The NFC has been represented by a different team in each of the last four seasons. Coincidentally, each of these four teams has a good shot at winning the conference in 2024. Could this be the first year since 2014 where the NFC Champ repeated in consecutive years? Or will it be a new team that hasn’t made it in some time? Here, I take a look at my top three NFC contenders this season
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San Francisco 49ers
The Niners, coming off of a deflating loss in Super Bowl LVIII, have all of the tools to make it back on the big stage. As a model of consistency, San Fran has made at least the NFC Championship in 4 out of 5 years since 2019. Unfortunately, following both of their wins in that game, they lost the Super Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and Co. Brock Purdy (24-7 all-time record) enters year three in one of the league’s top schemes. At his disposal, he has All-Pros George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk (for now), as well as Deebo Samuel. With the defense adding back Talanoa Hufanga with Nick Bosa, Chavarius Ward and Fred Warner, there is no reason to believe the 49ers won’t be right back in the thick of things
Biggest Concern: Secondary Play
Biggest offseason addition: De’Vondre Campbell
Los Angeles Rams
Perhaps the biggest threat to the Niners are their division rivals, who have the championship pedigree that San Fran is lacking to this point. With Matthew Stafford in the twilight of his career, the Rams are once again in win-now mode under Sean McVay. With Puka Nacua in year two, paired with a rushing attack of Kyren Williams and rookie National Champion Blake Corum, the Rams will be dangerous. Despite losing Hall of Fame DT Aaron Donald to retirement, the Rams added two stud rookies from Florida State on the D-Line in Braden Fiske and Jared Verse.
Biggest concern: Front seven
Biggest offseason addition: Jared Verse
Green Bay Packers
The biggest wild card in the NFC is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers came on strong late in the season in 2023 and are much younger than the two prior teams. As a matter of fact, last season they had the youngest roster in the NFL. Jordan Love is an intriguing MVP bet (+1400 on Fox Sports) as he enters his second year in Matt Lafleur’s offensive attack. Green Bay is coming off of a divisional loss to the Niners where Love nearly pulled off the upset in Levi’s Stadium. The rushing attack lost Aaron Jones, but gained Josh Jacobs, creating a bruising one-two punch with AJ Dillon. If the young talent around Love can take the next step, such as Quay Walker and young Wideouts Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed, the Pack can make a serious run.
Biggest concern: Sophomore slumps
Biggest offseason addition: Josh Jacobs
The biggest note here is that all three of these teams are led by Head Coaches from the Shanahan Coaching Tree from the early-2010s Redskins teams. With innovative offenses and great QBs, paired with playmakers on defense, these squads look to be the top contenders in an NFC that feels like it may be deeper than the AFC for the first time in a while.