NFC North Preview
And we are back and at it again today after a few days off. Today we preview the NFC North with the help again of my buddy Chris. Same Format as before with my picks in bold and Chris's in regular font so with that Chris please take it away!
Unfortunately, this might be one of the most boring divisions in football for 2017. The Packers got better, and everyone else seems to have stayed the same or gotten worse. Each fan base does have a bright spot to look at as their season goes on. Can Detroit average 35 a game? Will Dalvin Cook be rookie of the year? Can Jordan Howard put up 2,000 yards from scrimmage? Will Green Bay run away with it, stay healthy and make a run at another super bowl?
Green Bay (11-5): If this team is healthy on offense all year, they have a legitimate shot to reach the super bowl. The weapons they have on offense rival any team in football, and might just be better. Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Bennett, and some guy named Aaron Rodgers. Quarterback magic has been a staple of the Packers since the gunslinger rolled into town 25 years ago, and Rodgers is looking to keep it going by bringing them back to February. Playing in what I see to be a relatively easy division, this team should walk to the division title.
Green Bay (12-4): The best QB in the league is on this team. His o-line is decent, his defense is getting better and his weapons on the outside and his tight ends are among the best in the NFL. Yet, Green bay doesn't have a running game. If Rodgers has to throw it 45 times to win a game they have proven they can't beat anyone ala Atlanta in the NFC title game. They will be the one seed in the tough NFC this year but they will be beat up by the time the post season comes around. A name to keep an eye on that plays in the secondary is a rookie by the name of Josh Jones out of NC state. He will make an immediate impact on this team and defense.
Minnesota (8-8): Whenever your answer at quarterback is Sam Bradford, you’re setting your ceiling fairly low. He did set an nfl record for completion percentage last year, but when your offense revolves around short passes without much running game, you’re going to have a very small margin for error. With an entire offseason to study and get more familiar with this team, I still can’t see them passing the Pack for the division title. It will be interesting to see how this team involves the trio of Latavius Murray, Stephon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook. Can they keep them all happy?
Minnesota (7-9): Any team that has Sam Bradford on it should hold their breath, he's one hit away from being out for the entire year. and then who do you turn to huh? In fact the drafting of Dalvin Cook should have Vikings fans feeling more frustrated because in my opinion that offensive line can't block anyone to open holes for him so they won't get to see his full arsenal on display. It's going to be a long year in Minnesota but at least count on that defense coming to play again!
Detroit (5-11): Detroit might quietly have one of the better offenses in the nfl. They’ve added depth to their o-line in TJ Lang and Ricky Wagner, have a good RB combo with Reddick and Abdullah that can get serious yards in the blink of an eye, and have a good 1-2 punch at receiver with Tate and Jones. Unfortunately, with this defense, they are going to be a poor man’s version of the Saints teams we have seen over the years; a lot of yards, a lot of points, but just not quite enough to win games. Ziggy Ansah can bring pressure off the edge, but Haloti Ngata is past his prime and doesn’t demand the attention he used to. Jarrad Davis and Teez Tabor are promising rookies, but they just aren’t ready to lead the defense. Things could always be worse though…….
Detroit ( 9-7): The last wild card in the NFC belongs to the Detroit Lions. That's right, I am going against Chris and his doomsday pick for Detroit in what is going to be a fantastic season for the Lions. Matt Stafford does lose Taylor Decker but the pick ups on the line in T.J. Lang and Cam Robinson, the defense with the additions of Teez Tabor and Jarrad Davis could vault this group to top 10 status if they step in and contribute but the hole in the running game is what separates the Packers and the Lions.
Chicago (3-13): The future is very murky for this team. They signed Glennon to a 3 year $45 million contract, but can get out of it after one year. The question is, was it worth it to give up all that they did to move up one spot (trading #3, a third rounder, a fourth rounder, a third next year, to go to #2) for someone who was going to be there anyway? This team desperately needs depth, and they just lost a chance at it by trading away those picks, and creating a log jam at QB. The lone bright spot is 2016 late round steal (see, they are important) Jordan Howard. He has a legitimate shot at 2,000 yards from scrimmage if he stays healthy all year. The question is, will he care enough to grind out 16 games with this team?
Chicago (3-13): The Bears will own a top 5 pick this year and Mitchell Trubisky will be the starter by week 8. The bright spot of this team is on the defensive front 7 plus stud RB Jordan Howard but that's not enough to overcome young QB play, a suspect offensive line and a mediocre secondary. The Bears gave up a lot of picks to get a QB for the future after moving on from Jay Cutler, while one problem is gone the other one remains in that the Bears play in a top heavy division, where wins will be scarce against cross division teams.
Quick Toss:
Division MVP: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay
Division MVP: Aaron Rodgers- GB
Defensive Rookie of the year: Jarrad Davis – Detroit
DROY: Josh Jones - GB
Offensive Rookie of the year: Dalvin Cook – Minnesota
OROY: Mitchell Trubisky- Chicago
OPOY: Jordan Howard – Chicago
OPOY: Aaron Rodgers- GB
DPOY: HaHa Clinton Dix – Green Bay
DPOY: Xavier Rhodes- Minn
