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This is the second in four breakdowns of the NFL’s division races for 2024.
To some extent, every team in the NFC North has reason to be excited. Last year’s division winner, the Lions, are back in football relevancy for the first time in forever. Detroit won two playoff games in the same season for the first time since 1957. The Lions figure to feature one of the top offenses in the league. If the defense can help just a bit, they’re a legitimate contender. The Lions are in a great position to win the North again.
The Packers gave quarterback Jordan Love the richest contract per season in league history, a show of faith that 2023’s production with over 4,100 yards and 32 touchdowns, was a launching pad. Green Bay is one of the youngest teams in the league, and are a trendy pick to come out of the NFC. It would be a surprise if they don’t at least get back into the postseason.
The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer, but there is certainly hope in the Windy City that 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams can be the first. Chicago aggressively added playmakers to their offense, in running back D’Andre Swift, and receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. They might not be there yet, but the path is there for the future.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, their 2024 highly drafted quarterback, J.J McCarthy, will miss the season due to injury. If there’s a reason for hope in Minnesota, it’s the idea that Sam Darnold can be this year’s Baker Mayfield, and show the talent that led to his own high selection in 2018. That might be asking a lot. It doesn’t feel like the Vikings will end up in the playoffs, and that’s not a bad thing. A high pick in 2025 will help them continue to build a defense around their offensive talents.
The AFC North is probably the best top-to-bottom division in football. If there’s a division which can send three teams to the postseason, it’s this one.
Bengals fans are thrilled that quarterback Joe Burrow is back from injury, and they are likely to be one of the top scoring offenses in the league. Not too many teams can boast threats on the outside like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase will be a very high pick in your fantasy drafts. It has to be a good sign that Cincinnati won nine games despite Burrow only playing in 10. The Bengals might be the Chiefs biggest roadblock to a Super Bowl return. I like the Bengals to win the North.
The Ravens took home the North crown for the first time since 2019-20. Reigning league MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson, would sure like to add some playoff success to his resume.
Jackson has led the team in rushing yards in each of the last five seasons. It will be interesting to see how an offense that has tended to be a running back committee will adjust to having a legitimate feature rusher in veteran Derrick Henry. It feels like the Ravens may take a bit of a step back, but still be a playoff team.
The Browns were an absolute force defensively last year. If they can get anything positive out of expensive acquisition quarterback Deshaun Watson, they could certainly make a run at the division crown. Reigning Coach of the Year, Kevin Stefanski, has certainly brought stability to a team that previously had 11 coaches in 21 years. The Browns biggest issue, frankly, is how good their rivals are. Does that defense have an encore performance?
I broke down the Steelers quarterback issues earlier in the offseason. The reality is that the Steelers are getting what they paid for. Neither veteran Russell Wilson or young Justin Fields have taken the reigns on the starting quarterback spot. There’s a reason they came as cheaply as they did. They were a surprise playoff team last year, and their defense is still very good, but they’re the fourth best team in this division, barring injuries elsewhere. They haven’t finished with a losing record since 2003, but that streak may be coming to an end.
Brian Attard is a lifelong resident of Hammonton, avid sports fan and host on The Sports Box Network (@SportsBoxSports on all social media platforms).
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