NFC Insiders: How Lions Rank among NFC North Teams

FanNation NFL reporters help preview the NFC North division, ahead of the start of the 2022 season.

The NFC North could be one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL in 2022. 

With new regimes in Chicago and Minnesota looking to make their mark, the Green Bay Packers should still remain the team to beat. 

Head coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are looking to improve after a solid draft, which helped to improve the talent level along the defensive line. 

Here is a look at how FanNation NFL reporters believe the teams in the division will perform this year. 

Green Bay Packers 

NFL reporter: Bill Huber

• 1. GB (12-5)
• 2. Min (9-8)
• 3. Det (8-9)
• 4. .Chi (5-12)

Biggest strength

For years, we could start and end with Aaron Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP, as well as the MVP each of the last two seasons, is one of the great quarterbacks in NFL history. But, the defense is where there’s true power. It is a unit without a weakness in the starting lineup. The defensive line is so good that first-round pick Devonte Wyatt might not see the field. Rashan Gary is a star at outside linebacker. All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell and first-round pick Quay Walker will provide elite play at inside linebacker. There’s no better cornerback corps than Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas. The safety tandem of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage is strong, too. If they can stop the run, good luck moving the chains on third-and-long.

Biggest question

Three letters: ACL. Five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari suffered a torn ACL at practice on Dec. 31, 2020. He missed almost all of 2021, and has practiced only a few times in 2022. If he can return to anywhere close to his vintage form following three surgeries, the Packers will be thrilled. Elgton Jenkins, a Pro Bowl guard in 2020, capably replaced Bakhtiari last year until suffering his own ACL ailment. He’s penciled in at right tackle. With Bakhtiari and Jenkins, the offensive line will give Rodgers the time to survey a suspect receiver corps, led by veterans Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb. If they’re not healthy? The makeshift line, which included Yosh Nijman at left tackle and Royce Newman at right tackle, struggled in preseason action.

Minnesota Vikings

NFL reporter: Will Ragatz

• 1. Packers (11-6)
• 2. Vikings (10-7)
• 3. Lions (6-11)
• 4. Bears (5-12)

Biggest strength

The Vikings' skill position talent can go toe-to-toe with that of any team in the league. Justin Jefferson enters his third season, hoping to stake his claim as the best wide receiver in the NFL. And, it wouldn't be surprising to see him approach 2021 Cooper Kupp-level numbers in Kevin O'Connell's offense. Dalvin Cook is still a Tier-1 running back whenever he's healthy. Adam Thielen is dynamite in the red zone, K.J. Osborn is emerging as a very valuable No. 3, and Irv Smith Jr. is a breakout candidate at tight end, after missing all of last year. Then, there are depth players like Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Jalen Reagor to round out the attack. O'Connell has all kinds of weapons at his disposal.

Biggest question

Will the secondary be good enough? The NFL is a passing-dominated league. Much of the Vikings' success will come down to how well Kirk Cousins plays, but Cousins is established as an above-average quarterback, and he should thrive in this offense with O'Connell and Jefferson and so many other dangerous targets. Minnesota's season may actually hinge on its ability to stop the pass on the other side of the ball. Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler, and Chandon Sullivan is a largely uninspiring cornerback group, which could be an issue. Safety should be a solid group with Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, and Lewis Cine, but the corners have plenty to prove. If that unit doesn't step up, the talent on the Vikings' front seven will only mean so much.

Detroit Lions

NFL reporter: John Maakaron 

• 1. Packers (11-6)
• 2. Vikings (9-8)
• 3. Lions (7-10)
• 4. Bears (6-11) 

Biggest strength 

The Detroit Lions should be able to run the football better in 2022, thanks to their offensive line. The unit has the potential to propel Detroit's offense into the top 10 in several offensive statistical categories. Detroit's front office has contributed significant financial resources to the offensive side of the football, so each area must deliver in 2022. Expect D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams to be used in the passing game. Quarterback Jared Goff should be able to keep defenses off-balanced with the play-action pass, as the run game will keep opposing defenses honest. 

Biggest question

Defensively, this team is very young, and will be counting on several second-year players to shoulder the load on defense. Alim McNeill should become more of a force along the interior of the defensive line. Linebacker Derrick Barnes has all the tools physically to play the position well. He is still elevating his game on the mental side, as reading plays and recognizing his coverage/gap responsibility is evolving. The biggest question mark will be whether cornerback Jeff Okudah can stay healthy and contribute at a high level. He is returning from an Achilles' tear, and had a decent preseason. The third-year defensive back has faced a strong amount of criticism early in his career. Remember, the Lions invested the No. 3 overall pick in the cornerback in 2020. 

© Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chicago Bears

NFL reporter: Gene Chamberlain 

• 1. GB (13-4)
• 2. Min. (8-9)
• 3. Det (7-10)
• 4. Chi (6-11)

Biggest strength 

The Bears can still rush the passer and present a formidable defensive front. They went 6-11 with 49 sacks last year and completely gutted the defensive line because of their new system, yet come away now with this being the team's greatest asset. Robert Quinn and Trevis Gipson combined on 25 1/2 sacks and former Colts end Al-Quadin Muhammad is the third edge rusher who is coming off a six-sack season. Justin Jones showed enough burst as a three technique in preseason to indicate he can be the inside attacker this scheme requires, and signing former Vikings tackle Armon Watts on waivers after a five-sack season fortified their interior depth. One of the big worries was they had gone too small to find one-gap attackers but they retained Angelo Blackson, signed Mike Pennel and added Watts to address possible run-stopping issues. 

Biggest question

While everyone will point at their receivers and the current rash of injuries running through that sketchy group, the offensive line is easily their greater concern. They brought in Lucas Patrick at center and he hasn't been at a single practice since July due to a broken thumb. Teven Jenkins has never been a guard after some would suggest he was barely a tackle. The left tackle is Braxton Jones, a Day 3 rookie from Southern Utah. Even right tackle Larry Borom can't be called a solid performer after only eight NFL starts. They hope their running game and play-action passing keep opponents from gearing up to rush for Justin Fields, yet they may not even be able to run block with that line let alone pass block. Fields' biggest asset will be his mobility, even if he has improved as a passer.