NFC North Preview: ‘Got To Give It Up To The Reigning MVP In Aaron Rodgers,’ Says CBS Chicago’s Marshall Harris

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(CBS Chicago) — For awhile this offseason, it seemed similar three-time MVP Aaron Rodgers mightiness not stay the Packers quarterback. Rodgers was inactive fuming implicit the Jordan Love’s enactment successful the 2020 NFL Draft to beryllium his eventual replacement. And connection got retired earlier this year’s draught that helium nary longer wanted to play successful Green Bay. His departure would person opened up the NFC North contention to the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. But it didn’t play retired that way.

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After different Championship season, Rodgers returns nether halfway for the Packers. At slightest for 1 much year, Green Bay volition beryllium the people of the division. “We present cognize who the backmost successful Green Bay is,” according to CBS Chicago sports anchor Marshall Harris. “So I’ve got to springiness it up to the reigning MVP successful Aaron Rodgers and accidental the Pack. It’s their part to lose. He’s got truthful overmuch to beryllium close now. He’s got 1 of the biggest chips connected his enarthrosis for a feline who’s an existent MVP. And yet helium inactive seems truthful angry. You saw his property conference, however helium reacted the archetypal clip helium was capable to pass with the media, however helium felt the offseason went. He’s got thing to prove, and I conscionable consciousness atrocious for each the different teams successful his mode and their defenses and the antiaircraft coordinators, specifically.”

Green Bay inactive has each the pieces to marque different tally astatine a Super Bowl. Rodgers completed 70.7 percent of his passes past season, throwing for 4,299 yards and 48 touchdowns. Davante Adams, who hauled successful 115 catches and 18 touchdowns, remains among the league’s champion walk catchers successful a heavy receiver core. Randall Cobb returns to the fold, and Amari Rodgers comes successful retired of Clemson. Aaron Jones, who picked up 1,104 yards connected 5.5 yards per carry, volition anchor the tally game.

Although Joe Barry took implicit for Mike Pettine arsenic antiaircraft coordinator, the already coagulated defence hasn’t changed overmuch either successful presumption of personnel. First-round prime Erik Stokes could instrumentality implicit for Kevin King astatine cornerback and further solidify a secondary that allowed lone 221.2 yards per crippled passing.

Unlike the Packers, the Bears person plentifulness of questions astatine quarterback. Andy Dalton is penciled successful arsenic the starter, with first-round prime Justin Fields waiting successful the wings. Either volition beryllium an betterment implicit the departed Mitchell Trubisky. Chicago’s concern astatine violative enactment could besides shingle up their backmost situation.

“It’s important to person a bully violative line,” Harris notes. Because that’s wherever things commencement and extremity with astir shot teams, and specifically 1 wherever the Bears don’t needfully person a batch of questions answered there. When you person to spell retired and motion a 39-year-old to play tackle successful Jason Peters, that tells maine that you mightiness request a small spot much extent and you mightiness privation radical are a small healthier than possibly what they are.”

Allen Robinson, 1 of the league’s amended wide receivers, volition assistance whoever is nether center. And Marquise Goodwin provides different menace from the wideout position. A beardown moving crippled would help, if the Bears had one. David Montgomery ran for 1,070 yards past season, with 4.3 yards per carry. Tarik Cohen is inactive recovering from a torn ACL and volition miss astatine slightest the archetypal six weeks of the season. And it’s unclear however overmuch this discourtesy volition beryllium capable to bash down the violative enactment they’ve assembled.

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“They could spell to the playoffs again,” Harris suggests. “And a batch of that is going to beryllium connected their defence and whether their superstars tin genuinely beryllium superstars. I privation to spot what Khalil Mack does. The Raiders are trying to get him back, but the Bears are similar ‘nah, we’re going to clasp connected to this guy, due to the fact that we gave up a batch to get him, we’re trying to bash thing now.’ I deliberation they’re trying to bash immoderate now. Again, I can’t archer with the full Andy Dalton-Justin Fields thing.”

The Vikings don’t person an contented astatine quarterback, astatine slightest arsenic they spot it. Kirk Cousins enactment up beardown numbers past season, throwing for 4,265 yards and 35 touchdowns. But the squad mislaid 5 of their archetypal six games and ne'er truly challenged successful the division. Dalvin Cook was the NFL’s 2nd starring rusher, with 1,557 yards connected 8.2 yards per carry. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson besides had a beardown rookie season. But choky extremity Irv Smith Jr. volition apt miss the play aft genu surgery.

The Vikings defence should beryllium better, acknowledgment to wellness and caller additions. Danielle Hunter returns aft cervix country sidelined him for each of past season. The linebackers country remains strong. And the summation of Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland should bolster the secondary.

The Lions proceed to rebuild, present nether caller caput manager Dan Campbell. Longtime backmost Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff. Goff took the Rams to Super Bowl LIII successful 2018, but has struggled the past mates years.

“Jared Goff, a number-one prime present quarterbacking successful Detroit… I’m funny to spot what helium has,” says Harris. “The antheral has had immoderate turnover issues the past mates of seasons now. So you instrumentality 1 number-one wide prime successful Matthew Stafford, nonstop him retired and get different 1 successful Jared Goff. I deliberation Matthew Stafford is amended than Jared Goff. I don’t cognize what the rebuilding successful Detroit is going to look like.”

The discourtesy Goff volition beryllium moving is filled with different caller players. He’ll beryllium throwing to caller wide Tyrell Williams and Kalif Raymond, neither of whom look apt to basal out. Jamaal Williams should besides get immoderate touches alongside D’Andre Swift, who remains from past season.

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There’s besides plentifulness of alteration connected the antiaircraft broadside of the ball. The league’s worst portion allowed a horrendous 419.8 yards and 32.4 points per crippled past season. But a batch of those players are gone. Defensive extremity Michael Brockers, formerly of the Rams, volition beryllium an improvement, assuming he’s steadfast and acceptable to play. Linebacker Alex Anzalone from the New Orleans Saints and information Dean Marlowe from the Buffalo Bills should beryllium some beryllium a measurement up arsenic well.

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