A deep dive into Ben Johnson's plan for Caleb Williams, the Lions' chances to repeat, Jordan Love's pivotal year, and Brian Flores' revolutionary Vikings defense.

In this episode, we talk about:

* Why the Chicago Bears hired coach Ben Johnson to develop rookie QB Caleb Williams and how they surrounded him with a rebuilt interior offensive line.

* Can Detroit survive the ‘brain drain’? The Detroit Lions face questions about their offense and QB Jared Goff's ability to sustain his performance after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

* Analyze the Green Bay Packers’ need for quarterback Jordan Love to ascend to an elite level, but the team's success may be hindered by weaknesses on the defensive line and at cornerback.

* Why the Minnesota Vikings' season depends on the development of rookie QB J.J. McCarthy and the sustainability of Brian Flores's high-blitz, high-risk defensive scheme.

* Explain why the NFC North is considered the most compelling division to watch due to its young, innovative head coaches.

—

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro: NFC North Preview

0:09 Chicago Bears: Can Ben Johnson Refine Caleb Williams?

6:21 Step Two For The Bears: Rebuilding the Interior Offensive Line

11:24 Chicago's Defense: Hiring Dennis Allen as DC

17:41 Is This a Top 10 Defense & Are the Bears a Surprise Team?

19:25 Detroit Lions: The Impact of "Brain Drain"

24:47 Will Jared Goff Take a Step Back Without Ben Johnson?

25:59 Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love or Bust?

32:43 Packers' Glaring Defensive Issues: D-Line & Cornerbacks

37:46 Minnesota Vikings: The Challenge for Kevin O'Connell

39:03 The Plan for Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy

41:56 A Deep Dive into Brian Flores's Revolutionary Defense

47:04 The Vikings' Biggest Weakness: The Secondary

52:25 Is the NFC North the Best-Coached Division in the NFL?

58:05 Final Predictions: Who Wins the NFC North?

—

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.

—

© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.matchquarters.com/subscribe