NFC NORTH: This conference will be very tough having to play the NFC East and the AFC West. The Redskins should be better in the NFC east to go along with the Cowboys and Eagles while the Raiders and Broncos should be better as well to go along with the Chargers and the Chiefs. The NFC North will also be tough again within division play with the Bears defense, Aaron Rodgers of the Packers and the Vikings wanting to get back to the playoffs.
1. Chicago Bears – Vegas Win Total 9.5
Schedule: Very Hard – At large games vs the Saints and the Rams
Key Losses: CB Bryce Callahan, Jordan Howard RB, Adrian Amos FS, Cody Parkey K (maybe a good thing)
Key Additions: Haha Clinton Dix FS, Buster Scrine CB, Mike Davis RB
Whom they drafted: RB David Montgomery, WR Riley Ridley, CB Duke Shelley, RB Kerrith White, CB Stephen Denmark
Summary: The Bears coming off of a 12 win season but were actually pretty close to getting 14. A Cody Parkey missed FG against and an epic collapse against the Packers back on game 1 sure didn’t help. The bad news for this team is that they had the second easiest schedule last year and now they will have the 5th hardest. The Bears at least get the Chiefs, Saints and Chargers at home. Chicago really didn’t lose too much and they also didn’t gain much due to not having a lot of draft picks from the Kalil Mack trade. After factoring in that they were very healthy last year and their harder schedule I have them at 9.6 wins. Hope their new kicker coming in is able to handle the pressure.
Action – No Action
2. Minnesota Vikings – Win Total 9
Schedule: Medium – At large games vs Falcons and Seahawks
Key Losses: DT Sheldon Richardson, C/G Nick Easton, RB Latavius Murray, QB Trevor Siemian, G Tom Compton, S Andrew Sendejo
Key Additions: RB Ameer Abdula, G Josh Kline, DT Shamar Stephen
Whom they drafted: C Garrett Bradbury, TE Irv Smith, RB Alexander Mattison, G Dru Samia, ILB Cameron Smith, DT Armon Watts, S Marcus Epps, OT Oli Udoh, CB Kris Boyd, WR Dillon Mitchell, WR Olabisi Johnson, LS Austin Cutting
The Vikings have a Medium schedule but I think it is closer to medium hard. At large games vs the Falcons and Seahawks. They did pretty well in the Draft but failed to replace DT Sheldon Richardson and S Andrew Sendejo with anything viable and I think they may feel that. Minnesota did beef up their O-Line at least through the draft and picking up Josh Kline. Losing Latavius Murray and Gaining Ameere Abdula was more of a wash. This team wasn’t that injured last year and still couldn’t get over the hump. This schedule will prove tough enough to send them under 9 wins.
Action – Under 9 wins at +100
3. Green Bay Packers Win Total 9.5
Schedule: Medium – At large games vs the Panthers and the 49ers
Key Losses: DT Muhammad Wilkerson, OLB Clay Matthews, OLB Nick Perry, WR Randall Cobb, ILB Jake Ryan
Key additions: OLB Za’Darius Smith, OLB Preston Smith, S Adrian Amos, OT Billy Turner, TE Mercedes Lewis
Whom they drafted: DT/DE Rashan Gary, S Darnell Savage, C/G Elgton Jenkins, TE Jace Sternberger, DE Kingsley Keke, CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB Dexter Williams, ILB Ty Summers
Summary: I do not love who the packers drafted in the first round being that I said Rashan Gary was overrated before the draft even began with only 10 sacks in 3 years. I think that not replacing Muhammad Wilkerson will prove to be detrimental but I can’t really dock them since he was injured most of last year. The Packers also really did not find an impact receiver to replace Cobb. Losing Clay Matthews and replacing him with Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith is just robbing peter to pay Paul for the most part. I got them upgraded to between 7.5 and 8 wins (7.6) But do you really want to bet against Rodgers in a revenge type year with a new coach when Rodgers has to prove it wasn’t his fault for 6 wins in 2018?
Action: Lean under
4. Detroit Lions – Win Schedule 7
Schedule: – Medium – At large games vs the Buccaneers and the Cardinals
Key losses: DE Ezekiel Ansah, G T.J. Lang, S Glover Quin, RB LeGarrette Blount, TE Luke Willson, TE Levine Toilolo
Key additions: DE Trey Flowers, CB Justin Coleman, CB Rashaan Melvin TE Jesse James, WR Danny Amendola, TE Logan Thomas, WR Tommylee Lewis
Whom they drafted: TE T.J. Hockenson, LB Jahlani Tavai, S Will Harris, DE Austin Bryant, CB Amani Oruwariye, WR Travis Fulgham, RB Ty Johnson, CB Amani Oruwariye, TE Isaac Nauta, DT P.J. Johnson
Summary: The Lions did pretty well getting some old Patriots for Matt Patricia’s defense but they still have a long way to go. Losing Ezekile Ansah definitely hurt and they didn’t do much to help their O line. TJ Hockenson will help some but Stafford better once again be quick and ready to get rid of the ball. Detroit’s defense should take a step forward and I think they should gain at last a half game over last year bringing them to 6.9 wins on another medium strength of schedule
Action: No Action
