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GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-5 Lost Wild Card To New York Giants)-The Packers will have one of the toughest schedules in the league this season. They will play the rugged NFC East as well as the AFC North and also have contests slated versus the PFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs , NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks, and the NFC South Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The club struggled to establish a consistent running game lst year with the slow footed Josh Jacobs as the main ball carrier along with rookie Marshawn Lloyd. The offensive line, all too often, could not get it done and the lack of a ground game put increasing pressure on QB Jordan Love as well as the defense. The team sought to rectify the problem by adding Penn State's super fast and punishing back Nicholas Singleton in the draft. They then hoped to help him have success by tabbing Tennessee C Jonah Monheim and Cincinnati RG Luke Kandra in the draft and even added Michigan FB Max Bredeson! Bredeson was seen as the best overall FB in the draft and is already ranked #3 in the league. If the running game can improve, then the Packers and Love might have more success throwing the football and the club might be able to improve its 3rd down efficiency rating. This, in turn, could lead to more time-of-possession and help out the defense. Green Bay has speed, depth, and talent at the WR spots and TE Luke Musgrave is among the fastest at his position putting added pressure on defenses.
Green Bay was one of the better defensive teams in the PFL last year, but did have some issues, at times, stopping the run. Veteran OLB Jabril Cox is a solid coverage backer as is Mississippi rookie ROLB Chris Paul. Quay Walker will see plenty of duty as a sub backer inside as well as on the outside. The secondary got a plus when the team drafted super speedy Alabama CB Domani Jackson and Notre Dame SS Xavier Watts. Watts adds the type of depth head coach Jeff Beyel utilizes in various defensive schemes and should be a pivotal player.
Prediction: The schedule could hold this team below expectations, but the feeling in Green Bay, this season, is they have the elements to compete with most teams on a weekly basis.
CHICAGO BEARS (10-7 Lost Wild Card to Tampa Bay)-Sophomore QB Caleb Williams saw dramatic improvement during the course of his rookie campaign. He led the Bears to the playoffs and the enthusiasm in the Windy City is high. He will, though, have to continue to grow as the team really did not add any major difference makers to the offense. Diminutive tailback Jeremiah Leonard will get some reps along with mainstay D'Andre Swift. Leonard, from Norfolk State, is a smallish 5'8" 211 Lbs and, while possessing many of Swift's attributes, lacks any punishing ability. The rest of the offense remains intact with WR Rome Odunze hoping to improve on his outstanding 110 reception season! If there is one area he could improve upon it would have to be his average where he finished with just an 11.6 YPC total.
There were, however, improvements made on defense. The Bears brought in Ohio State DE JT Tuimuloau with the 20th pick in the first round! The 6'5" 269 Lbs Tuimuloau has the perfect blend of size, power and athleticism to have the type impact Seattle Seahawk rookie DE Byron Murphy had last year. Texas Longhorn rookie FS Andrew Makuba should challenge 9 year vet Kevein Byard. Faster and with better coverage skills, the 5'9" Makuba could use some seasoning, but he might take over right away. SS Dasan McCullough will likely not quite overtake Jaquan Brisker, but at 6'5" 223 Lbs the Oklahoma Sooner could become an intriguing piece.
Prediction: Chicago will need to see its second year guys take yet another step forward and get some production out of rookie DE Tuimoloua. Fellow DE Montez Sweat enjoyed a stellar 17 sack season last year and the team could use a double edge pass rush.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-9-1)-The Vikings will hang their hat on second year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy had a good season last year, but he is not a Caleb Williams and the Vikings, like Chicago, did not add much to the attack. San Diego State rookie RG Ted St. Clair looks like he will be the starter, but he is devoid of necessary strength to bulldog top DTs. He does have good speed and acceleration numbers and is very smart so he might succeed in trap blocking schemes. HB Aaron Jones has really slowed down and might not have enough to hang onto his starting role, but the backups really do not wow anyone either.
Ohio State rookie DE Jack Sawyer stands a good chance to overtake 10 year vet Grady Jarrett. Jarrett might move inside as a rush DT to play next to big Snacks Harrison. The entire outside linebacking unit lacks coverage skills which could force the team into a ton of 4-2 defense. The corners are experienced and savvy, but do not have elite speed. The same can be said for the safety spots although Ohio State rookie Lathan Ransom could take SS position away from aged Harrison Smith.
Prediction: The Vikings probably do not have the horses to make a ton of noise in the NFC this season, but they are dangerous due to their receiving corps of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Kadarius Toney and TE T.J. Hockenson.
DETROIT LIONS (2-15)-While this may seem improbable, the Lions might end up going with Ohio State rookie QB Will Howard at some point in the season should Jared Goff falter or if the season gets away from them. The team has plenty of firepower, though. HB Jahmyr Gibbs is a proven commodity and the team added Missouri rookie WR Luther Burden to join an explosive trio of targets in Jameson Williams, Stefon Diggs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. TE Sam LaPorta is already considered among the top players at his position.
Georgia rookie Mykel Williams should start at DE and could have an immediate impact playing opposite of Aiden Hutchinson. The duo could become one of the conference's most feared tandem, but time will tell on that. DJ Reader is still a rock inside and Mekhi Wingo is a young penetrating interior lineman who has quickness and pursuit ability. The secondary could be faster, but the unit, as a whole, can cover and, if the front seven can exert some pressure, this group could play better than expected.
Prediction: In truth, Detroit could become a surprise story this year. They have as talented an offense as most teams out there and the defense is just good enough to cause problems especially along the defensive line. Goff needs to play well, but he has weapons galore and should succeed.
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