NFC North Predictions

Heyjoe4

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And it is important for the integrity of the game that future generations preserve those legends.
I agree. Football has been played for over 100 years, or close to that. A championship is a championship - it represents the best team in the world at that point in time. That's why I'm proud that the Packers have 13 championships, and the SB trophy named after Vince Lombardi. I don't take it for granted - it's a pretty damn big accomplishment for such a small city in northern WI, eh?
 

Calebs Revenge

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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.
But what fun would there be in waiting......
 

Calebs Revenge

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Besides..... I didn't know if you knew it or not but the NFL did make it official. We are the off-season champs for the third year in a row.
I mean, it's not everything but it's not nothing.......lol.
 

Heyjoe4

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Besides..... I didn't know if you knew it or not but the NFL did make it official. We are the off-season champs for the third year in a row.
I mean, it's not everything but it's not nothing.......lol.
Well Caleb at least you have a sense of humor about it all. I guess you need that to survive as a Bears' fan over the last 40 years.

And all kidding aside, the Bears look much better on paper at least, and they did have a great offseason. Poles did a good job of adding protection for Williams (I'm still amazed the guy got sacked 68 times without injury). I'm pretty sure Williams is the real deal at QB.

Now the Bears have to prove it.

(Off topic - I was just wondering if it's possible for one conference to have all four teams in the playoffs. Last year the North sent three.)
 

PackerDNA

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Anywhere from first to third in the division. A lot of potential to be serious contenders, but for me at this time just too many questions.
 

Heyjoe4

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Anywhere from first to third in the division. A lot of potential to be serious contenders, but for me at this time just too many questions.
Agreed. A lot of things need to go right - Jordan Love returning to late-2023 season form, ascendancy of new WRs (esp Golden) and improved play from returning WRs, improvement in play and depth on OL, stellar play from the D across the board, esp pass rush/pressures/sacks.

Now if all or most of these things go in the right direction, this will be a very, very good team. There are a lot of things to watch for this season - it should be exciting and (hopefully) fun to watch.

The biggest question mark for me is the play of the DTs, Edge guys, and LB Cooper to get consistent pressure on opposing QBs. The Packers' D as a unit finished in the top 5 or top 10 in many categories. I remember how Philly's down-four DLs took apart the Chiefs' OL and Mahomes in the SB. That was utterly dominant play. A move in that direction for the Packers be welcome - really anything Hafley and the D can do to get in the QB's face will be huge to the team's success.
 

gopkrs

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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.
The maxim that you just don't start/play rookies has been shown in the past few years and in different sports, to be a ridiculous mindset imho. Sure, sometimes they need time to adapt. But not even considering it is and always was absurd.
 
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Off topic - I was just wondering if it's possible for one conference to have all four teams in the playoffs. Last year the North sent three.)
Yes it’s possible.

The NFL made it possible 5yrs ago when they converted to 14 qualifying postseason teams.
4 Division Winners + 3 Wild Cards

This is a good question for the first time since that change I think the North could be a candidate. I could see something like
12-5
11-6
11-6
10-7
 

Calebs Revenge

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Well Caleb at least you have a sense of humor about it all. I guess you need that to survive as a Bears' fan over the last 40 years.

And all kidding aside, the Bears look much better on paper at least, and they did have a great offseason. Poles did a good job of adding protection for Williams (I'm still amazed the guy got sacked 68 times without injury). I'm pretty sure Williams is the real deal at QB.

Now the Bears have to prove it.

(Off topic - I was just wondering if it's possible for one conference to have all four teams in the playoffs. Last year the North sent three.)
I mean, mathematically, you could because there are three wildcard spots, but it would be incredibly difficult like we'd have to beat each other up in the division go three and three, but then just annihilate all the other divisions we play.
 

Calebs Revenge

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Yes it’s possible.

The NFL made it possible 5yrs ago when they converted to 14 qualifying postseason teams.
4 Division Winners + 3 Wild Cards

This is a good question for the first time since that change I think the North could be a candidate. I could see something like
12-5
11-6
11-6
10-7
You are absolutely right, sir. I did not see your post before I put my answer in there. But we really could all have those records and who knows where each team would end up being it's really a crapshoot.
That's why I'm looking forward to this season more than any other.
All the teams are good and it could go every which way and it's going to be super fun and super exciting to watch!!!!!
 

Heyjoe4

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Yes it’s possible.

The NFL made it possible 5yrs ago when they converted to 14 qualifying postseason teams.
4 Division Winners + 3 Wild Cards

This is a good question for the first time since that change I think the North could be a candidate. I could see something like
12-5
11-6
11-6
10-7
Thanks OS, and for the insight that this is made possible with the increase to 7 teams in the playoffs for each conference. Your numbers look about right, although it would likely take another conference with 3 teams that do not make the playoffs.

So it's very unlikley but not impossible. Just amazing how strong the NFC North has become. Chicago has to step up, and that seems to be the case every year and then they crash. This year might be different, but it's the Bears. Not a good bet.
 

Heyjoe4

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I mean, mathematically, you could because there are three wildcard spots, but it would be incredibly difficult like we'd have to beat each other up in the division go three and three, but then just annihilate all the other divisions we play.
Exactly - and I think another conference would need 3 of their teams to miss the playoffs.

I remember the NFC East sending three teams, as the North did last year. Looking at the NFC, the North is by far the strongest. Well, they still have to play the games.....
 
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Exactly - and I think another conference would need 3 of their teams to miss the playoffs.

I remember the NFC East sending three teams, as the North did last year. Looking at the NFC, the North is by far the strongest. Well, they still have to play the games.....
Exactly in we would all have to show up. Also add to it this is one of the tougher schedules we’ve seen in the North at least based on last years finish.
The SOS strength rankings are
Chicago #2 toughest .571
Detroit #2 Tied .571

Packers #6 toughest .557
Vikings #6 tied .557

Now I’ve always like to track real time SOS rather than last years finish. Yet it’s still easily going to morph into a Top 16 area schedule for the North best case.

Doubt Lions, Packers regress much. Chicago is a good bet to pick up some Wins at minimum 7-8+imo.
Eagles and Washington are not going away. Ravens, Bengals, Steelers. I doubt those teams flop
 
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Heyjoe4

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Exactly in we would all have to show up. Also add to it this is one of the tougher schedules we’ve seen in the North at least based on last years finish.
The SOS strength rankings are
Chicago #2 toughest .571
Detroit #2 Tied .571

Packers #6 toughest .557
Vikings #6 tied .557

Now I’ve always like to track real time SOS rather than last years finish. Yet it’s still easily going to morph into a Top 16 area schedule for the North best case.

Doubt Lions, Packers regress much. Chicago is a good bet to pick up some Wins at minimum 7-8+imo.
Eagles and Washington are not going away. Ravens, Bengals, Steelers. I doubt those teams flop
The Steelers' passing game now consists of Rodgers and Metcalf. And I think their RB will be a 3rd or 4th round rookie. The D will be good, but those guys are getting old. And then there is Rodgers' MO to blame everyone but himself when things go south. He had Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams in NY and still couldn't win.
 
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rmontro

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So it's very unlikley but not impossible. Just amazing how strong the NFC North has become.
Yeah, so strong they didn't win a single playoff game last year. They were 0-3.
I do recall similar talk last year about the possibility of the NFC North sending four teams to the playoffs, but that didn't happen. Could happen this year, since Chicago is expected to be improved.
 

milani

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The Steelers' passing game now consists of Rodgers and Metcalf. And I think their RB will be a 3rd or 4th round rookie. The D will be good, but those guys are getting old. And then there is Rodgers' MO to blame everyone but himself when things go south. He had Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams in NY and still couldn't win.
I think that Rodgers playing in that very physical smash mouth division will be interesting. He cannot get sacked as much as Wilson did and survive.
 

gopkrs

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I'll bet they will do something to get him another receiver
 

Heyjoe4

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I think that Rodgers playing in that very physical smash mouth division will be interesting. He cannot get sacked as much as Wilson did and survive.
Good point. That is one brutal conference. And one of Rodgers strengths when he was younger was avoiding sacks, sometimes in a miraculous fashion, and then throwing crazy, impossible passes on the run, across his body to the other side of the field. He was a beast.

"Was" is the key word. I have no doubt he still has solid arm strength and accuracy. He doesn't have the escape ability anymore, and that contributed to his achilles injury. Putting all the other Rodgers' baggage aside for a minute, he is at a significant risk of an injury, especially in the conference as you note. Ravens and Bengals, and then Cleveland has human juggernaut Garrett. No easy outs in that division.

The Steelrs D is aging, but solid. The offense? Not as much. IMO they made a mistake trading Pickens, but it seems he was a cap casualty. Metcalf is a great WR, but he'll be double teamed on almost every passing down.
 

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I'll bet they will do something to get him another receiver
Agreed. If they can't get a guy before TC, they'll find someone during cutdowns. They could use a veteran RB too.

There has been a fair amount of talk here about trading Doubs. I don't like the idea, but it seems Pittsburgh would be a logical candidate. Again, I'd rather see Doubs in G&G. FWIW, the Packers have a surplus of good running backs, and Pittsburgh in the other conference.
 
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Agreed. If they can't get a guy before TC, they'll find someone during cutdowns. They could use a veteran RB too.

There has been a fair amount of talk here about trading Doubs. I don't like the idea, but it seems Pittsburgh would be a logical candidate. Again, I'd rather see Doubs in G&G. FWIW, the Packers have a surplus of good running backs, and Pittsburgh in the other conference.
Agreed. My only twinkle in the back of my mind is if we have a WR injury in that top 3-4 guys. I’d like to have Doubs onboard. Doubs seems respectful and whole he’s not spectacular, he’s solid like a medium
high floor.

Outside chance in year 4? He blossoms into that 800+ yard guy. I like him in the Paint also he has strong hands and a desire to win contested imo
 

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What people don't see is the similarity between Doubs and Donald Driver. There's one difference. At this same point in both of their careers, Doubs is by far the better receiver. In fact, it took Driver until his 4th year to be a target that Favre finally saw on the field. I think we have a similar situation here with Doubs and Love. Love just doesn't see the whole field well enough yet to see how good a job Doubs is doing in shedding defenders.

This year could be a turning point for both of them. I'm glad the Packers didn't dump Driver like so many fans wanted after 3 years and I hope they aren't in any big rush to do the same with Doubs for the same reasons.
 

Heyjoe4

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Agreed. My only twinkle in the back of my mind is if we have a WR injury in that top 3-4 guys. I’d like to have Doubs onboard. Doubs seems respectful and whole he’s not spectacular, he’s solid like a medium
high floor.

Outside chance in year 4? He blossoms into that 800+ yard guy. I like him in the Paint also he has strong hands and a desire to win contested imo
Yeah I like Doubs too. An 800 yard season is entirely possible for him.
 

Heyjoe4

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What people don't see is the similarity between Doubs and Donald Driver. There's one difference. At this same point in both of their careers, Doubs is by far the better receiver. In fact, it took Driver until his 4th year to be a target that Favre finally saw on the field. I think we have a similar situation here with Doubs and Love. Love just doesn't see the whole field well enough yet to see how good a job Doubs is doing in shedding defenders.

This year could be a turning point for both of them. I'm glad the Packers didn't dump Driver like so many fans wanted after 3 years and I hope they aren't in any big rush to do the same with Doubs for the same reasons.
I hope Doubs stays too. And with the Pernell matter from last season, and his concussion history, there is no market for him even if gluten wanted to trade him. Just to soon to close the door on Doubs.

Hell D Adams didn't really show promise until year 3. Once he fixed his drop problem, and stopped constantly arguing with the refs, he just took off.
 

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For me it's too early to close doors on anyone except Melton (who I had high hopes for after season 1 with us). Wicks is going to have to hold on to the ball though or tough to play him. Does he try running b4 he's caught the ball or what? Just don't know enough about Hardman. KC let him walk though.
 

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