Former 国产外流网player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he explores the current hierarchy in the best division in football ...
Some divisions are loaded with QB star power; some are tightly bunched together; some are fronted by surprising contenders. A third of the way through the 2024 国产外流网season, the NFC North appears to have it all.
Not only is this the first division since 1970 in which every team tallied four-plus wins through Week 6, but it also boasts the four teams with the highest point differentials in the league this season: the Minnesota Vikings (+63), Detroit Lions (+60), Chicago Bears (+47) and Green Bay Packers (+41). None of the NFL's other 28 teams own a figure above +39.
The 4-2 Bears are off this week, having carried a three-game winning streak into their bye. But fans of the division are still in for quite a Sunday, with the 5-0 Vikings hosting the 4-1 Lions in a massive NFC North showdown. Meanwhile, the 4-2 Packers will take on the 5-1 Texans in an enticing interconference bout at Lambeau Field. So, this feels like the perfect time to examine the pecking order in this stacked quartet.
Below, I've listed the biggest reason to believe each team can take the NFC North title, along with the biggest source of doubt, with the member squads arranged according to the likelihood that they'll end up as division champs. Without further ado, the rankings!
Why the Lions WILL win the division: Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have assembled an impressive roster without a glaring weakness. Detroit can win with force or finesse on offense, relying on a stout line and a talented collection of playmakers to light up scoreboards around the league. No one is scoring more points per game than this team (30.2), which ranks third in yards per game (416). With quarterback Jared Goff playing at a Pro Bowl level, the Lions can control the game with a balanced attack that carries explosive potential. If the defense keeps forcing turnovers and making timely stops in crucial moments, Detroit will be a tough out in the postseason.
Why the Lions WON'T win the division: The loss of Aidan Hutchinson. The third-year pro was playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level (having logged a league-high 7.5 sacks) when he suffered a season-ending injury last week. Now, Detroit is left without a high-end pass rusher on the front line. While Alim McNeill can pick up some of the slack as an interior defender with disruptive potential, the rest of the burden will be shouldered by a collection of unheralded worker bees (Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, James Houston and Isaac Ukwu). If the Lions are unable to swing a trade to bring in a more established pass rusher, the pressure will be on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to find creative ways to disrupt the timing and rhythm of opposing aerial attacks.
Why the Vikings WILL win the division: The marriage between Brian Flores' scheme and Minnesota's defensive personnel has created a potential juggernaut. Utilizing a unique Cover 0 scheme that meshes blitz-man coverage with some matchup-zone principles, the Vikings are scrambling the brains of quarterbacks and play-callers around the league, holding opponents to a passer rating of 70.3 (lowest in the NFL) and EPA per dropback of -0.27 (third-lowest, per Next Gen Stats). The ultra-aggressive pressure package that accompanies the coverage frees playmakers like Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, Pat Jones II and Harrison Smith to wreak havoc from various alignments. With Flores also utilizing some blitz-and-bluff tactics to keep opponents guessing at the line, the Vikings' defense is a nightmare to face.
Why the Vikings WON'T win the division: Sam Darnold could falter. Despite Darnold's stellar play under Kevin O'Connell's guidance, the jury is still out as to whether the former first-rounder can play at an elite level down the stretch. The seventh-year pro has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 8.1 yards per attempt while throwing 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. Darnold's 103.4 passer rating in 2024 is 25.1 points higher than the mark he'd put together previously in his career (78.3). So is he a one-year wonder as a playmaker from the pocket? The game changes as the playoffs near; the pressure escalates. Will Darnold's performance fall off as opposing defensive coordinators come to better understand how KOC masks the veteran's flaws while accentuating his strengths?
Why the Packers WILL win the division: They have one of the most complementary football teams in the league. Matt LaFleur has utilized a more balanced offense to match a defensive philosophy that prioritizes takeaways and minimizes big plays, and the yin and yang of Green Bay's playing style puts opponents in a bind when they're attempting to alter the game's momentum. When the Packers are able to successfully run the ball, with Jordan Love dropping dimes on complementary play-action passes, the clock ticks down, leading to fewer overall possessions. Opponents can then succumb to the pressure to score on every down, resulting in one-dimensional game plans with passes flying everywhere. This feeds into Green Bay's defense, which is set up to take the ball away, with defenders keeping their eyes on the quarterback. The Packers' turnover prowess (they have 17 takeaways, most in the NFL) can in turn provide their dynamic offense with more chances to score and put opponents away in the second half of games.
Why the Packers WON'T win the division: The lack of a true No. 1 WR. The Packers' No. 1 receiver-by-committee approach has given opponents problems, due to the diversity of a passing game in which the ball could end up going anywhere to anyone; through Week 6, six players on the roster have logged double-digit targets and 100-plus receiving yards. When games get tight down the stretch, however, opponents will focus on taking away Love's favorite throws and challenge the young quarterback to complete tight-window tries on the perimeter. If the Packers are unable to win their one-on-ones on the outside, the fifth-year pro will need to rely on more 50-50 balls to move the chains. Without an established blue-chip player who boasts take-over-the-game potential and a track record of making splash plays in crucial moments, the offense could stall.
Why the Bears WILL win the division: Chicago's offense dominates the headlines, but Matt Eberflus' defense will determine this team's fate. The opportunistic unit excels at taking the ball away, having forced 13 turnovers (tied for second-most in the NFL) in six games. Utilizing the "Peanut Punch" to knock the ball loose and sticky fingers to snag errant passes on tips and overthrows, the Bears' defense routinely creates short fields and scoring opportunities for the offense. Moreover, the smothering D, which ranks fifth in points allowed and seventh in yards yielded, can make opponents play on Chicago's terms in "grind it out" affairs. Only one team has reached 20 points against the Bears: the Indianapolis Colts, who beat Chicago 21-16 in Week 3. With playmakers on all three levels of the defense -- and a young, deep and talented secondary -- these ballhawking Bears prey on foes' negligence in all areas of the field. And given the immense impact turnovers have on 国产外流网games, its no wonder Chicago's currently riding a three-game win streak, having piled up eight takeaways in that span.
Why the Bears WON'T win the division: Caleb Williams' inexperience could put Chicago behind the eight ball down the stretch. Though the rookie has played well recently, the league will adapt quickly to his game and force him into mistakes by taking away the layups and challenging him to make difficult throws. If Williams loses some of the patience and discipline that have helped him thrive over the past few weeks, the losses could start to mount, with opponents baiting the rookie into playing "hero ball" and inherently spawning costly mistakes that keep the Bears from staying with the pack down the stretch. In Chicago's two defeats, Caleb threw four interceptions and lost a fumble. In the four wins, he had just one pick. This is a simple equation, but the first-year player needs to stay on the right side of it.
