The Madden 16 team ratings for the NFC North have been announced. Team ratings as well as some important individual ratings for the Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Bears are now out.
Green Bay Packers – 90 Overall
Green Bay is coming off an NFC Championship Game appearance, and loaded with returning veterans. With reigning MVP QB Aaron Rodgers (99 OVR) throwing to WRs Jordy Nelson (93 OVR) and Randall Cobb (91 OVR), and handing off to HB Eddie Lacy (90 OVR), the division looks like a lock. On the offensive line, LG Josh Sitton (97 OVR) and RG T. J. Lang (92 OVR) are pillars of strength.
Key defensive players include MLB Clay Matthews (90 OVR), LOLB Julius Peppers (88 OVR), CB Casey Heyward (85 OVR), and second-year FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (81 OVR).
Madden School Green Bay Packers team breakdown
Detroit Lions – 83 Overall
The Lions finished just a game behind the Packers last year, didn’t improve muchin the offseason. QB Matthew Stafford (84 OVR) returns alongside HB Joique Bell (80 OVR) and a pair of standout receivers in Calvin Johnson (95 OVR) and Golden Tate (88 OVR).
Defensively, DT Haloti Ngata (92 OVR) will be tasked with replacing All-Pro Ndamukong Suh. Other stars include ROLB DeAndre Levy (93 OVR), FS Glover Quin (90 OVR), and MLB Stephen Tulloch (87 OVR). RE Ezekiel Ansah (88 OVR) will need to take the next step in his third season.
Madden School Detroit Lions team breakdown
Minnesota Vikings – 77 Overall
A healthy and effective HB Adrian Peterson (95 OVR) can run the Vikings right into the playoffs. With defenses focusing on AP and vertical threats like WRs Mike Wallace (86 OVR) and Cordarrelle Patterson (73 OVR/90 SPD), QB Teddy Bridgewater (82 OVR) has a good chance at breaking out in his second season.
The Vikings secondary is a strength, with FS Harrison Smith (93 OVR), CB Xavier Rhodes (86 OVR), and SS Robert Blanton (86 OVR). RE Everson Griffen (89 OVR) and DT Sharrif Floyd (87 OVR) are solid on the D-line.
Madden School Minnesota Vikings team breakdown
Chicago Bears – 75 Overall
The Bears were a disaster in 2014, but new head coach John Fox could right the ship. Despite the loss of Brandon Marshall, QB Jay Cutler (79 OVR) has talented targets in TE Martellus Bennett (90 OVR), WR Alshon Jeffery (90 OVR) and rookie WR Kevin White (78 OVR). The versatile Matt Forte (90 OVR) also returns.
New additions LOLB Pernell McPhee (87 OVR) and ROLB Jared Allen (79 OVR) should help improve a defense that ranked dead 30th in 2014. Keep an eye on second-year CB Kyle Fuller (78 OVR) and third-year MLB Jon Bostic (75 OVR).
Yeah when you rate two teams without a QB higher (Texans and Bills) than a team with a QB and eight pro bowlers on the roster (Vikings), you know there will be some serious snub action when the players ratings come out!
Keep in mind that Madden doesn’t make the QB rating bear more weight on the team overall then any other position. In the eyes of their formulas it is just one of 22 starting positions that have to be filled