Early NFL season division breakdown and prediction (NFC North) and Playoff & Super Bowl picks

Since the NFL season is just kicking off (pun intended), I am going to do a breakdown of each division, leading up to a post that will predict who will make the playoffs in each conference and who I think will be in the Super Bowl. The eighth and final division I am going to talk about is the NFC North. Following the preview of the division, I will list my picks for who will make the playoffs and who will be in the Super Bowl. 

1. Minnesota Vikings - What a magical run it was for the Vikings last season. Going into the season, everyone knew that the Vikings had a strong defense, but weren't sure how the offense would do. First came the injury to Sam Bradford, so the Vikings had to go with their backup Quarterback Case Keenum, who in his last chance to start with the Rams, played horribly. But he played...and played phenomenally! Things looked like they were really on track for the offense...then their starting Running Back Dalvin Cook tore his acl. It looked like the Vikings were finished, but they kept plugging along and actually put up great offensive numbers. Led by the aforementioned Keenum, Wide Receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs and backup Running Back Latavius Murray, the Vikings made it all the way to the NFC Championship. Unfortunately, then lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, but a great run nonetheless. Gone are a couple pieces from last year's team, but in come some new weapons. First, gone is Keenum. He signed with the Broncos. To replace him, the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins from the Washington Redskins. Also gone is Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur. He has been replaced by former Eagles coordinator John DeFilippo. Cook is back though from injury this season, so I expect that to help lessen the burden of losing Shurmur. On defense, the team is once again strong. They are led by star Defensive End Everson Griffen, Linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, and stalwart defensive backs Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith. Added to the already strong defense is Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, who spurned the Seattle Seahawks to sign with the defending NFC North Champions. I expect the defense to be strong again and with a highly skilled offense, I expect the Vikings to go 12-4 and win the division.

2. Green Bay Packers - what a troubling season it was last seen for the cheeseheads of Green Bay. Last season started off so promising, only to have the season go into the tank when starting Quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone from a devastating hit against the Vikings. Brett Hundley, the backup QB, came in to start and played poorly en route to a  7-9 record. Luckily, it is a new season and the face of the franchise, Rodgers is back and raring to go. Joining Rodgers on the offense is Wide Receiver Devante Adams, mainstay Wide Receiver Randall Cobb, and Lineman David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Gone from the offense this year is Rodger's favorite weapon, Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson, who was released and ultimately signed with the Oakland Raiders. In comes former Pro Bowl Tight End Jimmy Graham of the Seattle Seahawks. Graham does not possess the same speed he used to have, but should still flourish in an offense led by Rodgers. On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers last year struggled mightily against the pass. They decided to emphasize that this offseason by drafting Defensive Back Jaire Alexander of Louisville. Joining Alexander will be fellow defensive backs Haha Clinton-Dix, Kevin King and Tramon Williams. On the defensive line, the Pack are led by Kenny Clark and newly added defensive end Muhammed Wilkerson, of former Jets allure. The Packers also return Pro Bowl Linebacker Clay Matthews and Nick Perry. Though the return of Rodgers is great for the Packers, I don't think he will be able to return them to past glory single handedly. I expect the Packers to finish with a 9-7 record. 

3. Chicago Bears - times are definitely changing in the Windy City. For many years, the Bears have been one of the laughing stocks of the NFL. And to start last season, it was still the case. As the season progressed under Rookie Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, you could start to see a change. Players played harder and played smarter. The defense was making plays. Though they played tough down the stretch, the Bears decided to fire head coach John Fox and replace him with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. That was just the beginning of the changes. The Bears went on a spending spree this offseason. First they signed former Pro Bowl WR from the Jaguars Allen Robinson. Then they signed Tight End Trey Burton from the Eagles. Already returning was the aforementioned Trubisky and Running Back Jordan Howard and lightning bug Running Back Tarik Cohen. On the defensive side of the ball, returning was sacking machine Linebacker Leonard Floyd. He is joined by rookie Linebacker Roquan Smith from Georgia. Just a couple of days ago, the Bears added another element to their young and upcoming defense, Khalil Mack from the Raiders. Though the price was steep, two first round picks, his presence will make the sack pressure that much stronger. In the defensive backfield, the Bears are led by Safety Eddie Jackson and Cornerback Prince Amukamara. Though they might not make the playoffs, the Bears will continue become that much stronger of a team and finish with a 9-7 record and signal that they are going to become a team to be reckoned with for years to come. 

4. Detroit Lions -  Not too long ago, the Detroit Lions were one of the worst teams in NFL history, becoming the first team since the Buccaneers to finish a season winless. Since that fateful season, the Lions have actually been a decent team, led by Pro Bowl Quarterback Matthew Stafford. He and Calvin Johnson formed one of the most formidable duos in football history. Gone is Johnson, but since his retirement, Stafford has found a nice connection with two receivers, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, Jr. This season, all three of those guys will be back. Joining them in the Wide Receiver group is Kenny Golladay. In the Running Backs group, the Lions are led by rookie Running Back Kerryon Johnson and LaGarrette Blount, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Eagles. Blount made a name for himself with the Patriots, but was released last season by the Pats. He now forms a dynamic one-two punch with Johnson, along with Theo Riddick, who takes up most of the third down packages on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions are led by sack master Ezekiel Ansah. Joining Ansah along the line is DT's Sylvester Williams and A'shawn Robinson. In the defensive backfield, the Lions have a really special player in Darius Slay. He has been nicknamed "Big Play Slay" for his knack to make a big interception or force a fumble when the Lions desperately need a momentum shifting play. They also have Glover Quin at Free Safety. I expect the Lions to not be able to make it back to the playoffs, though, this season and finish with an 8-8 record. 

That concludes my preview of the the NFC North and all the divisions of the NFL. Here are my picks in each conference to make the playoffs and here is also my pick for the two teams to reach the Super Bowl.

AFC:

1. Patriots

2. Steelers

3. Jaguars

4. Chargers

5. Texans

6. Ravens

NFC:

1. Rams

2. Vikings

3. Eagles 

4. Saints

5. Falcons

6. Giants

Super Bowl Matchup: Steelers vs Rams

Thanks for reading my preview of all the NFL Divisions and get ready for an awesome season!

One love,

@jgullinese