NFL Predictions by Division: NFC North

Detroit Lions

What a great last few years the Lions have had. In 2021 they were 3-13 and 0-10 at one point. In 2022 they turned it around and had their first winning record in 5 years. Then last season, Detroit made it to the NFC Championship game and won their first playoff game since 1991. If the Lions were a stock, their graph would just be a line pointing straight up.

The Lions have built this team on a great offensive line. PFF ranks them as the best offensive line in the entire league. A weapons room combining Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-ra St. Brown, with Jared Goff behind the center is what propelled them to a being a top 5 points per game offense. I don’t see that slowing down in 2024. Especially given the fact 14/17 games are inside. Everyone knows Goff plays much better indoors. In 2023, he was 9-2 with 24 TDs and 6 INTs inside compared to 3-2 with 5 TDs and 4 INTs outside.

The defense is what worries me with Detroit. They were 23rd in points per game allowed in 2023. The lions did add a lot of defensive help, but it will take a while to see if they gel well together. DJ Reader should bring some much-needed pass rush help. Amik Robertson and Carlton Davis III are nice, but average pieces to put into the secondary. Their best-case scenario is Terrion Arnold (rookie) comes on fast and can help improve this defense that was 27th in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed in 2023.

Key Additions
DT DJ Reader
CB Terrion Arnold
G Kevin Zeitler

Key Losses
OT Matt Nelson

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams looks like the real deal. Just look at some of these throws he’s making in preseason. I don’t even care that he’s not playing against starters a lot of the time. The fact he’s whipping it around like this is a great sign for Chicago.

Williams couldn’t have been drafted to a better team. Weapons: stacked. Offensive line: top ten. Defense: average or better. Ryan Poles has done an excellent job making sure his high value rookie will have the smoothest transition to the NFL we’ve seen in a long time.

The Bears have a very easy schedule to begin the season, but it gets tricky down the stretch. Week 11-15 they are home against Green Bay and Minnesota and then have a three-week road tip against Detroit, San Francisco and Minnesota again. We have them going 1-4 in those matchups, which is what ultimately booted them from the playoffs. However, if Williams can shine as brightly as he has in preseason and lead the Bears to a winning record, I think every Bears fan in the world would be happy.

Key Additions
QB Caleb Williams
WR Keenan Allen
RB D’Andre Swift

Key Losses
S Eddie Jackson (more of a locker room, vet loss than a talent loss)

Green Bay Packers

I know everyone is high on Green Bay. A ton of people have them going to the Super Bowl. The offensive line and defense are okay. No real wide receiver threats. Jordan Love is good, but is he great? They were 3-6 at one point last year before going on a 6-2 run to end the season and grab a Wild Card spot. They beat Detroit on Thanksgiving and Kansas City the week after. Both good wins. The rest came against the Chargers, Panthers, Vikings and Bears. Teams with a combined record of 21-47.

You can’t apologize for beating bad teams. I get that. But I’m going to need to see a little more from Love and Co. before I crown them as an NFC favorite. I just can’t picture 2024 as being their year. Every team that made it to the Divisional round of the playoffs last season either had a top five quarterback, a certified stud WR1 or both. Green Bay doesn’t have either. Until I see more, I’m going to assume last year was more of a lightning in a bottle situation and not the real deal.

Key Additions
RB Josh Jacobs
S Xavier McKinney

Key Losses
RB Aaron Jones
C Corey Linsley

Minnesota Vikings

Oh, Minnesota. I feel for you. I had a lot of hope for the Vikings this year. Not in the sense they were going to be a great team, but I thought they would do a lot of things weel and be in a good spot come 2025. Now, they’re without JJ McCarthy for a full year. Jordan Addison was carted off the field last week and Shaq Griffin suffered a soft tissue injury sidelining him for the next few weeks. Addison and Griffin are expected to be ready Week 1. Key word there is expected.

I had Minnesota at 8-9. After these cluster injuries I think it’s more likely they end up 6-11 or 7-10. Kevin O’Connell did more with less last season, so I’m not putting it past him. Sam Darnold could become the next Baker Mayfield/Jared Goff. He could also just as easily still be as bad as we’ve seen from him in the past. The good news is Darnold should be protected well, and he has the best wide receiver in the league available this year to throw to.

The Vikings picked up some quality pieces in free agency. Aaron Jones is a big step above Alexander Mattison. Greenard, Cashman and Van Ginkel are massive boosts to this defense. If Darnold can limit his mistakes, this Minnesota team could upset more than their fair share of teams.

Key Additions
ED Andrew Van Ginkel
LB Blake Cashman
ED Jonathan Greenard

Key Losses
QB Kirk Cousins