Lions, Packers, Vikings or Bears? Your NFC North pick is in

According to betting sites, the Bears are — by far — the NFC North’s least likely team to claim the division crown.

But in this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, our voters went with the Bears ahead of both the Packers and the Vikings. Only the Lions, the defending division champs, received more support.

“The Lions still rule until further notice,” @JBIRD1268 commented.

“Each team besides the Lions has more unknowns,” @ronw_sportsnut wrote.

We also appreciated this weigh-in, from @reesetheone1: “Sigh … Packers.”

Next, we asked if the Bears will be stronger on offense or on defense this season, with the latter side of the ball winning out.

Last, we threw some receiving milestones and asked which one you’d most love to see. By the narrowest of margins, the vote went to Rome Odunze reaching 1,000 yards over the team’s tight ends combining for 10 touchdowns. Let’s be honest, though — either one would be mighty nice.

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: Who’s your pick to win the NFC North this season?

Upshot: The world seems to have almost entirely forgotten about the Vikings going 14-3 last season. Have they really fallen all the way down into no-shot territory a year later? Also, and not to be overlooked: Sigh … the Packers.

Poll No. 2: On which side of the ball will the Bears be stronger?

Upshot: It’s a “Monsters” kind of town, and a killer “D” would, indeed, be most welcome. But even your uncle with the Ed Sprinkle jersey is hoping to see quarterback Caleb Williams blossom into a superstar. If that happens, anything else is gravy.

Poll No. 3: If you could wish one of these receiving stats into existence for the 2025 Bears, which would it be?

Upshot: Rome wasn’t built in a day, but this is Year 2 for the wideout — a cool thou seems perfectly doable.