We have come to the end of our Divisional series and I would like to finish it with a division with great tradition in the NFL and with some of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. I’m talking about the NFC North. Please join me to see the analysis of each team.
CHICAGO BEARS
Key Departures
LB Sam Acho, WR Josh Bellamy, S Adrian Amos, OG Eric Kush, WR Kevin White, CB Bryce Callahan, RB Jordan Howard, K Cody Parkey
Key Arrivals
RB Mike Davis, CB Buster Skrine, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB Marcus Cooper
Best Draft Picks
RB David Montgomery, Iowa State (Rd 3)
WR Riley Ridley, Georgia (Rd 4)
CB Duke Shelley, Kansas State (Rd 6)
Analysis
Last year, the Bears had a surprisingly great season. The arrival of Matt Nagy as HC, strengthened by the arrival of Khalil Mack on the defense gave new life to the team. This turned the Bears into real playoff contenders. The defense reminded us of the great Monsters of Midway from ’85, and an offense that was very effective for most of the season. With these strengths the Bears won their division.
For this season, they have lost a few players on the defensive side. The most painful one is their Defensive Coordinator, Vic Fangio who became HC of the Denver Broncos. To take his place comes Chuck Pagano, another great defensive strategist. In terms of players, Adrian Amos has gone, but Clinton-Dix came to replace him. I do not think the defense struggles, and I think that under Pagano they will look diferent, but it will be a very powerful and aggressive defense.
On offense, they traded Jordan Howard. Luckily, Mike Davis and the rookie Montgomery arrived and together with Tarik Cohen form a very complete backfield. They also managed to retain their key players at WR, so I think the Bears are the favorites to take the title of the NFC North again.
*2019 Projection: 11-5
DETROIT LIONS
Key Departures
S Glover Quinn, LB Nicholas Grisby, WR Bruce Ellington, OG T.J. Lang, CB Nevin Lawson, LB Trevor Bates, CB Marcus Cooper, EDGE Ezekiel Ansah, TE Luke Willson
Key Arrivals
WR Danny Amendola , CB Justin Coleman, EDGE Trey Flowers, TE Jesse James, S Andrew Adams, CB Rashaan Melvin, RB C.J. Anderson, WR Jermaine Kearse
Best Draft Picks
TE TJ Hockenson, Iowa (Rd 1)
LB Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii (Rd 2)
S Will Harris, Boston College (Rd 3)
DE Austin Bryant, Clemson (Rd 4)
CB Amani Oruwariye, Penn State (Rd 5)
Analysis
This is Matt Patricia’s second year in command of the team. Although the Lions had sparks last year, like that dominating victory against the Patriots. Overall, they were not constant enough and had a losing season. But this season an improvement is expected for Detroit.
They lost Ezekiel Ansah and Nevin Lawson on the defensive side, but they brought Trey Flowers and Rashaan Melvin to replace them. Thanks to this, I do not think the defense will slow down. On the offensive side they have brought a lot of new weapons for QB Matthew Stafford. TE Jesse James, RB CJ Anderson, the WRs Danny Amendola and Jermaine Kearse, as well as the rookie First Round TJ Hokenson are all expected to have a role in the offense. So with all his new weapons, plus Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay and Kerryon Johnson, Stafford is expected to have a great season.
However, the Lions are in a very competitive division in which it is very difficult to win as visitors also. I think they have the weakest roster in the NFC North, so I believe that, although there will be an improvement, it will not be enough for the Lions to be in Playoffs.
*2019 Projection: 8-8
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Key Departures
LB Antonio Morrison, EDGE Nick Perry, LB Jake Ryan, LB Clay Matthews, WR Randall Cobb, CB Bashaud Breeland, DT Muhammad Wilkerson
Key Arrivals
EDGE Za’Darius Smith, S Adrian Amos, EDGE Preston Smith, OG Billy Turner
Best Draft Picks
EDGE Rashan Gary, Michigan (Rd 1)
S Darnell Savage, Maryland (Rd 1)
C Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State (Rd 2)
TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M (Rd 3)
EDGE Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M (Rd 5)
CB Ka’dar Hollman, Toledo (Rd 6)
Analysis
A new season and a new hope begins for the Packers, who are so desperate to win that they gave Aaron Rodgers his desire to get rid of Mike McCarty as his HC. For this season comes a young Matt Lefleur to take his place. Lefleur has Rodgers blessing to lead the team, it’s going to allow his Star QB to be more involved in the play design and play calling duties. This is something that Rodgers had been asking for some time.
But it will not be so easy for Rogers. Although he is a great QB, his most experienced WR will be Devante Adams. The others have very little experience and are not proven in the NFL yet. If we add that they have lost a lot of talent in the defense such as Nick Perry, Clay Matthews, Bashaud Breeland and Muhammad Wilkerson, much will depend on Rodgers and his offense to win. The key will be that Rodgers remains healthy throughout the season, something that has not happened very often lately.
With a healthy Rodgers, Green Bay will be a very competitive team. They are very hard to beat at home. They have playoff aspirations, but if Rodgers gets injured again, they can forget his hopes for a playoff spot again in the NFC North.
*2019 Projection: 9-7
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Key Departures
S Andrew Sendejo, OL Mike Remmers, DL Sheldon Richardson, RB Latavius Murray, OG Nick Easton, S George Iloka, OL Tom Compton, QB Trevor Siemian
Key Arrivals
OL Josh Kline
Best Draft Picks
C Garrett Bradbury, NC State (Rd 1)
TE Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota (Rd 2)
RB Alexander Mattison, Boise State (Rd 3)
OL Dru Samia, Oklahoma (Rd 4)
LB Cameron Smith, USC (Rd 5)
DT Armon Watts, Arkansas (Rd 6)
S Marcus Epps, Wyoming (Rd 6)
OL Olisaemeka Udoh, Elon (Rd 6)
Analysis
Last season was a total disappointment for the Vikings. With Kirk Cousins as QB, they expected a great season. But it was just the opposite. For this season with Kevin Stefanski as full time Offensive Coordinator and Gary Kubiak as their Senior Offensive Advisor, the offensive is expected to rebound and play at the level that is expected of them. They have great playmakers like Cousins himself, his RB Dalvin Cook and the duo of WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, it’s just a matter of putting them in a position to succeed.
In the defense they have lost some key pieces, such as Sheldon Richardson and Andrew Sendejo. I do not think their defense will be as strong as it was in the past. But under Zimmer, it will not be a bad defense either.
I think that for this season, the Vikings are betting that their offense will turn in one of the most explosive units in the league. They’ll also hope to have a defense that can hold on the score some times. Everything depends on the new Offensive Staff and how they use their weapons. With the adition of Kubiak, I believe the Vikings will have a good season and are going to get into Playoffs. They can even be fighting with the Bears for the NFC North title.
*2019 Projection: 10-6
With this, we conclude our series of 2019 Divisional Analysis & Projections, I hope you enjoyed it, stay tuned to Belly UP Sports for a new subject next week!!!
