Ahead of the 2022 NFL season, we’re tracking the NFC North odds to see which teams are expected to fare well in this division.
Bwin has a wide range of NFL betting odds on every match and futures markets on everything from the next Super Bowl winner to individual player props.
Here, we’re providing our NFC North predictions and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each team:
1st GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay are chasing a fourth straight division title and their ninth triumph in 12 years after tying superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers down to a new contract which will earn him more than $150million over the next three years.
General manager Brian Gutekunst said of the 38-year-old: “His play on the field and leadership in our locker room remain vital in our pursuit of another Super Bowl title. The agreement also allows us to maintain and enhance what we feel is already a very competitive roster.”
Rodgers won’t have been happy to see wide receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling depart, but Sammy Watkins, Allan Lazard and second-round draft pick Christian Watson come in alongside Randall Cob and Amari Rodgers.
An already solid defence has been bolstered by the arrival of linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to replace Za’Darius Smith, cornerback Rasul Douglas and first-round draft picks Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, both from college champions Georgia.
If edge rusher Rashan Gary can build on a hugely-promising rookie campaign, scoring points against Green Bay will not be easy.
2nd MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Former Washington and LA Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is in as head coach after Mike Zimmer’s eight-year reign kind of fizzled out and the target will be a more explosive offence.
O’Connell has worked with efficient QB Kirk Cousins before and will be looking forward to teaming up with wide-out Justin Jefferson, who has shown enough to suggest he can develop into an elite-level performer at that position.
Running back Dalvin Cook has been a Pro Bowl selection for the past three years, so it should just be a case of tweaking things a bit with the ball in hand.
There have been quite a few changes to a defence which has been hampered by injuries and poor play in the secondary, though, so we reckon Minnesota are on course for a winning campaign without quite catching up to the Packers.
3rd DETROIT LIONS
The Lions will have been delighted to land local hero Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and plenty of pundits will feel the hard-working edge rusher can inspire a change in culture throughout this team.
Detroit also added a potentially top-class WR to their roster in Jameson Williams if he can successfully recover from an ACL tear, while DJ Chark is another nice recruit in that department from Jacksonville if able to stay healthy.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah has been plagued by injury problems since being taken third overall in the 2020 draft but would be a huge boost to the defence if fit this term.
There is talent within this franchise, including QB Jared Goff, who was selected with the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, but all those ‘ifs and buts’ mean just improving on last term’s miserable 3-13-1 record has to be the aim for now.
4th CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago are in the early stages of a rebuilding process and that will make it difficult for talented but raw playmaker Justin Fields to step up from a patchy rookie campaign which yielded six wins and 11 defeats.
Top WR Allen Robinson has gone, along with Marquise Goodwin and Jakeem Grant, while guard James Daniels has departed for Pittsburgh, leaving the offence looking threadbare.
On defence, Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols will be missed, putting pressure on some useful draft picks and younger prospects.
Former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has succeeded Matt Nagy as head coach and will switch from a 3-4 defence to a 4-3 formation, so we’re taking a watching brief on how everything works out at Soldier Field in our NFC North preview.
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