Urlacher has brought the Bears back into the hunt.

Were the 2001 Bears a fluke? We'll find out when they face the Pats, Eagles and Rams instead of the Bengals, Browns and Jags. We say 13–3 becomes 10–6.

STRONG SIDE

LB: This isn't Buddy's 46-D of the mid-'80s, but the NFL's stingiest scoring defense (12.7 ppg) makes the Bears a legit Super Bowl contender. Remember the 2001 Ravens and 2002 Pats? Chicago's swarming unit feeds off MLB Brian Urlacher (117 tackles), a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons, who has added 10 pounds of muscle without losing any speed. He's surrounded by leading sacker Rosevelt Colvin (10.5) and second-leading tackler Warrick Holdman (109). This LB trio knows how to share the wealth. The addition of FA Mike Caldwell, who started for the Eagles last year, only makes them deeper and better.

WEAK SIDE

DB: Losing CB Walt Harris (Colts) and SS Tony Parrish (49ers) is big. New secondary starters CB Jerry Azumah (5'10", 189) and SS Mike Green (six feet, 195) have the speed, but not the size. When you're No. 29 in pass D, you need help. Chicago didn't get it. CB R.W. McQuarters (3 INTs) and FS Mike Brown (5 INTs), who missed most of camp with a broken hand, must match their standout campaigns of 2001.

NFC North

1. Packers

2. Bears

3. Vikings

4. Lions

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: Oft-injured Chris Chandler arrives from Atlanta to back up oft-injured Jim Miller. Over 16 games, they add up to one heckuva QB. Miller (11–2 as a starter in 2001) is the man -- first. Success depends on keeping one of them healthy, and on O-coordinator John Shoop opening up the passing game.

RB: Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas powered the attack last season. The A-Train led all NFC rooks with 1,183 yards rushing -- and didn't crack the starting lineup until the fifth game. Depth isn't a problem: Leon Johnson scored once every five times he touched the ball out of the backfield.

WR: If Marcus Robinson stays healthy (he hasn't played a full season since 1999); if Marty Booker stays just as he is (he caught 100 passes last season); if second-year wideout David Terrell stays on the right track, then the Bears will be -- dare we say it? -- an offensive juggernaut.

OL: The bad news: Bernard Robertson or No. 1 pick Marc Colombo will replace LT Blake Brockermeyer, who signed with Denver. The good news: Four starters return from the NFL's best pass protection group (17 sacks allowed), including Pro Bowlers RT James Williams and C Olin Kreutz.

DL: The NFC's best run D (82.1 ypg) depends on the tackles -- Keith Traylor (6'2", 343) and Ted Washington (6'5", 365) -- controlling the line of scrimmage. They do. But DEs Phillip Daniels and Bryan Robinson need more than 13.5 sacks combined for the Bears to be a real menace.

ST: P Brad Maynard pins 'em deep (41.4% inside 20, second in NFL). PK Paul Edinger is consistent (34/34 PATs; 26/31 FGs). Larry Whigham made the Pro Bowl for special teams coverage.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.