The 2024 NFL season is over two months away, but the rosters are virtually intact to begin the season. Right now is the perfect opportunity to make NFC North predictions.
DETROIT LIONS — (13-4)
The Detroit Lions finished the 2023 regular season with a 12-5 record — third place in the NFC. Detroit battled all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where they narrowly fell to the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2024, a vast majority of the team’s core remains in place. Three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown dominated in his third NFL season. He caught 119 passes for 1,515 receiving yards — both third-best in the NFL.
Additionally, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs earned Pro Bowl nods for the Lions offense.
The Lions’ offensive line unit is arguably the best in football, as Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell both notched Pro Bowl appearances, as well.
In total, six Lions competed for Team NFC at the Pro Bowl, and all six players have returned for the 2024 season.
With Dan Campbell — one of the league’s most respected coaches — the Lions are set to earn their third consecutive winning season. In these predictions, I have the Lions improving by one game and earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
GREEN BAY PACKERS — (11-6)
The Green Bay Packers endured a quarterback change for the first time since 2008, and new QB Jordan Love has stepped up to the plate.
In what was supposed to be a “retool” year for Green Bay, following the departure of longtime QB Aaron Rodgers, the Packers started the season slow — a 2-5 record through seven games.
As the season progressed, Love and an abundance of young talent — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed — clicked. The team finished 7-3 and returned to the NFL playoffs.
Green Bay dismantled the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs, before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. Despite the tough loss, Green Bay performed phenomenally in Love’s first year under center.
The Packers lost one-time Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones to rival Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Green Bay replaced him with veteran Josh Jacobs.
In these NFC North predictions, the Packers return to the playoffs in Love’s second season.
CHICAGO BEARS — (10-7)
The Chicago Bears are an intriguing and difficult team to project. In 2023, the team finished 7-10 with Justin Fields as the team’s quarterback. The former first-round QB struggled to produce statistics and wins in his three years under center. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason.
The Bears’ defense had a whirlwind of a season. The team allowed 27+ points in each of the first four games of the season — resulting in an 0-4 record to start the campaign.
The defensive unit completely shifted halfway through the season when general manager Ryan Poles acquired pass rusher Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. The unit went from one of the worst in football to one of the league’s best during the final weeks of the season.
Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson each earned their first Pro Bowl selections after leading the Bears’ successful defensive unit.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles crafted a trade with the Carolina Panthers during the 2023 offseason, which gave Chicago wideout DJ Moore, who had a career season.
Chicago made strong improvements during the offseason, which will propel the team to three additional wins in 2024.
The aforementioned trade resulted in the Bears selecting first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Chicago selected USC QB Caleb Williams to replace Fields under center. Additionally, the Bears used their second first-round selection to take Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze — one of the top offensive players in the draft.
Before the draft, the Bears traded for six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen. Chicago dealt a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for the veteran weapon.
The Bears’ offense will look new and improved heading into the 2024 campaign. Williams will have a plethora of talent — both experienced and novice — to become a franchise QB in Chicago.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS — (7-10)
Similar to the Bears, it’s a new era for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
The Vikings completed last season with a 7-10 record, with three QBs appearing in five games.
Starting QB Kirk Cousins was impressive in the first eight games of the season, before an Achilles injury ended his campaign in week eight. Cousins completed just under 70% of his passes for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract during the offseason to become the new franchise QB for the Atlanta Falcons.
Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs appeared in five games under center with Minnesota.
The Vikings traded with the New York Jets to select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy 10th overall pick. McCarthy helped lead the Michigan Wolverines to their first national championship since 1997.
All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson battled injuries in 2023, but he still surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. He has reached 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons to start his career. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million contract during the offseason — the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Wide receiver Jordan Addison had a successful rookie season for Minnesota in 2023. He caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Vikings selected Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner with their second first-round pick of the draft. Minnesota earned strong value from one of the top defensive players in the class.
McCarthy will have a plethora of talent around him in his rookie campaign, including former Green Bay running back Aaron Jones, but veteran Sam Darnold is slated as the team’s No. 1 QB.
No matter who the primary starting QB is in 2024, they will have plenty of talent to work with offensively. In these NFC North predictions, the Vikings battle hard for seven wins this upcoming season.
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