With the NFL world possibly on the eve of ending a four-month old lockout, more and more speculation surrounding the divisional races will start to emerge. One longtime NFC North observer and former MSU QB Jim Miller takes a look at how the Lions will emerge come the end of the regular season.

“I think Green Bay, you give them a great shot to repeat just due to the quarterback play,” former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Miller said in a nod to the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. “And I think Detroit has the possibility to leapfrog the Bears. They played them tough last year, and they need to knock Chicago off and at a minimum split. … But right now I’d put them at three in the division.”

Miller, who attended Waterford Kettering and Michigan State doesn’t have much confidence for the black and blue division when he takes a look at it in comparison to the rest of the league.

“I still put the NFC East in the lead,” he said. “That is a tough, brutal division. It’s very talented at all the skill positions throughout: Philadelphia and Dallas and what the Giants have. Then I’d probably put the NFC South, because I like New Orleans and Atlanta quite a bit. And I think Tampa Bay — don’t sleep on that team because they are extremely talented. And then I’d put the North and then the NFC West.”

Source: Detroit Free Press