The Madden 23 cycle is less than 2 days away and every team has high hopes of competing for a Super Bowl title. The optisism is what makes PML great, especially for long shots like Wumbo, HD, Burn, and Vet. Can any of these teams defy the odds and enter the prestigious group of PML Super Bowl winners?
Every team hopes to put themselves in a position to not only compete, but hold their spot in the Premier Madden League. What is a teams realistic ceiling in season 1? How good can each team be with their current roster, user, and divisional foes? Or how badly can things fall apart?
Lets dive into the NFC North
Lions: Kmac
Bears: Spdot
Vikings: CEO
Packers: KingMike
Lions
Ceiling: 14-2, Win Super Bowl
I’m not sure if there is a ceiling for Kmac regardless of the team you give him. Not the best roster in the league but some key positions could allow Kmac to overachieve with the season 1 Lions. With an above average offense line, Hockenson, and Swift on the routes, look for Kmac to use these pieces to his advantage to reach that Super Bowl ceiling in season 1. The big question mark is will Jared Goff be the week 1 starter for Detroit? Or will he seek help via trade either before the season or midway through.
Floor: 10-7, Make playoffs
The division and schedule proves to be too much for Kmac and the season 1 Lions roster. Jared Goff is not the answer and Kmac finds a project QB to get him through the season. We’ve seen him do it before, and we’ve seen Hypemike do it last cycle with the Lions- so it isn’t far fetched. With a lack of content the roster remains as is and fail to keep up with the rosters around them. Lions take a first round exit from the playoffs.
Bears
Ceiling: 11-6, Win playoff game
Spdot is an above average user, ranked 4 by his peers after making (2) Madden 22 Super Bowls and claiming one crown. Although he didn’t necessarily receive the credit he may have deserved, he comes into the season with a lot to prove. Roster building and lack of competition were amongst the claims made against his accomplishments. Well here we are, a total chance to prove himself and prove both claims to be wrong. The roster and division certainly lower Spdots ecpectstions this cycle. There is no way around it, the Bears roster ranks amongst the worst in the league. This ceiling could collapse early and force Spdot into a full season 1 rebuild mode. Keep an eye on this one.
Floor: 7-10, Miss playoffs
Bears take season 1 to work on the development of several young key players such as Justin Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Jaquan Brisker. It will be a difficult schedule as they take on their own power house division 2x each as well as the NFC East. As I said, this is one of the bigger questjon marks and the ceiling and floor are both realistic possibilities.
Vikings
Ceiling: 10-7, Make playoffs
Ahh, the curious case of CEO. Some call him top 5 due to his consistency, others place him top 10. I’ll say this, regardless of the divisional competition, CEO is always there. However, is he beating the top dogs of PML such as Kmac, KMFO, and Mole? That’s where the ceiling lowers this cycle as he once again is in a division where he could very well be the bottom guy- as crazy as it sounds. He has the weapons at his disposal to make a playoff run this season, especially with the Bears and Lions possibly working on development. If he’s going to make a run at a division crown, this is his year. H***, don’t be surprised if 10 or 11 games is the reaching point for a division title the way these 4 teams will go at it this season.
Floor: 6-11, Miss playoffs
Not out of the realm to see this happen. Vikings have a very difficult schedule this season. Vikings may find themselves as the odd man out of a very competitive division and conference. This is a prove it season for CEO if he wants to silence his critics and prove he is a top dog. The virtual world we call PML.
Packers
Ceiling: 11-6, Make NFC Championship game
In a similar position was CEO. Another prove it user this cycle. But hasn’t he already proved it? Cycle after cycle he has competed with the best of the best and consistently is a playoff regular. After a few Super Bowl appearances, he finally took the season 5 crown last cycle. An amazing accomplishment, but the jury is still out due to the fact it was… you know, season 5. KingMike is scheming as we speak and if you don’t believe he is coming out hungry then you’re crazy. Packers make a deep playoff run season 1- book it!
Floor: 6-11, Miss playoffs
Not only will the Packers miss the playoffs, but they will miss the opportunity to make any type of deep run this cycle. As is the case with many NFC teams, the opportunity is now! Unfortunately the user skills in the division superced the football IQ of KingMike and the Packers are relegated to a last place team.
