Bears are bottom dwellers on ESPN’s Week 1 power rankings

View image | gettyimages.comThe 2015 NFL season appears to bode well for the NFC North division.

The Packers, despite losing Jordy Nelson for the season, are loaded in many offensive areas and combine the ground-and-pound efforts of Eddie Lacy with that of Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Lions added new rushers to its backfield this offseason, on team that featured two wideouts (Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson) going over 1,000 yards receiving. The Vikings finally get a look at their offense with Adrian Peterson starring in the same backfield as rising sophomore Teddy Bridgewater.

There is but one team projected to be on the down-swing in the North this season. The Bears had been one of the perennial and prominent defensive teams in the league for most of the franchise’s history, but as they change to a more offensive philosophy, the Bears have struggled to find similar success.

Last season, the Bears limped to a 5-11 record, worst in the division. There are very few who find hope in the team’s ability to right the ship in 2015.

ESPN has the Bears at No. 25 in its Week 1 Power Rankings.

Time may prove that the John Fox-led Bears will outperform their preseason predictions, but it will take the team maximizing the talent on the team — which isn’t great to begin with.

With Chicago’s historically terrible results against Rodgers and the Packers, the No. 25 ranking may be quite generous for Week 1.