The NFC North is going to be close. Every team in the division has strengths and flaws that will impact the final standings. It is going to be a fight from start to finish and I’m going to discuss how each team can win this division. I’ll also share players to watch from each team and guys I’m excited to see play. We start in Green Bay where the future of Aaron Rodgers is in.. jeopardy?
Packers Final Push for Super Bowl?
So, Aaron Rodgers isn’t hosting Jeopardy!. However, this is likely his last season with the Packers. He is unhappy with the moves made by the organization and doesn’t have confidence in the team. While they still have the most talented in this division, this season rides on the shoulder of Rodgers to perform as he has previously.
Elsewhere, Green Bay is filled with talented players. Their defense is going to be good once again, although, I do have questions about their pass-rush. I like their secondary and wonder if their linebackers are a bit underrated. On offense, their collection of running backs are impressive, as is their receiving core. Will be enough to impress Rodgers? We shall see.
A player to watch for on the Packers is safety Darnell Savage Jr. This is his third season with Green Bay and will be “mission control” (along with Adrian Amos) this year according to Defensive Coordinator Joe Berry. Defense wins championships and if Green Bay is going to win a Super Bowl, they’ll need a strong season from Savage.
Minnesota Makes Noise in NFC North?
I don’t know what to make of the Minnesota Vikings. They are a team with the right ingredients to be a successful team. Their head coach is Mike Zimmer, the seventh-longest tenured coach in the NFL. Notable anti-vaxxer Kirk Cousins is still a quality quarterback in today’s game. Justin Jefferson is coming off Rookie of the Year honors from The Sporting News. However, I still have concerns about this team.
The coach and quarterback can’t agree on vaccines. Their final five games of the season are against teams who made the playoffs last season (Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA Rams, and Green Bay). And if Dalvin Cook isn’t healthy, Minnesota’s offense struggles to gain any momentum. Go back and watch both of their games against the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks from last season. Minnesota had leads in both games before Cook left with injuries, which allowed their opponents to come back (the Vikings would beat Carolina but lose to Seattle).
A player you should pay close attention to is Christian Darrisaw. A first-round pick in this past draft, Darrisaw is projected to start at left tackle and protect the blind side of Cousins. Will it work? Who’s to say. But if it doesn’t, someone is going to get fired as a result. The Vikings have never had back-to-back losing seasons under Zimmer, but he could be on the hot seat if they fail to win nine games in 2021.
Chicago Could Be Surprise Team of NFC North
For some reason, I am drinking the Chicago Bears Kool-Aid. Somehow, they won eight games last season and made the playoffs, only to get crushed by the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round. This season, they have a new quarterback to build around and I’m not even talking about Andy Dalton. Here’s why I am excited to watch the Bears in 2021.
Chicago’s defense is still one of the best in the NFL. There is talent at every position, especially with Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith as linebackers. Eddie Jackson has missed just two games since 2017 and is one of the top safeties in the league. I’m even excited to see some of Chicago’s offensive pieces, including David Montgomery, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet.
There are a couple of players I’m keeping my eyes on from Chicago this season. First, Justin Fields gives the Bears a real chance to succeed right away. He is a good quarterback on a cheap contract who might give them the best chance to win every week. Fans seem to be unified in their love for Fields and if you can get the people of Chicago to agree on something, then you must be doing something right. The other player to watch is Tarik Cohen, who is coming off a torn ACL last year and is looking for a bounce-back season after missing most of 2020.
Detroit Doesn’t Have Much Chance to Win NFC North
It is not a good sign when the biggest storyline heading into training camp for your team is the head coach. I don’t know how to say this without saying like an asshole but Dan Campbell might be insane. His Starbucks coffee order is deadly. When describing his team, Campbell says “there are no turds on this team”. He’s an intriguing personality, just maybe not a head coach type.
This is possibly the worst roster in the NFC. There are some players I like, including Trey Flowers and Jamie Collins at linebacker. Even their offensive line, with Frank Ragnow, Taylor Decker, and Penei Sewell, is solid. Also, T.J. Hockenson is coming off a fantastic season and is one of the most underappreciated tight ends in the NFL.
I am excited to see Jeff Okudah in his second season with the Lions. He played in just nine games last season due to injury and struggled in six starts. Now, with a new head coach and defensive coordinator, the Lions and Okudah are both hoping for a bounce-back season. He is critical to the team, as he looks to become the next franchise cornerback for Detroit.
Conclusion
The Packers are the team to beat in this division. Even with the Aaron Rodgers issues, Green Bay is one of the best teams in the league. In addition, I like the Bears and the addition of Justin Fields at quarterback. Also, look out for the resurgence of that nasty Chicago defense. For the Vikings, I feel like there is too much adversity within the team to overcome. And the Lions are still going to be the same old Lions. That is your NFC North preview for 2021.
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