NFC North Round-Up: Keys for Each Team Heading into Week 1
The 2023 NFL regular season is just a couple days away.
With the season rapidly approaching, here is a look at what each NFC North team needs to do in order to claim a victory in Week 1.
Green Bay vs. Chicago: Which Team Establishes the Run?
In 2022, both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers were two of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Each team allowed well over 2000 yards last season, and they ranked among the bottom five teams in terms of defensive EPA against the run.
Now, heading into 2023, the Bears are trying to install a new RB room that includes free agent acquisition D’Onta Foreman and rookie Roschon Johnson. It seems that Johnson could even be in line to start after a terrific summer.
Meanwhile, A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones are back to head the Packers RB room this year, and they’ve been a strong duo over the past few years in Green Bay. With both teams having young QBs in Justin Fields and Jordan Love, the winner of this game could be determined by the rushing attack.
Detroit vs. Kansas City: The New-Look Lions Defense Gets a Big Test
There has been a great deal of hype for the Detroit Lions throughout this offseason. After their Hard Knocks showing last summer, and the way they closed out the 2022 season, many are predicting them to be a playoff team this year.
Their defense saw some big acquisitions this year in both free agency (CBs Emmanuel Moseley and Cam Sutton) and the 2023 NFL Draft (LB Jack Campbell, S Brian Branch). The path for this team to go from simply good to elite this year is through defensive improvements.
The Lions get to back up all the hype right away with a Thursday night game against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit will need their new-look defense to step up in a big way if they want to slow down Patrick Mahomes.
Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota: Young Vikings CBs vs. Savvy Veteran WRs
The Vikings head into the season with a very young and inexperienced secondary. Outside of Byron Murphy, the only player in their cornerback room to appear in 10 NFL games is Akayleb Evans.
Minnesota’s cornerbacks will be tested right away as the Vikings play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. This matchup features a few veteran WRs on Tampa Bay’s side like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Evans has recorded at least 1000 yards in each of his first nine NFL seasons while Godwin has done so in three of the past four years.
In order for the Vikings to win, they not only need their offense to showcase the same effectiveness as 2022, but their secondary will need to keep the Tampa wide receivers in check.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.