Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) reacts after a play against the Houston Texans during the second half at Soldier Field. The Houston Texans defeat the Chicago Bears 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

The Minnesota Vikings will have their hands full with Jay Cutler and all his fancy weapons. First, we have the speed demon Devin Hester. Personally, I want to see Josh Robinson shut down Hester. Robinson has the speed to keep with Hester and is aggressive when attacking the ball. Next is Matt Forte. Forte has not been as productive this season because of the presence of Michael Bush, however, that doesn’t make him any less dangerous with the football. Forte is really a threat in the screen game. This is where the Vikings D-line will need to sniff out these plays and get in position to break it up. We all know that the key to stopping the Bears Offense is to take away the first person to touch the ball, Jay Cutler. The Bears offensive line has been just that, offensive. Cutler was injured in week 10 with a concussion because that line could not protect him. He stepped up as the pocket collapsed and was met with a helmet right under the chin. Cutler is better on the run than he gets credit for because he has to be. Cutler has been sacked 28 times this season. Enter Jared Allen. Allen is poised to have a great game going up against the very weak Bears O-line. It is often said that football games are won in the trenches and this may be one of those games for the Vikings. Getting pressure on Cutler will be key to a Vikings win. As I said, Cutler is pretty accurate on the run and the Vikings secondary will need to stay glued to their man for extended periods of time. That is where this team is dangerous. When Cutler and Brandon Marshall free style and find open space. Containment of Cutler is crucial. They must not let him escape the pocket when it breaks down. The Vikings are here, crunch time, how will they respond to the pressure of playoff aspirations? We will find out soon enough.

Jan 7, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) warms-up prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints prior to the start of the 2011 NFC Wild Card Playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

In our new series Best in the NFC North we’ll spotlight the division’s top five players at each position. Some of these lists are sure to be controversial, others not so much. Let’s start out with one of the more talent-loaded positions in the division, wide receiver. The pick for #1 won’t be controversial at all unless you’re a true Lions hater…

1. Calvin Johnson – Lions

Johnson defines elite at the receiver position. With his one-of-a-kind combination of size, speed, strength and agility, he is basically unstoppable. It’s not often a wide receiver deserves legitimate mention as an MVP candidate, but Johnson did last year. And if the Lions go on another playoff run in 2012, Johnson will be in the MVP discussion again. What would Matthew Stafford be without him?

2. Brandon Marshall – Bears

Marshall had a nice season in 2011 playing for a Dolphins team that didn’t exactly light it up in the passing game. This year Marshall will have Jay Cutler throwing him the ball, as he did in Denver during his most productive years. Should be a big year for Marshall and a big year for the Bears.

Jan 1, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) rushes for 13 yards against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at the Metrodome. The Bears win 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

3. Percy Harvin – Vikings

Bill Musgrave had all last year to figure out Percy Harvin. Toward season’s end the offensive coordinator finally got a feel for what his talented receiver can do, and Harvin had some of his biggest games. Harvin’s numbers should go up even more if Christian Ponder gets some pass protection and Jerome Simpson provides a deep threat to complement Harvin’s slot receiver talents. A 100-catch, 1200-yard season is not out of the question for Percy, if he can stay clear of the injury bug.

4. Greg Jennings – Packers

A bad knee slowed Jennings down some in 2011, but he still had a solid season. He may be just another interchangeable cog in the Packers’ system but that doesn’t diminish his accomplishments. Much.

5. Jordy Nelson – Packers

With Jennings taking a dip, Jordy Nelson became the stat monster for the Packers, ringing up over 1200 yards and 15 TDs in 2011. I seriously doubt he’ll ever have another season like that again, but you never know. Maybe it wasn’t a semi-fluke. It’s probably not fair to say he’d turn into Greg Camarillo without Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. He’s definitely better than Camarillo.

Other Guys to watch: Titus Young – Lions; Jerome Simpson – Vikings; Alshon Jeffery – Bears

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Jan 1, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s take a quick spin around the rest of the NFC North and see what the Vikings’ divisional rivals have been up to while we’ve been celebrating the passage of the stadium bill:

The Bears have been busy locking up their draft picks. #19 overall pick Shea McClellin signed on Friday for $7.2 million in guaranteed money and is now expected to compete for a spot at defensive end. In other Bears-related happenings, ESPN Chicago reports that new receiver Alshon Jeffery – a guy many Viking fans had their eyes on during the lead-up to the draft – will play in the slot at least initially, with Brandon Marshall and Devin Hester lining up as the primary outside receivers. Speaking of Hester, new OC Mike Tice says he wants to use the speedy receiver “creatively.” We know Mike Tice is very creative, especially when it comes to getting rid of excess Super Bowl tickets.

Like the Bears, the Packers have been busily engaged signing their 2012 rookies. OLB Nick Perry, a guy the Packers hope will become a beast of a pass rusher, was inked to a four year deal with a team-held fifth year option. The Packers also signed cornerback Casey Hayward to a four year deal and will now hope Hayward develops enough to allow aging Charles Woodson to shift to safety.

As for the Lions…it appears Ndamukong Suh will be starring on a new Fox reality dating show called “The Choice.” Other male “contestants” on the show include Warren Sapp, Rob Gronkowski and The Situation. You know how everyone in Detroit is always saying Suh is very mild-mannered and soft-spoken and shy? Obviously, that’s true.

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