We continue to overview the NFL Divisions as Training Camp nears.
We previously looked at:
NFC South
NFC East
NFC North
2023 Standings
Detroit 12-5
Green Bay 9-8
Minnesota 7-10
Chicago 7-10
Detroit beat the Rams, and Green Bay beat Dallas in the Wild Card Round.
In the Divisional Round, Detroit beat Tampa Bay, while Green Bay fell to San Francisco.
In the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco beat Detroit.
2024 Current Over / Under Projected Win Totals
Detroit 10.5
Green Bay 9.5
Chicago 8.5
Minnesota 6.5
Quick Hits
Lions – Detroit was a feel good story last year. Was great seeing them finally winning playoff games for the first time since the George H.W. Bush Administration. They won’t sneak up on teams this season. Former Raven Kevin Zeitler join the O-Line. The Offense is going to put up points. The Secondary got an infusion of youth and talent. Jared Goff is coming off a 4,500 yard, 30 TD season. I don’t look at him as ‘elite’, but I do think he’s another guy you can win with. Super Bowl appearance with the Rams. NFC Championship game appearance now with the Lions. He’s good enough, and figures to have another strong statistical season this year. Do they have enough pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson? The Offense will be good regardless, but could hit another gear if ’22 1st rounder Jameson Williams emerges.
Packers – Jordan Love has rare talent. He was a rookie last year in-terms of on-field experience, but he had effectively used his prior years in the league as a backup to develop. Now, with that year of playing experience under his belt, I wonder if we see further maturation in his game? I think one thing he’ll have to watch is, he’s so physically talented, that sometimes those guys in that rarefied air believe they can make any play, and make unforced errors. Josh Jacobs is at 4.2 yards per carry for his career, but was just 3.5 last year. I think he’s closer to the ’22 Jacobs who had a 1,600 yard season rushing at 4.9 yards per clip, and also caught 53 balls. Jacobs and AJ Dillion is a very nice 1-2. I also like 3rd stringer MarShawn Lloyd. Former Terp Darnell Savage is gone. 2nd round Javon Bullard should start. Rashawn Gary is nice on the EDGE. They could use 2023 1st rounder Lukas Van Ness to come on opposite of him.
Bears – I liked Justin Fields more than most, but Chicago made the right decision here. One, Caleb Williams is projected to have a higher ceiling, and two (and more importantly to me); they get to turnback time and have Williams on the start of his rookie deal vs. Fields getting close to the end of his. Has any Rookie QB ever come into a situation like this? Williams has real weapons at his disposal. You hate to put too much on the shoulders of a Rookie – but there is so much surrounding offensive talent, that I think it’s reasonable to demand Williams is immediately productive. The Linebackers look solid, and I like Montez Sweat up-front; but the defense overall looks thin. If Chicago is going to be good, it’s going to largely be about them outscoring teams.
Vikings – Minnesota is an interesting team. There will be zero expectations on this group, and every prognosticator is going to have the Vikings looking up at their North foes; but there is enough talent to be punchy. Justin Jefferson is great. Jordan Addison had 70 receptions as a Rookie. TJ Hockenson had 95 receptions at TE – unfortunately he suffered an ACL in late December, so he doesn’t figure to be available at the start of the year. The lights aren’t going to be as bright on JJ McCarthy as they are on Caleb Williams. What I saw from McCarthy at Michigan was someone that could extend plays, with some decent but not overwhelming physical ability. You’d occasionally see him be able to fire intermediate passes in tight windows, and think, “That can play.” But if you just looked at his game logs, it doesn’t scream 10th overall selection. Of course, he had a surrounding cast that didn’t need him throwing 40 passes a game. The Wolverines were built to bludgeon teams on the ground with physicality, and McCarthy effectively managed games. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think he could be an effective game manager as a Pro. I like the Aaron Jones addition at RB. Feed him. Jonathan Greenard had 12.5 sacks, but there are questions about the pass rush. There also questions about the Secondary. That (questionable pass rush + secondary) seems like a problem in a division where the Lions, Packers, and Bears are going to put up points. What I think the Vikings can be is a spoiler to their divisional foes. A team capable of biting you if you don’t knock them out early.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.