In 2021, the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams, opening up the possibility of an entire division making it in.
It's not uncommon for a division to have three teams go to the playoffs.
Last season we saw the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers represent the NFC West.
But the NFC North might take this one step further, writes Sports News Blitz’s NFL expert Josiah Burdsall..
Right now, every single team has at least six wins, and if the playoffs started today, they would all be in.
It seems unlikely, but with Caleb Williams and Jordan Love gunslinging, and the Vikings locking down every offense they face, maybe just maybe it can happen.
Current NFC North standings:
Chicago Bears (7-2)
Detroit Lions (6-2)
Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Green Bay Packers (6-3)
Green Bay Packers (63% chance to make the playoffs)
In some divisions, cough NFC South, three wins is enough to lead, but in the NFC North, the Packers are fourth with a 6-3 record.
The Packers had a shaky start.
Four games in, they were 2-2. They had lost to the Falcons, and barely snuck past the Jets and Buccaneers.
Then they got a BIG 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears and haven’t looked back.
Jordan Love leads the league in passing yards with 2,618, and has thrown for 19 touchdowns.
Their defense has quietly been solid, ranking 11th for yards and points allowed.
In the last six games, Green Bay is 5-1. And they are coming off their most impressive win yet, a 45-27 road win over the Patriots.
Biggest strength: passing
As previously mentioned, Jordan Love leads the league in passing yards.
The Packers as a whole are second only to the Cincinnati Bengals for team passing yards.
Biggest weakness: rushing
Perhaps Green Bay has so many passing yards because they can’t rely on their running backs.
They average just 68.2 rushing yards per game. With Josh Jacobs once again out, this is unlikely to improve.
Record vs NFC North: 1-2
Green Bay Packers 22-39 Minnesota Vikings: week one
Chicago Bears 7-31 Green Bay Packers: week five
Green Bay Packers 17-20 Detroit Lions: week seven
Remaining schedule:
vs Minnesota Vikings - week 10
Bye - week 11
@ Los Angeles Rams - week 12
@ New Orleans Saints - week 13
vs Buffalo Bills - week 14
vs Miami Dolphins - week 15
@ Chicago Bears - week 16: Christmas Day
vs Houston Texans - week 17
vs Detroit Lions - week 18
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Minnesota Vikings (74% chance to make playoffs)
Two weeks ago, the vibe around the Minnesota Vikings was much more positive.
Starting 6-0, the Vikings were the last undefeated team in the league.
Now they’ve lost two in a row.
Whilst the other three teams have outstanding quarterback play, Kyler Murray has failed to impress in Minnesota.
To combat this, the Vikings have brought Kirk Cousins back to the twin cities.
He played two years under Kevin O’Connell, making the pro bowl in 2022.
O’Connell will be hoping Cousins can revive his connection with Justin Jefferson.
In the 2022 season, Jefferson led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809)
The good news for the Vikings is even if their offense struggles, their defense will keep them in every game they play.
Minnesota has scored over 20 points just three games this year, yet they’ve managed to win six.
Biggest strength: defense
Brian Flores has not only put together the league’s best defense this season, but one of the best we’ve seen this decade. They are allowing 14.5 points per game.
The Bears’ offense has been electric this season, but how much did they score against the Vikings? Three points.
Biggest weakness: quarterback
Trading for a 38-year-old Kirk Cousins is a gamble. Minnesota needs it to work, or they risk squandering a promising season.
Record vs NFC North: 2-1
Green Bay Packers 22-39 Minnesota Vikings: week one
Minnesota Vikings 9-3 Chicago Bears: week two
Minnesota Vikings 15-19 Detroit Lions: week eight
Remaining schedule:
@ Green Bay Packers - week 10
@ San Francisco 49ers - week 11
vs Atlanta Falcons - week 12
vs Carolina Panthers - week 13
@ New England Patriots - week 14
vs Detroit Lions - week 15
vs Washington Commanders - week 16
@ New York Jets - week 17
vs Chicago Bears - week 18
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Detroit Lions (83% chance to make the playoffs)
This isn't the Detroit Lions team that went 15-2 two years ago, but they are still a great unit.
Their offense has slowed in recent weeks, but they are still scoring the fifth most points per game in the league.
Their average of 27.8 is the best in the division.
Meanwhile, Jared Goff has thrown for 2,134 yards, and just two interceptions.
The defense also looks to be improving, with the Lions holding their opponents to under 20 points in each of the last three games.
They also haven’t scored more than 20 points in any of those games, but they won all three.
On their day, Goff, Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs can absolutely blow you away.
Detroit has one of the toughest ends to the season.
They will have to play all three divisional opponents on the road in their final four games.
Biggest strength: ball security
The Lions have turned the ball over five times this season (two interceptions, three fumbles) the second fewest in the league.
That can go a long way towards victory, especially come playoff time.
Biggest weakness: secondary
Much of the Lions’ offensive stats are near the top of the league, their secondary is much less flattering.
They’ve allowed the most passing yards per game in the NFL.
Against elite offenses, this is a problem, as the Bills showcased when they scored 41 points in week 2.
NFC North record: 2-0
Green Bay Packers 17-20 Detroit Lions: week seven
Minnesota Vikings 15-19 Detroit Lions: week eight
Remaining games:
vs New England Patriots: week 10
vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: week 11
vs Chicago Bears: week 12: Thanksgiving
@ Atlanta Falcons: week 13
vs Tennessee Titans: week 14
@ Minnesota Vikings: week 15
vs New York Giants: week 16
@ Chicago Bears: week 17
@ Green Bay Packers: week 18
Chicago Bears (83% chance to make the playoffs)
It was an ugly game against the Buccaneers.
Caleb Williams threw four interceptions, breaking a streak of 36 games without multiple interceptions.
Sloppy play allowed the Buccaneers back into a game that should’ve been wrapped up by halftime.
At the end of the day, the Bears still won.
Considering Williams’ previous record, Bears fans won’t be too worried about his poor game, especially when he still led a game winning drive at the end.
He’s throwing for almost 300 yards every game.
And with Kyle Monangai expected to return after the bye, Chicago can resume the double running attack of DeAndre Swift and Monangai.
The Bears defense was struggling, so they went all in, trading two first round picks for elite defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
So far he’s already recorded two sacks in two games.
The Bears look like a complete team that might go all the way.
One worrying stat however is Ben Johnson’s record vs the NFC North.
Despite Chicago’s success under the young head coach, he is 3-6 against divisional opponents.
Chicago’s only two losses this year were to divisional opponents.
It’s hard to know how much this will matter.
Last season, the Bears were 2-4 against the NFC North and still won it.
Biggest strength: Passing options
With Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland, Chicago has an embarrassment of riches in receivers.
Even without Cole Kmet, Caleb Williams has no shortage of great options to throw to.
Biggest weakness: secondary
Like the Lions, Chicago’s greatest weakness has been their secondary.
Chicago is allowing a league-worst 13.2 yards per reception.
The Bears brought in safety Coby Bryant in the summer, only for him to get a major injury. He might be available for the playoffs though.
Record vs NFC North: 0-2
Minnesota Vikings 9-3 Chicago Bears: week two
Chicago Bears 7-31 Green Bay Packers: week five
Remaining schedule:
bye: week 10
vs New Orleans Saints: week 11
@ Detroit Lions: week 12: Thanksgiving
vs Jacksonville Jaguars: week 13
@ Miami Dolphins: week 14
@ Buffalo Bills: week 15
vs Green Bay Packers: week 16: Christmas Day
vs Detroit Lions: week 17
@ Minnesota Vikings: week 18
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