2016 NFC North Preseason Preview

By Ha Kung Wong

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

Can you smell that?

That’s the smell of 2016 NFL season creeping up on us.  Or perhaps it’s that two week old pizza you’re refusing to trash because “you never know” if you’ll have a hankering for pizza some night and you’re too cheap to pay $5.99 to get a new Dominos pizza delivered.  Not that I’m judging or anything, I’ve been there before too.  I might even have some turkey left from last Thanksgiving, because “you never know” if you might want to get some form of food poisoning as an excuse to miss work.  Or a family function.  Or meeting up for drinks with that friend you’ve been ignoring for the last 10 years because she’s not really your friend but she just can’t seem to put two and two together and realize that you being busy because you need to “give your pet dog a bath” is not really a thing because you don’t actually have a pet dog.  But I digress.

What I’m actually referring to is the fact that preseason games are just around the corner and the regular season is less than two months away.  So it’s time, once again, for me to turn to my beloved NFC North division and figure out why my beloved Bears will miss the playoffs this time.

Let’s take a look at how I think the NFC North will end up in 2016.

Green Bay Packers

Predicted 2016 Regular Season Record: 11-5

With Jordy Nelson coming back, and Eddie Lacy perhaps getting back into shape with the help of P90X, I don’t see any reason why this offense doesn’t start clicking again.  Sure, the defense took a little hit in not re-signing CB Casey Hayward, but the additions of rookie LB Kyler Fackrell and Blake Martinez as well as DE Dean Lowry should help put additional pressure on opposing QBs and limit the impact of having a slightly less effective secondary.

With all that, as much as I hate to say it, based on their schedule, looks to me that the Packers will win at least 11 games and take the division in 2016.

Minnesota Vikings

Predicted 2016 Regular Season Record: 10-6

The Vikings ended up first in the NFC North in 2015 and did so mostly on the back of two things — its defense, which ended up allowing the 5th least points per game in the NFL, and Adrian Peterson, who got the most total touches of any RB in the NFL.  If nothing else, although they lost S Robert Blanton to free agency, the Vikings maintained most of their existing defense and have managed to make minor improvements by adding S Michael Griffin and LB Travis Lewis.  In addition to free agents, the Vikings drafted one of the toughest and highest ranked WRs available in Laquon Treadwell and proceeded to essentially steal CB Mackensie Alexander in the second round.

It still remains to be seen if QB Teddy Bridgewater can actually become consistent, but the pieces are starting to settle in, and if they can win 11 games with last year’s squad, they certainly can come close to that again based on their 2016 schedule.

Chicago Bears

Predicted 2016 Regular Season Record: 9-7

Finally, we get to see what WR Kevin White can do.  And with a fully healthy Alshon Jeffery, there’s some reason for optimism for the Bears passing offense, which is just two years removed from having the fifth most passing yards in the NFL.  Of course, losing Matt Forte leaves a big question mark at RB, but Jeremy Langford filled in admirably in 2015, and rookie RB Jordan Howard could grab a good share of the reps as well with good size, speed and downhill power.  Ultimately, though, what really changed for the Bears this offseason was the defense.

The Bears managed to add LB Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman via free agency and then draft LB Leonard Floyd in the first round, which adds up to a significantly scarier pass rush.  Drafting DT Jonathan Bullard, LB Nick Kwaitkoski, S Deon Bush and CB Deiondre’ Hall further demonstrated how tired the “Monsters of the Midway” were being the defensive doormat of the NFC North (and for more breakdown of the Bears draft picks, check out my article on their 2nd & 3rd round picks as well as their 4th and 5th round picks). Assuming the defense takes the step forward we all expect and Cutler, Jeffery and White stay healthy, winning just over 50% seems reasonable based on the Bears’ 2016 schedule.

Detroit Lions

Predicted 2016 Regular Season Record: 6-10

And then there are the Lions.  In 2015, the Lions fired their offensive coordinator mid-season, then proceeded to fire their team president, Tom Lewand, and their general manager, Martin Mayhew.  Some how, Jim Caldwell managed to remain the head coach, but I suspect that’s not going to last long.  Team superstar WR Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, who accounted for over a fourth of the Lions total receiving yards in 2015, has retired, and further made some revealing remarks about painkiller misuse in the locker room and player mismanagement on the field.  Sure, the Lions managed to sign WR Marvin Jones, but let’s face it, as good as Jones can be, he’s no Megatron.

Perhaps worse is that the Lions did nothing to change their ground game, which was last in rushing yards among all NFL teams in 2015.  Plus, losing S Isa Abdul-Quddus, G Manny Ramirez and LB Travis Lewis to free agency don’t help either, even with the addition of DT Stefan Charles.  The Lions instead look to be in full on rebuilding mode drafting three offensive linemen in their first five draft picks.  With management looking for a reason to completely reboot, I’d be surprised if this team doesn’t give them a compelling one by midseason.