TEAM predictions
Division Winner
Green Bay - 10-7
2025 Power Rank: 8th 2024 DVOA: 3rd 2025 Schedule: 23rd
LeFleur's 67 wins is the 2nd most all-time for a 1st 6 years coach. QB Love continues to elevate his game as his young receivers grow. RB Jacobs & S McKinney were solid adds. It led to a respectable close road playoff loss to the Champ Eagles. FTN's #16 preseason o-line rank is a concern. Their 2024 #27 pre-season defense projection is up to #8 this year. We rank them as one of our 9 best teams with Super Bowl potential despite the tough division but they have the easiest schedule in the NFC North. Division winner on the tiebreaker.
2nd Place Finish
Detroit - 10-7
2025 Power Rank: 7th 2024 DVOA: 2nd 2025 Schedule: 30th
'24 was impressive at 15-2 but losing their playoff game exposed continuing secondary issues as evidenced by Washington's 45 points. Now they lose OC Johnson & DC Glenn which leads us to temper our enthusiasm. The o-line drops to #8 (FTN) with losses of G Zeitler & C Ragnow. The D went from 28th in 2024 points scored against to 5th in '25. Goff was an MVP candidate by mid-season & the Gibbs/ Montgomery combo at RB very effective. It will be hard to repeat 7-2 in one-score games. Coach Campbell game call gambles concern us.
3rd Place Finish
Chicago - 8-9
2025 Power Rank: 16th 2024 DVOA: 25nd 2025 Schedule: 26th
New Coach Johnson creates hope where the o-line middle gets a major upgrade with G's Thuney/Jackson & C Dalman. FTN ranks the line #10 for 2025. QB Williams will have no excuses for another shaky season. He has plenty of weapons including rookie TE Loveland. We see sophomore WR Odunze as a breakout candidate. The defense finished it's 4th straight year in the bottom half but B/R ranks them 16th for 2025. We gave them a 'B' draft grade but an 'A+' for free agency.
4th Place Finish
Minnesota - 8-9
2025 Power Rank: 11th 2024 DVOA: 7th 2025 Schedule: 28th
Departed QB Darnold's '24 performance will be hard to repeat for McCarthy. FTN's #4 offensive line will be paramount & RB Jones effectiveness complimenting a top end receivers room. The retooled defense thrived with DE Greenard & LB Van Ginkel adds. Respected DC Flores had the 16th ranked D in '24 which adds veterans Hargrave and Allen at DE. They won't repeat their 9-1 record in 1-score games. The Vikings are a top team on talent, but McCarthy must deliver.