NFL Preseason Preview: With Rodgers gone, who's winning the NFC North?

The NFC North has, for over a decade, been a fight between the Packers and someone else. This was due to Aaron Rodgers and his consistent excellence propelling Green Bay to the playoffs year after year. But thankfully for everyone else in the division, Rodgers is gone now, leaving the NFC North ripe for the picking, but who has the best chance?

Will Justin Fields kick on? That is the question on everyone’s minds regarding the Bears. Fields showed in 2022 his size/speed combo makes him almost impossible to stop at times, but accuracy and decision-making weren’t always top-tier when passing. With an improved o-line and the addition of DJ Moore on the outside, Fields needs to show he can do it all in 2023.

It’s a sorry story for the Bears on the backend, finishing 2022 with one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They have spent big money bringing in Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards at linebacker, but the weaknesses along the defensive front and the secondary remain.

The Bears are a tough team to project in 2023 as so much depends on Fields making a giant leap, which doesn’t seem that likely. If he can, then expect them to be finishing around .500, but there is a good chance they will end up in the doldrums once more. Bears fans should maybe start taking a peak at the 2024 QB class.

The Lions’ became every analyst's favorite team towards the end of 2022 as Ben Johnson’s cleverly designed offense propelled them ‘this close’ to a playoff spot. Jared Goff is a solid QB who knows how to run the system, whilst Amon-Ra St. Brown is a budding star at wideout. Jahmyr Gibbs was probably over-drafted but that shouldn’t stop him from excelling in 2023.

The Lions should be expecting to have at least a middle-of-the-round defense in 2023. With Aidan Hutchinson entering his second year and the additions of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Emmanuel Moseley and Cameron Sutton in the secondary, there is enough talent to keep them competitive all year. Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell could help shore up the middle of the D as well.

There is no shortage of confidence in the Lions in 2023 as they look to build on a fantastic end to last season. Whether they are able to fulfill the lofty expectations being set by onlookers is another story but they are a good team that, with a bit of luck, could make a run in the playoffs.

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened, Packers fans. Rodgers is gone and Jordan Love is the starting QB. Is this going to be a seamless Favre-Rodgers transition, or are we looking at a slip into mediocrity? It all depends on Love and how he develops but with reports suggesting he looks good in training camp and with weapons around him, Love and the Packers could be looking good in 2023.

The Packers' defense looks like a very talented group on paper, with edge rusher Preston Smith and cornerback Jaire Alexander standing out. Rookie Lukas Van Ness could have a part to play in 2023, using his incredibly athletic ability late in games against tired o-lines. A top-half defense is the minimum Packers fans should be expecting from this group.

Much like the Bears, the 2023 Packers are relying on their QB taking a big step forward in 2023. Love could well be the ‘guy’ in Green Bay for the next 10 years, if he’s not, the Packers could well be stuck in Qb purgatory for the near future.

Justin Jefferson. There’s really not much need to write anything else, JJettas is simply that good, and with the addition of Jordan Addison in the draft and a full offseason with T.J. Hockenson, there’s going to be even more space for the star wideout in 2023. Kirk Cousins will still do Kirk Cousins things at times, but this has a chance to be an elite offense.

Unfortunately, the defensive side of the ball doesn’t paint quite as good a picture for the Vikings. With a lack of consistent pass rush and mid-tier players across the back end, this is not an especially talented group. New DC Brian Flores is one of the best in the league so should help steady the ship, but he has his work cut out.

Last season the Vikings were a truly crazy team, snatching victories from the jaws of defeat almost every week. There will almost certainly be a regression to the mean this year but if the offense fires, they could well be in the hunt for the division.

It has to be Justin Jefferson with the Vikings. He puts up otherworldly numbers every season and by all accounts is having his best training camp to date. Defensive backs on the other three teams should be nervous.

This is a division lacking in true defensive superstars, but there is one name which stands out as an exciting player to watch, and that name is, Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson had 9.5 sacks in his rookie year as well as three interceptions. He was lined up all over the place at times in 2022 so expect to see some crazy plays out of him this season too.

1. Lions
2. Vikings
3. Packers
4. Bears