HANDICAPPING THE NFL
NFC North
Best thing we can say about the remaining three divisions in the NFC?
Only the North features three legitimate playoff contenders—and we’re being kind to the Vikes and Da Bears.
Again, consistency is the problem—one year Kirk Cousins morphs into Joe Kapp and the Norsemen win 12 games…Or, maybe the defense plays lights out and Minny makes the playoffs…One year the Bears manage a +20 in the turnover ratio and take the crown…
…And most years, Aaron Rogers and the Packers win the division.
Best Ownership…The Green Bay Stockholders, Mark Murphy, (President) – Green Bay Packers…
Best GM…Mark Murphy – Green Bay Packers
Detroit and Chicago share similar ownership histories—long time NFL owner/coach/GM/ George Halas and Lion’s owner, Clay Ford, left the teams’ fortunes to their widows and families after their passing.
The Lions have a whole new regime in place with GM Brad Holmes and HC, Dan Campbell. They are trying to build a new culture in which “everyone works together.”
When your previous head coach and GM made a hot stinking mess of your franchise, you need one guy who will call the shots—not a committee of guys—including “CEO” Rod Wood and VP of Football Operations, Mike Disner--with no experience at their new positions.
Trying to—yet again—recreate a “winning culture” means the next 2-3 years, minimum, in the Motor City, won’t be fun.
George Halas’ daughter, Virginia McCaskey lets Rick Pace and HC, Matt Nagy, run the show—but in four years, Nagy has lost two playoff games, had one winning season, (12 -4), and is still cursing Pace for the Mitch Trubisky pick.
Minnesota owners, the Wilf family, have been struggling to achieve stability since 2014, with the hiring of Mike Zimmer. They just signed GM, Rick Speielman to a new contract. The Spielman/Zimmer regime has never had two winning seasons in a row and is a flaccid 2-3 in playoff competition.
Meanwhile in Green Bay, the team is owned by stock holders and run by president Mark Murphy; ironically the Pack has been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL; their 23 playoff game appearances is one more than all three NFCN division rivals--combined.
We can’t put any four of NFCN owners up there with the Rooneys and Krafts, (cheating aside) of the NFL world, but Packers fans as owners have to feel like a huge part of the team
Best Coach…Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers
Best QB…Aaron Rodgers
PREDICTIONS
Division Winner – Green Bay Packers
Wild Cards – Minnesota?
Best Super Bowl Futures Bet – Minnesota Vikings +4000