As training camp is upon us, we will be doing season previews for each division, similar to our draft preview. Today, we start with the NFC North and Green Bay Packers.
The NFC North was well represented last year during the playoffs. Their perennial powerhouse, Green Bay Packers, made the playoffs despite a depleted wide receiving core and offensive line. They made it to the divisional round of the playoff before eventually losing to Bruce Arians and the Arizona Cardinals, 26-20. With star wideout, Jordy Nelson, coming back from injury as well as improved health on the offensive line, Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are heavily favored to win their division. Likewise, Eddie Lacy has lost a bunch of weight and is hoping to become the dominant running back he was at Alabama. On the defense, the edge is set by Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, both who are under investigation for PED use that steems from an Al-Jazeera America report. The Packers need these two on the field, especially because BJ Raji is taking a sabbatical from football. If the defense and offense can gel, and avoid injury, this should be a frightening team, and a favorite to take the NFC North. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t have to go through the up and coming Vikings
The Vikings also made the playoffs, not going as far as the Packers, losing by a single point against the Seattle Seahawks during Wild Card weekend. As always the Vikings are led by Adrian Peterson. Peterson will be 31 this year, but just like Benjamin Button, he seems to be getting younger as he ages. In the backfield with him, is first time Pro Bowler, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater was not an amazing QB last year, but was named a replacement in the Pro Bowl. If he can live up to the hype that will follow him, the Vikings could overthrow the Packers as NFC North champions. Likewise, Stefan Diggs, the second year wideout from Maryland, has potential to become an offensive game changer. Opposite him, is rookie draft pick, Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss. Diggs showed flashes of brilliance throughout his rookie year, and Treadwell was thought to be the best overall wide receiver in the draft this year. The two will be a big target for Bridgewater, who will rely on them for the majority of his throws. Defensively, Harrison Smith is hoping to live up to the lofty contract, he got this past summer. Smith, along with Everson Griffen and Anthony Barr, hope to establish a dominant defense throughout the cold, frigid north.
After the two teams mentioned, the talent level falls off a bit. Personally, I think the next best team is the Chicago Bears. The Bears have all the pieces to make an unexpected run into the playoffs, but only if they play up to their potential. Alshon Jeffery signed his franchise tender, and hopes to parlay that into a massive contract at the end of the season. Opposite of him is Kevin White, who spent his rookie season injured, but is expected to make an impact, based on his high draft position. The team will be lead by quarterback, Jay Cutler, an enigma of brilliance and mediocrity, who can dominate a game, or be intercepted by DeAngelo Hall 4 times in a single game. He will have less help in the passing game, because the Bears traded away his favorite target from last year, Martellus Bennett, to the Patriots. Likewise, he has less help behind as Matt Forte left the team in free agency to sign with the Jets. But he might have more protection, as the team signed big name free agent Bobby Massie at left tackle. Defensively, they also signed a big name free agent in Danny Trevathan at linebacker, and he will be paired with Lamaar Houston and Pernell McPhee. Truthfully, this may be the best Bears linebacking core since Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs dominated Soldier Field.
The last team in the NFC North, is the Detroit Lions. This offseason, the organization lost their best player since Barry Sanders, when Calvin Johnson retired. That alone will make the Lions a significantly weaker team. Matt Stafford has yet to break the glass ceiling of quarterbacks, and will have even less of a chance now that he isn’t throwing to Johnson. Golden Tate is not a #1 wide out, and recently signed Anquan Boldin, is on the last legs of his long storied career. Stafford may have help with second year running back Ameer Abdullah running the ball. The left side of the line should be stronger, with two young, first round draft picks at tackle and guard in Laken Tomlinson and Taylor Decker respectively. Defensively, Ziggy Ansah, will be coming off of a Pro Bowl year, and hopes to establish himself as a dominant edge rusher. Besides him, though, the defense is weak, and unless someone comes out of the blue, the Lions will struggle to stop the high powered offensive units of the NFC North.
Asinine Prediction That Might Be Wrong:
NFC North Champion: Green Bay Packers
- Green Bay Packers: 12-4
- Minnesota Vikings: 10-6
- Chicago Bears: 8-8
- Detroit Lions: 3-13
