Finally finally no more Bears killer Aaron Rodgers in the NFC North as he was traded to the NY Jets. The NFC North is now wide open. I usually don’t say this but I really think the Detroit Lions can finally win the division for the first time since the 1993 season when it use to be known as the old NFC Central Division. After staring last season at 1-6 the Lions ended on a very high note where they finished with a 9-8 record and almost made the playoffs where almost made the playoffs. Earlier in the day the Lions were eliminated from the playoffs with a Seattle Seahawks win who beat the Lions early in the season but the Lions won at Green Bay on Sunday to prevent the Packers from entering the playoffs. How fitting the Lions ended the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay where his last pass was an interception.
Looking at the NFC North I have no idea how the Packers will look now that Jordan Love is the new starting quarterback who only has 1 career start which happened in 2021 when Aaron Rodgers got Covid and has come in for Rodgers in mop up duty here and there. Packers are a big mystery here where it all depends on how Jordan Love will do.
I have a feeling the Vikings will regress this season, I think they weren’t as good as their 13-4 record was last season but I do like the addition of Brian Flores as their new defensive coordinator. Kirk Cousins is still the quarterback for the Vikings where they have one of the games best wide receiver’s in Justin Jefferson but how will their running attack look without Dalvin Cook?
While the Chicago Bears had the worst record last season in all of the NFL, I do think they will be improved this season where Justin Fields got a huge weapon in WR DJ Moore and love the addition of Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Bears still need a pass rusher and can Justin Fields with a better supporting cast take the next step as a passer. If Jared Goff can play like he did last season and the Lions defense takes the next step then the Lions should win the NFC North.
I love how Dan Campbell coaches his team while the Lions have some good young players like WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and safety Kerby Joseph Lions made a some huge additions in the secondary to make them a better defense against the pass. Lions offense I think they can pick up right where they left off last season where they were a explosive offense led by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Right now I will say Lions, Vikings, Packers and Bears in the NFC North in this order right now before the teams report to training camp next month.