NFL Preview 2019 – NFC North

NFL Preview 2019 – NFC North

The NFC North is always a huge slug fest.  This year will be no different.  The season will start with the 199th meeting between the Packers and the Bears.  The Packers have a two game lead in the series.  97-95-6.  There have been times where one team was dominant.  Most recently the Packers.  They are always hard fought games and fun to watch.  It was a good decision by the NFL to start the season with the Packers and the Bears on a Thursday night game.

Green Bay Packers

The last two seasons have not been great for the Packers.  This year could be the year the Packers rebound.  The Packers have made some significant changes this year.  The biggest one was bringing in Matt LaFleur as head coach.  It was well known that Aaron Rodgers and previous coach Mike McCarthy were not always on the same page.  It had been speculated that Rodgers wanted McCarthy out.  That type of situation usually does not lead to a good season.  The last two years years were not great for the Packers.  Over the last few seasons the Packer defense was a mess.  The offense was not much better.  When Rodgers was in he could make up for some of the mess.  When he was injured it was a complete disaster.  This is not just a Packer problem but a problem for most of the league.  This past off season the Packers have clearly concentrated on making their defense better.  They have moved out several older players and several players that were just not happy there.  While it was sad to see players like Clay Mathews and Nick Perry get shown the door.  It is clear that the Packers are looking to go in a new direction.

On Offense the Packers did not make any huge changes.  The key here will be can the offensive line stay healthy and can Aaron Rodgers avoid another injury.  Depth is not a strength at either of these positions.  If the line can provide even adequate protection the Packers receivers should be able to provide good targets for Rodgers.  Deciding to stick with Jimmy Graham is a bold choice.  If the Graham of old shows up then that will open up a lot of things for the Packers.  If last year Graham shows up then the Packers are in huge trouble.  I think that with a fresh approach the Packers will have a rebound season and win the NFL North.

Packers Record 11 – 5

Chicago Bears

The Bears have build an impressive defensive team.  They also have some really nice skill players on offense.  It is up in the air at this point if one of those nice skill players is at quarterback.  It is clear that the strength of the Bears is clearly their defense.  The Bears did not have a first or second round pick this year.  Adding Khalil Mack last year used up that first round pick.  A trade that so far has been worth it.  Last year the Bears defense led the league in takeaways.  The Bears ran away with the NFC North last year.  No one saw that coming.  It will be very difficult for the Bears to have as many takeaways as they had last year.  Even if they do not get as many takeaways as they did last year.  The Bears defense is still going to be what leads the team.

On Offense Mitchell Trubisky had a decent second season.  24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.  If he can do that with 3000 or more yards the Bears should be a pretty decent team.  While I think that the Bears defense is a sure thing.  The Bears offense is a huge unknown.  The Defense is good enough to get them to a winning record.  The Offense will just be don’t screw things up.  The other thing that hurt the Bears last year was special teams.  Think double doink.  I am not sure that they have fixed that problem.  This could be what prevents the Bears from winning the NFC North again this year.

Bears Recored 10 – 6

Minnesota Vikings

This really is a make it or break it season for the Vikings.  After the crash and burn last year this team has a lot to prove.  Last year was supposed to be the year the Vikings put it all together and made a run in the NFC.  Instead they over .500 only because of an ugly tie with the Packers.  There were second in the North ahead of the Packers but missed out on the playoffs.  The Viking offense is looking to rebound after their poor showing last year.  This will be a huge prove it season for Kirk Cousins.  While I don’t think that the Vikings season will depend on Cousins.  It will be important that he does not cost them games.  He actually had a pretty good season last year with 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.  For some reason he never gets any respect though.  Of course if you don’t win then those stats really mean nothing.

The Vikings defense was pretty good last year.  Even with the 5th best defense they were out of the playoffs.  They are returning 10 of their starters from last year.  While the defense was top five very little of that translated to success on the field.  This season that will have to be different.  I don’t know if in the end it will be enough.

Vikings Record 8 – 8

Detroit Lions

I do not see  a whole lot of good things going on for the Lions.  They have a head coach that looks like a homeless man that just came in from begging people for money as they drove into the Ford Field Parking lot.  Maybe the sign said will work for food the the Ford family felt sorry for him.  His first season did not go that well.  The Lions won 6 games.  Most of the time the Lions coaches looked confused and like they had no idea what they were supposed to be doing.   I really do not see it being much different this year.  Matt Stafford is going to put up some numbers.  He does every year.  For some reason that does not translate the same way that it does for other quarterbacks that put up those kinds of numbers.  Although he did have a down year last year.  Not a surprise since he really had no one to throw to and the offense looked like a huge mess.   The first round pick of T. J. Hockenson should help a lot.  Other than that not sure that picking up a 33 year old Danny Amendola is going to provide a great target for Stafford.

I really don’t see the Lions defense getting any better this year.  It is very possible that they got worse.  Maybe a lot worse.  The Lions have always had an identity crisis.  The Packers, Bears and Vikings are possibly going to give the Lions 6 loses this season.  I see Patricia getting fired this year.  I would say during the season but the Ford family does not do that.  They tend to hang on to people to a fault.  Matt Patricia has not done anything to distance himself from Bill Belichick and will probably be back coaching in New England next season.

Lions Record 6 – 10