With the NFL season just two weeks away, it’s time to give my predictions for the NFC North. Of the past three seasons, this has been one of, if not the most competitive divisions in the league. From superstar rosters to dominant regular-season records, the NFC North has been the home for teams that are looking to win their first Super Bowl or get back to the NFL’s biggest stage. Let’s dive into my predictions for how the NFC North will unfold.
4th Place: Green Bay Packers (7-10)
Someone has to be the one to say it. The Green Bay Packers are going to regress this season, big time. I don’t see the “Cheese Heads” being a serious contender for the division title. After getting off to an excellent 9-3-1 record, Micah Parsons’ season would end early after suffering a torn ACL. That hot start would cool off as Green Bay would end on a four-game losing streak and blow a 21-3 halftime lead to the Division rival Bears in the Wild Card round.
The ability to go year in and year out without a true number one receiver is going to catch up to them. With Josh Jacobs being formally charged with after being formally charged with two misdemeanors stemming from a domestic incident in May, he might be suspended for a chunk of the NFL season. Missing a 1,000-yard rusher for potentially 6-8 games will automatically put the team behind the 8-ball. Lastly, defensive superstar Micah Parsons is expected to return around Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys.
The loss of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will rear its ugly head this season. He was making chicken salad out of chicken scratch last year. I believe they have the worst roster, talent-wise, in the division, and I don’t see what everyone sees. Will they squeak out an extra win or two? Maybe, but I have the Packers finishing dead last in the NFC North.
3rd Place: Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
Last season, after starting 4-8, the Vikings would end the season on a five-game winning streak to finish 3rd in the NFC North with a 9-8 record. McCarthy would have an up-and-down season while dealing with injuries that would only allow him to play in 10 games in 2025.
With the inconsistencies at the position, Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray and named him the team’s starting quarterback to start the season. Considering their offensive talent, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, and Arron Jones, they have all the firepower to be an above-average offense in the NFL. Lastly, Brian Flores’ defense was excellent last season and will continue to grow extensively.
However, I have the Vikings finishing 8-9 and in 3rd place in the NFC North. On paper, they have all the talent in the world to contend for the division. For all the question marks that were surrounding the quarterback position last year, Murray will solve a majority of them. This might be the last chance he will have to prove himself as a starting QB in the NFL, and he has all the weapons to put the team in a position to contend for a Wild Card Spot.
2nd Place: Chicago Bears (12-5)
The Chicago Bears will take another leap. Pairing Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson proved last year to be one of the best pairings in the NFL. With an 11-6 record and one play away from the NFC Championship Game, I don’t see a reason why this team will be slowing down anytime soon. This is not your granddad’s Bears; this team is built on a high-powered offense behind a quarterback who has all the ability in the world to be the best player in the league.
Caleb will be under a new center this season. The loss of Drew Dalman will be a big one. He was coming off a Pro Bowl season, but he retired at the age of 27. Chicago did, however, trade for veteran center Garrett Bradberry from the Patriots.
Along with swapping centers, they added a plethora of defensive backs that should improve a back end that led the league in takeaways last season. Drafting Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad, then signing Coby Bryant, Xavier Woods, and Devin Bush will help bolster a defense that should take a step up from the 23rd-ranked scoring defense they were last season.
Trading away DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills will be an addition by subtraction. It allows the young, dynamic receivers like Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze to have a more impactful role. Chicago also has three tight ends who will all play meaningful snaps this season. I think the Bears take a jump and appear to be one of the teams that can make and win the Super Bowl.
NFC North Champions: Detroit Lions (14-3)
The Detroit Lions have quietly flown under the radar all offseason. I don’t understand it. They have the 6th-easiest-ranked schedule based on their opponent’s winning percentages (.467%). The core of their team, Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams, might be the best QB-WR1-WR2-RB-TE combo in the entire NFL. Moving Penei Sewell back to left tackle this season, when they drafted Blake Miller in the NFL Draft this past offseason, should help keep Goff upright this season.
I don’t see a world where the Lions don’t have one of the best offenses in the NFL, not just the NFC. If their defense can just be better than where they were last season, 22nd, they will dominate their opponents in the 2026 season. It wasn’t that long ago that they were the top seed in the NFC and found themselves in the conference title game.
With the Lions winning 14 games this season, they should be, and will be, in the mix for the top seed in the conference again. Are they the best team in the NFC on paper? No. However, this prediction is a mix of their high-end talent and their weak schedule. Detroit will return to their glory days in the division and climb to the top once again.
Final Thoughts
I think people will be surprised by how the NFC North unfolds this season. I don’t expect the standings at the end of the year to be much different than the predictions I have above. How do you think the NFC North will look at the end of the season? Who do you have winning the North?
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts and predictions on the NFC North! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! Thank you for making us part of your day, and look forward to seeing you again soon.
