NFC North
The NFC North was a highly contested division last year. After 2 years of the Lions winning the division, the Bears came out of nowhere to snatch the crown. All teams ended the year over .500 and was the only division in 2025 that could say that. This year, they will play opponents from the AFC East and the NFC South which means that they should all have a chance to get above .500 again.
The Bears are coming off of a miracle run that led them to the playoffs and put Caleb Williams on the cover of Madden. The Packers struggled to stay healthy but still managed a wild card berth. The Lions struggled for the first time in several years as they navigated some organization changes. The Vikings are yet again trying to determine who will be their quarterback. The division is wide open as all 4 of these teams could potentially be in contention for the top spot in the division. Who will wear the crown as Kings of the North?
NFC North Division Winner Odds
Chicago Bears – 9.5
- Head Coach – Ben Johnson
- OC – Press Taylor
- DC – Dennis Allen
- 2024 Record – 11-6
- Strength of Schedule – 26th Easiest
The 2025 season for the Bears was one for the books. Ben Johnson took over as the head coach of this team after spending years as the OC for the Detroit Lions. His impact was immediate. A year removed from finishing 5-12 and having one of the league’s least efficient offenses, Ben Johnson implemented his culture and offense to turn Chicago into one of the most exciting storylines in 2025.
Offense
Caleb Williams needed Ben Johnson more than he realized. By hiring an offensive head coach, the Bears finally put their franchise quarterback in a position to succeed. The results spoke for themselves. Williams helped operate an offense that ended the season ranked 9th in the league in points scored per game. He was responsible for some of the more spectacular comebacks of the season. The prime example being the January 10th Wild Card game against the Packers. The Bears were down 21-3 at halftime. The Bears added 3 points in the 3rd quarter. They clawed their way back into a one score game and took the lead with 1:43 left in the 4th. They won the game 31-27 after scoring 25 points in just the 4th quarter.
Williams’ playmaking ability was on display all year. He continually made big throws in key situations as he got more comfortable in Ben Johnson’s offense. He finished the year with 3942 yards, 27 TDs and 7 interceptions. He rushed for 388 yards and 3 TDs. He also showed off his hands as he caught 2 passes, 1 of which was for a TD. His play on the field earned him the honor of being named the Madden Cover athlete. As he looks ahead to this year. He will be entering his 2nd year in Ben Johnsons offense, which can only help improve his familiarity and comfortability.
A key part of the Ben Johnson offense is the run game. In Detroit, he always used 2 running backs to set up his offense. Last year, he did the same. He had D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai to rely on when tough yards were needed. Swift was the workhorse last year as he worked his way to 1087 yards and 9 TDs last year. He was complemented by Monangai who added 783 yards and 5 TDs. Monangai was a great surprise for everyone last year. He was a rookie drafted in the 7th round out of Rutgers. Swift slightly injured mid-year, which gave Monangai an opportunity as the starter. In first start, he ran the ball 26 times for 176 yards. This performance earned him more carries as the season carried on. Now, the Bears have a true 1-2 punch in their backfield that can attack you in multiple ways.
The receiver room is going to look slightly different this year. The Bears have been drafting young talented receivers which left DJ Moore as the veteran on the outside looking in. They traded him to the Bills in the offseason, giving receivers like Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Jadhae Walker an opportunity to shine. Rome Odunze is going to be WR1 this year. He is a former 9th overall pick by Chicago and now has the opportunity to take his game to the next level. He is entering his 3rd season in the league and is still looking to crack the 1000-yard mark. He had a solid rookie campaign, where he finished with 734 yards. Last year, he dealt with some injuries that forced him to miss 5 games, and he ultimately finished with 661 yards. With DJ Moore out of the building, he is going to be one of Caleb’s top targets and is currently set up for his best year.
The other receivers that will need to elevate their game are Luther Burden and Kalif Raymond. Burden was a 2nd round pick in the 2025 Draft and showed flashes of talent last year. He accounted for 47 receptions, 652 yards, and 2 TDs. His performance last year was probably one of the reasons that the Bears felt comfortable moving on from DJ Moore. Unfortunately, it was reported on 8/9 that he is dealing with a groin injury sustained in training camp. Reports are that he should miss a little bit of time. In his place, the Bears will have to look to veteran Kalif Raymond, who played under Ben Johnson in Detroit and was signed this offseason. It also opens the door for Jadhae Walker, who didn’t play much last year but is an exciting player when on the field.
The team’s leading receiver was not actually a wide receiver. It was rookie tight end Colston Loveland. He got off to a slow start in his rookie year, only having 12 catches in the first 6 weeks. Then week 7, he showed what he was capable of doing. He had 6 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs. From there on, he became a much larger part of the offense. He finished the year with 713 yards and 6 TDs and then added 193 yards in 2 playoff games. He proved to be a mismatch for defenses and is positioning himself for yet another great year. Behind him is Cole Kmet, who is a good tight end in his own rite. He has taken a step back in terms of receiving duties but still plays a massive role in this offense.
Last offseason, the Bears made a commitment to the offensive line. It was this mentality that set them up for the amount of success that they had. Caleb Williams went from being sacked 68 times in 2024 to just 24 times in 2025. They also helped block for one of the more effective run games in the league. This year, they return 4/5of the starters. At the tackle spots, they will be starting Braxton Jones at left tackle and Darnell Wright at right tackle. Wright was just made the highest paid tackle in NFL history last week, so the investment in this group continues. The starting guards will be Joe Thuney at left guard and Jonah Jackson at right guard. Thuney is widely regarded by his peers as one of the best offensive linemen in the game. The newcomer this year will be Garrett Bradbury at center. Bradburry comes over from New England, where he helped that team to a Super Bowl appearance.
Defense
The big question mark for this 2026 Bears team will be their defense. Last year, they lived and died by the turnover. They led the league with 33 total takeaways but gave up the 4th most yards. In terms of points, they gave up the 10th most points in the league. Takeaways are not always repeatable, especially when some of the ball hawks are no longer with the team. We’ll see how DC Dennis Allen is able to put his players in the best positions to continue ot succeed.
The defensive front will be one of the groups that will not be experiencing much turnover. They are returning 4 of their starters. The starting defensive tackles will be Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. Jarrett is entering his 12th year in the league and his 2nd with the Bears. Last year, he recorded 39 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. He did miss 3 games, but the production is not where it once was for Jarrett. He still provides a veteran presence on the line. Next to him will be Gervon Dexter who is entering his 4th year with the Bears. Last year, he recorded 44 tackles and 6 sacks. These two will provide a solid middle of the line for the rest of this defense.
On the edges will be Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo. Sweat is a Pro-Bowl caliber defensive end that is coming off of a 10-sack season. He also had 53 total tackles. Sweat is going to be one of the more important parts of this defense moving forward. He will get his partner on the line, Dayo Odeyingbo, back this year as well. Odeyingbo was brought over from Indianapolis in 2024 with high expectations. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in week 7 against the Bengals. It was a blow to the defensive line, but he should be back to full health. He is expected to take on a bigger role in the pass rush. Behind them, they have Jeremiah Martin and Austin Booker.
Filling out the middle of the field will be linebackers TJ Edwards, Devin Bush, and D’Marco Jackson. Edwards is going to be the starting middle linebacker and will take on a larger role now that Tremaine Edmunds is with the Giants. Last year, Edwards only played in 10 games but should be fully healthy now. He finished the year with 67 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 1 interception. Next to him will be newcomer Devin Bush. Bush is 7-year vet who has spent time with the Steelers, Seahawks, and Browns. Last year for Cleveland, he recorded 125 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 TDs. He is a very productive linebacker that will be a great addition to this defense. Rounding out this linebacker’s room is D’Marco Jackson who had 43 total tackles last year.
You don’t lead the league in takeaways without a good secondary. The Bears were lucky in that regard. Last year, they were hit with the injury bug and Nashon Wright stepped up big time with 6 interceptions. Wright has since signed with the Jets, so those picks will need to come from other players. The good news is that they get a fully healthy Jaylon Johnson back. Last season, Johnson was forced to miss time early in the year. Playing on the other side will be Tyrique Stevenson who is entering a contract year. He will have plenty to prove in order to earn a good deal next year. Their nickel is listed as Kyler Gordon but he has an injury designation that will force him to miss some games.
At safety, the Bears are projected to start Dilloin Thieneman and Coby Bryant. Thieneman was picked in the first round of this year’s draft out of Oregon. He carries the excitement and expectations of a 1st round pick and will be counted on to start right away. Bryant would be the veteran in the room that they rely on. He was brought in to replace Kevin Byard who signed with the Patriots in the offseason. Bryant was a member of the Super Bowl winning Seahawks last year. He signed a $40 million contract with the Bears this offseason.
Summary
The Bears had a historic run in 2025. In his first year, head coach Ben Johnson has seemingly turned the franchise around. The offense will most likely be able to grow in the 2nd year as the players get more comfortable. The reason they had so many comebacks was because they were notoriously slow starters last year. That type of magic, while entertaining, is not something you should set your clock to next season. The reason for that is the defense. After leading the league in turnovers, I think we can expect the Bears to take a fall down that list. It is not a statistic that is typically repeatable. To put a fine point on it, the Bears allowed players that accounted for 16 of the 33 takeaways to leave in free agency. While they will certainly be in the mix, they have a tough schedule, and I believe that 10 wins is a bit steep for this Bears team.
Bet – Under 9.5 (-120)
Detroit Lions – 10.5
- Head Coach – Dan Campbell
- OC – Drew Petzing
- DC – Kelvin Sheppard
- 2025 Record – 9-8
- Strength of Schedule – 1st Easiest
The Lions had their first stumble since Dan Campbell took over. 2025 proved to be a challenging time of change for Detroit. They became a victim of their own success and both of their coordinators left for head coaching jobs. Ben Johnson left for the Bears and Aaron Glenn left for the Jets. That is a lot of change and it is tough for any organization to overcome.
The Lions were not immune to these changes. While their offense was still ranked 4th in terms of points per game, it still didn’t quite have the look it did when Ben Johnson was calling the plays. John Morton as the OC was struggling so Dan Campbell took over some play calling duties. Morton was let go at the end of the season. On defense, they were allowing 24.3 points per game which was 22nd in the league. Injuries played a large role in the defense’s poor performance. Ultimately, the Lions went 9-8 on the year and tied for 3rd in the NFC North, missing the playoffs. In the offseason, they hired Drew Petzing to be their new OC and are hoping to get back in the driver’s seat in the North.
Offense
While the offense was not quite the same, quarterback Jared Goff still performed admirably in 2025. He threw for 4564 yards, 34 TDs, and 8 interceptions. This stat line was pretty much on par from 2024. The only key stat that dropped was his completion percentage. He went from completing 72.4% of his passes to 68%. His steady presence and leadership is going to be vital to this team getting back to the top of the division.
The key to this offense is going to be found in the backfield. The Lions traded Davind Montgomery to the Texans in the offseason for a 2026 4th round pick, a 2027 7th round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. That opens the door wide open for Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs signed a massive contract extension to become the highest paid running back in NFL history last week. All hats are being hung on Gibbs being the premier back in this offense. In his first 3 years he showed why they believe in him so much. His speed makes him one of the most explosive runners in the game. He has the versatility to play all 3 downs either as aback or a receiver. Last year, he posted a stat line of 243 rushes for 1223 yards and 13 TDs. He added 77 catches for 616 yards and 5 TDs through the air. With Montgomery gone, Gibbs will be given a full workload and is in a position to have his best year yet.
The Lions also signed Isiah Pacheco in the offseason to replace the physical style of Monty. Pacheco comes over from Kansas City after spending 4 years with the Chiefs. He is dealing with a knee issue through camp which should be monitored.
Gibbs won’t be the only weapon out there on the field. The starting receiver tandem for the Lions should be in the conversation for the best duos in the NFL. Amon-Ra St. Brown has consistently been one of the best receivers in the league over the past 4 seasons. In 2025, he had 117 receptions, 1401 yards, and 11 TDs. All of those ranked top 5 in the NFL. He is tough receiver that participates in the run game as a blocker and refuses to miss games. He will continue to be the focal point of this pass game. Paired with him is Jameson Williams. Williams is the speedy receiver that takes the top off the defense. He had 65 receptions for 1117 yards and 7 TDs in 2025. He is a great complement to St. Brown’s style of play as opposing defenses have to pick their poison as to who they want to cover. Rounding out the starting receivers is Isaac Teslaa who showed a knack for making ridiculous catches in the endzone last year. He finished the year with 239 yards and 6 TDs. This starting trio should be fun to watch all year long.
Another weapon for Goff to get the ball should be coming back from injury this year. Tight end Sam LaPorta is returning from a back injury that he suffered in November. Backs are always tricky, so the timeline has been uncertain. As it stands now, they are expecting him back early on in the year. He is a big-time contributor to this offense when fully healthy. In 42 career games, he has scored 20 touchdowns and accounted for 2104 yards. Should he be unable to go, the Lions have Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin in the wings. They have both started games in the NFL and should be able to hold down the fort as LaPorta returns.
The offensive line for the Lions is going to be a major factor in any success that they hope to have this year. After several years of building one of the best lines in the game, Detroit finds themselves having to rebuild a new line. They have their cornerstone left tackle in Penei Sewell who is one of the best players in the game. At right tackle, they are going to be starting their 1st round pick, Blake Miller out of Clemson. Tackle is one of the tougher positions for rookies to transition from the college game to the pros, so Miller will be spotlighted through the year. At guards, they have Christian Mahogany at left guard and Tate Ratledge at right guard. Both are entering their 2nd years in the league. At center, they will be starting Juice Scruggs, who came over from Houston in the David Montgomerey trade.
Defense
The defense will be entering their 2nd year under DC Kelvin Sheppard. The 1st year was not great. As mentioned above, they were struggling to stop people from scoring and did not do any favors for their high scoring offense. Injuries played a part, but that excuse will only get you so far. Unfortunately, there do appear to be some major holes on the back end, so we will see if they are able to overcome some of those concerns.
Lining up at defensive tackle will be Alim McNeil and Levi Onwuzurike. McNeil only appeared in 10 games last year and did not contribute much when out there. Onwuzurike recorded 28 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. These two will need to step up their production to help solidify the middle of this defensive line.
The edge rush is the strength of this defensive front. They have superstar Aidan Hutchinson coming off his best season as a pro. He had 54 total tackles and 14.5 sacks in 2025. He also got his hands on the ball for an interception and a fumble recovery. He was voted to 2nd team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl for his efforts. He will need to stack another great year in 2026 to continue setting the tone for this defense. On the other side of the line will be DJ Wonnum. Wonnum comes over from the Panthers in free agency. He had 42 total tackles and 3 sacks last year. He should get more opportunities this year with offenses paying more attention to Hutch on the other side.
At the next level, the Lions have a pretty physical group of linebackers. The starting middle linebacker is Jack Campbell. Campbell is a force to be reckoned with. Last year, he recorded 176 total tackles, 5 sacks, 9 TFLs and forced 3 fumbles. He was voted to the Pro Bowl and earned 1st team All-Pro honors. Playing next to him will be Derrick Barnes who had 78 total tackles and 4 sacks last year. They will also get Malcolm Rodriguez back who missed 10 games to injury last year. This past week, they added some veteran depth with the signing of Devin White. White showed last year that he has plenty of gas left in the tank. He recorded 174 total tackles for the Raiders.
The area of concern for this defense will be their secondary. They parted ways with Terrion Arnold who has an uncertain legal situation unfolding. In his place, it looks like the Lions will be relying on guys like D.J Reed, Keith Abney II, and Roger McCreary. Reed is an 8-year vet who only appeared in 11 games for Detroit last year. He has started for the Jets and Seahawks previously. Abney is a rookie who was picked in the 5th round of this year’s draft out of Arizona St. He will be thrust into the mix early. McCreary comes over from the Rams where he only played in 6 games last year. This is a thin group, and I would expect them to add some veteran signings once teams have to cut players.
Adding concern to the secondary are injuries to both starting safeties. Brian Branch and Kerby Joeseph are both on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. That means that they won’t start practicing for quite some time. In their places, they will have Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark. Maddox is entering his 9th year while Clark is entering his 10th. Both are experienced but that doesn’t necessarily point to them being able to replace the production of Joseph and Branch.
Summary
The Lions are looking for a bounce back year after a down year in 2025. They are playing in a crowded division, and it will be a struggle. Their offense is going to be centered around their exciting weapons, but the true success is going to come from their offensive line. If the line can hold up, the offense should continue to be a high scoring unit that puts up points at will. Of course, much of that will depend on the play calling ability of new OC Drew Petzing. On defense, they have a great front seven. The backend in incredibly thin and it does not look like help is coming. They might be in for another rough season if they are unable to stop teams from scoring. However, given that they have the easiest schedule right now, I think that they find ways to win games this year and should have a good shot at winning the division. I am taking the over for Detroit.
Bet – Over 10.5(-115)
Green Bay Packers – 9.5
- Head Coach – Matt Lafleur
- OC – Adam Stenavich
- DC – Jonathan Gannon
- 2025 Record – 9-7-1
- Strength of Schedule – 24th easiest
The Packers had a weird 2025. That is just the best way to put it. Even their record of 9-7-1 looks odd. They got off to a hot start and were right in the mix for the NFC North title. They were 9-3-1 with 4 weeks to go. They would go on to lose all 4 games, putting them in 2nd place and riding a wild card spot to the playoffs. During that 4-game stretch, their starting quarterback, Jordon Love, missed a few games with injuries. They faced some tough teams like the Broncos, Ravens, and Bears. They then rested their starters in Week 18 and lost to the Vikings. In their wild card game, they lost a heartbreaker to the Bears. They gave up 25 points in the 4th quarter and allowed Caleb Williams to end their season.
The team was buoyed by a strong defense all year as their offense struggled to get going. They were scoring 23 points per game, which was 16th in the league. The defense was allowing 21.2 points per game, which was 11th in the league. Jeff Hefley was the DC for the last 2 seasons. He left to take the head coaching job for the Dolphins, so Jonathan Gannon was hired to fill Hafley’s spot. Gannon was fired as the head coach of the Cardinals and returns to his role of DC, which he previously held with the Eagles when they won the Super Bowl. He should be able to take a talented defense and continue the work that Hafley began.
Offense
The offense’s ability to score is going to rest solely on the ability and availability of Jordan Love. Love has missed games over the past 2 seasons due to injuries that he has sustained. Even when playing, he was playing hurt and was not able to perform at his best. With that being said, he still finished the year with 3381 yards, 23 TDs and 6 interceptions. If he can stay healthy, he has potential to be one of the better QBs in the league. If he can’t, then it will be up to backup Tyrod Taylor to keep the team afloat. Taylor has a ton of experience coming off the bench for injured starting QBs and should be able to make contriutions if needed.
A major question mark on this offense will be the rushing game. As it stands now, Josh Jacobs is the starting running back. He has been a star in the league for several years and has had a large impact on the Packers in the 2 seasons he has spent with them. Last year, he battled through some injuries but finished the year with 929 yards and 13 TDs. He should be healthy and ready to return to his 2024 form when he ran for 1329 yards and 15 TDs. However, there is an open criminal investigation related to a domestic violence incident that took place this offseason. Should there be any further developments, he could be suspended or even sentenced. Should that take place, the Packers will need to turn to MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Lloyd was on the team but did not play last year. Brooks accounted for 106 yards in 2025. The pair does not inspire much confidence as starters.
The receiver’s room is full of home-grown talent that the Packers have been developing over the last several seasons. There were a couple of important moves made to continue the development this offseason. The 1st was clearing some cap and making some room for younger players by allowing Romeo Doubs to walk in free agency. The next was to secure their WR1 by signing Christian Watson to a 4-year, $110.5 million extension. The size of the contract was surprising but Watson has shown the talent to live up to the amount. Last year, Watson missed some games at the start of the season as he recovered from an ACL injury. Upon his return the Packers offense got a boost with his deep threat ability. He finished the year with 611 yards and 6 TDs. They are expecting a much more productive year now that he is healthy and paid.
The other receiver that was paid was Jayden Reed. Reed is an exciting player that the Packers will try to get the ball as much as possible. His playmaking ability was rewarded with a 3-year, $50 million extension this offseason. Reed is also coming off of injury, so his production was low in 2025 compared to his first 2 years in the league. He will look to have a larger role in this offense in 2026. The same can be said for 2nd year player Matthew Golden. Golden is a speedster who was drafted in the 1st round a year ago and was expected to make an immediate impact. He did not quite live up to expectations as he totaled 361 yards and 0 TDs. 2026 will be a big year for Golden, Reed, and the rest of these receivers.
One of the league’s best tight ends will be returning to the Packers this year. Tucker Kraft suffered an ACL injury last year and is looking like he will be ready for Week 1. Last year, Kraft was on his way to have his best year as a pro. In just 8 games, he went for 489 yards and 6 TDs. His previous highs were 707 yards and 6 TDs. Behind him will be Luke Musgrave who is dealing with a neck injury and is currently on PUP.
The offensive line was an issue for the Packers last year. That cannot continue if they want to make a deep playoff run this year. The moves that they made were questionable so we will see if they pan out. They will have a new starting left tackle in Jordan Morgan. Morgan is moving from guard out to tackle, which could be a tough transition. The right tackle will be Zach Bako-Bewele. At guards, they will have Aaron Banks at left guard and Jacob Monk at right guard. At center will be Sean Rhyan.
Defense
New DC Jonathan Gannon will be inheriting a talented defense that is currently a bit banged up. However, once the players are healthy, this should continue to be a dominant defense. It begins up front with the big 3 defensive tackles. The nose tackle is going to be Javon Hargrave who is entering his 11th season. He has spent time with the Steelers, Eagles, 49ers, and Vikings. He had 52 total tackles and 3.5 sacks last year. He is joined by Devonte Wyatt, who appeared in 10 games and recorded 27 tackles and 4 sacks, and Karl Brooks, who had 28 tackles last year. Some more production will be needed for this group to make up for some injuries behind them.
The edge rushers will be without their star for the first several weeks. Micah Parsons is still recovering from an ACL injury and is expected to return several weeks into the season. In his place will be Lukas Van Ness and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Van Ness is also coming off of a season where he was injured. Dennis-Sutton is a rookie drafted in the 4th round out of Penn State. They also have Brenton Cox Jr. who is entering his 4th season. Without Parsons, this group will need to step up big time.
The interior linebackers are projected to be Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper. Franklin came over from the Colts in free agency. He is an 8-year veteran who is a tackling machine. He had 125 tackles and 2 sacks last year. The 3 years prior, he averaged 174 tackles a season. He will bring an additional level of production to the middle of this defense that will be a huge plus. Cooper is entering his 3rd season with Green Bay and had 118 tackles last year. He is growing into a leader for this defense and has continued to improve each year.
The starting corners are projected to be Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. Nixon made the Pro Bowl last year after recording 72 total tackles and 1 interception. He is a dynamic corner that has evolved from a returner into a full-time starter. His athletic ability makes him a dangerous matchup for any wide receiver. Valentine has been with the team for 3 years and is stepping into the full-time starting role this year.
The safety room will consist of Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. McKinney is entering his 7th year and his 3rd as a member of the Packers. He was voted 2nd team All-Pro last year and has shown a penchant for getting his hands on the ball. It will be interesting to see if Gannon uses him in a way that lets him roam free on the backend. Williams is entering his 3rd year and had 100 tackles and 3 interceptions last year. These two are a great safety tandem and provide some security for this defense.
Summary
After an up -and-down 2025, the Packers are trying to bounce back in 2026. Their offense is filled with weapons and should be one of the more productive squads in the league. However, health has always played a role with this team and more specifically with Jordan Love. If Love can remain be healthy, this team can try to make a deep un into the playoffs. The main concern should be the offensive line. It was an issue last year and not much was done to fix the issues. The defense, with their new DC, will need to weather the storm for a while until Micah Parsons comes back from injury. The injury concern is too high for me to be comfortable to say that this team wins 10 games. I’ll be taking their under.
Bet – Under 9.5 (+110)
Minnesota Vikings – 8.5
- Head Coach – Kevin O’Connell
- OC – Wes Phillips
- DC – Brian Flores
- 2025 Record – 9-8
- Strength of Schedule – 15th easiest
The 2025 season for the Vikings was disappointing to say the least. It was supposed to be the year that JJ McCarthy took over the team and take his game to the next level. The Vikings let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave their building in favor of McCarthy and it pretty much blew up in their faces. Darnold went on to win the Super Bowl while Jones had a great season with the Colts. Meanwhile, the Vikings struggled early on. They soft benched McCarthy after he got injured. They ultimately ended up starting 3 different QBs throughout the season. After scratching to get to 4-4, they lost 4 straight games to drop to 4-8. They then won their last 5 games and finished the year 9-8. It was an ugly year and it certainly did not meet expectations. The only bright spot was their defense, which was ranked 7th in terms of points allowed per game.
In the offseason, they parted ways with their general manager and brought in QB Kyler Murray to compete for the starting job. There is an open QB battle but it does seem like McCarthy is going to need to find a new home in the next couple of years. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been deemed a QB whisperer due to his ability to win with pretty much any quarterback. Last year, the offense scored 20.2 points per game, which was ranked 26th in the league. He needs to find his starter and get this offense to improve immediately if he wants to keep pace in the division.
Offense
Despite there being an “open competition” at QB, it does seem like it’s going to be Kyler Murray who starts Week 1. JJ did not impress in his 1st year as a starter. He only managed to appear in 10 games where he threw for 1632 yards, 11 TDs, and 12 interceptions. Despite an uninspiring stat line, his record in those games was 6-4. That, and being drafted 10th overall, is why he still has a seat at the table. Kyler Murray is a former number 1 overall pick of the Cardinals. He spent 7 years in Arizona where initially he had success but could never get his team to the playoffs. He has also dealt with injury over his career. He only appeared in 5 games last season before being shut down. He has the ability to scramble and run that McCarthy does not have. He obviously also brings more experience to the table, which is why he is most likely to win the job. Behind the starter will be Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer. Both quarterbacks started games for the Vikings last year.
The running back that is projected to start is Aaron Jones Sr. Jones is entering his 10th year in the league and his 3rd as a Viking. After having a productive 1st year with the team, he suffered injuries last year causing him to miss 5 games. He ended the year with 548 yards and 2 TDs. He is turning 32 this year, which is fairly old in running back years. He will definitely contribute this year, but the Vikings should probably start thinking about getting some youth in the room. Behind him is Jordan Mason who is entering his 5th year. He filled in for Jones during those 5 missed games and was a decent option. He ended the year with 758 yards and 6 TDs. It will be interesting to see if Mason starts to receive more carries this year after showing he could play as a starter last year.
The receivers are going to be a big reason why this offense has any success this year. Justin Jefferson is still one of the best receivers in the game. He has proven to be pretty much QB proof as he continues to produce on a consistent basis. Despite having 3 different quarterbacks last year, he managed to continue his unbroken streak of 1000+ yard seasons. He finished the year with 84 receptions for 1048 yards and 2 TDs. These were all career lows however, the quarterback position was the most unstable it has been in Minnesota. He still has incredible play making ability and should continue to be the number 1 target for whichever quarterback is playing.
Pairing with Jefferson will be Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings. Addison was 2nd in receiving last year behind Jefferson. He is entering his 4th year in the league, which also happens to be a contract year. He has big play-making ability of his own and should be in lien for a big contact. He finished last year with 42 receptions, 610 yards, and 3 TDs. This was a down year for him as well but similar to Jefferson, was mainly due to the quality of quarterback play. Jennings came over from the 49ers in free agency this year. Jennings was a solid receiver for his 5 years in San Francisco. He not only brings his receiving ability but adds some toughness as a run blocker. He should be a great complement to this offense.
The projected starting tight end is T.J Hockenson. Hockenson has yet to play a full season with the Vikings. He has been with the team since being traded by Detroit in 2022. His best ear was in 2023 where he gained 960 yards and scored 5 TDs. Last year, he had 51 receptions for 438 yards and 3 TDs. While health played a part, his production also suffered from inconsistent quarterback play.
One of the reasons for the Vikings struggles and poor quarterback play was the inability to protect them. The offensive line in 2025 was injured and had a revolving door at several positions. They get some stability back with the return of Christian Darrisaw who only played in 10 games last year. He is a vital part to this offensive line and their overall success. If he can stay health, he should secure the left side of the line. The right tackle is going to be Brian O’Neil who is a 2-time Pro Bowler. The guards will be Donovan Jackson at left guard and Will Fries at right guard. At center will be Blake Brandel.
Defense
The defense in 2025 was the main reason the Vikings were able to weather poor offensive play and ultimately end up with winning record. DC Brian Flores has emerged as one of the best defensive play callers in the league as he continues to get the most out of his players.
He employs a 3-4 defense but moves guys around at the line of scrimmage. The projected starters for the 3 down linemen are Caleb Banks at nose tackle, and then Levi Drake Rodriguez and Jalen Redmond at the tackle positions. Banks is a 1st round draft pick out of Miami and will be counted on to contribute immediately up front. Rodriguez is a 3rd year player who had 43 tackles and 2 sacks in his 1st season as a starter last year. Redmond is also entering his 3rd year in the league. Last year, he had 62 tackles and 6 sacks. This is a young and talented group that can help slow down the run and allow the rest of the defense to o their jobs effectively.
The outside linebackers are Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Van Ginkel is an 8-year vet and has become one of the better playmakers on this defense. He missed a few games last year due to injury but when fully healthy he has shown the ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage. In 2024, he was voted to his 1st Pro Bowl and earned 2nd team All-Pro. I would expect him to return to that level of play this year. Dallas Turner is entering his 3rd year in the league. Lat year he accounted for 66 total tackles, 8 sacks, and 11 TFLs. He only started 10 games while appearing in 17 last year. His ability to rush the passer and get involved in the run game has earned him the potential to be the full-time starter this year.
The interior linebackers will be Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson. Cashman is constantly around the ball carrier. He missed 4 games last year and still made 144 total tackles, which was a career high. He needs to find a way to stay healthy in order and continue to contribute at a high level for this defense. Eric Wilson is on his 2nd stint with the Vikings. Last year he made 115 total tackles and recorded 6.5 sacks. This duo clearly has the ability to make a ton of tackles when needed.
The starting corner backs will be Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. James Pierre will also be in the mix as a starter. Rodgers had 66 total tackles, 1 interception, and 1 TD in his 1st year with the Vikings. Byron Murphy had 71 tackles and 2 interceptions last year. The tandem provides stability and reliability on the outside for this defense. James Pierre came over in free agency from Pittsburgh. He has the opportunity to play nickel or even compete for a starting role.
The safety’s for this team will be Theo Jackson and Joshua Metellus. Jackson is entering his 5th year in the league and had 47 total tackles last year. Metellus is entering his 7th year. He had 86 tackles and 2 interceptions last year. These guys round out a reliable secondary that should be able to cover most opponents moving forward.
Summary
The quarterback position is once again in flux for the Vikings. This has been a staple of the Kevin O’Connell era in Minnesota. Whether JJ McCarthy or Kyler Murray is named the starter remains to be seen. However, KOC has shown the ability to win games regardless of his quarterback. If Kyler is the starter, this offense has potential to be explosive week in and week out. The reason that this team will ultimately be successful this year is their defense. The defense has been consistently one of the best units in the league sine Brian Flores joined in 2023. A great defense will cover up most woes. The Vikings have a pretty middle of the road schedule in terms of difficulty. They do play in a tough division but have several winnable games outside of their division. While I don’t think they are in contention for the division title, I think KOC has shown the ability to have a winning record regardless of who is playing quarterback.
Bet – Over 8.5 (-110)
*Odds taken from DraftKings
*Strength of Schedule from Sharp Analysis
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