Unlike the AFC, which is flush with lots of talent, the NFC is top-heavy, and it could benefit a few teams in the conference.
In particular, the NFC North looks somewhat weak thanks to the departure of Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers and Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen from the Minnesota Vikings.
As a result, many people are picking the Detroit Lions to finish first in the division, a sentiment commentator Colin Cowherd agrees with.
“I like Jared Goff more than people do and I think Detroit is going to win their division.”
— @ColinCowherd makes the case for the Lions QB pic.twitter.com/cycE3MAkRS
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 31, 2023
Cowherd’s reasoning is that quarterback Jared Goff is one of the most underrated and disrespected quarterbacks in the NFL.
Goff had one of his best seasons ever in 2022, posting 4,438 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes, and he had the Lions catching fire later in the schedule.
They started the year 1-6, which was in line with most people’s expectations, but they then won eight of their last 10 games and came narrowly close to snagging the last wild-card playoff spot in the NFC.
Detroit may not have a super-talented team, as Cowherd pointed out, but Amon-Ra St. Brown is a very solid wide receiver, while Aidan Hutchinson is an emerging stud defensive lineman.
Goff is just 28 years of age, so perhaps the team can afford to be a little patient with letting its crew develop and adding pieces to its current core.
Just about everyone agrees that the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys are the class of the conference, but after years of bad or mediocre play, perhaps the Lions aren’t too far from joining them in that category.
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Lions WR Explains His Mentality Coming Into 2023 NFL Season