After two straight NFC North titles, the Detroit Lions should be considered the favorites in the division, but one analyst sees a changing of the guard in 2025.<\/p>\n
CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt made his prediction<\/a> for how things will shake out in the NFC North this coming season and he has the Chicago Bears winning the division.<\/p>\n One of the reasons he doesn’t see the Lions earning a third-straight division title has to do with quarterback Jared Goff, who he labeled as one of the biggest question marks under center in the division, along with the Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy.<\/p>\n “When you’re thinking about within this division, you have two quarterbacks that have some question marks,” Hunt said. “You have Jared Goff, and you question whether or not he can handle pressure.<\/p>\n “You have J.J. McCarthy, who is the unknown. We don’t know what he can do because he didn’t play a lot last year, if at all.”<\/p>\n Hunt went on to say that Chicago “looks tremendous” on paper and will take first place in the division, with the Green Bay Packers finishing in second.<\/p>\n Listing Goff as one of the biggest question marks at quarterback in the NFC North is wild.<\/p>\n After all, he’s the most proven player at his position in the division after posting several impressive seasons and leading two different teams to division titles and deep playoff runs during his career.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Jordan Love has just two seasons as a starter under his belt and has just one playoff win in that span. McCarthy and Caleb Williams are both entering their second seasons in the NFL, but Williams had a rocky rookie campaign<\/a> and the Vikings signal-caller didn’t play at all in 2024<\/a> due to injury.<\/p>\n It’s fair to question if Goff has what it takes to lead the Lions to a Super Bowl, but his regular-season resume is by far the best in the division and he gives Detroit at least a small leg up over its competitors.<\/p>\n MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS<\/p>\n NFL picks, predictions Week 1: Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers<\/a><\/p>\n NFL power rankings Week 1: Are Lions getting enough respect from experts?<\/a><\/p>\n Detroit Lions detail what they’re looking for in 3rd quarterback<\/a><\/p>\n Dan Campbell picks the Detroit Lions great he’d add to 2025 roster<\/a><\/p>\n