Rolling right along with the NFC North. Unlike the AFC North, the NFC side has undergone a little bit of shakeup. The tides are seemingly turning for the underperforming teams of this division and we could see some fresh faces emerge. This is mostly due to the fact that Aaron Rodgers is no longer in Green Bay. The NFC North is wide open and while the Packers are expected to take a downturn, the others are looking to take advantage of that. The Vikings were the top team last season, but can they maintain that? I guess we will find out. Here is my NFC North Preview for the 2023 season.

1: Detroit Lions (11-6)

Since Dan Campbell became the Lions Head Coach, I have bought the hype. The Lions are favored to win the division and you should buy into the hype as well. They’re the real deal and it appears that they are here to stay. They really didn’t lose a lot this offseason and they added some vital pieces. Jamaal Williams is going to be their biggest loss from a productivity standpoint, but a leadership standpoint as well. However, I think the Lions will manage. Jared Goff looked like he was back with the Rams with the way he played last season. Amon-Ra St. Brown confirmed that he is a superstar wideout last season as well. I don’t think it is a secret that I really like this team, but I do. I think they will take that next step this season. The defense as a whole is the biggest question mark though. They will be improved, but will it be enough to compete with the powerhouse of the NFC like Dallas, Philly, or San Fran? They did add some key pieces like CJ Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton and their draft picks, so I think they will definitely be better off. Personally, I think the only team that they have to worry about is Philadelphia. Other than that, I think they’re better overall than the rest. They caught a little flack for their draft strategy this offseason, but I thought they did great. They got what they wanted and didn’t want to take any chances missing out on their guys. Jack Campbell was considered one of the most underrated players in the draft, Jahmyr Gibbs was the second-best RB in the class, Sam LaPorta was a top TE as well. Brian Branch wasn’t just a steal, I think he was straight-up highway robbery at the 45th pick. He was the best safety in the class. I also feel like Hendon Hooker could be worth the gamble in the 3rd round. Their O-Line may be the best in the NFL and with the addition of Gibbs and David Montgomery to the backfield, I think they could be a scary team. It just depends on if all of the pieces fall into place and if the morale/chemistry can remain high. They have their toughest matchup right out of the gate in Week 1 against the Chiefs.

Difference Maker: LB, Jack Campbell

I wasn’t going to pick him, but I think I have to. Jack Campbell was chosen 18th overall and may end up being the steal of the draft. Campbell fit the needs of the Lions defense. He may be asked to do more than a rookie is normally expected to do, but I think he will be up for the challenge. He was a beast at Iowa and I expect him to be no different with the Lions.

2: Minnesota Vikings (8-9)

My boy Nate Dogg says that the Vikes are going to be a 7-10 team this season and he is the biggest Vikings fan that I know. So, I think I’m siding with him. I’ll give them 8 wins this season. Last season, they finished their year at the top of the division at 13-4. If you watched them last year, then you know that they overperformed all season long. They didn’t play like a 13-win team, but somehow, they were. They played like a borderline .500 team. I think that is what they will be this year. The division rankings are still a little uncertain for this year in the NFC North, but I think it is safe to say that they will be either at the top again or in 2nd place. I think at their absolute worst, they are a 6 or 7-win team. At their best, I think they could win 10 or 11 games. They lost quite a few big players from last season. Dalvin Cook is the most glaring departure. The backfield will be in the hands of Alexander Mattison, who has had flashes of brilliance, but is in a make-or-break situation. Dalvin Tomlinson, Adam Thielen, Patrick Peterson, Za’Darius Smith, and Eric Kendricks all left Minnesota this offseason, so replacing them won’t just happen in one offseason. They also seemingly drafted pretty poorly. Jordan Addison was their only notable addition in the draft. Their largest acquisition was a 3yr./$21 million deal for a backup TE. Yes, you read that correctly. Josh Oliver was a backup TE in Baltimore and he will be a backup in Minnesota as well. Talk about wasted cap. All isn't lost though. They did go out and get Byron Murphy, Marcus Davenport and Dean Lowry to help with that defense. They also re-signed Mattison and Garett Bradbury to help with the protection. The Vikings offense should still be pretty stout because at the end of the day, they still have Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, and TJ Hockenson. However, they will not be good on defense. They will likely be at the bottom of the league on that side. It’s gonna be a down year for Minnesota.

Difference Maker: RB, Alexander Mattison

I feel like I am going too obvious my difference makers picks this season, but Mattison could make or break the Vikings this year. Filling the shoes of Dalvin Cook isn't an easy task, but Mattison is tasked with just that. I said earlier that he is in a make-or-break situation. He signed a 2-year deal in the offseason, but how he performs this season will decide his future with the team beyond that. I think he could have a great year, but he could also underperform. Keep an eye on Mattison this season.

3: Chicago Bears (8-9)

Are the Bears back? I think they could be, but I’m not gonna go all in on them this year. They certainly made some strides in the offseason to improve. They went out and signed Tremaine Edwards, DeMarcus Walker, TJ Edwards, and Yannick Ngakoue to bolster that paltry defense. The Bears had the worst D in football last year, but I don’t think that will be the case this season. 8 wins is probably a little generous for them this season, but why not? The division will be a little bit weaker overall and I think they could take advantage of that. They also have one of the easiest schedules in the league. They also did pretty well in the draft. I think they will definitely improve. There’s no reason to believe that they won’t. I don’t think they will win the division, but I think they could play spoilers in some instances. They will be competitive in games. On offense, they added Nate Davis from the Titans to help with the run game and they will be running a lot this year. Khalil Herbert will look to step into the starting RB role, but my prediction is that D’Onta Foreman will be the main back by the end of the season. Justin Fields is getting some hype as a potential MVP candidate and while I think that may be a bit premature, I do think he has that potential. I just don’t think he has the team around him to make it happen just yet. I think their floor is 4 wins and their ceiling is 9 or 10 wins. Realistically, they will probably end up with about 6 or 7 wins, but I’ll give them an extra win.

Difference Maker: DE, DeMarcus Walker

I mentioned him earlier, but DeMarcus Walker stepped it up for Tennessee last season. The Titans underperformed, and it was mostly due to injuries, but DeMarcus Walker stepped up for them when they needed him. He had 7 sacks last season, but I expect him to improve on that number this season. He did a great job of getting to opposing QB’s last season and I think that 3-yr/$21 million deal will be well worth it.

4: Green Bay Packers (5-12)

You can’t replace a guy like Aaron Rodgers, but Jordan Love will attempt to do that this season. Nobody really knows what Love is capable of, but he is a confirmed baller. He said so himself. So, with that being said, what does Love have to work with? Well, thinking positively, they do have a good O-Line. That is a good thing. Their run game should have no issues moving the ball with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Jaire Alexander is a really good CB. Other than that, they don’t have much of anything. Their WR core is weak. Their D-Line and LB core is average. The have 2 rookie TEs and that isn't really a good thing for an unproven QB to have to rely on. Christian Watson broke out last season, but he had Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. Can he do the same things with Love? It is tough to say. When I look at this team, I see them winning at most 6 games. Their floor is like 3 wins. It would surprise me if the Packers are competitive this year. They’re inexperienced, they didn’t make any efforts to improve, and they lost the vast majority of their offense. It will be bad news for the Pack in 2023. 5-12 is a generous record for them this season.

Difference Maker: DE, Devonte Wyatt

Wyatt is entering his 2nd season and he is on a lot of radars this preseason. He won’t wow you with sack numbers, but he could get a shot at boosting his stats this year. He didn’t start for the Packers last season, but he will be a starter this year. Look for him to step it up for the Packers defense.

Yacs

2023 NFC North Preview