Breaking Down the NFC North, 2024

[Thirteen Below]

What we did to Justin Fields was throwing him to the wolves. What Caleb is getting is basically unheard of for a number one overall quarterback pick.

In what way(s)?

 

[Voyageur]

She looks stoned. Hot...but stoned.

I noticed her eyes too. That glazed-eye look is kind of a tell that she may very well be flying at about 35,000 ft. without a plane.

 

[milani]

The draft is over and rosters are (mostly) set. I want to take a stab at stacking up the various position groups in the division. As always, I strive to be objective despite my obvious bias as a Packers fan.

Quarterback: The rest of the division finds themselves, once again, looking up at Green Bay at the most important position. Love clearly demonstrated elite traits and tons of growth last season. The future is very bright. Goff is a very good QB for Detroit, though I question how sustainable their success will be once they've had to pay him and his supporting cast. Both the Bears and Vikings are going to be breaking in rookies, with Chicago obviously having the much more highly regarded talent of the two.

1. Packers
2. Lions
3. Bears
4. Vikings

Running Back: Green Bay signed Jacobs this off-season who, for my money, is the best overall back in this division. They're backing him up with an explosive rookie and a very reliable pro in A.J. Dillon who can handle some key roles, such as blitz pickup. The Lions are close with the duo of Montgomery and Gibbs, who are both strong options and complement each other well. I wouldn't argue with someone who ranked them 1st, but I think they get a touch overrated as independent talents because they run behind the best line in the division. The Bears added Swift to their backfield to join Herbert and Johnson, and that's a quality addition, but they're going to see more modest production than he showed running behinds the Eagles' offensive line. Minnesota again brings up the rear: Aaron Jones is a stud, but he's aging and needs to be used in a complementary fashion. The rest of their backfield is pretty unimpressive.

1. Packers
2. Lions
3. Bears
4. Vikings

Tight End: At the top, one has to choose between quantity and quality. The Packers had two very talented rookies demonstrate a lot of promise in 2023, but neither were particularly close to the level of Sam LaPorta. Given his excellence in the passing game, I'm giving Detroit the nod here. I do, however, rank GB ahead of the Vikings despite the fact that Hockenson is of a similar quality to 2023 LaPorta. My reasoning is that, entering year 6 and age 27, Hockenson is basically a finished product (and a good one!). The tight ends in Detroit and Green Bay are all 23 and entering year 2, when most talented players take a big leap. The Bears are an easy 4th place with the decent, but unspectacular duo of Kmet and Everett.

1. Lions
2. Packers
3. Vikings
4. Bears

Wide Receiver: The Bears don't have the best receiver in the division, but I think they have the best group overall. D.J. Moore is a quality WR1, Keenan Allen adds a high end possession option, and Rome Odunze was, for my money, the best overall player in the draft. I think he is flat out better than Harrison Jr. and Nabers and should make an instant impact. The Packers don't have a clearly defined #1 option, but they go 4-5 deep with serious quality players while also being so young at the position that there's a lot of expected growth. Minnesota has the best overall player at the position, but he doesn't have much help. Addison exceeded my expectations last season but I suspect he will won't look quite as capable without Cousins. Meanwhile the depth chart beyond those two is bleak. Detroit is similar, but worse off-- St. Brown is excellent and the rest of the depth chart sucks.

1. Bears
2. Packers
3. Vikings
4. Lions

Offensive Line: The bedrock of the Lions' offense is their line. They are good to great at basically every position save maybe right guard. The reason why the offensive production exceeds the ability of their skill positions is that their front is elite. Green Bay is a step down, but still good and promising. It's unclear where the best five will slot in, positionally, but they had enough young players demonstrate promise last year to be optimistic in light of what they've added since. The Bears and Vikings are both strong at tackle and questionable on the interior. I give Chicago the nod because Teven Jenkins, if healthy is better than anyone in Minnesota on the inside. No one in the division is a disaster in this area.

1. Lions
2. Packers
3. Bears
4. Vikings

Defensive Line/Front: For this group, I am considering the entire defensive line group, including edge rushers (even if they stand up). The Packers have thrown tons of resources into these positions recently and they're beginning to pay off. Gary, Smith, Van Ness, Enagbare is easily the best edge group in the division, while Clark, Wyatt, Slaton, Brooks is head and shoulders the best group of interior pass rushers. Look for these players to show out in a new way under Hafley this season. The Lions, meanwhile, have some quality without as much depth. Hutchinson is a better player than anyone on the Packers in 2023, but he lacks a capable rush mate unless Marcus Davenport returns to a form he hasn't shown since 2021. They don't have much for pass rush on the inside (their big investment was D.J. Reader, who is a run defense specialist). The Bears are in a very similar position, just with a step down when it comes to their lead stud (Sweat is good, but he's not Hutchinon). Minnesota could be in trouble here. Greenard and Turner could be a decent duo depending on how quickly the latter gets up to speed, but their interior players have all the makings of a disaster area-- a unit that could be seriously debilitating.

1. Packers
2. Lions
3. Bears
4. Vikings

Linebacker: This position is the inverse of the offensive line. Whereas I think all four teams are pretty good on the OL, I don't think anyone is particularly impressive at linebacker. The Bears have two decent starters in Edwards and Edmunds and that's enough for me to give them the nod at #1. The Lions, similarly, have two guys who can play in Anzalone and Barnes, but I think that duo is a little step down from the Bears' unit. That could change if Campbell takes a big step in year two. Minnesota got good play out of Ivan Pace Jr. and added Blake Cashman, but I think both were more products of their DC last year than anything else. I like the potential in Green Bay, but it's unrealized. Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper are definitely the most talented pairing in the North, but they need to prove it before they merit a higher ranking.

1. Bears
2. Lions
3. Vikings
4. Packers

Cornerback: The Bears are complete with proven talent after keeping Jaylon Johnson. Tyrique Stevenson provided quality play as a rookie and Kyler Gordon is a good nickel. The Lions were abysmal at corner last year, but they have thrown a ton of resources at it. Carlton Davis is probably not the player he was, but he's surrounded by other investments: Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Amik Robertson, and Emmanuel Moseley coming back from injury. With so much of the group being new, there are a lot of possible outcomes here, but they'll be somewhat stabilized by Davis and Branch holding down the slot. Green Bay has the best pure corner when he's healthy in Jaire Alexander, but he hasn't been reliable of late. If Stokes comes back healthy and competes well with Valentine, the other position could be well-manned. I don't care much for Nixon on defense. The Packers' group has the talent to outplay this ranking (especially if Hafley's approach to defense unlocks them), but they haven't earned the benefit of the doubt. The Vikings are still really weak at corner overall. Their main addition in the draft was a 25 year old developmental guy in round 4.

1. Bears
2. Lions
3. Packers
4. Vikings

Safety: Much like the Lions at cornerback, the Packers went hard at this position. They added the best overall safety in the division in Xavier McKinney and then spent three draft picks on some interesting talents. The Bears have a quality starter in Jaquan Brisker, but will be trying to get by next to him with a declining Kevin Byard. The depth lacks youth/upside (they actually have two GB cast-offs in Owens and Moore). The Detroit mix at safety is pretty boom/bust. Melfionwu is going to be asked to play a much bigger role. Both he and Joseph can take the ball away, but they can also allow their shares of big plays. Minnesota is still trying to make things work with a declining Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum after Lewis Cine has proven to be a total bust.

1. Packers
2. Bears
3. Lions
4. Vikings

Totals (lower is better):

1. Packers: 17
2. Lions: 19
2. Bears: 21
4. Vikings: 33

Conclusion: After working through this exercise at each spot, it yielded a conclusion that matches my overall expectations for the season. I think Green Bay has the best roster in the North, top to bottom, but that Detroit is right there. Given that 2024 shouldn't find Jordan Love trying to find his way for the first half of the season, I would expect the Packers to take the division, but the Lions will be a challenge to hold off and will certainly be a wildcard team if they can't win the title outright. The Bears are feisty and have some legit talent on the roster. They will go as far as their rookie QB can take them, but they are a clear 3rd place to me and I am not quite as bullish on Caleb Williams as the public. I think there's a real chance that he struggles personally given his oddities and personality. That's not PC to say, so it hasn't come up a lot in the media. The Vikings are in trouble. They are a nice landing spot for a rookie QB, but they will be chasing points all year. Flores got deep in his bag last season and had the defense way outplaying their talent level, but it was smoke and mirrors. By the end of the season, they were found out and were allowing 30 ppg. The talent level is dreadful and I simply don't believe that Flores will pull the rabbit out of the hat again.

Very good assessment. The Packers have a number of question marks this year. But...they had a lot of them last year at this time. Changes in our backfield, TE development, OL changes. On the other side a new D co-ordinator, the LB Corp, and a new safety calling the shots. And do not forget our place kicker. He cost us a few last year and maybe the Frisco finale. The one constant over the last 5 seasons....MLF.

 

[Poppa San]

She looks stoned. Hot...but stoned.

Dime a dozen. I was at my baby girl's college graduation this weekend and even in their caps and gowns several of the graduates would be comparable or even better if wearing the same dress.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

In what way(s)?

Seriously?!?
Nagy didn’t give him a single rep with the first team during TC or the pre-season. He maybe ran 3 plays in weeks 1 and 2 then in week 3( I think not 100% I smoke a lot when the ginger pellet gun Andy Dalton goes down he finished the 4th quarter.

The start against Cleveland JF1 never should have played. They should have hired the hotdog vendor off the street to take the hits from two former first overall pics in Clowney and Garrett. They ruined him in his first game by letting him get sacked 9 effing times and hit a dozen more. JF1 should have sat the whole first year but coach and GM had their jobs on the line so they put themselves before the team and ruined the best prospect we’d had in 30 years. He’ll hear footsteps for the rest of his career and what’s worse is his amazing escapability was going to lead him to running at the first sign of trouble when just a little sidestep would do.

Thats how the old regime ruined JF1.

 

[sschind]

Dime a dozen. I was at my baby girl's college graduation this weekend and even in their caps and gowns several of the graduates would be comparable or even better if wearing the same dress.

Just because there are hotter doesn't mean she isn't hot. She's not really my type but I can still she is very attractive. She'd be even better if she didn't looked so out of it.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Dime a dozen. I was at my baby girl's college graduation this weekend and even in their caps and gowns several of the graduates would be comparable or even better if wearing the same dress.

I live in KY near UK’s campus and I’ll put our women from there or come to our racetrack Keeneland to see some beautiful people.
Never claimed she was the most beautiful just that it doesn’t appear my boi wears matching jean jackets and go on dates with other men or I dunno a live in male assistant.

 

[Voyageur]

Seriously?!?
Nagy didn’t give him a single rep with the first team during TC or the pre-season. He maybe ran 3 plays in weeks 1 and 2 then in week 3( I think not 100% I smoke a lot when the ginger pellet gun Andy Dalton goes down he finished the 4th quarter.

The start against Cleveland JF1 never should have played. They should have hired the hotdog vendor off the street to take the hits from two former first overall pics in Clowney and Garrett. They ruined him in his first game by letting him get sacked 9 effing times and hit a dozen more. JF1 should have sat the whole first year but coach and GM had their jobs on the line so they put themselves before the team and ruined the best prospect we’d had in 30 years. He’ll hear footsteps for the rest of his career and what’s worse is his amazing escapability was going to lead him to running at the first sign of trouble when just a little sidestep would do.

Thats how the old regime ruined JF1.

You're right that he should have sat for at least one full year. I still believe that's how you help a QB become a better player. But that's not the case in so many programs. For the Bears, the problem starts at the top and goes through the whole organization, and includes how they normally draft. They continuously fail to address real needs, and invest in high priced free agents thinking they're a magical resolve for a lack of overall roster problems.

Fields was under constant pressure, and the Bears did nothing to address the problems, instead putting all their spendable capital into thinking a couple of high level defenders would make up for an offensive line that couldn't stop a granny with a walker from getting through.

Ask yourself exactly what they've done to make the team better, and more capable of protecting a talent like Williams? At this point, I can't say they've done that much, and he may end up being a casualty of the same misguided coaching and management that destroyed Fields' confidence.

But, as a Packer fan, I gotta love it. Watching the Bears eat themselves up is even better than watching the Vikings implode, along with their freaking horn that ought to be shoved up ............ Choose your own spot. It is a big horn.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

I can totally understand why,as a Packers fan, you would feel that way. The last three years, we have a new GM but more importantly, a new CEO. The old CEO, Ted Phillips, was a pile of steaming dog feces and was a businessman first and foremost, not a football talent evaluator, and couldn’t care what the Bears record was at the end of the year as long as the franchise continued to make money and grow in value. What’s even worse is the grandkids of the de facto founder of the league couldn’t care like they should either.
Thankfully Poles and Warren are here to break the cycle of futility. It’s no accident how the team over the last 3 years has been built. Poles has known since he was hired that this year was his QB draft. We also got incredibly lucky with the back-to-back first overall picks. If we can trade for another pass rusher before the start of the season starts we will go as far, as far as Caleb will take us.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

And we tried to get a new Center for 2 years but injuries and apparently God wanted Sam Mustipher to start for several years and suck.
Now it is Braxton Jones @LT. He’s going into his 3rd year and continues to get better every year. Great run blocker but does get pushed around by a pure bull rush in passing situations(gets stronger with better technique every year)but for a 5th round pick is an absolute stud. May be Poles best ROI draft pick so far.
RG is gonna Tevin Jenkins. His only deficiencies are health related. In a contract year (with a new baby also) I have to believe he’ll have extra incentive to stay on the field and when healthy he’s one of best G’s in NFL.
Ryan Bates will be C. Good trade pick up and should be solid.
I’ve explained Nate Davis having a really rough personal year last year and will return to form this year at RG and last but not least the 10th pick in last years draft D. Wright at RT had a good year and will continue to improve technique and strength. That’s what is diff for Da Bearsss and Caleb vs the past and how the Bears used to be run.

 

[Voyageur]

I can totally understand why,as a Packers fan, you would feel that way. The last three years, we have a new GM but more importantly, a new CEO. The old CEO, Ted Phillips, was a pile of steaming dog feces and was a businessman first and foremost, not a football talent evaluator, and couldn’t care what the Bears record was at the end of the year as long as the franchise continued to make money and grow in value. What’s even worse is the grandkids of the de facto founder of the league couldn’t care like they should either.
Thankfully Poles and Warren are here to break the cycle of futility. It’s no accident how the team over the last 3 years has been built. Poles has known since he was hired that this year was his QB draft. We also got incredibly lucky with the back-to-back first overall picks. If we can trade for another pass rusher before the start of the season starts we will go as far, as far as Caleb will take us.

I will admit, I'm not really certain how well the Bears offensive line will hold up. Last year they were decimated by injuries, and the depth was lacking. They could be a top 10 this season, but I wouldn't hold my breath, because the only player they added via the draft to help improve the line is considered a project by most analysts. If he's better than that, give the Bears brain trust credit, because he was like the 6th or 7th OT taken in the draft. The real talent had already left the building.

If you're right, and they handled it well, it still doesn't make sense throwing Williams to the wolves. Adding a rookie WR whose talent is unquestionable, doesn't exactly turn the team around, because rookie receivers are usually not that good in retrospect. We've seen this in GB, and know it takes time to get to the point where the game comes to them, speed-wise.

So, assuming they trade Fields. What will they get for him? I doubt any instant help. It would be a draft pick, and I have a hunch it would be a conditional pick based on performance. No matter how talented he is, it doesn't matter. All that matters are results. Potential is what the vast majority of guys coming into the NFL have, and a large number of them fail. Teams will be looking at that, with Fields. A risk, and at what price?

What people don't realize is that the Bears were actually 7-10 last year, which is not that far off being a potential playoff team. Yet, they finished last in the Division. Throw that out. Go by the actual record. They're not a "last place team" in the sense of being a doormat. They're a potential competitor.

But, I think they only beat the Vikings out this year in the division, unless either or both the Packers and Lions lose their starting QBs early. I don't think they challenge, this year.

I'm fairly confident the Packers will go in this year with Clifford as their back-up, but I see the Lions signing an experienced player to back Goff. Anyhow, just my thoughts.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

We traded JF1 for a 6/4 next year and a half eaten Roethlisburger.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Seriously?!?
Nagy didn’t give him a single rep with the first team during TC or the pre-season. He maybe ran 3 plays in weeks 1 and 2 then in week 3( I think not 100% I smoke a lot when the ginger pellet gun Andy Dalton goes down he finished the 4th quarter.

The start against Cleveland JF1 never should have played. They should have hired the hotdog vendor off the street to take the hits from two former first overall pics in Clowney and Garrett. They ruined him in his first game by letting him get sacked 9 effing times and hit a dozen more. JF1 should have sat the whole first year but coach and GM had their jobs on the line so they put themselves before the team and ruined the best prospect we’d had in 30 years. He’ll hear footsteps for the rest of his career and what’s worse is his amazing escapability was going to lead him to running at the first sign of trouble when just a little sidestep would do.

Thats how the old regime ruined JF1.

NO!! For pete's sake..... I'm talking about THIS -

What Caleb is getting is basically unheard of for a number one overall quarterback pick.

In what way is CALEB getting ANYTHING that's "basically unheard of for a number one overall quarterback pick."

 

[Thirteen Below]

I live in KY near UK’s campus and I’ll put our women from there or come to our racetrack Keeneland to see some beautiful people.

Really? I just got home from Lexington an hour ago; been living here almost 15 years, and I don't think I've ever lived anywhere where the women were uglier. I've lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, and California and now that I'm stuck here in Petticoat Junction all I can ] say is thank god I'm married, because this would be horrible place to be single.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

NO!! For pete's sake..... I'm talking about THIS -



In what way is CALEB getting ANYTHING that's "basically unheard of for a number one overall quarterback pick."

What’s not to understand?!?
Most #1 overall picks go to horrible teams. Usually the worst in the league. Look at Carolina. They had the #1 overall pick and took a QB and they were still horrible.
We were bad but we had some injuries(I know everyone does but some years a lot worse than others) and some bone-headed coaching decisions away from being over .500.
So the luxury that Caleb is walking into that virtually no other #1 pick has(much less a QB) is
1.) 2 1200 yard WR’s and the #9 pick who would be the de facto #1 WR on several teams in the NFL right now.
2.) 2 bonafide TE with Kmet having had JF1 throwing so……
3.) a dual threat complete back with homerun speed/ability who catches very well in Swift and the reserves are quite good also.
4.) upgraded OL with returning starters at every position except C but we traded for a competent replacement and just need some good health.
5.) a Defense worthy of the “Monsters” moniker returns 9 of 11 starters only losing E.Jack at safety (which hurts but we got his replacement in Byrd) and Y. Ngakoue who was a 10 mil 1 yr headhunter who didn’t live up until Sweat showed up. We were top 5 vs Run and DLine is seen as our biggest weakness.
6.) If the kicker and punter are solid….may be excellent(more P than K)Again……watch the P’s tape before you talk shiite bc he will flip field position.

So in conclusion….if Caleb is better than C.J. y’all are fudge packed.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Really? I just got home from Lexington an hour ago; been living here almost 15 years, and I don't think I've ever lived anywhere where the women were uglier. I've lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, and California and now that I'm stuck here in Petticoat Junction all I can ] say is thank god I'm married, because this would be horrible place to be single.

The women in Lexington are ugly or where you live?

 

[Heyjoe4]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'll respond in more detail later.

I'll just say for now that I disagree vehemently with the idea of Goff over Love. This exercise is about who will be the best in 2024, not who has the most accomplishments behind them. Love consistently made plays last season that Goff couldn't dream of attempting. He's head and shoulders the better player of the two.

Agree. I'm going on the assumption Love doesn't miss a beat and starts the season at least as solid as he finished. Goff to me is, well the best phrase is one-dimensional, and he's actually better than that but that's the phrase that stuck. He has a solid game, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he's certainly better than a "game manager". I just don't think he has the ability to create when things go south - something that Favre, especially Rodgers, and now Love are good at.

And when I think of the current crop of elite QBs like Mahomes, Hurts, to some extent Allen and Burrow, and some I've missed - these guys know how to make something out of nothing. And that's why Love is better than Goff.

Now there is that small matter of Love having found his true form in the latter part of last season. I expect that.

 

[Heyjoe4]

What’s not to understand?!?
Most #1 overall picks go to horrible teams. Usually the worst in the league. Look at Carolina. They had the #1 overall pick and took a QB and they were still horrible.
We were bad but we had some injuries(I know everyone does but some years a lot worse than others) and some bone-headed coaching decisions away from being over .500.
So the luxury that Caleb is walking into that virtually no other #1 pick has(much less a QB) is
1.) 2 1200 yard WR’s and the #9 pick who would be the de facto #1 WR on several teams in the NFL right now.
2.) 2 bonafide TE with Kmet having had JF1 throwing so……
3.) a dual threat complete back with homerun speed/ability who catches very well in Swift and the reserves are quite good also.
4.) upgraded OL with returning starters at every position except C but we traded for a competent replacement and just need some good health.
5.) a Defense worthy of the “Monsters” moniker returns 9 of 11 starters only losing E.Jack at safety (which hurts but we got his replacement in Byrd) and Y. Ngakoue who was a 10 mil 1 yr headhunter who didn’t live up until Sweat showed up. We were top 5 vs Run and DLine is seen as our biggest weakness.
6.) If the kicker and punter are solid….may be excellent(more P than K)Again……watch the P’s tape before you talk shiite bc he will flip field position.

So in conclusion….if Caleb is better than C.J. y’all are fudge packed.

Williams is coming into a pretty damn good situation for a #1 pick. He may actually be the weakest link on that offense. I don't care how much press a rookie QB gets, the NFL is a different deal.

That said, C.J. Stroud did more with less at Houston last year, although there was talent around him. Bryce Young was just a bad #1 pick, just based on his size.

If Williams lives upon to his press, the Bears offense will be the real deal. I just can't shake the fact that it's the Bears, who are well known for ****ing up a one-car funeral procession.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I'm not terribly worried. The Bears have been around since 1920 and have never managed to field a dangerous passing offense.

Let's face it, the Bears could **** up a one-car funeral procession. It's not the players, it's the FO and the coaching and the fact that, year after year, they keep making bad decisions.

You could put the entire KC Chiefs roster in Bears uniforms, have them play their home games at Soldier Field, and they would suck. Why, because the team name would be the Chicago Bears. A multi-vowel way of saying "losers".

 

[Krabs]

Really? I just got home from Lexington an hour ago; been living here almost 15 years, and I don't think I've ever lived anywhere where the women were uglier. I've lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Hawaii, and California and now that I'm stuck here in Petticoat Junction all I can ] say is thank god I'm married, because this would be horrible place to be single.

So, what are you trying to say here. I'm not sure your point is very clear.

 

[Krabs]

Williams is coming into a pretty damn good situation for a #1 pick. He may actually be the weakest link on that offense. I don't care how much press a rookie QB gets, the NFL is a different deal.

That said, C.J. Stroud did more with less at Houston last year, although there was talent around him. Bryce Young was just a bad #1 pick, just based on his size.

If Williams lives upon to his press, the Bears offense will be the real deal. I just can't shake the fact that it's the Bears, who are well known for ****ing up a one-car funeral procession.

Stroud had a great season. I felt he leveled off when he went against great teams. Did what he should have against weaker opponents. That shows he's good though. A few more weapons and that dude could be scary. I wouldn't trade Love for him though. Bryce Young or Caleb Williams either.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Let's face it, the Bears could **** up a one-car funeral procession. It's not the players, it's the FO and the coaching and the fact that, year after year, they keep making bad decisions.

You could put the entire KC Chiefs roster in Bears uniforms, have them play their home games at Soldier Field, and they would suck. Why, because the team name would be the Chicago Bears. A multi-vowel way of saying "losers".

Y’all are ridiculous. If I’d asked your board 3 years ago what Detroit would be you’d have said “same old Detroit. New coach changes nothing they suck blah blah blah”

Bears have new GM and new CEO. It’s not business as usual. If it was the Bears would have given R.Wilson the Denver contract and got royally screwed. A little luck and better front office and now we reap the benefits.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Y’all are ridiculous. If I’d asked your board 3 years ago what Detroit would be you’d have said “same old Detroit. New coach changes nothing they suck blah blah blah”

Bears have new GM and new CEO. It’s not business as usual. If it was the Bears would have given R.Wilson the Denver contract and got royally screwed. A little luck and better front office and now we reap the benefits.

Well the Bears certainly have the players necessary for a great year. Just looking at the roster, it's loaded with talent at the skill positions.

The Bears have not been in this position in recent memory. The 85 SB team was loaded with talent, most of it on defense. They should be favorites to win the North this season. We'll see. High expectations. Very high.

And Detroit is a great example of how a perennial loser can turn things around. This is all ultimately memorialized with a SB victory. No one will remember what a great team the Lions have become if they fail to win a championship. Well, that's true for all teams.

 

[Krabs]

Y’all are ridiculous. If I’d asked your board 3 years ago what Detroit would be you’d have said “same old Detroit. New coach changes nothing they suck blah blah blah”

Bears have new GM and new CEO. It’s not business as usual. If it was the Bears would have given R.Wilson the Denver contract and got royally screwed. A little luck and better front office and now we reap the benefits.

It's not ridiculous. What is ridiculous is the same old offseason chatter from Bear's fans. Year in and year out it's the same story. Always paper champs until the season starts. So yeah, until they prove it on the field it certainly is "blah blah blah".

 

[gopkrs]

Things change. It looks to me like it will come down to how well the bears play defense and more importantly how well they protect the QB. They pretty obviously have a good receiving corps. The past shows that Normally a QB starting in his first year will have some problems. But that seems to be changing also. Players coming from college are more NFL ready these days. And so pro teams are getting a lot of good players.
Detroit will be good again this year and Minnesota could surprise. Still, Green Bay should be able to take them all on. The division is for sure getting tougher. aimho.