Brandon Marshall says Bears could be Super Bowl contenders

After joining the Chicago Bears this offseason, wide receiver Brandon Marshall is confident his new team can leapfrog the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in the NFC North pecking order.

“Honestly, I think we can not only make it to the Super Bowl, but I think we'll have a chance to win it,” Marshall said on ESPN's "First Take" on Friday via Sporting News.

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The Bears missed the playoffs last season after losing five of their final six games. Chicago's offense ranked just 24th in 2011, but Marshall said the Bears didn't have to worry about following the high-scoring style of the Packers and Lions.

"I look at it the other way," Marshall said. "You have to pay respect to the Packers because they won the division, but those teams don't have a defense like we do."

Despite running back Matt Forte's lingering dissatisfaction with his contract, Marshall said the Bears had more than enough offensive firepower to compete within the division.

“On the offensive side of the ball, we know what we have in Matt Forte and Jay Cutler, and adding me to the passing game—and opening up other alleys for Devin Hester and Earl (Bennett)—it's just going to make our offense and our team that much better."