NFC North Predictions

[rmontro]

I've been seeing some NFL predictions for the upcoming season start to pop up. Everyone seems to agree the Lions will win the division and the Vikings will finish last. As for the Packers and the Bears, two of them had the Bears second and the Packers third. And two had the Packers second and the Bears third.

So people seem to think the Bears are now on the Packers level basically. Not sure if that's because they think the Bears are improved, or if they're just not that impressed with the Packers.

 

[gopkrs]

I think it's because they think the bears have improved. And I've seen vikes in 2nd. Tough race. I'm certainly not sold on the lions either. I believe we live or die on offense. The defense should be solid. aimho

 

[rmontro]

I'm certainly not sold on the lions either. I believe we live or die on offense.

You think losing Ben Johnson is going to hurt the Lions that much?
I think we'll be better offensively this year, if we stay healthy.

Oh, if you saw the Vikings in second place, who was third?

 

[gopkrs]

You think losing Ben Johnson is going to hurt the Lions that much?
I think we'll be better offensively this year, if we stay healthy.

Oh, if you saw the Vikings in second place, who was third?

The lions didn't look that good in the playoffs last year. They can be beat. Getting their pass rusher back will help them.
We were next. It's a good division. But the division has a tough schedule. Probably even more important than usual to win division games.

 

[rmontro]

The lions didn't look that good in the playoffs last year. They can be beat. Getting their pass rusher back will help them.
We were next. It's a good division. But the division has a tough schedule. Probably even more important than usual to win division games.

The Lions had a lot of injuries by season's end last year. Anyone can be beat though. Minnesota was a strong second in NFC North. We only managed to be 1-5 in the division last year, that's not good by anyone's standard.

 

[Thirteen Below]

You think losing Ben Johnson is going to hurt the Lions that much?

They didn't just lose Johnson - they lost their DC too, and Johnson and Glenn took 6 of their assistants with them. So Detroit has lost 8 coaches this off-season.

I can't believe so many people are picking them to win the division. I'll be shocked if they do.

 

[gopkrs]

The Lions had a lot of injuries by season's end last year. Anyone can be beat though. Minnesota was a strong second in NFC North. We only managed to be 1-5 in the division last year, that's not good by anyone's standard.

I think we were fortunate last year. Fans who say we almost beat a couple teams who kicked our butt all game long did not watch the same games I did. Anyway, all that is in the past. I seriously believe we are a better team this year. I do hope those two O line draft picks pan out though.

 

[Dantés]

I know that I'm biased, but I am thoroughly unimpressed with the Bears plan.

They have gotten a lot of love for their additions on the offensive line. Thuney is good, but he turned 33 this season (regression and durability issues are coming for him). Dalman is not a great pass protector and pretty pigeon-holed as an OZ run blocker. Jonah Jackson has become quite injury prone. Their depth on the interior is poor, so things could get ugly there pretty quickly.

That aside, Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times last season in large part because of his propensity to hold the ball. It was an issue in college and it's followed him to the pros. It's natural to blame OL for numbers like that, but it's normally a QB problem.

They also did nothing at RB, which was a huge feature of Johnson's offenses in Detroit.

Their draft also got tons of love and I thought it was terrible. Drafting a TE that high has been a total disaster for virtually everyone for decades with only one exception (Bowers). Burden is a gadget who allegedly has no work ethic. Trapilo is 316# with short arms despite being over 6'8"-- if he has to play, I'm guessing he gets blown up.

Ben Johnson is giving me Brandon Staley vibes.

 

[gopkrs]

I'm not sure how well they will do. But I hope you are right.

 

[DoURant]

I think we were fortunate last year. Fans who say we almost beat a couple teams who kicked our butt all game long did not watch the same games I did. Anyway, all that is in the past. I seriously believe we are a better team this year. I do hope those two O line draft picks pan out though.

I don't know if I would say fortunate, but I would say this team did win every game they should have won... there were no "bad losses". (I don't count the Bears year ender loss when a lot of backups played the majority of the game). I also think that this says a lot for the youth on this team, and feel this year they will be better, and win some games they are the underdog in.

 

[Guacamole]

Pack will win the division or be in 2nd, with Detroit. As far as the other two teams......they can fight for 3rd place

 

[rmontro]

They didn't just lose Johnson - they lost their DC too, and Johnson and Glenn took 6 of their assistants with them. So Detroit has lost 8 coaches this off-season.

Ah, I didn't realize that. Sometimes there's a sort of success hangover when teams are good though, and the coaches who takeover try to do about the same thing, and the players remember how to do it. But it can fall apart quickly.

I know that I'm biased, but I am thoroughly unimpressed with the Bears plan.

I don't know if you're right, but I like your optimism.

 

[Pkrjones]

- Detroit (11-6) declines a bit with their coaching staff losses.
- GB (11-6) is a bit better with their youth being more experienced & 2nd/3rd year jumps.
- Minny (9-8) declines as JJ takes over the offense.
- Chicago (8-9) gets better with Johnson at the helm but they still bring up the rear.
Toughest division in th NFL, again. Brutal schedules, everybody beats each other up. Hopefully GB & Detroit remain healthy enough to make deep playoff runs. One of the 2 represent in NFCCG.

 

[OldSchool101]

GB
12-5
Detroit
11-6
Minnesota
10-7
Bears
8-9
3 times in Day3.

The Bears had the best offseason followed by a close Packers 2nd place. I think Chicago Wins 8-9 games and fall just short of postseason.

 

[weeds]

I'm still stuck on that 1-5 divisional record and even that was good fortune. I'm still not sold on Jordan Love as "that guy". My prediction is: We'll see.

 

[OldSchool101]

I'm still stuck on that 1-5 divisional record and even that was good fortune. I'm still not sold on Jordan Love as "that guy". My prediction is: We'll see.

That’s reasonable. However you can’t have hope for something you already see. So all fans are in that category to an extent. Philly is about the only one who might rely more on that momentum, but it’s hard to repeat a season like they had.