NFC North

The NFC North was one of the best divisions in football last year. It is shaping up to be that way this year. They had three playoff teams (and the Bears). I would expect them to continue to beat up on each other in this division as each team is looking to capture the crown of Kings in the North. The Lions captured the top spot for the past two seasons. With a ton of turnover on their staff, it will be interesting to see if they can continue to win the division or if the Vikings or Packers can take their spot. Meanwhile, the Bears have a new coaching staff with the hopes of finally turning the franchise around and getting on the same page with their young quarterback.

NFC North Division Winner Odds

• Detroit Lions (+155)
• Green Bay Packers (+240)
• Minnesota Vikings(+290)
• Chicago Bears (+550)

Chicago Bears – 7.5

• Head Coach – Ben Johnson
• OC – Declan Doyle
• DC – Dennis Allen
• 2024 Record – 5-12
• Strength of Schedule – 26th Easiest

Time is a flat circle for the Bears. They have been stuck in a cycle of drafting a Quarterback in the first round and then firing the head coach the season after. Mitch Trubisky was drafted in 2017 and then John Fox was fired after one year together. Justin Fields was drafted in 2021 and then Matt Nagy was fired at the end of the year. Caleb Williams was drafted in 2024 and Matt Eberflus was fired mid-season. So, there is an established pattern that does not yield positive results. Eberflus was on the hot seat coming into the 2024 season and was ultimately let go after several instances of game mismanagement. Caleb Williams, despite having a ton of talent around him, was apparently left to fend for himself as a rookie quarterback. The Bears struggled to score points, averaging 18.2 points per game. That was ranked 28th in the league. Their defense, which is what saved Eberflus’ job originally, was allowing 2138 points per game, which was ranked 13th in the league. The bones for a good team are there in Chicago. It will just be a matter of the coaching staff being able to hold the team accountable and being able to elevate the play of their players.

Offense

The Bears are hoping that the hiring of Ben Johnson from the Lions is going to break the pattern. Johnson was credited with turning Detroit’s offense into the best offense in the league. He has his work cut out for him in Chicago, but based on his time in Detroit, he is cut out for a challenge of turning a program around. The real question will be one that is typically reserved for new head coaches. While he is a great coordinator, will he be able to be a great coach?

He is tasked with developing Caleb Williams into more of an NFL quarterback. Williams was last years number 1 overall pick and was touted as the savior for the program. He was seen as a can’t miss prospect and has incredibly high goals for himself. He struggled with consistency in his rookie year. He started every game for the Bears and passed for 3,541 yards, 20 tds, and 6 ints. He showed at times that he could operate the offense. At other times, he looked very much like a rookie. He has a ton of talent around him but the offensive line was poor. This caused him to scramble around and not make passes on time. The Bears addressed this by bulking up the offensive line in the offseason. Williams has also made allusions that he was essentially left to his own devices by the previous coaching regime. He did not have someone to help him understand how to be an NFL pro, read NFL defenses, or properly prepare for the games. Hopefully, Ben Johnson can help him turn that corner.

Johnson’s offense in Detroit was predicated on establishing the run. He had a great 1-2 punch there, which allowed them to get up on teams and then work the pass game. The Bears currently have two running backs that saw significant time last year. D’Andre Swift is the lead back. Swift previously played for Ben Johnson in Detroit. That could be looked at in two ways. He will certainly have familiarity with Ben Johnson and his system. That should mean that he will have a head start in getting reps. He was also allowed to walk as the Lions brought in their current backs. So, he may not be the back that Johnson is looking to use in his offense. Last year, he failed to break the 1,000-yard mark and struggled after a productive year in Philly. He will be paired with Roschon Johnson, who was used in short yardage situations. He only ran for 150 yards but scored 6 tds. These two will be tasked with setting the tone for the passing offense.

The Bears focused on getting as much fire power as possible for Caleb Williams last year. The primary target was D.J Moore. Moore has historically been a very productive receiver, however, he struggled last year with the inconsistent quarterback play. Another year with Caleb Williams and the addition of a new offensive scheme should improve his production. He will be joined by second year receiver, Rome Odunze. Odunze was picked 9th overall last year. He caught 54 balls for 734 yards and 3 tds. Similar to Moore, he has the chance to bounce back after a year of building chemistry with Williams. The Bears also added to the room by drafting Luther Burden III in the second round of this year’s draft and signing Devin Duvernay and Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency. They also have Cole Kmet at the tight end position. Kmet is one of the more talented tight ends in the league but has suffered from the quarterback play. He gets a new running mate in Colston Loveland, who was drafted 10th overall in April. This offense, in short, will have no shortage of options for Williams to connect with.

The main negative of last years offense was the offensive line. This was addressed in the offseason. They have Braxton Jones, Kiran Amegadjie, and Ozzy Trapilo competing for the left tackle spot. They signed All-Pro guard, Joe Thuney to play left guard. they signed veteran Drew Dalman to play center. Jonah Jackson was signed to play right guard. Darnell Wright will play at right tackle. The focus on building the interior of the line shows a commitment to protecting their young quarterback and being more physical in the run game.

Defense

The defense was the brighter spot for this team over the past couple of years. They will have a brand new defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen. Allen was fired last year as the head coach of the Saints. Allen is a perfect example of someone who is a great coordinator who did not translate into a great head coach. He inherits a defensive unit that has improved over the past 2 or 3 offseason.

Starting up front, it all begins with defensive end Montez Sweat. Sweat is a dominant force up front. He had 5.5 sacks last year but that was a downturn in production. The previous year, he racked up 12.5 sacks and brought a new type of physicality to this team after being traded from Washington. The Bears continued to add the line by adding defensive tackle ,Grady Jarrett. Jarrett is a veteran presence and had a very productive 10 year run in Atlanta. HE will line up with Gervon Dexter Sr. who is coming off of a 5 sack year. To bookend Sweat, they brought in Dayo Odeyingbo. Odeyingbo had 3 sacks last year and 8 in the previous year. The signings are yet another signal that the team is focused on becoming more physical.

The linebackers have two primary holdovers from the previous regime. Tremaine Edmunds in a physical linebacker who totaled 110 tackles last year. HE was paired with T.J Edwards who totaled 129 tackles last year. They get a new third linebacker with Ruben Hyppolite II, who was added in the draft this year.

The Bears’ secondary remains the most stable segment of their defense with a strong foundation. Jaylon Johnson remains the steady gatekeeper on the outside. A two-time Pro Bowler, Johnson brings elite experience and physicality. Last season he added 53 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two picks, showcasing consistency across 17 startsTyrique Stevenson enters a make-or-break Year 4. Known for his aggressive style, he burst onto the scene with a pick-six in the opener but needs consistency after mixed results. Kyler Gordon, a versatile nickel, secured his place with a three-year extension. His coverage instincts and run-game awareness made him a perfect schematic fit under new DC Dennis Allen. Jaquan Brisker has a bruising safety play style. Kevin Byard is a an experienced safety, who is coming off of a very productive first year in Chicago.

Summary

The Bears have been seemingly cursed as of late. They have won the offseason several times and have tricked their fans into thinking they are over the hump. This very well may be yet another year. I am not a huge believer in Caleb Williams. His “rookie” mistakes last year came from his play style and decision making. Instead of throwing the ball when needed, he would scramble around like he did in college. The Ben Johnson offense is built on timing. I believe those two will have some serious growing pains. Add in the fact that they have one of the tougher schedules in the league and are in potentially the toughest division, they are not set up for immediate success. I believe strides will be made but it will more than likely be year 1 of a rebuild.

Bet – Under 7.5 (+115)

Detroit Lions – 10.5

• Head Coach – Dan Campbell
• OC – John Morton
• DC – Kelvin Sheppard
• 2024 Record – 15-2
• Strength of Schedule – 30th Easiest

The Lions have earned the right to be victims of their own success. They are no longer overlooked as they have been for decades. Head Coach Dan Campbell has instilled his culture in this team and led them to a 15-2 2024 season. They earned the number 1 seed in the NFC but met a disappointing end when they lost to the Commanders in the divisional round. Despite having the leagues top offense, their defense became a liability. They were dealing with several injuries at key positions and quite frankly, it was impressive that they were able to continue to win as much as they did. To add insult to injury this year, they lost both coordinators to head coaching jobs. The new coaching staff will look to continue the success of their predecessors as they aim to win the Super Bowl this year.

Offense

The offense scored 33.2 points per game, which was the top scoring offense in the NFL. However, they lost their mastermind when Ben Johnson took the head coaching job in Chicago. The new man calling the shots is John Morton. Morton has several years of experience in the NFL and college. He was the offensive coordinator for the Jets in 2017. His quarterback was 38 year old Josh McCown, who had his best year under Morton’s system. While Johnson left some big shoes to fill, the Lions have a seasoned and talented group that should be able to make Morton’s system flourish.

The efficiency of Morton’s offense will rest on the shoulders of their quarterback. Jared Goff has taken the city of Detroit by storm. They are chanting his name at every sporting event that the city hosts. He has been adopted by the city and has given them a reason to be proud of their Lions. Last year, was his best year as a pro. He threw for 4,629 yards, 37 TDs and 12 ints. He posted a career high 111.8 quarterback rating. He has shown the ability to flourish in tough situations and learn new offenses. While Ben Johnson leaving will cause adversity, Goff is going to be the steady hand on the wheel. As long as he remains healthy, I believe that this offense will be fine, despite any growing pains.

If Goff is ever struggling, he has two fantastic running backs to lean on. That would be Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The duo is know as Sonic and Knuckles. Jahmyr Gibbs (Sonic) has been patiently waiting to earn the top spot on the depth chart. Gibbs got that opportunity when Montgomery when down mid year with an injury. His blazing speed is a nightmare for defenses. Once he gets into open field, he is essentially gone. He had his breakout year last year by rushing for 1,414 yards and 16 TDs. He added 517 receiving yards 4 TDs through the air. He was also a mainstay for our Best Bets last year. When he comes off the field, Davd Montgomery adds a bruising and down hill style. Monty ran for 775 yards and 12 TDs in 14 games last year. These two backs will continue to be a handful for opposing defenses.

Goff will also have plenty of weapons in the pass game to lean on. His top target will continue to be Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown is coming off his third straight 1,000-yard season and had a career high 12 TDs. St. Brown is the reliable target in this offense that sets the tone for the rest of the receivers. He is joined by Jameson Williams whos speed adds an explosive element to this passing game. If he gets a step, he can take the rock to the house. He finally seemed to breakout last year and went for 1,000 yards and 7 TDs. He can also be used on receiver runs. Rounding out the starters is Tim Patrick. He was on the street for 3 years after dealing with injury and earned a spot on this roster. He added a big target for Goff and found the endzone 3 times last year. His role can expand as he looks to cap off his comeback. All that being said, you can not forget tight end Sam LaPorta. LaPorta puts up receiver like numbers in the pass game. He went for 726 yards and 7 TDs last year. John Morton will have plenty to work with in terms of point scorers.

The offensive line had some turnover this offseason, which may be the one cause for concern. Frank Ragnow retired and Kevin Zeitler signed with the Titans. Luckily, the Lions have consistently added to the trenches ever since Campbell took over. They still have Taylor Decker set to start at left tackle. Christian Mahogany is slated to start at left guard. He is a second year player out of Boston College. At center, will be veteran offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. To his right will be Tate Ratledge. Ratledge was a second round pick in this years draft. He will have the chance to play next to Penei Sewell who is probably the best right tackle in the game. Despite the turnover and youth, there is enough veteran leadership on the line that they should be able to weather any new players.

Defense

The defense will have a new signal caller as well. Kelvin Sheppard is a former player and up until recently was the linebackers coach for the Lions. The internal promotion shows the confidence in Sheppard’s ability to craft a defense and lead the entire room. Last year, the entire defense was banged up and they still managed to be the 7th best defense in terms of points allowed. They allowed 20.1 points per game. With players coming back from injury and the overall talent of this defense, Sheppard will have plenty to work with.

The biggest name coming back from injury will be Aiden Hutchinson. Hutchingson was showing all signs of a potential defensive player of the year season. he had 7.5 sacks in just 5 games before getting injured. That was a 20+ sack pace. Should he remain healthy, he will be a game wrecker once again. On the other end of the line will be veteran Marcus Davenport. Davenport also missed most of last year with a torn triceps. In the middle of the line will be DJ Reader, Roy Lopez, and Tyleik Williams to stuff the run.

Behind them will be Sheppards former position group. This linebacking room is as good as any in the league. Their production is a big reason why they promoted Sheppard. Alex Anzalone flies all over the field and is coming off of injury himself. In the two seasons prior to his injury, he racked up 120+ tackles in each. In the middle will once again be Jack Campbell. Campbell was a first round pick that was questioned by many. Last year, he led the team in tackles with 131. He is a big bodied linebacker that plays incredibly physical. This group will also be getting Derrick Barnes back from injury. Barnes was signed to a three year extension despite suffering a knee injury last year. He has proven to be a key part of this defense. If healthy, this group can be the best in the league.

The secondary of Detroit, despite some offseason departures, remains one of the more talented groups in the league. Terrion Arnold is a young player with a ton of upside heading into his second year. To replace Carlton Davis III, the Lions brought in D.J. Reed on a three year deal. Reed is known for elite consistency and press coverage and brings a seasoned presence to this secondary. On the back end, you will have safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Both are very solid and consistent players.

Summary

The Lions, despite the coaching turnover, should weather the storm. The culture has been instilled from day 1 by Dan Campbell. Typically teams will struggle with new coordinators in place, so this will be a test of the culture. However, the players on the roster are essentially the same from the previous couple of years. They know what the expectations are and understand how to win tough games. They will have a tough schedule but if there was ever a team built to go through tough times, it is this Detroit team. They should win more than 10 games.

Bet – Over 10.5 (+115)

Green Bay Packers – 9.5

• Head Coach – Matt Lafleur
• OC – Adam Stenavich
• DC – Jeff Hafley
• 2024 Record – 11-6
• Strength of Schedule – 23rd easiest

The 2024 Packers were a testament to how good of a coach Matt LaFleur can be. Jordan Love was injured in the first game of the season and was never 100% throughout the year. There were times that Malik Willis took over at quarterback and LaFleur had to design a completely different gameplan based on his play style. The offense managed to still be a top ten offense in terms of scoring. They averaged 27.1 points per game, which was 8th in the NFL. It was a well balanced team as the defense showed up big for the Packers. They were 6th in points allowed, allowing an average of 19.9 points per game. The team went 11-6 and ultimately stumbled in the playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Eagles. While the season probably left Packers fans disappointed, it left plenty to build on for this year.

Offense

With a clean bill of health, Jordan Love is back to lead this offense. He missed 2 games last year but was clearly dealing with injury throughout the season. He had a down year in terms of production, which is to be expected when playing injured. He threw for 3,389 yards, 25 TDs and 11 ints. the Packers aded some weapons and some help on the offensive line, so it is up to Love to take a step forward and be the type of quarterback that the Packers are hoping he will be. Should injury remain a concrern, they still have Maik Willis on the roster from last year. Willis appeared in 7 games last year and showed to be a true dual threat. He threw for 3 TDs and added another one on the ground. The Packers should be able to trust either quarterback but Love needs to find a way to remain healthy if they want to make a deep playoff push.

A big addition in last years offseason was running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs instantly brought an element to the run game that had been absent for quite some time in Green Bay. He was able to run the ball for 1,359 yards and 15 TDs. He should continue to be the workhorse for this team. When he takes a break, the Packers utilized Emmanuel Wilson. Wilson found success in his back up role, accounting for 502 rush yards and 4 TDs. This duo provides a solid 1-2 punch out of the backfiled.

Through the air, Green Bay has been searching for a true number one wide receiver for years. They have plenty of guys in the room that can produce. Romeo Doubs has proved to be consistent and reliable for his quarterbacks. He is averaging 566 yards per season. Jayden Reed has shown that he is capable of being the leading man but has yet to break the 1,000-yard mark. Christian Watson was picked to be the number one but has not been able to live up to that title. He is often hurt and has struggled with drops. So the Packers turned to the first round of the draft and picked a wide receiver for the first time since 2002. They drafted Matthew Golden out of Texas, with the hope that he can develop into the true number one that they have been missing. All reports out of training camp have been positive and there is plenty optimism surrounding Goldens future. To add to this crowded room of receivers will be Dontayvion Wicks and Mecole Hardman. Out of the tight end group will be Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Kraft went for 707 yards and 7 TDs last year and provides a huge target for Love over the middle.

Up front is where the Packers needed some improvement. Some of the protection last year led to Love being hit and ultimately getting hurt. They went out and signed veteran guard, Aaron Banks to sure up the interior of the line. At left tackle will be Rasheed Walker. Elgton Jenkins will bee in at center. Sean Rhyan will be their right guard and Zach Tom will be the right tackle. This group will be vital to the success of the offense and the health of their quarterbacks.

Defense

The defense took a huge leap last year under new defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley. Pairing the right free agent signings with his scheme led to one of the best defenses in the league. This was certainly missing in previous years under Joe Barry.

Starting with the defensive line, the Packers have a stout front four who have potential to wreck games for the opposing quarterbacks. On the ends, they have Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary. Gary is the veteran presence who has consistently gotten after the quarterback in his six year career. Van Ness was a high draft pick that has yet to live up to the draft stock. He has only managed 7 sacks in two seasons but has shown flashes of potential. Then in the middle, they have Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt. Clark has been with the Packers since 2016 and has been a mainstay on this defensive line. Wyatt is entering his fourth year in his career. he has had back-to-back 5 sack seasons and is looking to solidify the interior of this defensive line.

The linebackers have been led by Quay Walker for the past three years. He has managed over 100 tackles in each year. He also managed 6.5 career sacks. He is joined by Edgerrin Cooper who is a second year player that had a promising rookie year. He totaled 87 tackles. Joining these two will be Isiah McDuffie, who is consistently improving his production each year. These three provides a solid linebacking corps that can sure up the middle of this defense.

The secondary made their hay last year by forcing turnovers. they did part ways with their top guy, when Jaire Alexander joined the Ravens. However, the emergence of Keisean Nixon made the move a more comfortable one. Nixon has primarily been a return man but has evolved into a starting corner for this team. they signed Nate Hobbs from the Raiders to pair with Nixon. However, Hobbs had a meniscus tear in his knee and may miss some time. If that is the case, they will need to rely on their depth like Carrington Valentine and Bo Melton. Melton is a converted wide receiver, so they need Hobbs to be healthy or sign a free agent to provide some more depth. The safeties are led by All Star Xavier McKinney. McKinney was signed last offseason and immediately had an impact. He was once in the conversation for DPOY. He was responsible for 8 interceptions and 88 tackles last year. He always had potential to be a star, he was just on the Giants for too long. He will be joined by Evan Williams who is entering his second year and looking to make his own mark on this defense.

Summary

The Packers have a tough schedule ahead of them. However, I believe that they have the talent and the coaching to navigate it. Jordan Love is back from injury. They have two reliable running backs and a potential number one wide receiver. The defense is going to be flying around to the ball and will be in the second year of Hafley’s scheme. The continuity of this team should work in their favor and they should be able to win more than 10 games.

Bet – Over 9.5 (+100)

Minnesota Vikings – 9.5

• Head Coach – Kevin O’Connell
• OC – Wes Phillips
• DC – Brian Flores
• 2024 Record – 14-3
• Strength of Schedule – 28th easiest

The 2024 season for the Vikings was the surprise of the NFL last year. When J.J McCarthy went down in camp with an injury and Sam Darnold was going to be the starter, there was not much optimism for the team. I certainly did not believe that they were going to be able to win many games. However, they have the right coaches on staff. Kevin O’Connell was awarded the Coach of the Year award after leading this team to a 14-3 record. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores was dialing up game specific schemes that confused opposing offense all year. However, while the regular season was an unquestioned success, once the big moments came, they were too big for Sam Darnold and the Vikings. They lost their bid for the number one seed against eh Lions in the last game of the year and then were bounced from the playoffs in the first round. Now with Sam Darnold gone and J.J McCarthy back, the Vikings are looking to make another run.

Offense

The offense was one of the best last year. They were averaging 25.4 points per game which was 9th in the league. O’Connell has shown throughout his tenure as head coach, to be fairly quarterback proof. He was had a revolving door at the position. J.J McCarthy is the latest addition to the list of quarterbacks to play in his system. McCarthy was picked 10th overall in the 2024 draft and was potentially going to be the starter. He was coming off of a National Championship in college and was poised to be the quarterback of the future. Then he went down with a knee injury that ended his season before it began. With a year in rehab and a year of being able to learn the offense, he might be set up to succeed in a quarterback friendly system for the word go.

The Vikings run game is led by veteran back Aaron Jones. Jones signed a “prove-it” deal last year with the Vikings. He became the workhorse for the run game and was able to rack up over 1000 yards and 5 TDs. He also added 408 yards and 2 TDs through the air. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to produce as he is now on the wrong side of 30. That is typically when running backs start to decline. If he does decline, the Vikings added Jordan Mason as some depth. Mason stepped up last year for the 49ers when Christian McCaffery went down. He ran for 789 yards in 12 games, showing that he can be productive. With a young quarterback, the Vikings will probably lean a bit on their running backs so look for this room to be productive.

Besides a good running game, an all pro caliber wide receiver can be a young quarterbacks best friend. Justin Jefferson has been several quarterbacks best friends since he was drafted by the Vikings. He had a return to form year last year after missing 7 games in 2023 due to injury. Last year, he had 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 TDs. He will continue to show why he is one of the best receivers in the league. His running mate, Jordan Addison, also has potential to be one of the better number two receivers. However, he was suspended for the first three games of the year due to a DUI. He has been just shy of 1000 yards in each of his first two seasons. While he is out, the Vikings will have to rely on Jalen Nailor, Lucky Jackson, and Tai Felton. They will also have tight end, T.J Hockenson, coming back from injury. Hockenson is a dynamic tight end when healthy and was featured heavily in the offense prior to being injured.

The offensive line gets their main guy back with left tackle Christian Darrisaw coming back from injury. He is bookended by veteran Brian O’Neill. The interior of this line got a boost with the signing of center Ryan Kelly from the Colts. The guards will be Donovan Jackson at left guard and Will Fries at right guard. Both are solid starters who solidify the interior of this line.

Defense

The defense was the main talking point of this team last year. Brian Flores is clearly one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and has his players fully bought in. They were the 5th ranked defense in terms of points allowed, allowing 19.5 points per game. They made some additions to the defense that look to make them even tougher to move the ball one.

The defensive line got a revamped interior in the offseason. They signed Jonathan Allen from the Washington Commanders. Allen is a disruptive force in the middle and has shown consistency throughout his eight year career. They also added Javon Hargrave from the 49ers. Hargrave is coming off of an injury last year but has shown the ability to get to the quarterback. He has recorded 45.5 career sacks in his nine year career. These two will join Harrison Phillips to create a daunting front in this 3-4 defensive scheme.

Coming off the edges from the outside linebacker positions will be Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Greenard has recorded 12 sacks in the previous two seasons. Van ginkel was in th econversation for defensive player of the year last year. Hi sbreakout year included 79 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 2 pick 6’s. He is used in a versatile position by Flores and will continue to cause havoc for opposing teams.

The interior linebackers are incredibly physical and set the tone for the rest of the defense. This is led primarily by Ivan Pace Jr. Pace suffered an injury last year by was having a very productive second season. In his rookie year, he totaled 102 tackles. Last year, he had 72 in just 11 games played. He should be back to full health and will bring a much needed physicality to this defense. He will be paired with Blake Cashman who had 112 tackles himself last year. After bouncing around the league a bit, Cashman has seemingly found his home in Flores scheme.

The secondary for Minnesota is led by Byron Murphy Jr. Murphy earned his first Pro Bowl in 2024 with a career-high 6 interceptions, 81 tackles, and 14 pass breakups. They signed Isiah Rodgers from the Eagles to bring in some much needed depth for the corners. He was only a part time player in Philly so this would be his chance to cement himself as a starter in the league. At nickel, they get Mekhi Blackmon back from an ACL tear in his rookie year. they also took a flyer on Jeff Okudah, who was a former third overall pick by the Lions. At safety, Harrison Smith is back for his 14th season, Smith remains a versatile leader and the anchor of Minnesota’s defense. He produced 3 interceptions, 87 tackles, and continues to disguise coverages effectively. The question in this back end will be Josh Metellus, who will be filling in after Cam Bynum’s departure.

Summary

All together, this Vikings team should be competitive throughout the season. They have the right coaches in place. Their defense should continue to be dominant, which takes a lot of the pressure off the offense. The offense under O’Connell has proven to be quarterback friendly which should help J.J McCarthy acclimate to the NFL. However, with a tough schedule and an unknown at quarterback, it is hard to bet that this team will win more than 9 games. I would take the under but expect them to win 8 or 9 games this year.

Bet – Under 9.5 (-140)

*Odds taken from Fanduel

*Strength of Schedule from Sharp Analysis