This offseason has been a fun one. Between surprising trades and big names leaving long-time homes, 2020 is shaping up to be a season full of new storylines. Given all the talent that has moved, let’s take a look at which divisions are shaping up to be the best in 2020.
8 – AFC East
Even with the addition of Cam Newton, the AFC East looks like it will be the worst in 2020. While the Bills and Patriots should contend for playoff spots, neither team looks ready to make an elite run. The Dolphins have a bright future, but 2021 and beyond should be exciting for Miami. The Jets appear ready for another mediocre season as well. This can change if Newton can come close to his MVP form, but as of now the AFC East as a whole finds itself in a familiar spot.
7 – AFC South
Similar to the East, the AFC South should have two teams battling for the division title, with the Colts bringing in Philip Rivers and the Titans riding the success of a deep playoff run in 2019. The Texans should take a step back after trading away their best player, and the Jaguars should already be planning for a top-10 pick come next April.
6 – NFC East
The Cowboys and Eagles can contend, but the Giants still appear a year or so away. Washington is struggling to hold the organization together, and their on-field product doesn’t appear like it will be much better. While the NFC East has been historically great, it appears like it is on its way to a season of mediocrity.
5 – AFC West
The Super Bowl champions lead the charge, and the Broncos appear ready to return to the postseason under another year of Drew Lock, but the Raiders and Chargers have a lot of unknowns entering 2020. Between the Raiders new home and the Chargers quarterback situation, the bottom half of the West won’t be terrible, but won’t be great either.
4 – NFC North
Chicago, Green Bay, and Minnesota are all solid squads who will contend in a crowded NFC, and Detroit can only improve after a three win season. Overall, this division is nothing special, but the three teams at the top should be competitive and could be teams to lookout for come January.
3 – AFC North
After a 14-2 season, Baltimore isn’t going anywhere, and Pittsburgh could return to the playoffs with a strong defense if Big Ben remains healthy. Cleveland again appears set to be a strong team on paper, but with the Browns we’ll need to see it. The Bengals won’t be great, but the future look bright in Cincinnati with number one overall pick Joe Burrow under center.
2 – NFC South
The South will be home to the best QB battles, with Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Teddy Bridgewater all starting. Beyond the QBs, the Buccaneers and Saints have some of the best offensive skill groups, and the Falcons won six of their last eight in 2019. Carolina is probably a few years away under new coach Matt Rhule, but the talent among the rest of the division is too strong to ignore.
1 – NFC West
While many prefer the South, this is a division where all fours teams have realistic playoff aspirations. The Seahawks and 49ers are two of the best teams in the league, while the Rams are just one season removed from an appearance in Super Bowl LIII. The Cardinals will be entering year two with Kyler Murray, and they gave him one of the best offensive weapons in the league to play with. While the South has the QBs, the West is the best division in football.
