The Official 2023 NFC North Thread

[packman80]

Crazy after GB's 1st half of season that they actually go into last week of the season controlling their own playoff destiny. Now can they avoid crapping the bed at home.

[packman80]

...................

[CC_123]

Well, we have sure missed Kirk this year. Two things have come from his injury. 1) Fans have realized how good Kirk is and 2) Kirk is going to get paid by the Vikings. The turn wheel of Dobbs, Mullens, Hall at QB has been gross.

Between Kirks injury and KOCs mismanagement of the Broncos, Bears, and Bengals games, it’s been a long year.

[hairysasquatch]

Bears - you have one job!

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Well, we have sure missed Kirk this year. Two things have come from his injury. 1) Fans have realized how good Kirk is and 2) Kirk is going to get paid by the Vikings. The turn wheel of Dobbs, Mullens, Hall at QB has been gross.

Between Kirks injury and KOCs mismanagement of the Broncos, Bears, and Bengals games, it’s been a long year.

Hopefully KOC is telling the media one thing (they played with energy) while telling the team the truth behind closed doors (they put forth minimal effort).

[packman80]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Bears - you have one job!

Yes do Bear things and lose the game.

[DontToewsMeBro]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Well, we have sure missed Kirk this year. Two things have come from his injury. 1) Fans have realized how good Kirk is and 2) Kirk is going to get paid by the Vikings. The turn wheel of Dobbs, Mullens, Hall at QB has been gross.

Between Kirks injury and KOCs mismanagement of the Broncos, Bears, and Bengals games, it’s been a long year.

Cousins was not the answer for the last 6 years. What would make 2024 and beyond any different? I was hoping the Vikings would cut bait this off season.

I was secretly hoping that they'd have lost like last night all year and get a top QB in the draft. Penix, Maye, Daniels, Ewers, Williams, etc. But instead the Vikings will have a middling pick (which they'll use on ANOTHER trash DB) and be completely mediocre again in 2024.

As for KOC? He is a scared coach. He plays not to lose instead of playing to win.

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Bears - you have one job!

It's a lose/lose situation for Chicago.

If the Bears lose Da Pack will mock us for losing.

If the Bears win Da Pack will mock us for hurting our draft position.

I know how these things play out.

[oldgoldy97]

Best case: trade JJ for two firsts. Pick Nix. Get a linebacker, safety and DL in the draft. Sign a competent OL in free agency. Bring Kirk back on a 2 year.

I’m even fine with a stretch on a QB in the first to get the fifth year.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Best case: trade JJ for two firsts. Pick Nix. Get a linebacker, safety and DL in the draft. Sign a competent OL in free agency. Bring Kirk back on a 2 year.

I’m even fine with a stretch on a QB in the first to get the fifth year.

If I am th Vikings I draft a QB 1st round. I then sign Flacco to be starter for one year so the rookie can sit and learn. I keep Jefferson because he's top 3 WR in the NFL.

[packman80]

So GB could end up 2nd place in NFCN and in playoffs with a win. But a loss and a Vikings win would put GB in last place in the NFCN.

[Davis]

The domino effect into week 18 due to the Lions getting robbed of the W vs. the Cowboys.

SF vs. Rams: SF wouldn't have the #1 seed locked up and would need to bring their A game vs. the Rams. Now SF can rest their starters for a portion of the game and gift the Rams a W.

Lions would have been able to lock into at least the #2 seed with a win vs. Minnesota, with a chance of getting the #1 seed based on how well the Rams have been playing. Now Lions are almost certainly locked into the #3 with 1st round matchup vs either Green Bay or Rams. And if the Lions win, they'll most likely be on the road in the 2nd round.

[Kent Clements]

Originally Posted by Grid

When do we start the official 2024 NFC North thread?

Do we wait until Matt Stafford returns to Detroit, and beats the Lions? Sending Detroit to zero playoff wins in the past 30+ years?

Or do we wait until the Bears draft Marvin Harrison Jr or Caleb Williams #1 and "start building a legacy"?

Not going to happen. Harrison Jr. staying in college.

[jplarson]

Seems like the BO member repping the team that won the North ought to create the thread .

But I've been told this is America.

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by Kent Clements

Not going to happen. Harrison Jr. staying in college.

Why? He's slated to be a top 5 pick. How much more can he improve his draft stock?

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by jplarson

It's a lose/lose situation for Chicago.

If the Bears lose Da Pack will mock us for losing.

If the Bears win Da Pack will mock us for hurting our draft position.

I know how these things play out.

Let the Pack mock us all they want for having the #1 overall pick.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by Kent Clements

Not going to happen. Harrison Jr. staying in college.

Who's throwing him the ball?

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by packman80

If I am th Vikings I draft a QB 1st round. I then sign Flacco to be starter for one year so the rookie can sit and learn. I keep Jefferson because he's top 3 WR in the NFL.

Most realistic option right now is bringing Kirk back on a 2 or 3 year deal, drafting a QB in the first round and letting them sit and learn a couple years. JJ is getting extended and isn’t going anywhere. Vikings have the control in the situation with franchise tags still an option down the line if it is necessary.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Most realistic option right now is bringing Kirk back on a 2 or 3 year deal, drafting a QB in the first round and letting them sit and learn a couple years. JJ is getting extended and isn’t going anywhere. Vikings have the control in the situation with franchise tags still an option down the line if it is necessary.

Cousins will find better then a 2-3 year deal. QB pools sucks and Cousins will find teams willing to give him a 4-5 year deal. Either MN has to do that or move on this year.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by packman80

Cousins will find better then a 2-3 year deal. QB pools sucks and Cousins will find teams willing to give him a 4-5 year deal. Either MN has to do that or move on this year.

This isn’t true whatsoever. Nobody is going to give Kirk a 4+ year deal coming off an Achilles tear. Even the local beat guys who are plugged into the situation have stated this and they are under the impression he will get a 3 year deal. Kirk also doesn’t want to move his kids again and tried to take less money this past offseason than his market value to stay in Minnesota. Kirk is at the stage of his career where he has made plenty of money, he probably wants to win at this stage. The other teams searching for free agent QBs wouldn’t exactly be “contenders”.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by CC_123

This isn’t true whatsoever. Nobody is going to give Kirk a 4+ year deal coming off an Achilles tear. Even the local beat guys who are plugged into the situation have stated this and they are under the impression he will get a 3 year deal. Kirk also doesn’t want to move his kids again and tried to take less money this past offseason than his market value to stay in Minnesota. Kirk is at the stage of his career where he has made plenty of money, he probably wants to win at this stage. The other teams searching for free agent QBs wouldn’t exactly be “contenders”.

And the team told him no, because they didn't want to commit to him beyond this season. At that point, you should lose any type of home town discount. With their defense still, I'm not sold that Minnesota is a "contender" any more than these other teams.

The Atlanta Falcons have a ton of weapons in a bad division. Tampa has weapons and are in the QB market. Denver could compete with Kirk on the team.

Minnesota might have franchise tag power, but JJ has hold out power, and that is a hell of a lot more powerful. It worked for Hockenson and his "ear infection"

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by whitmm

And the team told him no, because they didn't want to commit to him beyond this season. At that point, you should lose any type of home town discount. With their defense still, I'm not sold that Minnesota is a "contender" any more than these other teams.

The Atlanta Falcons have a ton of weapons in a bad division. Tampa has weapons and are in the QB market. Denver could compete with Kirk on the team.

Minnesota might have franchise tag power, but JJ has hold out power, and that is a hell of a lot more powerful. It worked for Hockenson and his "ear infection"

Things became fluid with Kirk once he went down with a significant injury. That alone affects his market value. And again, he has stated he does not want to move his kids again. And the Vikings defense, overall, has vastly improved, especially considering what Flores is working with. Get another year of guys in the system and it’s going to get better again.

Lastly, nobody is stupid enough to believe JJ is going to get traded or not get extended. The fan base would come for Kwesi if either happened. JJ will get his money, both sides know that. But JJ wants some security at QB, which is more reason the Vikings will work hard to bring Cousins back for a couple years. They have already went on record stating they have interest in working something out with Kirk. They have basically admitted they messed up by not extending him before the season

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Things became fluid with Kirk once he went down with a significant injury. That alone affects his market value. And again, he has stated he does not want to move his kids again. And the Vikings defense, overall, has vastly improved, especially considering what Flores is working with. Get another year of guys in the system and it’s going to get better again.

Lastly, nobody is stupid enough to believe JJ is going to get traded or not get extended. The fan base would come for Kwesi if either happened. JJ will get his money, both sides know that. But JJ wants some security at QB, which is more reason the Vikings will work hard to bring Cousins back for a couple years. They have already went on record stating they have interest in working something out with Kirk. They have basically admitted they messed up by not extending him before the season

Moldy would shop JJ in a heartbeat. Does that mean he's stupid?

[jplarson]

Bears vs Packers this weekend.

You love to see it!

Unless the Packers win. Then you don't.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Bears vs Packers this weekend.

You love to see it!

Unless the Packers win. Then you don't.

If the Bears knock the Packers out of the playoffs in the final game of the season like the Lions did last year, can we start saying Same 'Ol Packers?