The hit HBO show “Game of Thrones” that racked up a record 32 Emmy nominations became such a cultural force that it even unintentionally spawned a slogan for one of the NFL’s most tradition-rich divisions.“Defend the North” was a familiar mantra for the mythical characters in the vicious drama. That might as well be the theme of this season for the Chicago Bears http://www.lionscheapshop.com/cheap-aut … vai-jersey , who became NFC North champions last year for the first time since 2010 behind a ferocious defense led by All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack.The Bears were the league leader in turnovers forced and points allowed and ranked third in sacks and yards, the biggest reason they went 12-4 in coach Matt Nagy’s first season. Mack, acquired in the blockbuster trade with Oakland eight days before the 2018 opener, is back to headline the unit along with fellow Pro Bowl picks cornerback Kyle Fuller, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and safety Eddie Jackson.The Bears have plenty of defensive company in this division, though.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinPackers sign CB Tremon Smith off practice squadRodgers’ recent near-perfect play leaves LaFleur ‘speechless’Packers Snap Counts: Darnell Savage returns from ankle injuryUpon Further Review: Packers lean on running backs in win over ChiefsPHOTOS: Packers at ChiefsThe Minnesota Vikings, who stumbled to an 8-7-1 record after reaching the NFC title game, kept their deep, experienced group intact for coach Mike Zimmer’s critical sixth year on the sideline. Hey, they even use a wintry, “Game of Thrones”-style pregame hype video in the build-up to kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium.Sure, the Green Bay Packers are still quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ team. Their biggest offseason move was to hire Matt LaFleur as their new coach, hoping to have found the NFL’s latest under-40 offensive mastermind. They used free agency to find three new starters on defense, however, including signing safety Adrian Amos away from the Bears. One source of optimism for a turnaround in Titletown from a 6-9-1 finish starts with the acumen of defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who stayed on staff after the changeover from the fired Mike McCarthy.Don’t forget the Detroit Lions, either, despite their 6-10 record in 2018. They’ve begun their second year under coach Matt Patricia , the defensive coordinator for two Super Bowl-winning teams with New England, with a spruced-up front four. They picked up former Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers in free agency and ex-Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels, a 2017 Pro Bowl pick who became a salary cap casualty, right before training camp.With the Bears (third) Will Harris Jersey , Vikings (fourth) and Lions (10th), the NFC North sported three of the top 10 defenses in the league last season in terms of yards allowed. Here’s a closer look at the NFC North quartet in 2019:NEW BOSSThe Bears again ought to be difficult to advance against, with offensive disrupters well established at each of the three levels even if they can’t maintain their torrid takeaway pace of 2018 with 27 interceptions and nine fumbles recovered out of 19 fumbles forced. Chuck Pagano replaced Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator after Fangio took the step up to become Denver’s coach.“We understand what the expectations are. It’s really change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, right? And remove whatever’s not good,” Pagano said.7<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:Upon Further Review: Packers at RavensTommy Gilligan | USA TODAY SportsAssuming more progress by quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back Tarik Cohen in Nagy’s creative scheme, the position that could make or break Chicago’s chance of repeating as division champion for the first time since 2006 is kicker. For now, that person is Eddy Pineiro. He emerged from the drawn-out competition to replace Cody Parkey, who infamously missed a 43-yard field goal in the one-point loss at home to Philadelphia in the playoffs.ON THE REBOUND?The Vikings have failed to finish with a winning record twice in five years under Zimmer (7-9 in 2014 and 8-8 in 2016), and they followed both flops with a division title the next season. They’ll lean on Zimmer’s proud, seasoned defense to try to extend that trend, with all but one starter returning. This group has become so tight-knit that linebacker Anthony Barr couldn’t bring himself to leave in free agency, reneging on a verbal agreement with the New York Jets after a sleepless night in March.The offense under quarterback Kirk Cousins disappeared down the stretch last year. Zimmer’s first remedy was to hire former Denver and Houston coach Gary Kubiak as an offensive adviser. Cousins has a new center, Garrett Bradbury, and a dynamic tight end, Irv Smith Jr., thanks to the first two rounds of the draft. Ultimately, Cousins must produce more of those clutch performances in critical games that his NFL resume has so far lacked.“I’m pretty much a .500 quarterback in my career so far, and I don’t think that’s where you want to be,” Cousins said. “That’s not why you’re brought in or why people are excited about you.”QUENCHING FOR THE QBRodgers has entered his 15th season and his 12th as the starter in a new system under LaFleur, who was the offensive coordinator for Tennessee last year. While the once-potent offense in Green Bay has not been nearly as dangerous in recent seasons, the onus falls just as hard on Pettine’s defense to help the Packers return to the playoffs after a rare two-year absence.They signed pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith along with Amos in free agency http://www.lionscheapshop.com/cheap-aut … ant-jersey , and they used first-round draft picks on outside linebacker Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage.“It’s just a different feel on that side of the ball,” Rodgers said. “I feel like there’s a little more juice.”TAKE IT AWAYThough the Lions lost seven of their last 10 games last season, the defense finished strong with a total of 27 points allowed over the final four games. Premier run stuffer Damon Harrison Sr. will have Daniels and Flowers on either side, a strengthened front that ought to help the Lions improve upon their second-worst-in-the-league total of 14 turnovers forced last year, and give quarterback Matthew Stafford more support.“It’s going to be scary to see what they can do. From a back-end standpoint, that’s exactly what you want,” said free safety Andrew Adams, one of several additions to the secondary. “We’re all licking our chops.”PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:Vikings, Bears, Packers, Lions The Jacksonville Jaguars are sticking with Blake Bortles as their starting quarterback.Coach Doug Marrone made the announcement Monday, one day after benching Bortles early in the third quarter of a 20-7 loss to Houston.“I spoke to both quarterbacks this afternoon and told them Blake will be our team’s starting quarterback,” Marrone said in a statement. “I believe this gives us the best opportunity to win.”More Jacksonville Jaguars newsJaguars will be without starting CB A.J. Bouye, WR Marqise Lee against TexansJaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue, LT Cam Robinson out against Texans SundayJaguars lose QB Nick Foles for at least 2 months in discouraging season openerJaguars acquire QB Josh Dobbs intrade with Steelers for 2020 5th-round draft pickInjuries hurt Jaguars as they fall to Chiefs 40-26 in Week 1Bortles fumbled on Jacksonville’s third play in each half, leading to 10 points for the Texans and prompting Marrone to switch to Cody Kessler. Marrone said after the game he would open up the QB job for the second time in as many years. He also benched Bortles in the 2017 preseason, only to give him back the job nine days later.Marrone took less than 24 hours to go back to Bortles this time, saying he will start Sunday’s game against Philadelphia (3-4) in London.The Jaguars (3-4) have lost three in a row and four of five, derailing a season that started with Super Bowl aspirations.Jacksonville seemingly reached a low point Sunday when the locker room erupted in fiery emotion following a third consecutive lopsided loss in which the offense failed to score in the first half. Calais Campbell was seen holding back fellow defensive end Yannick Ngakoue when the locker room briefly opened to the media. It was the final scene of frustration that also included screaming, shouting and finger pointing.Campbell, an 11-year veteran and one of six team captains, called a players-only meetings Monday to “talk about some issues.”“Will it help?” defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. “Hopefully so. Hopefully guys will speak up and not be silent Rock Ya-Sin Jersey , hopefully talk about some issues that they feel are bothering them.”The Jaguars have been mostly inept on both sides of the ball during the losing streak, trailing 23-0 at Kansas City, 24-0 at Dallas and 20-0 at home against the Texans.The injury-riddled offense can’t do what it’s built to do �? run the football �? and has a lackluster receiving corps dropping balls at inopportune times. The high-profile defense can’t stop the run and has allowed too many big plays.“People are strained,” Jackson said. “This is a business about producing, about winning, and we’re not producing or winning right now. This locker room is not going to tear apart for a few losses. Hell, we went 3-13 our first year here.”The expectations were much higher after advancing to the AFC title game in January, which is why the locker room started to crack and crumble.“You can’t have little groups or little indecision of what is the right way or the proper way. You have to get everyone in the same boat,” Marrone said, pointing out the team is minus-12 in turnover differential. “We have done this to ourselves, and the only people going to be able to dig us out of it is ourselves. But we all have to have the same vision on how to do it.“My thing to the team is we can go in all of these different directions, but if these two things do not change, those two things do not change, those directions aren’t going to matter.”Bortles was the scapegoat Sunday, with Marrone making the move to “put everyone on notice.”Bortles completed 6 of 12 passes for 61 yards, fumbling twice on third-down scrambles.Kessler came off the bench and had a short touchdown pass to T.J. Yeldon, but he was sacked four times in five drives, plus threw an interception and fumbled.It’s really not that surprising Marrone stuck with Bortles. The team signed him to a three-year, $54 million contract in February with the belief he was good enough to lead the defensive-minded team back to the playoffs.Bortles played turnover-free football in the postseason, gaining top executive Tom Coughlin’s confidence and landing the new contract. He’s played with far less efficiency lately, managing two TD passes and eight turnovers in the three straight losses.NOTES: The Jaguars released veteran running back Jamaal Charles three days after acquiring Carlos Hyde from Cleveland. Hyde is expected to play a significant role against the Eagles. … Marrone said injured RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring) will travel to London.