The NFL just recently went through one of its craziest offseasons to date. The past few months saw some surprising relocations and reshuffling of players which clearly changed the dynamics of the whole league. With Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season proceedings right around the corner, it is only right that we rank the firepower of all eight divisions heading into the upcoming season.
Here are all the NFL divisions ranked from worst to best ahead of the 2020 NFL season:
8. NFC East
The entire NFL saw one of the most closely contested battles in the NFC East last season. A mere last-minute victory in Week 17 made the difference for the Philadelphia Eagles to gain the upper hand against the Dallas Cowboys. Another neck-and-neck battle between the two sides is looking to transpire in the upcoming season.
On the other hand, the New York Giants are currently making their transition towards the post-Eli Manning era. Uncertainties continue to loom over the heads of the newly-acquired coaching personnel and young players of Big Blue. The Washington Football Team remains to be their old self, and the recent release of veteran rusher Adrian Peterson certainly did not contribute to increasing the club’s chances of winning.
7. AFC East
This year’s New England Patriots were nowhere near to their 2019 squad that was bounced off in the first round of the 2019 NFL Playoffs. After two decades of having quarterback Tom Brady play under center, no one knows how the new offense will look like for the reigning AFC East champions in the 2020 NFL season.
However, the team’s established system under long-time head coach Bill Belichick could be their best advantage over their division rivals. The team also remains to be a veteran-laden squad which will help them pull through a tough season.
The Buffalo Bills are also an interesting team and could pose the biggest threat to the Patriots. The development of third-year gunslinger Josh Allen should determine their success in the upcoming season. Rounding off the division are the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins who are still in their rebuilding efforts and won’t be winning anytime soon.
6. NFC North
Determining the rank of this division was a tough choice to make due to the uncertainties surrounding it. This year’s NFC North isn’t the same division that the Green Bay Packers have dominated in recent years. The group has now been blown to be an open race for all four teams.
The Packers already knew that they lacked offensive weapons around quarterback Aaron Rodgers but still neglected to address the holes during the offseason. The Minnesota Vikings also had their own letdowns as they lost key pieces in wide receiver Stefon Diggs and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen.
The Detroit Lions could also be surprisingly good especially if playmaker Matthew Stafford can afford to stay healthy all year round. The Chicago Bears are only two years removed from having a fantastic season back in 2018 and have the potential to go back to their old form, especially in a free-for-all NFC North. The division is certainly one to look out for in the upcoming season.
5. AFC South
The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and the Tennessee Titans are all in the running to vie for the divisional crown and a playoff spot in the upcoming season. The Colts acquired several weapons to their roster headlined by a veteran quarterback in Philip Rivers who could provide stability under center.
The Houston Texans lost All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins which ultimately leveled the AFC South playing field. The Tennessee Titans remain to be an unpredictable team and questions still remain if they can surpass their impressive performance last season. Lastly, the cellar-dwelling Jacksonville Jaguars have absolutely no plans of making the postseason and are aiming to be the kings of the draft instead.
4. AFC West
The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are still the supreme rulers of this division. However, the promising Denver Broncos could already come knocking on their doorsteps in the upcoming 2020 NFL season. The newly-relocated Las Vegas Raiders also became better over the offseason but still lack more potent weapons on both sides of the field.
The departure of long-time quarterback Philip Rivers and the recent season-ending injury of safety Derwin James could turn out to be huge blows and ultimately hurt the chances of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020.
3. AFC North
A grit and grind encounter could be seen within the AFC North in the upcoming 2020 NFL season. The Baltimore Ravens led by 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson are still heavily favored to repeat as divisional champions. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not far behind due to the looming return of their main pieces after an injury-plagued campaign last season.
The upstart Cleveland Browns continued to add weapons and worked on their chemistry during the offseason in order to finally maximize the talents on their roster. The Cincinnati Bengals have also improved with the arrival of top pick Joe Burrow, the retention of ball-carrier Joe Mixon, and the looming return of wideout A.J. Green.
2. NFC West
Football fans should expect a stiffer NFC West playing field in the upcoming season. All four teams have improved and are all capable of aiming a shot at the top spot. Super Bowl LIV finalist San Francisco 49ers and the contending Seattle Seahawks remain to be the main headliners of the division in the upcoming 2020 NFL season.
The Arizona Cardinals also gave themselves a better chance of competing with the arrival of several prized recruits on their roster. The Los Angeles Rams are no easy task too, bannered by the Pro Bowl duo of defensive end Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
1. NFC South
The New Orleans Saints sat comfortably atop the summit of the NFC South for the last three years. However, the division is going to see some significant changes in the upcoming season.
Fireworks should be expected by many when the game’s best quarterbacks all find themselves in the same division. The massive revamp that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers underwent during the offseason puts them on track to outright challenge the Saints for divisional supremacy. To put the rigid rivalry in another perspective, quarterbacks Drew Brees and Tom Brady both sit at 1 and 2 in all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns, respectively. Fans will be treated to aerial exhibitions when these two teams lock horns in the upcoming season.
The Atlanta Falcons are no pushovers too with capable quarterback Matt Ryan leading the way for the team. The Carolina Panthers also may not be contenders in the upcoming 2020 NFL season, but they can definitely make life harder for their division rivals as well.
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