NFC North Predictions

[Voyageur]

Resting starters in week 17 of the regular season to insure they go into the playoffs healthy is a common practice. It seems like teams do it even if it costs them the #1 seed throughout the playoffs, in some instances. Because it's the NFL, and the fact that there are teams battling for tail-end wild card playoff spots, upsets do happen.

We all need to remember that even if you're playing to win it as a high finisher, it's the NFL, and every week there are upsets because game planning and injuries are so crucial to success.

I don't believe for a moment though that any coach, including LeFleur, would want to lose a game because they just didn't care. A game like that, at the end of the year, tells coaches a lot about the guys they utilize out there for the following season because they always have their eye on salaries and guys who will become free agents and need to know if there's someone on the roster that can replace them, and gauge if they're ready to step in if it becomes necessary should injuries occur as they move through the playoffs.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yup. And don't get me wrong. I loved Virginia. I literally would've licked her feet with my tongue to be close to George Halas' daughter, but she kept the organization in the 1940s when it's 2023, so I'm happy that the organization is going in a new direction and a positive direction. I wish she just hadn't been the impediment that kept us from getting there all those years.

Yeah it sure seems like the Bears have been in a very sorry state since George H's death. I don't know enough about Virginia's involvement, or lack of involvement. It's been obvious that the problems in the organization are systemic and start at the top.

A little (or a lot) of winning can change all that. The Bears still have to prove they can compete in the North and win. With the new HC, QB, and infusion of talented players, they sure look like they can compete.

And Chicago fans, well all football fans, deserve the best efforts of their respective team's ownership and management. Execution is left to the coaches and players, but the owner(s) certainly set the table for that.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Now we can move into the 21st-century she just was queen on high and what she wanted is what she got and even at 101 years old, she still had her faculties, and you will respect the name of George Halas and everything that this organization stands for......and if you don't, there's the door.

Yeah George Halas IS football in the same way Vince Lombardi IS football. They are legends that don't appear very often in the history of the sport.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

I can accept that rmontro.....

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Yeah it sure seems like the Bears have been in a very sorry state since George H's death. I don't know enough about Virginia's involvement, or lack of involvement. It's been obvious that the problems in the organization are systemic and start at the top.

A little (or a lot) of winning can change all that. The Bears still have to prove they can compete in the North and win. With the new HC, QB, and infusion of talented players, they sure look like they can compete.

And Chicago fans, well all football fans, deserve the best efforts of their respective team's ownership and management. Execution is left to the coaches and players, but the owner(s) certainly set the table for that.

100% my dude.
And I certainly understand that quarterbacks have come to Chicago to die that is true.....
But it was also true that Detroit was awful no matter what there was nothing anybody could do about it until the last three or four years.....
I believe the main reason Detroit became good is now our head coach....

 

[milani]

Yeah George Halas IS football in the same way Vince Lombardi IS football. They are legends that don't appear very often in the history of the sport.

And it is important for the integrity of the game that future generations preserve those legends.

 

[OldSchool101]

100% my dude.
And I certainly understand that quarterbacks have come to Chicago to die that is true.....
But it was also true that Detroit was awful no matter what there was nothing anybody could do about it until the last three or four years.....
I believe the main reason Detroit became good is now our head coach....

Many great Offensive Minds have failed to make it to a Super Bowl, much less to it as a 1st year HC. Expectation is always to Win, but I’m pretty sure other teams have the same idea.
Personally a reasonable expectation for Chicago would be see the playoffs even if it’s with 9 Wins or whatnot.

 

[rmontro]

Many great Offensive Minds have failed to make it to a Super Bowl, much less to it as a 1st year HC.

Yes, but has a first year HC ever failed to make the Super Bowl with Caleb Williams as quarterback?

 

[Heyjoe4]

100% my dude.
And I certainly understand that quarterbacks have come to Chicago to die that is true.....
But it was also true that Detroit was awful no matter what there was nothing anybody could do about it until the last three or four years.....
I believe the main reason Detroit became good is now our head coach....

Detroit became a powerhouse through excellent trading, excellent drafting, luck, and Dan Campbell. Ben Johnson was certainly successful, but also had a lot of talent at his disposal and was in the right place at the right time. We'll soon see if he has what it takes to be a HC. It's not a sure thing.

 

[OldSchool101]

Detroit became a powerhouse through excellent trading, excellent drafting, luck, and Dan Campbell. Ben Johnson was certainly successful, but also had a lot of talent at his disposal and was in the right place at the right time. We'll soon see if he has what it takes to be a HC. It's not a sure thing.

Yes. Add GM Brad Holmes to the list. After Detroit kicked Dan Quinn out Holmes enters the scene and enters Goff.. who just had a tremendous season btw. Then he promoted Johnson the following year.
He also netted TWO 1st Rounders and a 3rd Rounder packaged. Plus a bunch of Net Cap after shedding Stafford deal.
Then proceeded to add
Penei Sewell, Ahman Rah st brown, Aiden Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, CB Brian Branch (who everyone passed on) TE Sam LaPorta, who we know now was a steal. CB Terrion Arnold.

Who was the draft selection that Dan Quinn made before Brad came in?
#3 Overall.. Jeff Okudah! Yuck

There are like a bunch of O players who made the awards list. They basically rebuilt that O from the ground up and Ben Johnson absolutely did a nice job with all that talent. Brad could’ve easily scrapped the former TE coach, which often happens in a shakeup like this. Yet it was Brad Holmes that had the fortitude to stay the course with tough decisions and apparently very smart decisions.

I’ll just add that having multiple earlier draft picks helps. Yet as displayed by Dan Quinn even that can get fouled up. Detroit looks completely different today just 4 years into his employ

 

[Calebs Revenge]

And it is important for the integrity of the game that future generations preserve those legends.

See this is why I come here to talk to you fine folks.......because on this we can 100% absolutely agree!!!!
Cheers gentlemen.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

So if you could choose between Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson........ you're saying you would take Dan Campbell.
My personal belief is that you would be insane to do that......but whatever man you're entitled to your opinion.
I just think you could not be more wrong. I think the most important part of the Detroit organization.......just came to Chicago.
If I'm wrong, I'm wrong....... but I don't think I'm wrong.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Yes. Add GM Brad Holmes to the list. After Detroit kicked Dan Quinn out Holmes enters the scene and enters Goff.. who just had a tremendous season btw. Then he promoted Johnson the following year.
He also netted TWO 1st Rounders and a 3rd Rounder packaged. Plus a bunch of Net Cap after shedding Stafford deal.
Then proceeded to add
Penei Sewell, Ahman Rah st brown, Aiden Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, CB Brian Branch (who everyone passed on) TE Sam LaPorta, who we know now was a steal. CB Terrion Arnold.

Who was the draft selection that Dan Quinn made before Brad came in?
#3 Overall.. Jeff Okudah! Yuck

There are like a bunch of O players who made the awards list. They basically rebuilt that O from the ground up and Ben Johnson absolutely did a nice job with all that talent. Brad could’ve easily scrapped the former TE coach, which often happens in a shakeup like this. Yet it was Brad Holmes that had the fortitude to stay the course with tough decisions and apparently very smart decisions.

I’ll just add that having multiple earlier draft picks helps. Yet as displayed by Dan Quinn even that can get fouled up. Detroit looks completely different today just 4 years into his employ

So you're saying, the general manager made a great trade to get a quarterback and a bunch of extra draft picks and weapons and then Ben Johnson took those extra pics weapons and what not and made a perennial powerhouse out of them.......
I really like this story because now you can just replace Detroit with Chicago!

 

[rmontro]

So you're saying, the general manager made a great trade to get a quarterback and a bunch of extra draft picks and weapons and then Ben Johnson took those extra pics weapons and what not and made a perennial powerhouse out of them.......

The perfect storm. Well, not so perfect because they got knocked out in the playoffs. But they had a good team built, for sure.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yes. Add GM Brad Holmes to the list. After Detroit kicked Dan Quinn out Holmes enters the scene and enters Goff.. who just had a tremendous season btw. Then he promoted Johnson the following year.
He also netted TWO 1st Rounders and a 3rd Rounder packaged. Plus a bunch of Net Cap after shedding Stafford deal.
Then proceeded to add
Penei Sewell, Ahman Rah st brown, Aiden Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, CB Brian Branch (who everyone passed on) TE Sam LaPorta, who we know now was a steal. CB Terrion Arnold.

Who was the draft selection that Dan Quinn made before Brad came in?
#3 Overall.. Jeff Okudah! Yuck

There are like a bunch of O players who made the awards list. They basically rebuilt that O from the ground up and Ben Johnson absolutely did a nice job with all that talent. Brad could’ve easily scrapped the former TE coach, which often happens in a shakeup like this. Yet it was Brad Holmes that had the fortitude to stay the course with tough decisions and apparently very smart decisions.

I’ll just add that having multiple earlier draft picks helps. Yet as displayed by Dan Quinn even that can get fouled up. Detroit looks completely different today just 4 years into his employ

Thanks for that excellent history OS of how the Lions became the team that won the North. They also got a bit lucky when the Rams tanked after winning the SB, making the draft picks Detroit acquired even more valuable.

At times I've heard or read about all of this but you put it together nicely. After so many years of futility, Detroit has become a force. They looked past the Commanders and that was a costly lesson. Campbell will not allow a repeat.

 

[Heyjoe4]

So you're saying, the general manager made a great trade to get a quarterback and a bunch of extra draft picks and weapons and then Ben Johnson took those extra pics weapons and what not and made a perennial powerhouse out of them.......
I really like this story because now you can just replace Detroit with Chicago!

It was the Detroit GM and Dan Cambell who get the most accolades for Detroit's success. I'm not saying Ben Johnson will not be a good HC. But he had a loaded offense at his disposal in Detroit. He has a lot of talent in Chicago as well. HC is just a very different and far more challenging job than OC. We'll see if Johnson is up to it.

 

[milani]

See this is why I come here to talk to you fine folks.......because on this we can 100% absolutely agree!!!!
Cheers gentlemen.

Was saddened to hear of the passing of 2 NFL players from my day. Jim Marshall from the Purple People Eaters, a great defensive lineman who ran the " wrong way " in 1964 for the Vikings. And also Steve Wright, who played for Lombardi from 1964-67. But also had the distinction of playing also for the great Bear Bryant at Alabama.

 

[OldSchool101]

So you're saying, the general manager made a great trade to get a quarterback and a bunch of extra draft picks and weapons and then Ben Johnson took those extra pics weapons and what not and made a perennial powerhouse out of them.......
I really like this story because now you can just replace Detroit with Chicago!

Funny. Maybe there’s a hint of truth to that. Although I think the QB had something to do with that. Caleb needs to get into Goff numbers first. Also that Jahmyr Gibbs had a big play in that, the guy just posted just shy of 2000 all purpose. Plus 2 WR’s cracked 1000+
There were 4 Lions on Offense that made top 11 voting for OPOY. plus another O player comeback votes for 2 others. Just a machine.

It all comes down to Caleb. Can he post 4,600+ and 37TD to 12INT and a 72%+ completion pace??
or is it more of the same whereas he gonna run for his life idk? I think a severe jump QB and RB will be necessary.

Recall also Ben Johnson took a minute to ramp it up. As often it takes 2-3 seasons to fire on all cylinders. It’ll be fun to watch Ben’s TE toy though.

 

[Schultz]

Let's not forget the Bears' contribution to the Lions offense. David Montgomery is still an effective NFL back.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Thanks for that excellent history OS of how the Lions became the team that won the North. They also got a bit lucky when the Rams tanked after winning the SB, making the draft picks Detroit acquired even more valuable.

At times I've heard or read about all of this but you put it together nicely. After so many years of futility, Detroit has become a force. They looked past the Commanders and that was a costly lesson. Campbell will not allow a repeat.

You mean like the way Carolina tanked after they traded with us to give us Caleb Williams and another top 10 second round pick the next year plus DJ Moore plus we use the pic the year before we got from them on Tyreek Stevenson's so the jury still out on Tyreek, but may be the second best trade in NFL history in my opinion.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Let's not forget the Bears' contribution to the Lions offense. David Montgomery is still an effective NFL back.

If he still putting up the numbers, he is in two years. It'll be one of the worst decisions ever not to re-sign him because he's a beast and also as a really good guy to have on your team. He's a great locker room person so I was very, very sad to see David Montgomery not resign with the Bears.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Funny. Maybe there’s a hint of truth to that. Although I think the QB had something to do with that. Caleb needs to get into Goff numbers first. Also that Jahmyr Gibbs had a big play in that, the guy just posted just shy of 2000 all purpose. Plus 2 WR’s cracked 1000+
There were 4 Lions on Offense that made top 11 voting for OPOY. plus another O player comeback votes for 2 others. Just a machine.

It all comes down to Caleb. Can he post 4,600+ and 37TD to 12INT and a 72%+ completion pace??
or is it more of the same whereas he gonna run for his life idk? I think a severe jump QB and RB will be necessary.

Recall also Ben Johnson took a minute to ramp it up. As often it takes 2-3 seasons to fire on all cylinders. It’ll be fun to watch Ben’s TE toy though.

Watch Caleb's rookie year with the absolute poop show that it was....
And then watch Goff's rookie year
I think everyone in the world would take Caleb over Goff and I think we're about to see why this season......
If I'm wrong, I'm not going anywhere. Y'all have plenty of chances to tell me how wrong I am/was.......

 

[Voyageur]

Judging any QB based on first year production is not a good idea. The same applies to wide receivers. In fact, there was a time where guys like Lombardi and Halas would set a rookie down at the end of the bench before every game and tell them to watch and learn because next year, they were going to be asked to do their part.

Williams seems to have all the tools to be a solid QB for the next decade. But like any QB, their success rate will be dictated by the talent that surrounds them. In today's game, you aren't judged by doing a good job, it's how deep you go in the playoffs, and the QB is an easy target to blame when the wheels come off the bus, and that's exactly what a lot of coaches do. Blame the failure on the QB.

About the name Halas. As a Packer fan, you need to always remember that the Packer organization would have folded early on had it not been for George Halas loaning money to the Packers so they could survive. That name needs to be enshrined in everyone's mind right next to Lombardi's.

 

[Heyjoe4]

You mean like the way Carolina tanked after they traded with us to give us Caleb Williams and another top 10 second round pick the next year plus DJ Moore plus we use the pic the year before we got from them on Tyreek Stevenson's so the jury still out on Tyreek, but may be the second best trade in NFL history in my opinion.

WTF are you talking about? I was thanking OS for his excellent summary of Detroit's ascendancy. What makes that different from your Bears' rants is that the Lions have won the North twice. That is, they have accomplished something. Last year Chicago and Caleb Williams lost 10 in a row, and your "SB-bound" Bears were, again, in the North cellar.

Do us all a favor and brag about the Bears once they've actually done something. Drafting Caleb Williams has done nothing for the Bears so far.

On paper the Bears should have a good to very good team. But so far, they have accomplished nothing. I don't care if you brag, I would too - but only when there is something to brag about.

 

[Heyjoe4]

In

Judging any QB based on first year production is not a good idea. The same applies to wide receivers. In fact, there was a time where guys like Lombardi and Halas would set a rookie down at the end of the bench before every game and tell them to watch and learn because next year, they were going to be asked to do their part.

Williams seems to have all the tools to be a solid QB for the next decade. But like any QB, their success rate will be dictated by the talent that surrounds them. In today's game, you aren't judged by doing a good job, it's how deep you go in the playoffs, and the QB is an easy target to blame when the wheels come off the bus, and that's exactly what a lot of coaches do. Blame the failure on the QB.

About the name Halas. As a Packer fan, you need to always remember that the Packer organization would have folded early on had it not been for George Halas loaning money to the Packers so they could survive. That name needs to be enshrined in everyone's mind right next to Lombardi's.

Interesting bit of history on Halas V, thanks - I did not know that. So the Bears played a part in establishing the most successful franchise in the history of the NFL (13 championships, I think). Wow. Now there is some irony. (The NFC champion trophy is named after Halas, right?).

And yeah, live by the QB, die by the QB. I do think Williams will be very good. The time to start bragging about a player/team is when they have accomplished something, From a conference title to SB win, and all stages in between.