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2023 NFL Predictions: Every Divisional Winner for the 2023 Season

By Brendan Danaher

NFL Picks; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) celebrates his touchdown with teammates in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Picks; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) celebrates his touchdown with teammates in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL Power Rankings, Aaron Rodgers
NFL Power Rankings, Aaron Rodgers; Detroit Lions wide receivers DJ Chark (4) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrate after CharkÕs reception for a first down late in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Packers Vs Lions 010823 3334 Ttm /

NFC North winner: Detroit Lions

It’s finally Dan Campbell’s time to shine. And the rest of the Detroit Lions.

This team is special and head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have been amassing this roster to take over the NFC North. This may finally be the year they do it. The Lions finished second in the division in 2022 with a record of 9-8, trailing the Minnesota Vikings who went 13-4.

What is worth noting is that the Lions had the best inter-divisional record in the NFC North going 5-1, dropping a single game to the Vikings in September. The Lions swept the Packers and Bears and it would not be a shock to see them do it again. The Packers are without Aaron Rodgers (which didn’t seem to matter last year) and the Vikings have holes on both sides of the ball. The Bears unfortunately aren’t in the conversation this season either.

The Lions aren’t without their issues dealing with the absence of their outside threat at receiver, Jameson Williams, who is suspended for six games. This unit is tough and they were without Williams for a portion of last season as well due to injury. One of the main selling points for the Lions is the gutsy performance they showed in their final game against the Packers last season. The Packers had to win to get into the playoffs and the Lions were already eliminated from contention. Campbell and crew decided they weren’t going to hand the postseason to the Packers and instead dug deep and eliminated the Packers with a 20-16 win. It would be Rodgers’s last game as a Green Bay Packer.

The Lions are tough, determined, and they’ve been slowly but surely amassing a quality roster over the last couple of seasons. I think it would be a disappointment to all NFL fans if we were wrong about the Lions becoming the new “Kings of the North” in 2023.

Fun fact: The Lions haven’t won the NFC North since 1993. 30 years.

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