I can understand why DET is being projected to win the division in a lot of places. The easiest schedule alone will give them a few more wins.

However, I have no clue why some projections have GB in 2nd. Everyone seems to be inflating players that have never achieved heights they are expecting.

First, there is Watson, somehow, he is being anointed as a sure-fire WR1, yet he has never topped 41 receptions and 620 Receiving Yards but is magically going to hit 80-1000 this season in Year 5? He has also never played more than 15 games. To me, Watson is who he is. An explosive WR, when healthy, but more boom or bust than consistent WR1. I don't see him doubling his career high in receptions.

Then there is Golden, their 2025 1st Round pick (picked ahead of Burden). He is a 2nd Year WR that only put up 29 receptions and 361 Receiving Yards and no TDs, and is also going to magically put up 80-1000 this season too? Will he have a better season, sure, but he is not tripling his receptions and receiving yards in one offseason. Especially if they expect Watson to as well.

Then you have Kraft. People are treating him like an All-Pro. This is a TE who maxed out at 50 receptions, 707 Receiving Yards, is now an All-Pro coming off an ACL injury. These career numbers are on par with Kmet's career numbers. Another super weird projection. I can see him putting up 50-700 again, but that's it.

Their O-Line, which was bottom-10 last year, who arguably got worse in the offseason, is magically going to be better this year? Again, does the GB coaching staff have magic fairy dust? I think they will be bottom-10 again.

Their defense, which was a top 10 unit in 2025 will also be better with their star Edge coming off an ACL injury and operating in an entirely new defense. Did people forget how good Hafley was as a DC? If anything they will regress.

I feel much better when you compare what the Bears have and why their projections are what they are. Odunze is an 1100 Yard WR if he didn't get hurt. Burden's and Loveland's usage completely changed in the 2nd half of the season. Loveland had 5 receptions thru 5 games, then had 53 in the remaining 12. So he almost averaged 5 per game the rest of the way. Projected for a full season, +100 receptions, +1200 Yards. Burden? While Loveland went up 5x, Burden basically went up 4x. Now when you add Moore being gone, all 3 of those guys will see a target increase. All 3 were also more efficient pass catchers than Moore. So Williams numbers should benefit.

I dont understand how with only one good game played last year they have elevated Golden to elite status.