They needed 22 seasons to do it, but the Detroit Lions at last claimed their first NFC North title in 2023.Since they’re at the top of the heap already, why not stick around to become the final division club to win a repeat title?The Green Bay Packers have accomplished the feat with two three-peats and a four-peat, while the Chicago Bears (2005–06) and Minnesota Vikings (2008–09) also enjoyed runs early in the North’s history.Detroit likely won’t cruise to a three-game cushion as it did last season, but the returning personnel (don’t write “restored roar,” don’t write “restored roar”) will be enough to give the Lions the edge in a tight race.Here's how the North stacks up, with last season's records in parentheses.1. Detroit Lions (12-5)Yeah, yeah, Lions fans know all about the second half of last season’s NFC Championship game, but we’re not looking that deeply into the crystal ball just yet. In the shorter term, the core they have coming back—quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, to name a few—is solid and ready to reload. Staying strong and healthy on both sides of the line will be paramount. The Lions also sought to shore up a shaky secondary by drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. It all should add up to another big year in Detroit.2. Green Bay Packers (9-8) Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love looks for another big year. Photo source: Getty Images What will Jordan Love do for an encore under center? His progression last season seems to indicate quite a bit, perhaps exceeding his 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2023. The Green Bay receiving room has hardly changed—that’s not a bad thing, believe it or not—and some shuffling among running backs (Josh Jacobs for Aaron Jones) should keep the attack on the move. Green Bay added Xavier McKinney to a defense that’s experienced but still thirsty to improve on a meager 18 takeaways last season. Only six teams finished with fewer. More big plays on 'D' are never a bad thing, especially for a team that had five losses of four points or fewer in 2023.3. Chicago Bears (7-10) Chicago Bears number one draft choice Caleb Williams at a press conference at Halas Hall. credits: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The hype and expectations are far different for Caleb Williams than for Love as Williams prepares for his first season as an NFL starting quarterback. As much as it stings to find solidarity with those Cheeseheads, though, Bears fans surely would go gaga if the top pick in the draft fares as well as Love did last season. Chicago management has set Williams up to be great from the get-go, adding receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Adunze and running back D’Andre Swift to an offensive stable that already included wideout D.J. Moore. An accomplished, experienced defense backs the offensive arsenal, which must stay on guard for inevitable growing pains. 4. Minnesota Vikings (7-10) innesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium. credits: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year two seasons ago, is back with a lucrative extension and a TBD new QB. How quickly Jefferson develops a rapport with said signal-caller—veteran Sam Darnold or first-rounder J.J. McCarthy—will go a long way toward influencing the team’s finish at the dawn of the post-Kirk Cousins era. A veteran defense, which finished eighth in the league in the fewest rush yards allowed last season, should be a stabilizer. Minnesota was already facing a transitional season before tragedy struck the organization on July 6, when rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was among three people killed in a three-car crash in Maryland. Relatedfootball betting linesonline nfl bettingwagering on college footballtop nba betting sitesbest betting sites for mlbbest online nhl betting sitestop ufc betting sitessafe soccer betting siteslegit copa america betting sites
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A disappointed Germany coach Joachim Low lamented his team s carelessness after a shock 2-0 loss to Poland on Saturday.
The world champions fell to second-half goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Sebastian Mila to suffer their first defeat in 19 competitive matches, stretching back to Euro 2012.
It was also the first time Germany had lost to Poland since the unification and their first time they tasted defeat in a qualifying match since October 2007.
Low lamented his team s wastefulness during the Euro 2016 qualifying clash, but is eager to move on.
Obviously, we re disappointed. To be honest, I can t blame my team for much, maybe only that we were too careless with our chances, he said.
The way we played was fine; we created a lot of opportunities t…
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pos has revealed the Portuguese side are on the verge of signing Manchester United forward Bebe on loan.
The 22-year-old has yet to make an appearance for Sir Alex Ferguson s side this season after spending last term on loan at Turkish club Besiktas where he suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
Bebe has struggled to cement a place at United following his 7.4-million pound switch in August 2010 and is now on the verge of heading back to his homeland in order to get more playing time.
He (Bebe) is one of the players who should be just hours away from joining, but there are still some details left to address, Campos told Bola Branca.
His signing could be announced very shortly.
…
Bayern Munich will discuss terms with Wolfsburg over the sale of midfielder Luiz Gustavo, according to CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
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As well as new signings Thiago Alcantara and Mario Goetze, the Brazilian will also see the likes of Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger vying for a central midfield berth.
The player himself admitted recently he would consider leaving the Allianz Arena for regular first-team football and Rummenigge has now confirmed the club would also entertain the idea of a sale.
If Wolfsburg agrees personal terms with Gustavo, we will then negotiate, he told Kicker.
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Leonid Kuchuk has returned to Kuban Krasnodar after being appointed as the Russian club s coach for the second time.
Kuchuk was reappointed on Monday as a replacement for Viktor Goncharenko, who parted company with the club last Thursday.
The 55-year-old Belarusian was previously in charge at Kuban for the second half of the 2012-13 campaign, guiding them to fifth place in the top flight and UEFA Europa League qualification.
Following that successful spell, Kuchuk switched to Lokomotiv Moscow but was removed from his post in September with the capital club languishing in ninth in the table after finishing third last term.
Along with the poor performances on the field, a breakdown in relationship between Kuchuk and his players was one of the reason for his…
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Sadio Mane s decisive goal in the first half was ultimately awarded following a VAR review, with referee Anthony Taylor having initially penalised Adam Lallana for handball in the build-up.
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Diego Castro was the inspiration, scoring once and assisting another, as Tony Popovic s side coped better with the difficult conditions to claim a fourth win in a row.
The Mariners hit the post inside the first minute through Daniel De Silva, but chances were scarce in a first half affected by strong winds and concerns over air quality as a result of the New South Wales bush fires.
Castro broke the deadlock in first-half injury time, though, rifling a half-volley through a crowded box and into the bottom-left corner from 18 yards out.
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The visitors to the San Siro led 1-0 after a swashbuckling first-half performance but that all changed when Rosetti awarded Milan a penalty after Alessandro Nesta tumbled in the box.
Television replays showed Nicolas Burdisso won the ball, even though he did challenge Nesta from behind and the former Italy centre-back s subsequent fall was clearly exaggerated, if even completely unnecessary.
Roma s players were fuming about the penalty, dispatched by Ronaldinho, and after Pato s winner Sensi s mood was even darker.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta concedes it is still too early to determine if William Saliba will be able to feature again this season.
The France centre-back has been absent for all of Arsenal s past four matches after sustaining a back injury in the first half of the Europa League last-16 second-leg draw with Sporting CP last month, which resulted in the Gunners elimination on penalties.
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Barcelona s Gerardo Martino is looking forward to experiencing the UEFA Champions League as a manager for the first time.
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Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admits Bayern Munich have no back-up plan if coach Pep Guardiola decides to leave at the end of his contract.
Bayern Munich have no Plan B should coach Pep Guardiola decided to leave the club at the end of his current contract, according to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The Spaniard has 18 months left on his deal at the Allianz Arena after joining the Bavarians following their treble-winning 2012-13 campaign under Jupp Heynckes.
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