It’s time to take a look at the NFC North in our NFL Previews and Predictions. Two teams from this division made the playoffs in 2016 and one of them actually deserved it. Will it be a repeat two-for for the NFC North. As always, spoiler alert; no.
Key = Z – Home Field Advantage, Y – Division Champion, X – Wild Card
O/U wins: 10.0
My Prediction: 12-4
Green Bay spent the beginning of last season floundering away on offense, at one point posting a 4-6 record and losing four straight games. Then, Aaron Rodgers got sick of that shit and the Packers won eight consecutive including two playoff games. Their magical ride ended in the NFC Championship, but not before, maybe, head coach Mike McCarthy actually learned how to call his own offense. We shall see.
The Packers come into the season the healthiest they’ve been in years, with no serious injuries to report. They’ve still got Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb catching passes and with the emergence of Devante Adams last season, they should be even more dynamic as Cobb can stay in the slot where he’s most dangerous. Add to that the best tight end, Martellus Bennett, Rodgers has ever played with and Green Bay should ring up plenty of points.
There’s an issue at running back and for at least the start of the season, the Packers will go with converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery. That won’t last as rookie Jamaal Williams out of BYU should take over that job full time by midseason.
Green Bay was in the bottom half of the NFL on defense last season and didn’t make a lot of upgrades on this unit. They should be solid, especially on the defensive back end, but the offense is going to have to do its job every week for this team to make a run.
O/U wins: 8.5
My Prediction: 8-8
The issues that plagued the Vikings on the offensive line don’t appear to have been fixed this off-season. Granted, that’s based on what I saw in the preseason, but it was some ugly pass blocking and run blocking. You can’t say they didn’t try by signing two new tackles and drafting a center, but so far it’s just not come together.
With that kind of line play, quarterback Sam Bradford becomes a myopic quarterback, looking for quick passes and check downs just to keep from being creamed. Last year it led to him setting an all time record for completion percentage, but he just averaged seven yards per completion. That’s not going to get it done. Dalvin Cook could (and should) take some of the pressure off, but if this line can’t open holes for the running game, every moment on offense will be a struggle.
What won’t be a struggle is Minnesota’s defense, which should once again be a Top 10 unit. The Vikes have legitimate stars at every level and upgraded the only spot that needed it, drafting Ben Gedeon out of Michigan to play weakside linebacker.
DETROIT LIONS
O/U wins: 8.0
My Prediction: 6-10
If you’re a Detroit Lions fan, first off, I’m sorry. Secondly, this is the best thing that could possibly happen to your team. Jim Caldwell is an albatross that, for whatever reason, fate has cursed you with like a herpes simplex STD. The Lions overall talent level has kept Caldwell employed and taken this team to the playoffs two of the last three seasons. Both those playoff appearances came with quick, pathetic, exits.
Detroit needs a coaching makeover badly and the only way to ensure that happens is to lose. Luckily, losing is something Jim Caldwell is an expert at. If not for Matthew Stafford, this team would have won six games over the last three seasons total. It all comes due in 2017.
The good part is, there’s plenty of talent here for the next head coach. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones are both No. 2 receivers and it looks like the Lions stole a future No. 1 when they drafted Kenny Golladay. The man was a beast in the preseason. Eric Ebron finally looked like a first round pick last season and if he stays healthy, should give Stafford a consistent outlet down the seam.
At running back, Ameer Abdullah is back after missing almost all of last season with an injury. The Lions still don’t know what they have in the former Nebraska running back, but they’ll find out this year. Theo Riddick is one of the best third down backs in the league and a consistent weapon in the passing game.
If Detroit is going to do anything this season, and they won’t, they’ll need a much better performance out of their defensive line. Especially from Ezekial Ansah, who looked like a perennial Pro Bowler a few years ago, but fell off the edge of the world last season.
CHICAGO BEARS
O/U wins: 5.5
My Prediction: 5-11
In spite of all the evidence showing him not to, it appears head coach John Fox is still going with Mike Glennon to start the season as his quarterback. None of these five wins I’m predicting will come with Glennon under center. Mitchell Trubisky showed pretty emphatically it should be his job all preseason and I don’t get why Fox, who is probably under the gun this season, isn’t brave enough to make the call.
Regardless, this is an improved team than the one that went 3-13 last season. It will only result in a couple more wins, but the Bears will be competitive in most of their games and that couldn’t be said in 2016. The word all preseaosn on wide receiver Kevin White has been good and Chicago desperately needs that not to be bullshit. Cameron Meredith’s injury opened up a starting spot for Kendall Wright and former Steeler Markus Wheaton should be a decent possession receiver out of the slot. Glennon (and eventually Trubisky) have a wealth of tight ends to use in this offense with Dion Sims, Zach Miller and rookie Adam Shaheen all likely to see plenty of time.
Last year Jordan Howard emerged as the team’s bellcow running back just a year after Jeremy Langford looked to be the same thing. If Chicago wants to switch it up again, they’ve got rookie Tarik Cohen waiting in the wings.
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