With coaching camps set to start in earnest on the finish of July, NFL groups will begin to hyperfocus on the season forward.
Some groups face far better expectations — and subsequently strain — than others. The white-hot highlight is on you, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. What different groups face pressure-packed seasons?
We requested Yardbarker NFL writers to rank which groups face probably the most strain in every division within the NFC, from most to least. (Season information from final season are in parentheses.)
NFC East
1. DALLAS COWBOYS (12-5) | Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones hasn’t hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy since 1996. Now, star broad receiver CeeDee Lamb, who needs a brand new contract, is prone to skip the workforce’s coaching camp. Like Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott stays unsigned past subsequent season, placing much more strain on “America’s Workforce” to win this season.
2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6) | One 12 months faraway from an look in Tremendous Bowl LVII, Philadelphia stumbled by way of a 1-5 end to the 2023 common season earlier than shedding 32-9 to the Buccaneers within the NFC wild-card sport. In contrast to the workforce’s offensive and defensive coordinators, head coach Nick Sirianni stored his job, however with no quick begin, the win-now Eagles received’t hesitate to make large adjustments.
3. NEW YORK GIANTS (6-11) | The Giants are tied with Carolina with the second-worst odds to win Tremendous Bowl LIX, per ESPN Guess, so their followers could be glad if their workforce merely protects its quarterback and rookie WR Malik Nabers performs properly. New York allowed 85 sacks final season, second most in NFL historical past, and the sixth decide within the 2024 NFL Draft has an opportunity to turn out to be the workforce’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham in 2018.
4. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-13) | With a brand new common supervisor (Adam Peters), a brand new head coach (Dan Quinn) and a Heisman Trophy-winning rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) operating the offense, the Commanders have little strain to do something however get higher in 2024. No workforce had a worse level differential (-189) than Washington final season, leaving it nowhere to go however up. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5) | It feels prefer it could be now or by no means in terms of HC Kyle Shanahan and this 49ers workforce successful all of it. It’s actually troublesome to maintain getting so shut with out really successful a title, and the wage cap goes to begin inflicting issues in conserving the expertise on this workforce collectively, particularly when QB Brock Purdy will get his new (and extremely profitable) contract.
2. LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7) | The Rams have a restricted window to win as beginning quarterback Matthew Stafford, a 15-year veteran, will get nearer to the tip of his profession. They’ve the skill-position gamers on offense to contend, however the Rams should hope their secondary additions have been the appropriate ones and that they will adequately change future Corridor of Fame defensive sort out Aaron Donald.
3. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8) | After three straight years of mediocrity, the Seahawks hit the reset button this offseason, changing Pete Carroll (137-89-1 with Seattle) with rookie HC Mike Macdonald. There may be some strain to interrupt the cycle of mediocrity and repair a protection that has been one of many worst within the league, however rising pains for a first-year coach ought to be anticipated.
4. ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-13) | A number of Arizona gamers, specifically QB Kyler Murray (3-5 as starter final season), face strain. However few count on this rebuilding workforce to contend this season, particularly not on this division and after back-to-back 4-13 seasons. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
1. DETROIT LIONS (12-5) | Per ESPN Guess, the Lions enter the season as the favourite to repeat as division champion and are among the many brief listing of Tremendous Bowl contenders. The strain to stay as much as these expectations is hard to high, particularly contemplating how shortly the title window can slam shut, even for a workforce as well-equipped as Detroit.
2. CHICAGO BEARS (7-10) | It is exhausting to place excessive expectations on a workforce beginning this 12 months’s No. 1 decide, Caleb Williams, at quarterback. However the Bears are seemingly in win-now mode after considerably bolstering the solid round him. Contemplating the workforce’s offseason enhancements and the hype surrounding Williams and others, Chicago may face adjustments on the high, beginning with head coach Matt Eberflus, with no important bounce from final season’s end.
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8) | Following a disappointing 8-9 end in 2022, the Packers returned to the NFC North dialogue forward of schedule following quarterback Jordan Love’s breakout marketing campaign (4,159 yards passing, 32 TD passes in 2023) and a run to the divisional spherical of the playoffs final season. Now, 2024 shall be extra pivotal than beforehand thought for Inexperienced Bay because it appears to be like to show that final season wasn’t a mirage.
4. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10) | The Vikings added former Packers star operating again Aaron Jones to one of many stronger offenses, however they apparently will begin journeyman Sam Darnold at QB, which is hardly thrilling. If something, that ought to take strain off Minnesota, particularly whereas the franchise appears content material to play the ready sport with its first-round decide, QB J.J. McCarthy. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
1. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10) | Over the previous two offseasons, the Falcons have spent large in free company, signing security Jessie Bates III in 2023 and, extra just lately, quarterback Kirk Cousins. With ascending offensive weapons, together with broad receiver Drake London, tight finish Kyle Pitts and operating again Bijan Robinson, Atlanta should finish its six-year playoff drought.
2. CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-15) | Regardless of solely coming into his second 12 months within the league, Bryce Younger (59.8 completion proportion, 2,877 yards in 2023) has arguably extra strain on him than any quarterback this season. If the Panthers repeat their 2023 season and are on the high of the draft order in 2025, it’s troublesome imagining them not deciding on his substitute.
3. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-8) | Can Dennis Allen survive a 3rd consecutive season with out main the Saints to the playoffs? Per Motion Community, New Orleans (+350) is just forward of the Panthers (+1100) in odds to win the NFC South this season.
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8) | Whereas the Bucs are going through the least strain coming into 2024, they need to nonetheless have a way of urgency. One of the best workforce within the NFC South for the previous 4 seasons, Tampa Bay should reap the benefits of the division whereas it is the worst within the NFL. — Eric Smithling
