Five reasons why Green Bay Packers will win NFC North in 2018

Five reasons why the Green Bay Packers will win the NFC North in 2018.

The 2017 season was a difficult one for Green Bay Packers fans. We saw what life could be like without Aaron Rodgers. Following a promising start to the season, Rodgers’ broken collarbone effectively ended the team’s playoff hopes. And they failed to make the postseason for the first time in almost a decade.

But the Packers weren’t willing to just expect Rodgers’ return to lead them back into the playoffs.

As soon as the season ended, Mike McCarthy made a number of changes to his coaching staff, firing longtime defensive coordinator Dom Capers and hiring Mike Pettine. He also brought back Joe Philbin as his offensive coordinator.

The Packers replaced Ted Thompson as general manager with Brian Gutekunst. And Gutekunst brought his own style to the role, showing more aggression in free agency and in the draft.

A lot has changed since the Packers’ Week 17 loss to the Detroit Lions. Looking ahead to the 2018 season, Green Bay is the team to beat in a much-improved NFC North.

Regaining the division crown won’t be easy. The Minnesota Vikings could be even stronger this year with the addition of Kirk Cousins. The Chicago Bears have made a number of improvements this offseason.

But when it’s all said and done, it will be the Packers sitting in first place. Here’s why.