After revealing our AFC predictions on Wednesday, on Thursday it’s time for the NFC. Let us know what you think below.

Teams listed in order of projected finish. Projected division winners, wild cards and Championship game contestants, plus the Gurdian’s Super Bowl pick, follow team-by-team rundown.

1) Green Bay Packers

Last season: 8-7-1

Well, who else is going to win this division? Last season the Packers lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers for seven games (effectively eight, since he was hurt on the first series of Green Bay’s loss to Chicago in November) and still managed to finish top of the NFC North.

Now Rodgers is healthy and ready to lead his team on another postseason run. And it is not just the Packers’ offense that opponents will need to worry about. No quarterback will relish lining up against a defence that already featured Clay Matthews in one outside linebacker spot, and now has Julius Peppers rushing in from the opposite side.

2) Chicago Bears

Last season: 8-8

Perhaps the Bears would have climbed ahead of Green Bay last season if their own quarterback, Jay Cutler, had not also lost five games to injury. Then again, Josh McCown hardly let the side down in his absence – throwing for 13 touchdowns and a single interception. Besides, it was probably optimistic to ever expect good health for Cutler, a man who has, in the space of just five years, become the most sacked quarterback in team history.

The good news is that Chicago’s offensive line raised its game significantly over the course of last season, and the starting unit has been kept intact. The Bears signed Cutler to a new seven-year deal in the offseason, an impressive show of faith, and expect him to post big numbers. With Alshon Jeffery emerging as an elite wide receiver opposite Brandon Marshall, he certainly has the weapons.

3) Detroit Lions

Last season: 7-9

Detroit should have won the NFC North last season. Instead they imploded, losing six of their last seven games with Matthew Stafford throwing 12 of his 19 interceptions during that dismal spell.

A new coaching staff, led by Jim Caldwell, could help to change the mindset of a team that always seems to crumple at the first sign of adversity. But it would take some highly creative scheming to cover up for the weaknesses in a shabby secondary that has all too often been Detroit’s Achilles heel.

4) Minnesota Vikings

Last season: 5-10-1

New head coach Mike Zimmer has not been granted a gentle start to his tenure. The Vikings’ first five games include road trips to St Louis, New Orleans and Green Bay, with visits from the Patriots and Falcons inbetween. No wonder the coach thought it best to allow rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to start this season on the bench.

It is hard to imagine the Vikings making any major strides for as long as Matt Cassel stays under center, and fans will be hoping for signs of progress this season rather than an overnight transformation. Minnesota said farewell to two long-term fixtures of their defense, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, this offseason, but nose tackle Linval Joseph was a nice addition and could grow into an important player – so long as he can steer clear of stray bullets in future.

Playoff permutations

Division winners: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks

NFC wild cards: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers

NFC Championship game: New Orleans Saints over Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl XLIX: New Orleans Saints over Indianapolis Colts