NFC North Predictions, Odds: Can the Detroit Lions Signal a New Era in the North?

The NFC North dominance by the Green Bay Packers lasted so long that it’s difficult to remember a time when any other of the three teams proved to be a significant and regular rival to the throne. We have to go to the early 1990s when it didn’t seem evident that Green Bay was going to either win it or come close. Will 2023 be the year when the Vikings, Lions, or even the Bears make a big move?

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Chicago Bears

Justin Fields enters year three of his NFL career. At some point, he’s either the answer to Chicago’s offensive woes or he isn’t. Yes, it’s very cool seeing him take off and run for 50-yard touchdowns whilst out-faking defensive players, but he’s a quarterback. The objective is to have a passing game. Being ranked 32^nd out of 32 NFL teams in passing yards per game is not good.

To help young Fields, the team went out and got receiver DJ Moore, who was disgruntled in Carolina. Canadian Chase Claypool could use 2023 as a bounce-back season, both as far as production and reputation go. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Yannick Ngakoue is on his fourth team in four years, but Chicago needs all the help it can get. It’s a big year for corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Thomas, as Chicago was one of the worst teams against the pass in 2022.

Bears Record Prediction: 5-12

Detroit Lions

Well, this is different. For the first time in forever, the Detroit Lions start a season with reasons for genuine optimism. They ended 2022 on a brilliant run, with their playoff hopes dashed in Week 17. Happily for them, they made the most out of Week 18 and prevented the hated Packers from making the postseason.

Has head coach Dan Campbell found the right recipe for success? Week 1 is a date with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead, so we’ll forgive them if things start looking good in Week 2. QB Jared Goff has found a home and looks more like his former Rams self. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown looks to build off a strong 2022, but fellow pass catcher Jameson Williams is embarrassingly suspended for playing the odds. D’Andre Swift was a big part of the running game’s success, so Jahmyr Gibbs has big shoes to fill.

Lions Record Prediction: 10-7

Green Bay Packers

Speaking of things feeling different! The Jordan Love era in Green Bay begins, however long it lasts. Then again, the Packers didn’t make the playoffs last year and that was with Aaron Rodgers, so maybe 2023 will indeed bring with it a greener tundra.

Love will be able to depend on a decent running game, led by Aaron Jones, who was very good in 2022, and don’t overlook AJ Dillon. The pass catcher crew for the most part commences its sophomore season with the likes of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs (the latter is listed as questionable as of Labour Day). The reality is that it was time for a new chapter in Packers history to begin. Enough was enough. Too many wonderful regular seasons ended swiftly in January. Will things look up again immediately this year? The following months will tell, but change has to occur sooner or later.

Packers Record Prediction: 8-9

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings enter 2023 as the defending division champions yet not as many pundits are taking them as seriously as they’d surely like. Some of that has to do with how they won the North in 2022. They broke the record for the number of wins by one score (11), many of which came extremely late in contests. Does that make them brilliant, lucky, or a little of both columns?

Kirk Cousins leads the attack once again under centre, but won’t have the phenomenal Dalvin Cook to hand the ball over to (he’s with the Jets). RB Alexander Mattison was good in 2022 when called into the action, but he’s the number one guy. Justin Jefferson is the team’s unequivocal top receiver and it’s expected the new season will be just as bountiful as those past. If anything, it’s players like Jordan Hicks (RILB), Marcus Davenport (SLB), and Akayleb Evans (CB) who need to pick up some slack to. The defence was terrible at times last season, and the problems often reared their heads in big games.

Vikings Record Prediction: 11-6