The NFC North Can Be Even Better In 2025!

The Detroit Lions just came off their best regular season in franchise history. They won 15 games but lost in the Divisional Round to the Washington Commanders. They also lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs.

OC Ben Johnson went to the Chicago Bears, and DC Aaron Glenn went to the New York Jets. Normally, coaching turnover to this extent could lead to some struggles, but it shouldn’t for this team. As long as their heart and soul, head coach Dan Campbell, is leading the troops, they will always have success.

Campbell has changed the Lions’ culture since the day he got there and has overcome so much. He can overcome a few coordinators leaving. The offense led by Goff was top flight last year, and they should experience similar success this year.

The defense was what held Detroit back last year due to injuries. They should be getting many players back including pass rusher Aiden Hutchinson who was making his Defensive Player of the Year case before he got hurt.

Will they win 15 games? No. Are they the most experienced and battle-tested team in the North? Yes.

That alone gives the Lions the edge to finish at the top of the North once again.

2. Green Bay Packers

24 hours ago, the Green Bay Packers would not have been placed this high on the list. However, if Micah Parsons ends up on the roster, there’s no choice but to move them up. Yes, the Packers acquired Micah Parsons via trade.

Green Bay had to give up a decent load for him. They had to give away the 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, as well as Kenny Clark. It was something they had to do, though. Players like Parsons don’t grow on trees and Clark had a down year with just one sack in 2024.

The Packers just upgraded an already solid defensive front that had 45 sacks a season ago, which was ranked eighth most. Parsons can be the difference maker they need when facing top-flight QBs and teams, whom they struggled against last year.

Green Bay was 0-5 against the Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles. The number one way to wreck a good offense is an elite pass rush. Just ask the Kansas City Chiefs.

Parsons coming over makes them an elite pass rush. Now it is up to Jordan Love and that offense to allow the Packers defense to play with a lead so they can unleash that pass rush on obvious passing situations.

3. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are hoping to have a full season with young JJ McCarthy, who suffered a minuscule tear in last year’s preseason. He will be walking into a very favorable position for a young QB. On offense, he will have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and returning member Adam Thielen to work with.

This offense, minus Thielen, along with the genius of head Coach Kevin O’Connell, helped resurrect Sam Darnold’s career. He finished with a career high of 35 passing touchdowns and a 102.5 rating. Minnesota also finished the year 14-3.

The Vikings are the trickiest team to rank this year. If McCarthy is the real deal, they can win the division. If he struggles, they can finish in last place. The most likely scenario is that he starts slow and finishes the season off well.

That seems most reasonable for a rookie. It could be similar to what Bo Nix did last year. Start slow but finish strong and finish third in the division as a playoff team.

4. Chicago Bears

The Bears will finish last in the North for the second consecutive year. That, however, doesn’t mean they are going to have a bad year. The goal this season is to see if Caleb Williams, under new head coach Johnson, can make some strides in year two and be a more polished NFL QB.

Williams, in his rookie year, did a lot of good things. He made a lot of highlight plays, showcasing his brilliant god given abilities. His on schedule passing, though, is what needs some work.

Williams struggled to get rid of the ball on time and, as a result, took 68 sacks, which led the league. He tried to be the hero on every play, and Johnson’s goal this year is to make him excel at the boring stuff.

Williams’ improvisational skills should come when needed. Can he leap in year two? If anyone can turn him around, it is Johnson and his brilliance on offensive play calling.

Chicago may not make any dents on the standings, but it will be a season that Bears fans will feel god about.

End Of NFC North Rant

The North was very good last year and has a chance to be even better. There probably won’t be another occurrence of having both a 15-win and a 14-win team. However, the division will be more balanced.

It’s not crazy to think that every team could have a winning record. It’s more than possible that the best team has 12 wins and the worst has eight. No division has ever had all four teams make the postseason, but if there was one that could achieve that feat it is the NFC North.