Predicting the NFC North: Vikings, Bears, Lions leave Packers in the dust

Have you recently scanned the rosters of the teams in the NFC North? Three of them are stacked on both sides of the ball, while the cheeseheads in Green Bay leave a lot to be desired.

It really does look like a three-horse race in the North. Green Bay has a solid foundation with quarterback Jordan Love, but who is going to help him move the ball on offense? Josh Jacobs is on the NFL's exempt list amid legal accusations, and the receiver room is filled with guys who haven't been able to stay healthy.

Defensively, Micah Parsons is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and the Packers are likely combating the elite wideouts of the North with Keisean Nixon and rookie Brandon Cisse as their top two cornerbacks. Good luck with that.

I have the Vikings finishing 14-3 this season . It might be overly optimistic, but the defense is legit, and Kevin O'Connell's offenses have been dynamic when the quarterback play is above average. Look no further than the 13-win team in 2022 and the 14-win team in 2024.

As good as I think the Vikings are, I don't think the Bears and Lions are far behind. To help tell the story, I've ranked each team by position group (4 points for first place, 3 for second place, and so on). You'll notice that Green Bay comes in last five times. That, folks, is a recipe for disaster.

Yeah, I think Kyler Murray is better than Jordan Love. Jared Goff is terrific when given time to throw to his skill guys, but Caleb Williams is a potential MVP candidate this season.

Jahmyr Gibbs might put up prime LaDainian Tomlinson-like numbers for Detroit, while Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason give Minnesota a strong 1a and 1b at running back.

The Bears are right behind Minnesota with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

Green Bay, with the unproven Marshawn Lloyd as their No. 1 back until Jacobs returns (which isn't a guarantee), could be in serious trouble.

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings give Minnesota the best WR trio in the NFL. If T.J. Hockenson can regain his form from two years ago, the Vikings will be impossible to slow down.

Detroit is nearly as loaded with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta.

The Bears, with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, have upside but a lot to prove at receiver. Colston Loveland could be one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL.

The Packers boast Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden at receiver, and Tucker Kraft, who has to prove himself at tight end after suffering a torn ACL last November. Watson, who had 35 receptions last season, is their leading returning receiver.

Chicago should be strong again with Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright up front. Bradbury gave Minnesota fans nightmares for years, but he's been really good since leaving the Vikings.

Minnesota could leap to No. 1 in this category if they stay healthy. Christian Darrisaw has to prove that he's as good as he was pre-2024 knee injury, and that's the biggest key to the line this season. Donovan Jackson might be a mauler in Year 2 at left guard, while Will Fries and Brian O'Neill can dominate the right side. If Blake Brandel can handle starting at center, the Vikings will be in good shape.

Penei Sewell moves from right tackle to left tackle, and rookie Blake Miller is starting at right tackle for the Lions. The middle features Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, and Tate Ratledge. It could be good, but a lot depends on Ratledge and Miller on the right side.

The Packers are in trouble unless Jordan Morgan and Aaron Banks are good at left tackle and left guard, respectively. PFF ranks Green Bay's line 28th going into the season, which is another reason their offense could struggle to score points.

Detroit is menacing with Aidan Hutchinson, and they have decent options behind him on the edge in 2025 second-round pick Derrick Moore and former Viking D.J. Wonnum. Tyleik Williams, their 2025 first-round pick, and Alim McNeill are a nice 1-2 punch on the D-line.

Dallas Turner might lead the league in sacks if the preseason hype about him is real. That makes Minnesota even more dangerous, especially with Andrew Van Ginkel and newly signed edge rusher Kyle Van Noy in the mix. Up front, Jalen Redmond blossomed into a stud last season, while rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange have a chance to make the Vikings elite.

Green Bay gets a lower profile here because Parsons is starting the season on the PUP list. While he's out, it's up to Lukas Van Ness and the little-known Barryn Sorrell to bring pressure. At D-tackle, Devonte Wyatt is a stud.

Chicago's pass rush is led by Montez Sweat, but there isn't a lot behind him off the edge. Austin Booker has to make a jump to give them more pass-rushing juice. On the D-line, past-his-prime Grady Jarrett and Neville Gallimore are projected to start after the Bears traded Gervon Dexter. That ain't great.

I like the Bears with Devin Bush alongside T.J. Edwards. That's arguably two of the 25 best inside linebackers in the league.

I really like Green Bay's starters with Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin, but only if Franklin can return to his pre-2025 form. Last year, he posted a career-worst 38.0 PFF grade.

Detroit might have the best inside linebacker in the division with Jack Campbell, but Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes have more to prove, in my opinion.

The Vikings are last in this category, but that doesn't mean they're bad. It's just a product of the other teams having really strong inside linebackers. Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson are solid starters, and Minnesota has no reason to worry with them on the field.

Chicago has a fairly high-end duo at cornerback with Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson. They'll be even stronger if Kyler Gordon returns from the PUP list.

I like the Vikings by a hair over Detroit with the trio of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre. Rookie Chuck Demmings might jump Pierre for playing time, but that's a good problem to have.

Detroit signing D.J. Reed gives them a shutdown corner to pair with Rock Ya-Sin, who is a serviceable No. 2 cornerback. Keith Abney at nickel could be good, but he's a rookie who has yet to prove anything against NFL talent.

Green Bay is in trouble here. Keisean Nixon and rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse as the top two corners is a problem, especially if Cisse isn't a star.

Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams are an elite safety duo, and the Packers are going to need them to play at their highest level yet because of the concerns at cornerback.

Chicago looked great with Coby Bryant and first-round pick Dillon Thieneman at safety, but Bryant's season is likely over after undergoing knee surgery. That leaves the rookie and Xavier Woods as the starters, and that could be problematic.

The Vikings could be fine if Harrison Smith returns. Then they could pair him and Josh Metellus with Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, Jakobe Thomas, and Jacob Thomas rounding out the depth.

Detroit could jump to the top of this list if Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph eventually return from injury, but right now they're last with projected starters Avonte Maddux and Chuck Clark.

Special teams: Vikings, Bears, Lions, Packers

This is a big deal. Minnesota has the best kicker in Will Reichard, and rookie punter Brett Thorson performed very well in the preseason. With Myles Price being a dynamic return man, the Vikings are in good shape.

Tory Taylor gives the Bears an elite punter, and Cairo Santos is decent enough as a veteran kicker. Adding Kalif Raymond, who spent the past five seasons in Detroit, as an elite return man could swing games in Chicago's favor.

Detroit has a solid kicker/punter duo with Jack Bates and Jack Fox, while the return game is TBD with Tom Kennedy, Jacob Saylors, and Jabari Small.

Green Bay has a terrific punter in Daniel Whalen, but putting games on the foot of rookie sixth-round kicker Trey Smack is risky business. I do like Skyy Moore as a reliable kick and punt returner for the Packers.

If I award 4 points for a first-place ranking, 3 points for second, 2 points for third, and 1 point for fourth in my position group rankings, the Bears win the tally with 27 total points, followed by the Vikings (25), Lions (23), and Packers (15).

But that doesn't necessarily equate to wins. The schedule matters, and Minnesota plays an easier schedule than Chicago (but not Detroit). That plays into my 14-3 prediction for the Vikings, which includes road losses to Chicago, Detroit, and New England.

Minnesota wins the NFC North outright. But how far behind will the Bears, Lions and Packers be?

I honestly believe the Bears and Lions will both finish 11-6 and find a spot in the playoffs.

What about Green Bay? Their season will spiral out of control during a brutal mid-season stretch of games against Tampa Bay, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Carolina, New England, Minnesota, and the L.A. Rams. They might lose six or seven of those.

When it's all said and done, Green Bay will be staring up at everyone else with a 5-12 record.

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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Vikings section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.