Final 2026 schedule predictions, Vikings WR trio, Bears Center battle | 1st & North

OTA's kick off in the NFC North but the Packers are already hurting | 1st & North

OTAs are officially underway, and the division is already dripping with drama. This week, the crew breaks down the Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy quarterback battle in Minnesota, why the Lions are panicking about their safety depth, and whether the Packers can survive a month without Micah Parsons. Plus, we look at Caleb Williams’ demand for the number one offense and Aaron Rodgers' reunion tour in Pittsburgh. 00:00 Intro: OTAs Kick Off in the NFC North 00:34 Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Battle: Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy 03:11 Detroit Lions Pass Rush: Derek Moore & Aidan Hutchinson 04:49 Green Bay Packers Edge Depth & Micah Parsons' Injury Rehab 06:02 Jonathan Gannon's New Defensive Scheme in Green Bay 06:33 Chicago Bears D-Line Solutions & Pass Rush Improvement 08:38 Detroit Lions Secondary Concerns: Kirby Joseph & Bryan Branch Injuries 10:35 Kyler Murray & Justin Jefferson Chemistry Potential 12:11 Green Bay Packers Offense: Tucker Kraft Recovery & Luke Musgrave Opportunity 13:34 Detroit Lions Offensive Line Changes & Left Guard Position Battle 16:18 Minnesota Vikings Safety Outlook: Awaiting Harrison Smith's Decision 17:40 Chicago Bears Continuity: Caleb Williams' Year 3 Expectations 18:32 OTA Players to Watch: Trey Smack, Alim McNeill, & Jacoby Thomas 19:58 National Focus: Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy's Steelers Reunion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Jordan Love better than Caleb Williams? Plus... A deep dive into schedule predictions | 1st & North

This week on "1st & North"... one Bears stadium plan has a stinky problem, the NFC North QB rankings are all over the place, the pundits put their record predictions out, and the Packers coach is throwin' em back on stage. CHAPTERS: [00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg]] Chicago Bears Stadium Update: Arlington Heights vs. Hammond, Indiana, and the looming legislative deadline. [01:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=93s]] Minnesota Selected to Host 2028 NFL Draft: The crew breaks down what a draft in the Twin Cities will look like and local traditions to expect. [03:38 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=218s]] Green Bay Packers Schedule Breakdown: Analyzing Green Bay’s six primetime/standalone games and the challenges of short rest weeks. [05:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=333s]] Detroit Lions Schedule Analysis: Looking at Detroit’s Munich trip, a tough three-game stretch in 11 days, and a brutal divisional road stretch to end the year. [06:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=419s]] Minnesota Vikings Record Predictions: Ahmad hypes up a potential 12-win season if Kyler Murray wins the starting quarterback job. [09:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=580s]] Chicago Bears Schedule & 12-Win Hype: Cassie breaks down the Bears' maximum allowed primetime games and tough holiday matchups. [12:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=732s]] Lions & Packers Record Predictions: Dan and Brandon explain why good teams win 10 games without committing to early-May numbers. [13:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=837s]] Top 10 QB Rankings Spark Outrage: Reacting to Colin Cowherd putting Caleb Williams at number three over MVP winners. [17:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=1038s]] Dan Orlovsky’s NFC North QB Rankings: The crew debates Orlovsky ranking Jared Goff and Jordan Love as a clear top tier. [21:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=1314s]] Justin Jefferson on the Vikings QB Battle: Breaking down the dynamic between Kyler Murray and rookie J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. [23:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEt6XDnD1Hg&t=1391s]] Outro: Matt LaFleur Shotguns Beers at Lambeau Field: Packers head coach joins Luke Combs on stage to win back some player approval. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Final 2026 schedule predictions, Vikings WR trio, Bears Center battle | 1st & North

This week on "1st & North:" The blockbuster matchups to watch for in the NFL schedule release, The Bears plan to coach their way to pressuring the QB, Micah Parsons is on the mend, Amon-Ra St. Brown finds new ways to stay motivated in Detroit, the Packer’s kick their kicker to the curb, the Vikings' have a scary Wide Receiving core. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Bears get lots of prime-time love, post-draft power rankings & latest on Vikings GM search | 1st & North

On this episode of "1st & North:" The Bears get the post draft power ranking crown, but could face a brutal schedule next season while Detroit gets set to rebuild their O-Line. The Packers prove Jordan Love is a big draw for coaches, and the Vikings drop to #28 in their pre-season power rankings. [00:00] Cassie Carlson’s Big Promotion: Chicago’s New Sports Director [01:49] Post-Draft Power Rankings: Bears Slide, Seattle Surges [02:40] Lions Draft Analysis: Building the "Mean" Machine [05:54] Packers Rookie Report: Jordan Love’s Magnetism & Tyrod Taylor [07:43] Vikings Disrespect? Ranked 28th and Searching for a GM [09:51] Detroit’s "No-Show" Policy: Why the Lions Skipped Rookie Minicamp [12:44] Green Bay’s New DC: Jonathan Gannon Takes Over [15:00] Jack Campbell Stays Put & Terrion Arnold Injury Update [18:39] 2026 Schedule Leaks: Bears Primetime Takeover? [22:41] Malik Willis’ Nightmare First Pitch in Miami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Draft aftermath: Bears snag a 'violent' safety while Lions build in the trenches | 1st & North

The Bears let the board come to them for a "violent" safety, the Packers trade up for a kicker, the Lions' obsession with grit in the trenches, and did the Vikings reach for a possibly injury headache in the first round? [00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I]] Open [00:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=27s]] Lions Go Lab-Grown: Blake Miller & The Trench Culture [03:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=197s]] Vikings Take a Swing: Caleb Banks & The Injury Gamble [05:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=339s]] Bears Snag the "Steel": Dylan Thieneman's Violent Versatility [07:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=470s]] Packers' Passive Strategy: Micah Parsons & The Age 20 Corner [09:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=593s]] Michigan Connection: Lions Find Hutchinson’s Edge Partner [12:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=738s]] Special Teams Drama: Green Bay Drafts "Smack" to Replace McManus [13:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=812s]] Grading the North: "The Big Citrus" & Vikings’ Wideout Woes [16:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=968s]] Cap Casualties: Why the Vikings Traded Jonathan Renard [18:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=1130s]] Free Agency Forecast: Jauan Jennings & The Lions' Linebacker Hole [21:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=1286s]] Bears D-Line Concerns: Ben Johnson’s Coaching Projection [23:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8RIISey1I&t=1410s]] Post-Draft Perks: Free Ketchup & Wisconsin Cheese Curds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]