Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The three best teams in the NFC all play in the same division

By Victor Haltom | Last updated Oct 2, 2024 2:31 PM ET

The first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season have featured tons of excitement, and we are finally reaching a point where we are starting to distinguish who is for real and who is not.

On the NFC side, there's a case to be made that the three best teams are the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, all part of the NFC North. Let's break down why.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are the only undefeated team in the NFC, and they boast impressive wins over the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Packers. Cultivating the rejuvenation of quarterback Sam Darnold's career, the Vikings have outscored opponents 116-59 in the first four games of the season, limiting opponents to an average of only 14.8 points per game.

While second-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores is credited with Minnesota's stout defensive play this season, Darnold has exploited the Vikings' ample offensive weapons. This is highlighted by one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL — All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Darnold's fellow former USC Trojan, Jordan Addison. Jefferson has already racked up 358 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and despite missing two games due to injury, Addison has hauled in one TD reception and rushed for another.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are off to a 3-1 start, and they displayed their dynamic offense on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks, who were undefeated before Detroit beat them. Adopting the personality of their likable head coach, Dan Campbell, the Lions play a simultaneously tough and exciting brand of football.

The team has featured a balanced offensive attack in its first four games, with 129 rushing plays and 126 passing attempts. It also boasts a terrific combination at running back, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both over the 270-yard mark on the ground. Additionally, Jared Goff has been on target, completing over 70 percent of his passes. He regularly zeroes in on All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who already has 27 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns. In a well-executed trick play against the Seahawks, St. Brown completed a TD pass to Goff.

FINAL: Goff is perfect in the @Lions win! #SEAvsDET pic.twitter.com/V1nZVaE0I4
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2024

Green Bay Packers

Although the Packers are only 2-2, their star QB, Jordan Love, has been injured, and one of their losses came at the hands of the Vikings. Love missed two games with a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL).

Head coach Matt LaFleur is one of the best in the NFL. Pro Football Network rates him the sixth-best head coach out of the 32 in the league.

With Love's return, the well-rounded Packers are poised to return to the level of play they exhibited last season when they advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs and narrowly fell to the San Francisco 49ers.

Best of the Rest

Four other teams at or near the upper crust of the NFC are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seahawks, 49ers and Washington Commanders.

After suffering a perplexing loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 3, the Bucs bounced back with a dominant victory over the troubled Philadelphia Eagles.

The Seahawks have been excellent out of the gate, but their defense was porous against the Lions on Monday night. Injuries are significantly limiting the 49ers thus far, and they suffered a bad loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

Led by rookie sensation QB Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have been one of the surprising success stories early this season.

Victor Haltom

Victor Haltom began his undergraduate studies at SMU, then transferred to Penn State, graduating with BA in philosophy. He has extensive writing and editing experience, with over 250 sports-related articles having been published.

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