B/R NFL Expert Picks for 2019 Division Winners

It's still a while until the NFL regular-season opener between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears on Sept. 5.

But we're getting there.

On Wednesday, veterans and rookies alike reported for the Denver Broncos. Over the next week or so, players across the league will do the same. All have the same goal—making it Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

Of course, that goal is more realistic for some teams than others, and before any squad can make it to the biggest game in sports, it has to make the playoffs.

The surest way to do so is to avoid the wild-card morass and win the division.

A lot can (and will) happen between now and the end of the regular season, but it's never too early for a little prognostication. With that in mind, the NFL writers here at Bleacher Report gathered to make some pre-camp predictions for the league's eight division-winners.

Note: The writers who participated in this panel are NFL Analyst Gary Davenport, NFL Features Lead Writer Tyler Dunne, NFL National Lead Writer Mike Freeman, NFL Analyst Brad Gagnon, Lefkoe Show Host Adam Lefkoe, NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller, NFL Analyst Brent Sobleski and NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier.

Green Bay Packers (4 votes)

Finally! Some drama!

The NFL's 100th season kicks off on Sept. 5 at Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears will host their rivals from Green Bay.

The game could have massive significance in the division race—especially if our panel's correct about how the NFC North will play out. The Minnesota Vikings earned a vote from Dunne, but the rest were split almost evenly between those two teams.

NFL National Lead Writer Matt Miller was one of three scribes who threw his support behind the reigning division champs, who went from worst to first in 2018 in Matt Nagy's first season as head coach.

"Nagy and the Bears face stiff competition within the NFC North," Miller said, "but the offensive adaptability and innovation shown last year will only be better as Mitchell Trubisky gains experience and the offense continues to find chemistry after so many new faces were added prior to the 2018 season.

"We know the defense will be suffocating; and if the offense takes the expected next step, the Bears will look like Super Bowl contenders."

However, as good as the Bears were in a 12-win campaign, the season opener was a devastating one-point loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pack at Lambeau Field. Freeman believes that so long as No. 12 stays upright this year, new head coach Matt LaFleur is going to enjoy the same sort of success Nagy had in his first season.

"If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy—and he likely will—the Packers are still the best in the division," he said. "Sorry, Bears."

Week 1 can't get here fast enough.

Others receiving votes: Chicago Bears (3 votes); Minnesota Vikings (1 vote)