With the approach of training camp comes high hopes for the season and the occasional trolling of division rivals. Whether it's a jab at last season's results or promises of postseason production, the players and fans that make up the NFC North are some of the most competitive in the NFL, and they aren't worried about who knows it.
While the Detroit Lions have never made an appearance in the Super Bowl, running back David Montgomery argues that 2025 is a "year of reckoning" for Detroit, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN.
"Everybody's tired of being close," Montgomery said. "That's not what you want to be known for, especially when you know you've got the guys, you've got on this team. You want to finish it, so this is the year for us. The year of the reckoning and the year that we choose that we need to finish."
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The last two seasons have seen the Lions become a true force in the NFC. This offseason, however, they've had their foundations shaken in ways that could prove to hamper Detroit's ability to compete.
David Montgomery makes a bold statement about the Lions, but Packers fans shouldn't buy it
While the Green Bay Packers added potential game-changers like Matthew Golden, Detroit lost both its offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow. Playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs are still ready to play, but the structure surrounding them has started to show signs of caving in.
The desire for postseason success is mutual in Green Bay. With no NFC Championship appearances since a loss to Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the Packers are hungry to make a run.
Jordan Love has made the playoffs in both of his full-time seasons, and we'll never forget blowing out the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. But this team must now take the next step forward. Fans should have big hopes surrounding Jeff Hafley's defense and believe newcomers like Isaiah Simmons will bring new life to an already effective scheme.
Montgomery seems ready to bring the fight this season, and the Packers aren't a team known for backing down. We'll get a good sense of whether or not this promise is all talk in Week 1 at Lambeau Field.