NFC North Primer: Packers push Lions, Bears looming

Ben Johnson jumped from his gig as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions to become head coach of the Chicago Bears in a move that could create a seismic shift in the NFC North.

But that leap is bound to take some time as the Bears celebrate 40 years since the Super Bowl Shuffle.

The Bears are competitors on paper, and excitement for the Monster of the Midway to return to the playoffs might be tempered only by the reigning beast of the North in Detroit.

The Lions dominated the conference even in the face of a revolving-door plan on defense caused by major injuries. Now without Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, hired to become head coach of the Jets, more falls to head coach Dan Campbell and 2024 MVP candidate quarterback Jared Goff to keep the talented roster churning forward.

One roadblock to consider is a loaded defense in Green Bay, where Jordan Love is coming off of preseason thumb surgery, but the Packers acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.

And the only team to make a change at quarterback is the Minnesota Vikings.

J.J. McCarthy replaces Sam Darnold after a virtual redshirt rookie season prompted by knee surgery last summer. A first-round selection in the 2024 draft, McCarthy steps into an offense with Justin Jefferson as the WR1.

1. Green Bay Packers (11-6 predicted record)

2025 Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 vs Detroit Lions

W2 Thu Sep 11 vs Washington Commanders

W3 Sun Sep 21 at Cleveland Browns

W4 Sun Sep 28 at Dallas Cowboys

W5 Bye

W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Cincinnati Bengals

W7 Sun Oct 19 at Arizona Cardinals

W8 Sun Oct 26 at Pittsburgh Steelers

W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Carolina Panthers

W10 Mon Nov 10 vs Philadelphia Eagles

W11 Sun Nov 16 at New York Giants

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Minnesota Vikings

W13 Thu Nov 27 at Detroit Lions

W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Chicago Bears

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Denver Broncos

W16 Sat Dec 20 at Chicago Bears

W17 Sun Dec 27 vs Baltimore Ravens

W18 Sun Jan 4 at Minnesota Vikings

Predicted Breakout Player: If you paid attention to the Packers last season, you've already seen the relentless effort and profound impact linebacker Edgerrin Cooper can have on this overlooked defense. He's more than capable of being on All-Pro lists this season with the attention of blocking schemes elsewhere. One notch below, DE Lukas Van Ness is one of the immediate beneficiaries to the Packers moving Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade. He has the athletic tools and upside to emerge as a consistent pass-rush threat if Parsons is healthy and producing at his predicted level.

Holiday chopping: All bets are off in the North standings until mid-December, when this bloodbath gets real. If the Packers make a push to the postseason, all appearances of the final seven games of the season would support the belief that they will have earned it. Starting with the Vikings at Lambeau before a short-week Thanksgiving trip to Detroit and two dates with the Bears, the AFC crossover games with 2024 playoff teams -- Denver and Baltimore -- stand as a stern challenge for even a top-rated roster.

2. Detroit Lions (11-6 predicted record)

2025 Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 at Green Bay Packers

W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Chicago Bears

W3 Sun Sep 22 at Baltimore Ravens

W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Cleveland Browns

W5 Sun Oct 5 at Cincinnati Bengals

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Kansas City Chiefs

W7 Mon Oct 20 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

W8 Bye

W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Minnesota Vikings

W10 Sun Nov 9 at Washington Commanders

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Philadelphia Eagles

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs New York Giants

W13 Thu Nov 27 vs Green Bay Packers

W14 Thu Dec 4 vs Dallas Cowboys

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Los Angeles Rams

W16 Sun Dec 21 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

W17 Thu Dec 25 at Minnesota Vikings

W18 Sun Jan 4 at Chicago Bears

Predicted Breakout Player: WR Jameson Williams ran into multiple self-inflicted wounds and stunted his growth to a certain extent, but the former first-round pick is evolving quickly from a one-trick deep threat. He'll still be a concern for backpedaling cornerbacks and those challenges might multiply rapidly if Williams proves a disciplined route-runner on explosive in-cutting routes as advertised.

Meet the new boss: Campbell continues to use the external concern over changing coordinators as internal motivation. He believes the roster has improved and with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson, it's hard to argue Detroit's defense will have more bite.

3. Chicago Bears (10-7 predicted record)

Schedule

W1 Mon Sep 8 vs Minnesota Vikings

W2 Sun Sep 14 at Detroit Lions

W3 Sun Sep 21 vs Dallas Cowboys

W4 Sun Sep 28 at Las Vegas Raiders

W5 Bye

W6 Mon Oct 13 at Washington Commanders

W7 Sun Oct 19 vs New Orleans Saints

W8 Sun Oct 26 at Baltimore Ravens

W9 Sun Nov 2 at Cincinnati Bengals

W10 Sun Nov 9 vs New York Giants

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Minnesota Vikings

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

W13 Fri Nov 28 at Philadelphia Eagles

W14 Sun Dec 7 at Green Bay Packers

W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Cleveland Browns

W16 Sat Dec. 20 vs Green Bay Packers

W17 Sun Dec 28 at San Francisco 49ers

W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Detroit Lions

Mr. Williams' neighborhood: Thriving in unrehearsed situations is an ingredient for greatness in quarterbacks and, hoo boy, did Caleb Williams go through it as a rookie. Even with a handful of coaching changes -- which necessitated multiple play-caller switches -- Williams challenged Aaron Rodgers' record for pass attempts without an interception and kept Chicago in more games than the Bears probably deserved to be in. Under Johnson, the sharp-edged attention to detail could spell instant returns -- and wins -- for the 2024 No. 1 overall pick.

Living on the edge: Is there enough of a pass rush in place for the Bears to rattle the elite quarterbacks on their schedule? One reason pundits are picking against Chicago contending is the uncertain production from their defensive ends. Montez Sweat wins consistently but without a sidekick, can they get home enough? GM Ryan Poles wrote big checks to bring in defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who is well into the back nine of his career at age 32, and Dayo Odeyingbo (6-5, 282) is the starter at left end opposite Sweat. He's big, powerful and can win one-on-one, but don't bet on him becoming the difference-maker on defense.

4. Minnesota Vikings (8-9 predicted record)

Schedule

W1 Mon, Sep 8 at Chicago Bears

W2 Sun, Sep 14 vs Atlanta Falcons

W3 Sun, Sep 21 vs Cincinnati Bengals

W4 Sun, Sep 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin, IE)

W5 Sun, Oct 5 at Cleveland Browns (London, UK)

W6 Bye

W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Philadelphia Eagles

W8 Thu Oct 23 at Los Angeles Chargers

W9 Sun Nov 2 at Detroit Lions

W10 Sun Nov 9 vs Baltimore Ravens

W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Chicago Bears

W12 Sun Nov 23 at Green Bay Packers

W13 Sun Nov 30 at Seattle Seahawks

W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Washington Commanders

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Dallas Cowboys

W16 Sun Dec 21 at New York Giants

W17 Thu Dec 25 vs Detroit Lions

W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Green Bay Packers

Predicted Breakout Player: J.J. McCarthy (QB) -- Despite being unproven, many analysts expect McCarthy to make a leap as the Vikings' starter, with his development being a key storyline. No single standout named in sources, but his role as QB with upside suggests breakout potential.

Running men: Aaron Jones was a solid addition for the Vikings after being released by the Packers before last season, but Minnesota's ground game remained mediocre (93.4-yard average per game). Signing Jordan Mason in free agency after his breakout season with the 49ers and the return of tone-setting left tackle Christian Darrisaw sparks optimism for the rushing attack to be a featured part of the scheme. Minnesota also signed free agents Ryan Kelly, a former Pro Bowl center with the Colts, and his teammate in Indy, new right guard Will Fries, to bolster the front five.