The NFC North is a historic division in the National Football League. Home to teams that have been with the NFL since it formed in 1920. This year we will take a look at these four historic teams, and ask the question: How will these teams do in the upcoming 2024-25 NFL season? Especially after arguably being one of the worst divisions in football next to the NFC South and the NFC East.
NFC North: Can The Detroit Lions Make Another Historic Run And Make It Even Further Than Last Year
The Detroit Lions had their greatest season in the modern Super Bowl era, and they’ve never come closer to the big game than they did last year in 2023. The Lions won more playoff games last year than they did from 1958-2022 combined. But now the Lions have to do something that they’ve only done once in franchise history which is win playoff games in consecutive seasons.
Head coach Dan Campbell has continued to be a great motivator for the Lions making them a true competitor in the NFC North. Going into his fourth season, he has a new challenge of maintaining last year’s high standards while still finding a way to finish the job. You have to think coming up this year that the competition in the NFC North will be stronger from Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. Also the Chicago Bears having a better team than they did previously, and the Vikings have a new quarterback leading the squad.
If you’re a Detroit Lions fan, you have to be thrilled about getting to finally experience a winning team with expectations. But there is a fear that things were set up perfectly last year for the Lions to win their first Super Bowl, and it didn’t happen. Unfortunately sometimes that window is only a season long.
Can The New Highest Paid QB In The League Earn His Keep And Lead This Team Further Than Aaron Rodgers Or Brett Favre
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The Green Bay Packers 2024 season is most likely going to be a fun and exciting one after a successful 2023 campaign. All eyes will be on starting quarterback Jordan Love after his record-setting contract following his outstanding first season leading the team and with the youngest team to make the playoffs one year older. General Manager Brian Gutekunst has orchestrated an outstanding off-season, patching up many holes in the roster and ensuring his homegrown talents are taken care of. There is plenty of value and optimism in the upcoming season for the Packers, and it will be exciting to see what happens after Jordan Love just got a huge payday.
Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers will be far more aggressive. No longer will the team be lining up with their corners 10 yards off the line. The additions of safeties Xavier McKinney, and Javon Bullard will clean up the backend. While Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness tee off on opposing quarterbacks.
The Minnesota Vikings Will Be A Very Interesting Team To Watch In The Upcoming 2024-25 Season
The Minnesota Vikings are in for a make it or break it year in terms of trying to keep up with other teams in their division. It was a tough 2023 for the Vikings, and there was a lot of hope entering the season. The Vikings went on a five game win streak in the middle of the season, but ultimately they finished at the bottom of the NFC North with the Bears at 7-10. Kirk Cousins is now gone after signing a $180 million deal with the Falcons in March.
Which has forced the Vikings to do something they’re not used to which is take a quarterback with their opening pick of the 2024 NFL draft. With the 10th overall pick the Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy from Michigan. J.J. is the highest-drafted quarterback ever by Minnesota and just the fifth first-round signal-caller for the franchise in the common draft era. How quickly can the Vikings get back to the playoff? We will see, as the Vikings pick up a few new faces this season in Aaron Jones at running back, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. Which will be super exciting to see what these guys do in the upcoming season.
All Eyes On The Chicago Bears As They Scrap Plan A And Move On To Plan B
Following impressive play last December and January especially defensively and an offseason that saw one high-impact addition after another on offense, expectations for this team have been building for several months. Now, the Chicago Bears enter 2024 with playoff expectations even with their rookie quarterback. The ceiling is high thanks to this team’s strong defense, which will be complemented by an offense full of young talent.
However there are still plenty of questions, though. Like for example: How will Caleb Williams adapt to the NFL? Which the 2022 Heisman winner comes to Chicago as pro-ready as a rookie QB could get after attempting a total of well over 1,000 passes in his three-year college career. One season in Oklahoma, and two seasons with USC, Williams posted eye-popping numbers. Example, 93 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions, over 10,000 yards passing on 66.9% (735-1,099)
Williams appears to have the talent around him to make that possible, like fellow rookie Rome Odunze. Odunze is expected to contribute right away, and D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen provide a veteran wide receiver duo for Williams along with 24 year-old Cole Kmet and veteran Gerald Everett as a solid tide end duo for endless weapons for Williams to use in his first year in Chicago. The Hype is strong for the Chicago Bears, so lets hope they don’t mess it up like they’re know for time after time.
