NFC North Preview

 


We're approaching the 2024 NFL Season, so it's time to dig in and preview the action. Over a series of posts the next two months I'll be previewing the league, division by division. Teams will appear in order of finish from 2023 and I'll include my 2024 prediction. Today, it's the NFC North!

Detroit Lions
2023 Finish: 12-5, First Place
About: The Lions finished atop the NFC North in 2023 and made it all the way to the NFC Championship. The core of the team, particularly on offense, remains in tact. That leaves Jared Goff with receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to lead the charge. They're still a good team that added pieces to the defense and should be poised to make another run in 2024.
Prediction: I think the Lions win the division again and make a push toward the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers
2023 Finish: 9-8, Second Place
About: The Packers were a surprise in 2023. A young team with a first-year starter in Jordan Love, the Packers rallied down the stretch and made the playoffs. More than that, they won a playoff game in Dallas and pushed the eventual NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. The Packers have re-made the backfield with the addition of Josh Jacobs and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. They won't surprise people in 2024, but I think this is still a competitive team.
Prediction: Matt LaFleur is a good coach and I think the Packers will be a winning team again, and will again make the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings
2023 Finish: 7-10, Third Place
About: Kirk Cousins is gone. That leaves the Vikings searching for a new identity coming off a disappointing finish in 2023. The team added veteran Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy to compete to fill the void at quarterback. The Vikings still have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at receiver, but tight end T.J. Hockenson is coming off a major injury. The Vikings added veteran Aaron Jones, but what does he have left. To me, 2024 will be a transition year for the Vikings.
Prediction: I think this team will get better as the season progresses, and we'll see McCarthy near the end of the season. But the Vikings aren't a playoff team this year.

Chicago Bears
2023 Finish: 7-10, Fourth Place
About: The Bears bid farewell to Justin Fields and took Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. They also added running back D'Andre Swift, traded for receiver Keenan Allen, and drafted receiver Rome Odunze. That adds to D.J. Moore, who came to the Bears last season, and tight end Cole Kmet. It's a fierce group of weapons around the rookie, and the team has built up the defense, too. I think the Bears made progress in 2023, and I think they're poised to take another step in 2024.
Prediction: I think the Bears can get to nine wins. I don't think they make the playoffs, but they're going in the right direction.

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