The Official 2023 NFC North Thread

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Today the NFC North Thread will be honoring the 71st anniversary of the Lions' 1952 NFL championship. All non-Lions flags are to be lowered to half mast as a show of respect to the mighty Honolulu Blue and Silver.

I see how it is. Only SOME ancient history is allowed.

You brought this on yourself.

[cnewby]

something about fish in a barrel...

[hairysasquatch]

Let's go Lions!

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Let's go Lions!

If they don't do well this year, can we call them the Lyins? We can totally call the Bears the "Don't Care-Bears" if they finish 4th again.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by jplarson

If they don't do well this year, can we call them the Lyins? We can totally call the Bears the "Don't Care-Bears" if they finish 4th again.

Not the Rebuild-A-Bears?

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Not the Rebuild-A-Bears?

Rebuild implies it was built at some point in the recent past. I mean, it's just called new construction now yeah?

Let's go with The ExpendaBears.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Rebuild implies it was built at some point in the recent past. I mean, it's just called new construction now yeah?

Let's go with The ExpendaBears.

Does Fields start to pull away from JaMarcus Russell's historical W-L record this year?

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Does Fields start to pull away from JaMarcus Russell's historical W-L record this year?

If 6-7 wins does then yes!

[Grid]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Does Fields start to pull away from JaMarcus Russell's historical W-L record this year?

I saw this as a meme on Facebook. But I don't get it. I mean, I understand Russell won 2 more games in his 1st 25 starts than Fields did in his first 25 starts. But is that the only parallel being drawn?

Fields has more passing yards, about 50% more passing TDs, a better completion % (Russell 52% and Fields 60%), more yards per game, more yards per attempt and a better Rating (Russell 65 and Fields 80). Fields beats out Russell in everything, outside of those 2 more wins.

Fields also ran for almost 1,600 yards and 10 TDs

Russell ran for 175 yards and 1 TD

[jplarson]

Troy Aikman was 7-19 his first 26 games
Warren Moon was 7-23 in his first 30 games
Fran Tarkenton went 4-19-1 his first 24 games

Bears were a bad team in 2021 and all of management/coaching got swept away. The staff was so dumb they tossed Fields to the wolves his first start against the Browns and refused to make any adjustments as Cleveland was in Field's back pocket ALL GAME. Emblematic of how bad the coaching staff was at the end. Bears were a bad team in 2022 as they began implementing a new a new draft philosophy, offensive and defensive systems, and getting new players.

If Fields sucks this year, sure, pile on. Comparing him to the dysfunctional Russell on a dysfunctional team? Nah.

But please do go ahead and reply with LOL #GridFacts or that Bears fans live in the past by me referencing 3 examples to counter Purple Drank.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Troy Aikman was 7-19 his first 26 games
Warren Moon was 7-23 in his first 30 games
Fran Tarkenton went 4-19-1 his first 24 games

Bears were a bad team in 2021 and all of management/coaching got swept away. The staff was so dumb they tossed Fields to the wolves his first start against the Browns and refused to make any adjustments as Cleveland was in Field's back pocket ALL GAME. Emblematic of how bad the coaching staff was at the end. Bears were a bad team in 2022 as they began implementing a new a new draft philosophy, offensive and defensive systems, and getting new players.

If Fields sucks this year, sure, pile on. Comparing him to the dysfunctional Russell on a dysfunctional team? Nah.

But please do go ahead and reply with LOL #GridFacts or that Bears fans live in the past by me referencing 3 examples to counter Purple Drank.

Peyton Manning pulled off the same 3-13 record Fields had last year, which was his 1st season as a starter. And don't forget, the GOAT Matt Stafford (If you ask a Lions fan) went 3-10 his first 2 years in the league.

Steve Young went 3-16 in his first 2 seasons as well. Why Fat Albert VS Fields, and not Young VS Fields?

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by Grid

Peyton Manning pulled off the same 3-13 record Fields had last year, which was his 1st season as a starter. And don't forget, the GOAT Matt Stafford (If you ask a Lions fan) went 3-10 his first 2 years in the league.

Steve Young went 3-16 in his first 2 seasons as well. Why Fat Albert VS Fields, and not Young VS Fields?

I didn't consider them because the argument is "Fields is Russell because of bad record". I picked the QBs I recalled having 2 poor seasons to start a career to get close to that 25-game mark that went on to have good careers.

Manning's second year of 13-3 led to a .500 career mark and thus not a comp for Fields..

Young I didn't consider because he got shipped off to another team after his second season so he was already a bust for Tampa Bay. Fields is still on the Bears so not a comp.

Stafford as you noted was hurt most of his second year so rolling his first 3 years together was already a not horrible 13-16 record. We'll see how Fields looks after year 3 is in the books.


But I would VERY much like to think that Fields compares favorably to Stafford, Young, and Manning! Those would be fantastic comparisons

[packman80]

Fields and Love both need at least 7-8 wins and mid 20s in TD's and mid teens for INT's to say ok they had a good season and they are both developing well.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by jplarson

I didn't consider them because the argument is "Fields is Russell because of bad record". I picked the QBs I recalled having 2 poor seasons to start a career to get close to that 25-game mark that went on to have good careers.

Manning's second year of 13-3 led to a .500 career mark and thus not a comp for Fields..

Young I didn't consider because he got shipped off to another team after his second season so he was already a bust for Tampa Bay. Fields is still on the Bears so not a comp.

Stafford as you noted was hurt most of his second year so rolling his first 3 years together was already a not horrible 13-16 record. We'll see how Fields looks after year 3 is in the books.


But I would VERY much like to think that Fields compares favorably to Stafford, Young, and Manning! Those would be fantastic comparisons

And I replied with other young QBs that had a 3 win season (or seasons when combining starts or Young and Stafford) like Fields is coming off of. Just silly to only compare him to Jamarcus. Unless you are playing the race angle I guess.

Fields pretty much had 2 rookie years. An entirely different coach/staff/system/GM in 2021 VS 2022. Plus the * of the Bears tanking last season.

But even if Fields completely bombs this year, and it tossed from the league for being garbage. He already has more yards, touchdowns and records than Russell. Which is why I pointed out, that I don't get the comparison.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by packman80

Fields and Love both need at least 7-8 wins and mid 20s in TD's and mid teens for INT's to say ok they had a good season and they are both developing well.

For sure the spotlight is on both of them. Maybe a bit more on Love, considering the Pack let a legend walk in favor of him. All the Bears did was dump Trubisky for Fields. And I think most are OK with that.

If both do what they should be doing, its going to be an arms race in the NFC North. As the Lions and Vikings both have QB's with the mobility of a sloth.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by Grid

For sure the spotlight is on both of them. Maybe a bit more on Love, considering the Pack let a legend walk in favor of him. All the Bears did was dump Trubisky for Fields. And I think most are OK with that.

If both do what they should be doing, its going to be an arms race in the NFC North. As the Lions and Vikings both have QB's with the mobility of a sloth.

You mean the Vikings won't win with Captain check down throwing 5 yards when it's 3rd and 10+?

[hairysasquatch]

Well, then! The Bears fans were up and at 'em early today!!

[oldgoldy97]

GB hoping they have another HoF QB so they can maybe squeeze out a single SB victory in the next 20 years.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by packman80

You mean the Vikings won't win with Captain check down throwing 5 yards when it's 3rd and 10+?

I am going to guess that this is the last year for Cousins on the Vikings roster. His contract is all voidable after this year and he will be 36 next year. I am a Cousins fan, but I think he may be destined to go to a team in need of a "transition" veteran QB. Meaning sign a one year deal with a rookie and expect to hand over the team in week 5 or 6. The other option is a win now team, but I don't think Cousin's playoff track record is conducive to that scenario. I do think he can still be a productive QB for a few more years.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by packman80

You mean the Vikings won't win with Captain check down throwing 5 yards when it's 3rd and 10+?

The Vikings have paid Captain Check Down over $155MIL. That comes out to $155,028,856.00 per playoff victory.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

GB hoping they have another HoF QB so they can maybe squeeze out a single SB victory in the next 20 years.

Sure I would take 1 SB in next 20 years to the combined 0 SB wins from the rest of the NFC North.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

I am going to guess that this is the last year for Cousins on the Vikings roster. His contract is all voidable after this year and he will be 36 next year. I am a Cousins fan, but I think he may be destined to go to a team in need of a "transition" veteran QB. Meaning sign a one year deal with a rookie and expect to hand over the team in week 5 or 6. The other option is a win now team, but I don't think Cousin's playoff track record is conducive to that scenario. I do think he can still be a productive QB for a few more years.

Yeah with the poor QB pool there will always be a team that will want him to aid a young QB. I could see him end up with AZ next year if AZ dumps Murray and picks up Williams and decides not to throw Williams to the wolves right away.

[erock28]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

GB hoping they have another HoF QB so they can maybe squeeze out a single SB victory in the next 20 years.

Sadly you speak the truth

[hairysasquatch]

Rest of the North gets to see how it's done tonight!

[jplarson]

Former Chicago Bear gives the Lions the lead in the 4th quarter!