This story features contributions from Conner McFarlane, Lucas Kirchner, Sabrina Hiller, and Jackson Overholt
In 2024, the NFC North was by far the best division in football in the regular season. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. Combining all four teams’ records in 2024 they went 45-23. The next best division, the AFC West, went 40-28.
Despite the lack of playoff success last season, the North is poised to be just as good, if not better, in 2025. But which one is going to be the best?
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Chicago Bears (5-12 in 2024)
By Conner McFarlane
To say it’s been an eventful offseason in the Windy City would be an understatement.
Coming off a disappointing 5-12 campaign in 2024 that included an excruciating 10-game losing streak, it was clear that changes were going to take place in Halas Hall.
New Additions
First and foremost, a brand new, star-studded coaching staff has arrived. Headlined by household names like Ben Johnson, Dennis Allen, and Eric Bieniemy, the Bears weren’t shy about bringing in a coaching regime with a plethora of NFL experience and success.
The changes, however, didn’t stop there. Coming off a season in which the Bears led the NFL in sacks allowed, the offensive line needed an overhaul in a major way. Much to quarterback Caleb Williams‘ pleasure, an overhaul it got — three new interior offensive linemen led by All-Pro Joe Thuney.
Vice versa, the Bears also struggled getting pressure on the quarterback in 2024. In an attempt to address that, they brought in multiple-time Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett, as well as former Indianapolis Colt Dayo Odeyingbo.
In the NFL Draft, the Bears motive was clear: Make Caleb Williams’ life easier. As a result, they drafted two new pass-catching weapons for the second-year quarterback in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III.
2025 Outlook
Despite all these new additions, the Bears success in 2025 ultimately comes down to one major question: Will Caleb Williams show everyone why he was one of the most anticipated QB prospects of recent memory, or is he just another signal-caller to crumble under the bright lights in Chicago?
Playing in the NFC North, it’s not going to be easy. Last season all three division rivals finished with double digit wins and made the playoffs. Outside of their divisional matchups, the schedule doesn’t get much easier with games against the Commanders, Ravens, Eagles, Steelers, Saints, Cowboys, Bengals and 49ers, all of whom finished with a better record than Chicago last season.
In year one with a new coaching staff, expect some growing pains. It may not look perfect out of the gate in Week 1, but this team has potential, more than some of the Bears teams of recent memory. Does that mean the playoffs for the Bears in 2025? With the tough schedule, it will be an uphill battle, but not out of the question.
Ceiling: 10-7 (Wild Card Berth)
Floor: 6-11
Green Bay Packers (11-6 in 2024, loss in WC Round)
By Lucas Kirchner
The Packers are approaching an important year within the Jordan Love era.
After a 1-5, nearly 0-6 finish in the NFC North last year, the team needs to find its footing to stay in contention.
The team will look to several players to find their place in the team and make a crucial impact to help them overcome the challenges.
Crucial Players
With the departure of Jaire Alexander, the secondary needs to find some consistency and step up to fill the gap. With the addition of Nate Hobbs, they have a better secondary than they did for most of last season.
Additionally, Lukas Van Ness has a door open for his starting job — his role with the team depends on how he responds to this opportunity. The former first-rounder could have his chance to break out.
On the offensive side, when compared to Love, the wide receiving room leaves a lot to be desired. With Matthew Golden joining the team, there’s potential to clean up their drop rate.
Add in newly acquired edge rusher Micah Parsons, and it’s clear that Green Bay’s front office believes the team is built to win now; but it’s these specific positions of note that will ultimately determine how this team performs throughout the year.
The Schedule
It’s no secret that the Packers struggled in their division last year. Nearly going 0-6, but finishing 1-5 against the NFC North.
Outside of their division, they went 10-1, losing only to the Super Bowl Champion Eagles (twice, including playoffs).
Their outside schedule was relatively tame, which played to their advantage for playoff seeding. This year, they don’t have the same luxury.
Their outer division schedule includes the Commanders, Browns, Cowboys, Bengals, Cardinals, Steelers, Panthers, Eagles, Giants, Broncos, and Ravens — five playoff teams from the 2024 season, not counting their divisional rivals.
When it comes to strength of schedule, the Packers have the seventh hardest for 2025. Oddly enough, this is a win for them. The Vikings, Bears, and Lions all face tougher schedules.
With the “easiest” schedule in the division, the Packers have a slight opportunity to capitalize.
Still, the entire division is a toss-up game no matter what. The Vikings are testing out the McCarthy project, and the Lions lost their coordinators, opening a lane for the Packers and Bears to get even.
The Prediction
There are very few games for Packers fans to kick back and relax, but this brings a real test against the best teams in the league, which will tell the organization exactly where they are.
DraftKings’ win total line for the Packers is set at 9.5.
While 9.5 is a common win line for teams, it’s accurate to the midpoint of how good the Packers could be.
With a tough, but easier, schedule, there’s a lot of room for a breakout season, but just as much room for a bust, which in Green Bay’s case, would be something around a .500 season.
Ceiling: 12-5
Floor: 9-8
Minnesota Vikings (14-3 in 2024, Lost in WC)
By: Sabrina Hiller
The Sam Darnold led Minnesota Vikings of the 2024 season “outperformed” expectations. After going 14-3 in a season in which they were predicted to win only six games, it was in true Minnesota sports fashion that they saw their season come to an end in the Wild Card Round.
Fans were left with a sour taste in their mouth heading into the off season after an 18-point loss to the Rams.
If everything goes right in 2025, the Vikings have the capability to fight for the NFC Championship for the first time since 2009.
New Faces All-Around
Minnesota has a second season “rookie” QB1 in J.J. McCarthy who has won at every level of play so far in his career. The Vikings also have arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson, and a tandem “one-two punch” at RB in Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
A much-needed overhaul this offseason came to their offensive line. Minnesota added Will Fries and Ryan Kelly in free agency. Adding Donovan Jackson in the first round of the draft further added to the new look O-line. Some key additions on the defensive side of the ball were Javon Hargrave, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jonathan Allen.
Minnesota, when healthy, has the depth and the formula to win under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Optimistically, a 12-win season is within reach if everyone stays healthy and the team clicks the way fans hope it will.
However, that doesn’t mean that this season won’t have its obstacles.
Tough Schedule and Rough Travel
The Vikings are tied for the fifth toughest strength of schedule this season by last seasons winning percentage with the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. Minnesota opens the season with back-to-back weeks on prime-time television (Monday Night Football versus Chicago, and Sunday Night Football versus Atlanta).
Minnesota also sees back-to-back European games in Weeks 4 and 5, where they travel to Dublin to take on the Steelers in the NFL’s first ever Ireland Game, and to London for the second-straight year to take on the Browns.
On a brighter note, the Vikings get back-to-back home games versus NFC North rivals to close out the regular season.
Injuries and Outlook
Minnesota will be without receiver Jordan Addison for the first three weeks of the season. Addison is set to serve a mandatory suspension for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy.
Injuries have already been reported from training camp. A season ending injury to wideout Rondale Moore in the first preseason game added to the pile of problems that could derail Minnesota’s quest for their first Lombardi Trophy. Look to see the Vikings at seven wins total if a key piece of the puzzle goes down.
Ceiling: 12-5
Floor: 7-10
Detroit Lions (15-2 in 2025, Lost in Divisional Round)
By: Jackson Overholt
If the Lions hit their ceiling, which is as high as a Super Bowl victory, it will be because their high-powered offense doesn’t skip a beat, and their defense stays healthy enough to keep pace.
Although not an easy one, the Detroit Lions’ road to the Super Bowl has been mapped out.
The Lions have one of the best offenses in the league; they were the highest scoring in 2024. Although several coaches chose to leave, the Lions have the same team. Former LB coach Kelvin Sheppard now commands the defense, and senior offensive assistant with the Lions in 2022, John Morton, takes over control of the offense.
The team will be just as aggressive this season as last. The preseason has already shown incredible performances from players like Isaac Teslaa, Jackson Meeks, Eric Hallet II, and Tate Ratledge — players like those breaking out adds to the team’s depth, which ended up as a critical need at the end of last season.
https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1956787604025639317
The Lions have the right pieces; they just have to put it all together at the right time all season.
On the flip side, however, two teams in the NFC North could surpass the Lions if their depth doesn’t develop, their offensive line takes a step back from being a league-leading unit, and the grueling nature of the division gets the better of them.
The Lions only played their second and third stringers during the preseason, and did not officially win a game. This would not always be a concern, but given the state of the team’s health last year, it is certainly something to take note of. The wrong mix of substitutions could result in a few missed key plays.
Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow both left the offensive line, forcing a rearrangement. This could be problematic as the Lions would love to have more time for Goff to throw and clear paths for Gibbs and Montgomery. The mix of inexperience and new positions could result in a rocky start for the Lions’ offense.
Ceiling: 14-3
Floor: 9-8
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