With the NFL schedule out, let us take a look at how each team will fare this upcoming season.
As we move closer to the NFL regular, I will be releasing record predictions by division (so four teams). For each team there will be the following: a short analysis of the team and my thoughts; the team’s ceiling (the best record I believe they could get); the team’s floor (the worst record I believe they could get); OPOY (offensive rookie of the year); DPOY (defensive player of the year); ROTY (rookie of the year); and finally BPOY (breakout player of the year). The only rule I have set for these awards is a player can not win two of them and MVPs take priority over the other two awards.
We are kicking things off by discussing the NFC North (NFCN). The NFCN is expected to be one of the toughest divisions in football with the youthful and upcoming Packers; the defending NFCN champ Lions; the Caleb Williams led Bears; and the revamped Vikings.
Chicago Bears: 10-7 at 7th in the NFC
Caleb Williams practicing at Bears rookie minicamp. | Photo Credit / NBC Sports
I am a big fan of this Bears team (other than being a Bears fan). Overall they have set up rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to succeed by surrounding him with an arguably top 10 offensive core in the NFL. This also adds to how stellar their defense was in the second half of the season last year. Now one may have worries that the defense was simply feeding off bad teams, but I would argue that happens a lot on both sides of the ball and you cannot fault them for that.
Now with all of that being said this is still a young team that has its issues. Coaching is a huge question mark as the Bears blew several games last year that could be attributed to bad decision making from the coaches. They have revamped the group and replaced almost everyone but the head coach. The “issue” one may have is Williams is a rookie and will have his struggles as most rookie QBs do. I expect the same out of Williams but not enough to halt the Bears from having a good offense.
With all of these factors considered I have the Chicago Bears going 10-7 and earning a wild card spot in the NFC. The future is bright in Chicago.
Ceiling: 13-4
Floor: 6-11
OPOY: Quarterback Caleb Williams
DPOY: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson
ROTY: EDGE Austin Booker
BPOY: Defensive Tackle Gervon Dexter Sr.
Detroit Lions: 11-6 at 3rd in the NFC
Amon Ra St. Brown shows off new black Lions uniforms. | Photo Credit / The Oakland Press
BRING THE PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES! I am not as high on this team as others. That is not to say this team is bad as they are far from it but they are for one playing in a stacked division and a much better NFC overall.
I am also not the biggest Goff guy nor was I a big fan of the contract he got. Now Goff is a very good QB but 50 million per year good? I do not know about that. Before I continue my “biased” rant on how I am low on this team let us talk about the things I am a big fan of for this team. They have the best RB duo in the league in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Sam Laporta is a monster at tight end and him plus the “Sun God” (WR Amon Ra St. Brown) and you have one of the best receiving duos in football.
They put a lot of effort into revamping this defense by drafting two cornerbacks with their first two picks in the draft; trading for Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis; and signing star defensive tackle to a two year 22 million dollar deal. Now will these moves work out? Only time will tell.
At the end of the day the Lions are still a very good football team but due to playing in a tougher division and having a difficult schedule, I have them finishing with one less win than last year at 11-6 and winning back to back NFCN titles.
Ceiling: 12-5
Floor: 7-10
OPOY: Tight End Sam LaPorta
DPOY: Safety Brian Branch
ROTY: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
BPOY: Linebacker Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers: 10-7 at 6th in the NFC
Jordan Love at ATAT Stadium from the 2023-24 postseason. | Photo Credit / CBS Sports
Is Jordan Love an MVP candidate? If Love can keep up his level of play from last season, I would definitely say there is an argument for it. Outside of Love though you still have a very good Packers team. There is no standout pass catcher but overall they have a good group of younger wide receivers and tight ends. Pair this with their (what seems to be always) good offensive line and you have a great young offense that is set up for years to come.
Now let us talk about their defense. It is very similar to the offense in terms of comparison. Two standout “elite” players in cornerback Jaire Alexander and EDGE Rashan Gary along with a bunch of very good young players. Not much to say other than a great team with little to no weaknesses. If I were to say there is a weakness, I would say the defense has had health issues in the path and the defensive side of coaching is mostly unknown. I would add that (even with how unlikely it is) if Love reverts back to his first half of last season form, this team is in trouble.
All things considered though this is a very good team and I have them finishing with a record of 10-7, earning a wild card spot.
Ceiling: 14-3
Floor: 7-10
OPOY: Quarterback Jordan Love
DPOY: Safety Xavier McKinney
ROTY: Safety Javon Bullard
BPOY: Wide Receiver Romeo Dobbs
Minnesota Vikings: 5-12 at 13th in the NFC
Justin Jefferson showing off new “Winter Warrior” uniforms. | Photo Credit / Star Tribune
This was one the toughest teams to decide on a record for. This comes from a lot of questions for this roster.
The first question that pops up to everyone’s mind who is going to be the QB this year and how will they perform. The options are not great. First option is former third overall pick Sam Darnold, who is now on his fourth team in his NFL career. The other option is rookie JJ McCarthy, who reportedly had struggled heavily in minicamp outside of a few good throws here and there. The QB position can have a big impact on how the roster will perform and overall I am just not high on either this year. I believe the best course of action would be to sit McCarthy for the year and learn while Darnold starts and tries to prove his worth in the league.
The big strength of this team comes from their great defense. That mostly can be attributed to defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores’s heavy blitz defense has teams panicking under pressure quick learning to high turnover and sack numbers. One may say, “But they lost their best defense player last year in EDGE Danielle Hunter.” To that I say well they added two very good veteran EDGEs in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. They also added EDGE help in the first round of the draft at pick 17 with Dallas Turner. The Vikings made some big moves this offseason by adding several new and key pieces to the defense. The question here is can Flores repeat what he did in the 2023-24 to 2024-25 and will the big moves on defense pay off?
Overall, while I am not low on this team, they play in a stacked division and the QB position is too big of a question mark. I have the Vikings finishing 5-12 and going under seven wins for the first time since 2013.
Ceiling: 9-8
Floor: 4-13
OPOY: Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson
DPOY: EDGE Jonathan Greenard
ROTY: Kicker Will Reichard
BPOY: Linebacker Ivan Pace
