The NFC North crown came down to the final game of the NFL season in 2024 when the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions faced off. By securing the victory, the Lions also clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, earning a first-round bye.
Minnesota still made the playoffs, though, as did the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings were 14-3, a record that is usually good enough to win the division. The Packers were 11-6, with five of those losses coming to division foes.
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The Chicago Bears got off to a 4-2 start before spiraling out of control after giving up a last-second Hail Mary to Jayden Daniels. But they could have beaten the Packers an additional time, and they had a chance to beat the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
So, how good will the 2025 version of the division be? Eric Edholm of NFL.com ranked the NFC North as the best division in the league once again, citing their strength from top to bottom, even if each team has its own unique questions to answer.
The Vikings won 14 games and had a shot at the NFC’s top seed in Week 18, but their win projection now is murkier with the shift to QB J.J. McCarthy. If the second-year pro is ready to roll, this is a team that can win now behind Kevin O’Connell. No slouches, the Packers are out to prove they can build on an 11-win season, although it’s a critical campaign for Jordan Love and Green Bay’s defense to prove proficient.
It makes the road to the playoffs more challenging if every team is a playoff contender, but the competitiveness could drive the Vikings to new heights. If J.J. McCarthy can come anywhere close to Sam Darnold’s 2024 season, the Vikings should be fighting for the division title once again.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Where does the NFC North stack up among the rest of the NFL?