The Official 2023 NFC North Thread
 

Decided to mix it up a bit this season, and rather than go with a team-specific thread for my beloved Lions, I figured why not try a divisional thread where everyone can come in and exchange views about their respective teams - kind of like r/NFCNorthMemeWar on Reddit, except without the Reddit and, uh, memes.

I'll kick this off by saying I like the Lions to win the division in 2023.
Packers in tailspin.
Vikes stagnating.
Bears improving but still a couple years off.

David Montgomery was a great grab for your Lions. I know the Dolphins were after him as well.

You have a yourselves a fine running back with that pickup.

What happened to Jamaal Williams? Seems like he and Monty would occupy similar roles in the offense.

[QUOTE=jplarson;18757785]What happened to Jamaal Williams? Seems like he and Monty would occupy similar roles in the offense.[/QUOTE]

Jamaal is awesome but three years older and wants a bag the Lions can't afford. Montgomery is at least as good and a better contract. Jamaal will end up on the Bills.

I’m only here for the inevitable Bears salt, Lions tears and Vikings rage.

[QUOTE=Boo;18757793]I’m only here for the inevitable Bears salt, Lions tears and Vikings rage.[/QUOTE]

ugh, a Dolphins fan and Packers sympathizer? Gross.

[QUOTE=jplarson;18757805]ugh, a Dolphins fan and Packers sympathizer? Gross.[/QUOTE]

NFC North United against Phins fans!

[QUOTE=hairysasquatch;18757504]Decided to mix it up a bit this season, and rather than go with a team-specific thread for my beloved Lions, I figured why not try a divisional thread where everyone can come in and exchange views about their respective teams - kind of like r/NFCNorthMemeWar on Reddit, except without the Reddit and, uh, memes.

I'll kick this off by saying I like the Lions to win the division in 2023.
Packers in tailspin.
Vikes stagnating.
Bears improving but still a couple years off.[/QUOTE]

I like the thread idea as the division is more up for grabs than it has been in a LONG time. Packers fan so take it all with a grain...

Lions IMO win the division if they don't they decide to, well, 'Lion' the first half of the season. They have another good draft and it all comes together they have 11-12 win upside.

Packers are a HUGE wildcard. IF they trade the primadonna and Love proves to be an average NFL QB, they have enough talent to stay on the fringes of the playoff hunt, say 8-10 wins. If jacka$$ comes back, they'll be on fringe of the playoff hunt and push their financial problems yet another year down the road...but will still lose in the playoffs should they happen to get there. If Love blows goats, 5ish wins max.

Vikings are in for a rude awakening. Luckiest team possibly in NFL history last year (Queens fans will call them opportunistic), first-place schedule, aging and not good defense...they're in for a fall. I'd say 7-8 wins.

Bears are two really good draft years away - and presumed Fields development - from contending for the division. With the moves they've made in FA and the 1.01 trade filling up their draft capital bucket, they have a chance to plug a LOT of roster holes in 2023. I don't see it all jelling quickly enough to be a threat in year 1...but if all goes well they could be right there in 2024. That team had a TON of shortcomings after 2022,,,Bears fans have to be happy about the progress made thus far. I'd peg them for 6-7 wins this year.

Will be a fun division to watch for sure!

I'd say Vikings fans are well aware that last year was an incredibly fortuitous 13-win season. That said, the defense will be much improved (can't get worse!) with Flores at the helm. Huge hole filled at CB1 with Byron Murphy yesterday.

That said it's 100% transition mode right now, especially with no extension for Kirk. I expect Vikings will draft a QB of the future this year or next. At this point, an 8- or 9-win season wouldn't be that bad considering how much the roster will be reshaped — particularly on the defensive side of the ball — in 2023.

Excited to see how the Lions continue to build and how the Bears pieces mesh in the coming season ... and if JLove will be the third straight HoF QB for the Pack (please no).

[QUOTE=Boo;18757793]I’m only here for the inevitable Bears salt, Lions tears and Vikings rage.[/QUOTE]

Dont forget the Packer Backers who will be bringing up how they used to be good!

[IMG]https://media2.giphy.com/media/JsKFiDQodFZxaDObGp/giphy.gif[/IMG]

Love the thread idea, especially in a year where I don't think any of these teams are in the stratosphere of contention.

The Lions should be fun because Dan Campbell is fun, though they take a hit by not bringing back Jamaal. Still a lot of likable guys and should be a decent team.

The Bears should be fun because of Fields, some new weapons, and the fact that they generally still shouldn't be very good this year (which is fun to Packers fans).

The Vikings have Justin Jefferson - that's really the nicest thing I can say about them. Not a lot of players I find fun (yet) and I don't see a whole lot of upside - or downside. They just kind of exist, much like they have for all of their existence.

The Packers will be fun because Love will either show some flashes (fun for Packers fans) or not at all (fun for everyone else) and have a lot of unknown for the second time in thirty years. The young guys on offense might be kind of entertaining, too.

The Detroit Lions: "Hey, there is a very real chance that we will be good this season and the division is wide open!"

Hairy: *starts a joint division thread*

Love it.

All I can add, for my fellow NFC Northers. Is that we all get to plow through the NFC South this year!

Who are we going to intercept the most? Carr (Saints), Mayfield (Bucs), Dalton (Panthers) or whoever the Falcons are throwing out there. Ridler and Mariota I guess.

In the AFC West matchups, KC & LA will be tough. But I am not afraid of the Broncos or Raiders.

Packers 9-8
Vikings 8-9
Bears 5-12
Lions 3-14

[QUOTE=BostonNut;18758712]Packers 9-8
Vikings 8-9
Bears 5-12
Lions 3-14[/QUOTE]

Aside from the above-quoted ding-aling, this has been awesome!

NFC North Bros vs. Everybody!

I will say this, the Lions have a real shot at being the second-best silver & blue team in the league!

[QUOTE=Grid;18758082]Dont forget the Packer Backers who will be bringing up how they used to be good!

[IMG]https://media2.giphy.com/media/JsKFiDQodFZxaDObGp/giphy.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Once Rodgers leaves they will be the least interesting team in the division.

Jamaal to Saints, which surprised me.

We the North!

North siiiiiide!

Y'all should have a North poll with this thread.
Ok, I'll see my way out.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Astros19;18759612]Y'all should have a North poll with this thread.
Ok, I'll see my way out. [/QUOTE]

I got your pole right here!

[IMG]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/67/9b/67/679b67edea85ffea78f93663686acc88.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=jplarson;18759262]North siiiiiide![/QUOTE]

[IMG]https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-28-2016/HiBrJw.gif[/IMG]

Been a bit quite after the initial rush. Bears signed QB P.J. Walker from Carolina, which IMO is a good compliment to Fields. That way, they don't have to change too much if JF1 goes down.

Which leads me to believe that they will cater even more of the offense and playbook to suite Fields style of play.

[QUOTE=hairysasquatch;18758989]Jamaal to Saints, which surprised me.[/QUOTE]

Very surprising. From what I am hearing, the Lions offered Jamaal the same deal that they ended up giving Monty. Montgomery was just plan B, if Jamaal wouldn't sign.

His agent must have freaked out, since the Saints offered less money than the Lions had on the table. Or, he just didn't want to play for Detroit any more.

The Bears have been in contact with Austin Ekeler, when that starting shaking free. While they do have Herbert waiting to play RB1, I think they let Monty slip because they were closing in on Ekeler.

I know the 2 teams have talked as well, and there is a hang up on the 2nd round pick that would be part of that trade. With the Bears offering the Carolina 2nd they just got (61 overall) but the Chargers wanting the Baltimore pick the Bears got in the Roquan deal (53).

Which doesn't seem like too much of a holdup to me. But I am sure there are other later round picks being talked as part of a package.

If the Bears can flip their 1st pick into Carolina's 1st this year (Top 10) their 1st next year (should be top 10), Their 2nd rounder in 2025. And trade the Panthers 2nd for Ekler PLUS get DJ Moore. Thats just crazy.

Pretty cool the Lions are stoked about getting a Bear.