Every team must set goals, some loftier than others. So, in the spirit of the season, Yardbarker NFL writers offer a New Year’s resolution for every NFC team.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-9) | Less chatter from the top | Owner Jerry Jones, 82, will never embrace the “less is more” concept, but his omnipresence with the Cowboys and the NFL overall often does more harm than good. Last offseason, he burdened the team by promising Dallas would be “all-in” for 2024 only to sign seven low-cost free agents, including five of the team’s own.
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13) | Find a QB | The Giants have no QBs signed beyond this season, and after the team’s 45-33 win over the Colts on Sunday, they have only a 5% chance of landing the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. If New York can’t land Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders or Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, it should explore a trade for Minnesota QB J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, if Minnesota re-signs NFL fourth-leading passer Sam Darnold.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3) | Run it back on defense | Zack Baun is a revelation at middle linebacker, leading the Eagles with 151 tackles (fourth most in the NFL), while edge-rusher Josh Sweat leads the team with eight sacks. Both pending free agents are having career years under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and must be re-signed.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (11-5) | Keep the OC in D.C. | Kliff Kingsbury disappointed with a 28-37-1 record as head coach of the Cardinals from 2019-22, but the Bears and Jets could give Washington’s offensive coordinator another shot after the job he’s done with rookie QB Jayden Daniels. It’s hard to say what it would take to keep Kingsbury, who still earns millions from the five-year contract extension Arizona gave him in 2022, but the Commanders should keep him around. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-9) | Develop the connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. | It is not that Harrison Jr. has had a bad rookie season (57 catches, 822 yards, seven touchdowns). It’s just that Murray and his new prime target did not make the immediate impact that was expected. The 48.2% completion percentage on passes to Harrison Jr. ranked only fifth of seven Cardinals pass-catchers with at least 20 targets.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-6) | Get off to a better start | For the third year in a row, the Rams stumbled out of the gate (1-4 this season). In each of the past two seasons, they bounced back and made the playoffs, but they can make it a lot easier on themselves in the second half of the season with a better start.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) | Eliminate contract drama | The early part of the season was dominated by contract headaches involving WR Brandon Aiyuk and OT Trent Williams. The 49ers have another big contract issue to deal with this offseason with QB Brock Purdy. It would wise for team and player to make this a smooth negotiation.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7) | Find a franchise QB | Nothing against Geno Smith (17 TDs, 15 picks), who has done a tremendous job turning his career around in Seattle, but he is not the guy to get the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Seattle has one more year of him on a manageable contract, so it has time to develop somebody. The Seahawks must find a difference-maker at the position. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-12) | Get a new gym membership | The Bears have struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball this season, allowing 67 sacks — the fourth most to a single QB in a season in NFL history — and giving up the sixth-most rushing yards per game (133.4). Perhaps more time in the weight room could help Chicago resolve its issues on both sides of the line.
DETROIT LIONS (14-2) | Start a new diet | The Lions have fallen victim to one of the worst “injury bug” cases in recent memory with 18 players — including 13 defenders — on injured reserve. Injuries are unpredictable and mostly unavoidable, but maybe a new diet could help ensure their players are 100 percent healthy before the 2025 season kicks off.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5) | Great QB karma | With Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at QB from 1992-2022, the Packers made three Super Bowl appearances. QB Jordan Love played well in the playoffs last season, but he’ll need to be stellar for the Packers to return to The Big Game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-2) | Vow to be smart with their cash | The Vikings have crucial decisions to make this offseason with 24 players set to enter free agency — including QB Sam Darnold, who could justifiably demand a hefty payday. Minnesota currently has the sixth-most available cap space in 2025 ($78 million), per Spotrac, and it will probably need every penny. — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-8) | Move on from QB Kirk Cousins | The Cousins signing was a flop, as Atlanta benched the former Vikings QB after only 14 starts for rookie Michael Penix Jr. The next step for Atlanta is to jettison Cousins and give Penix an entire offseason as the team’s No. 1 QB.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-12) | Improve rush defense | Even with its offense struggling, Carolina’s biggest issue is its horrid defense, particularly the league’s worst rushing defense. Entering Week 18, the defense is last in rush attempts (554), rushing yards (2,830) and yards per carry (5.1), making improving in that area key to the franchise turning things around.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11) | Make front-office changes | This is a pipedream for the Saints, whose GM, Mickey Loomis, has served in the post since 2002. After four consecutive non-playoff appearances and posting the franchise’s worst record since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans shouldn’t only be in the market for a new head coach.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7) | Get the No. 3 seed | Despite being a win away from its fourth consecutive division crown, the Bucs could be one-and-done in the playoffs if they’re stuck with the NFC’s No. 4 seed. Based on the current standings, Tampa will play the loser of Week 18’s finale between the Vikings (14-2) and Lions (14-2), but they’ll have a more favorable matchup against the Commanders (11-5) or Packers (11-5) if they surpass the Rams for the NFC’s No. 3 seed. — Eric Smithling
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