Mark Cannizzaro previews the NFC North as The Post gives division-by-division breakdowns ahead of the 2023 NFL season.
1. Detroit Lions
Coach: Dan Campbell
2022 record: 9-8
O/U wins: 9.5
Key additions: WR Marvin Jones, RB David Montgomery, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, TE Sam LaPorta, CB Cameron Sutton, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Key departures: WR DJ Chark, WR Quintez Cephus, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Jamaal Williams
First-and-goal: Jared Goff, an outcast from the Rams, has proven to be a good leader for the Lions. He finished sixth among all NFL QBs last season in pass attempts (587) and seventh in yards per attempt (7.6). Goff threw for 4,438 yards and 29 TDs last season. “He’s really a perfect fit for what we do and what we ask,” Campbell said. Defensively, the Lions got 20.5 sacks from rookies last season, led by Aidan Hutchinson (9.5).
Fourth-and-long: There are questions on the offensive line. Tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell are solid, but the interior isn’t settled at right guard and center Frank Ragnow has been dealing with a difficult turf toe problem. The Lions, the only team in the league that has never won its current division, must deal with high expectations for a change. How will they deal with those?
Cann’s Call: 11-6. This isn’t a strong division, and the Lions were 5-1 against division opponents last season. They enter this season after turning a 1-6 start into an 8-2 finish and coming up just short of a playoff berth.
2. Minnesota Vikings
Coach: Kevin O’Connell
2022 record: 13-4
O/U wins: 8.5
Key additions: WR Jordan Addison, WR Brandon Powell, TE Josh Oliver, CB Byron Murphy, DE Marcus Davenport
Key departures: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Adam Thielen, TE Irv Smith, TE Ben Ellefson, CB Patrick Peterson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Eric Kendricks
First-and-goal: The Vikings didn’t have a productive offseason, losing some key players, but they do still have QB Kirk Cousins and WR Justin Jefferson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Cousins led the NFL with eight fourth-quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives. Minnesota’s Achilles’ heel was the defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league in key categories and failed to stop the Giants in the playoffs. Perhaps new defensive coordinator Brian Flores will fix some of those issues.
Fourth-and-long: The Vikings 2022 season represented a mirage of sorts as they posted a remarkable 11-0 record in regular-season games decided by eight points or fewer and, for the season, were outscored by three points. Can RB Alexander Mattison fill the productive role Cook left behind? That will be something to watch. Minnesota faces a difficult schedule to start the season, playing the Eagles, Chargers, Chiefs and 49ers within its first seven games.
Cann’s Call: 11-6. This team still has big-time offensive weapons, but won’t again go 11-0 in close games.
3. Chicago Bears
Coach: Matt Eberflus
2022 record: 3-14
O/U wins: 7.5
Key additions: RB D’Onta Foreman, RB Travis Homer, WR DJ Moore, TE Robert Tonyan, CB Kyler Gordon, S Jaquan Brisker, OT Braxton Jones, LB Tremaine Edmunds, LB T.J. Edwards, G Nate Davis
Key departures: RB David Montgomery, QB Trevor Siemian, QB Tim Boyle, WR N’Keal Harry, WR Byron Pringle
First-and-goal: Justin Fields has a chance to be dynamic, having rushed for 1,143 yards last year, which was the second most ever for a quarterback — and only the fourth time a QB reached 1,000 yards on the ground. He threw for 2,242 yards and 17 TDs, numbers that should improve with the acquisition of Moore and with a full season of WR Chase Claypool.
Fourth-and-long: As well as Fields runs, he needs to be better through the air. He has 25 career starts and hasn’t reached 300 yards in any of them, and he passed for more than 190 yards in a game just twice last season. On defense last season, the Bears finished last in the NFL in points allowed, points per drive allowed, yards per passing play allowed and sacks. The pass rush didn’t seem to be improved in the offseason.
Cann’s Call: 7-10. There will be improvement on both sides of the ball, but this team isn’t playoff ready just yet.
Betting on the NFL?
4. Green Bay Packers
Coach: Matt LaFleur
2021 record: 8-9
O/U wins: 7.5
Key additions: WR Jaylen Reed, WR Dontayvion Wicks, TE Luke Musgrave, TE Tucker Kraft
Key departures: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Allen Lazard, WR Randall Cobb, TE Robert Tonyan, TE Marcedes Lewis
First-and-goal: Without Rodgers, at least the rest of the backfield remains intact with RBs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon returning. Jones rushed for a career-best 1,121 yards on 5.3 yards per carry last season and he added 59 catches. Dillon had a strong finish with six TDs in his final six games last season. In the final eight games last season, then rookie Christian Watson produced 523 yards and 7 TDs on 31 catches.
Fourth-and-long: Life will be difficult without Rodgers. Regardless of how well his protégé, Jordan Love, plays, it’s not likely to be at the MVP standard Rodgers brought. Love has made just one NFL start and has thrown only 83 passes as a pro. There were some eyebrows raised when defensive coordinator Joe Barry returned after a disappointing performance in 2022. Green Bay was 17th in yards allowed and points allowed and 20th in Football Outsiders DVOA.
Cann’s Call: 6-11. The loss of Rodgers will prove far too much to overcome as the Packers are in full rebuilding mode.
Read more
