeks to go, Mike McCarthy will have time to round his team into shape.

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Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (1:00 p.m. ET)

The Chicago Bears (0-0, 0-0 home) will begin the 2014 campaign trying to wash away the bad taste left by last season. While an 8-8 record was nearly enough to sneak into the postseason, it wasn’t nearly good enough for a fan base that demands more.

The Bears begin this season with a visit from the lowly Buffalo Bills (0-0, 0-0 road), a team that has struggled on the road for years now. The Bills don’t figure to be a threat to many this season, especially away from Orchard Park, but Mark Trestman’s side would do well to cross the t’s and dot the i’s in this one, or face an embarrassing start to the year.

The Bears are 7-4 all-time against the Bills, and have won the past two meetings between the sides. The Bears are 5-0 at home against the Bills, making them the smart bet in this one.

Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears odds for 09/07/2014

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Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams

Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MI (1:00 p.m. ET)

Two years ago the Minnesota Vikings (0-0, 0-0 road) pulled off a stunning upset by going home with the NFC North title. Things returned to normal last year with a dire 5-10-1 season that had little merit. Few expect much of the Vikings this year – the team is currently listed at 75/1 to win the Super Bowl – but Week 1 at least offers a chance to get off to a winning start.

The St. Louis Rams (0-0, 0-0 home) will play the 2014 season without quarterback Sam Bradford, out for the year with a torn ACL. Depending on who you talk to, this may be a good thing or a bad thing for Jeff Fisher’s side. Veteran Shaun Hill will take over behind center, looking to guide the Rams to some kind of success.

The Vikings have won two straight (both on the road) and three of the last four against the Rams, a stretch that dates back to December 2005.

Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams odds for 09/07/2014

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New York Giants at Detroit Lions

Ford Field, Detroit, MI (Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET)

The Detroit Lions (0-0, 0-0 home) begin their season in the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader, where they’ll host the New York Giants.

Betting Sports will bring you a preview of this game on Monday.

New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions odds for 09/08/2014

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Next Week

Chicago at San Francisco

Detroit at Carolina

NY Jets at Green Bay

New England at Minnesota

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For an up-to-date list of Week 1 NFL odds, click here.

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