NFC North Preview<\/p>\n
In 2025, the NFC North became the second division in modern history to have every team finish above .500. Yes, even the J.J. McCarthy-led Vikings had a winning record (9-8).<\/p>\n
Chicago Bears<\/p>\n
(11-6, lost in divisional round)<\/p>\n
Headline change: Trading D.J. Moore.\u00a0The receiver\u2019s departure was bigger news than center Drew Dalman\u2019s retirement, but the latter arguably hurt Chicago more (Dalman was coming off his first Pro Bowl and is just 27 years old). The Bears then traded with the Patriots for\u00a0Garrett Bradbury (24th in PFF\u2019s\u00a0center rankings<\/a>) and reached on center\u00a0Logan Jones<\/a>\u00a0in the second round of April\u2019s NFL Draft.<\/p>\n As for receiver, second-year player Luther Burden III is expected to step up.\u00a0He dodged a major injury<\/a>\u00a0this weekend but will miss the remainder of the offseason with a groin strain.<\/p>\n Subtle change: Losing three safeties.\u00a0The Bears defense was awful in 2025 but made up for it with a league-leading 33 takeaways. That\u2019ll be hard to replicate with five new defensive backs. Chicago lost All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, safety Jaquan Brisker and slot corner C.J. Gardner-Johnson, among others. Adding former Seahawk Coby Bryant was a plus, but Bryant is sidelined into late fall\u00a0with a knee injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lingering question: Can the defense keep up?\u00a0Coach\u00a0Ben Johnson\u2019s offense averaged 26 points and 370 yards per game. But his defense didn\u2019t leave much margin for error (24.4 points, 362 yards per game), with one of the league\u2019s worst pass rushes. I\u2019m not confident this year\u2019s unit is better.<\/p>\n Projection: 9-8.\u00a0Bears fans seem torn after a remarkable 2025. The offense could be even better, but will the defense sink this team? A winnable schedule should have the Bears back in the postseason, where Chicago might need more plays like this:<\/p>\n Green Bay Packers<\/p>\n (9-7-1, lost in wild-card round)<\/p>\n Headline: Josh Jacobs arrested.\u00a0Coach\u00a0Matt LaFleur\u2019s offense<\/a>\u00a0is predicated on a strong running game, which is in jeopardy with the star running back under investigation because of\u00a0allegations of domestic violence<\/a>. Jacobs practiced all offseason, but his status remains one of 10\u00a0big questions<\/a>\u00a0facing Green Bay. A suspension could still come.<\/p>\n Subtle: Jordan Morgan at left tackle.\u00a0Morgan is a former first-round pick who is reverting to his college position to\u00a0protect Jordan Love\u2019s blindside<\/a>. Concerns with his arm length are why he has played guard in the NFL, though he clearly showed enough in a Week 18 spot start at left tackle to gain the team\u2019s trust. An overmatched offensive line cost this team last season, especially in its Week 3 upset loss to the Browns, so this is one to watch.<\/p>\n Question: How does the defense fare without Micah Parsons?\u00a0The Packers finished 0-5 without Parsons last season. Their defensive success rate plummeted from 10th-best to 30th, and they allowed over 28 points per game. New DC Jonathan Gannon has shifted to a 3-4 base defense and could get Parsons back for Week 6 against the Cowboys.\u00a0The latest on Parsons\u2019 timetable is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Projection: 10-7.\u00a0Green Bay was 9-3-1 and\u00a0fifth in our Power Rankings<\/a>\u00a0before Parsons\u2019 injury. Assuming they split the season series in their division, the Packers would need to beat the Dolphins, Saints, Panthers, Jets, Falcons, Buccaneers and Cowboys to finish with 10 wins. They should. This is still an uber-talented team.<\/p>\n Minnesota Vikings<\/p>\n (9-8 in 2025)<\/p>\n Headline: Kyler Murray at quarterback.\u00a0Minnesota ranked 29th in passing yards per game, 30th in QB rating and 32nd in turnovers. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy\u2019s debut season was so rough that the Vikings had to bring in Murray on a one-year deal, despite spending the 2024 No. 10 pick on McCarthy. Both are\u00a0competing for the same goal:\u00a0career revitalization<\/a>.<\/p>\n Subtle: Defensive departures.\u00a0Longtime safety Harrison Smith might not return for 2026,\u00a0costing the Vikings defense its connective tissue<\/a>, invaluable in defensive coordinator Brian Flores\u2019 chaotic schemes. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is now in Philly, and he was replaced by third-year Dallas Turner, who\u00a0ended 2025 on a high<\/a>.<\/p>\n Question: Can they run the ball?\u00a0Murray\u2019s addition adds a rushing element that coach Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s offense has lacked. Is it enough? The Vikings have been a below-average rushing team in each of O\u2019Connell\u2019s four seasons. Fixing that was the offseason focus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Projection: 9-8.\u00a0This is a good team with elite play callers on both sides of the ball. I\u2019m just not confident that Murray elevates this offense all that much, which is necessary in a division with three teams that can score on anyone. But if Murray proves a strong match with O\u2019Connell and Justin Jefferson, this team will be difficult to beat.<\/p>\n Detroit Lions<\/p>\n (9-8 in 2025)<\/p>\n Headline: New offensive coordinator.\u00a0After John Morton failed to replicate Ben Johnson\u2019s success,\u00a0Detroit turned to Drew Petzing<\/a>. The former Cardinals coordinator is expected to continue the under-center system with a heavy dose of play-action, a system better suited for Jared Goff than former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.<\/p>\n Subtle: Offensive line changes.\u00a0The once-strong Lions protection became a liability in 2025, ranking 31st in pass block win rate as Goff took a career-high 38 sacks. The running game was also impacted. So center Cade Mays was signed for $25 million to help, but a wrist injury will\u00a0sideline him for eight to 10 weeks<\/a>. Rookie first-round pick Blake Miller is still healthy, at least.<\/p>\n Question: How does their secondary fare?\u00a0Over the past two seasons, this Lions defense has had the worst injury luck of\u00a0any defense this century<\/a>. It\u2019s carried over to 2026. Detroit is likely to open the season without star safeties Brian Branch (Achilles injury) and Kerby Joseph (knee), while 2024 first-round cornerback\u00a0Terrion Arnold was released<\/a>\u00a0because of off-field issues.<\/p>\n Projection: 12-5.\u00a0A last-place finish gives Detroit the\u00a0league\u2019s easiest schedule<\/a>. That, plus its talent on both sides of the ball, makes it a likely bounce-back season after falling from 15-2 to 9-8 last year. The Lions have significant questions,\u00a0but they are my dark horse Super Bowl pick.\u00a0The injury luck has to change eventually, right?<\/p>\n Extra Points<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Next Travis Hunter?\u00a0A high school prospect<\/a> plans to enroll in college at just 16 years old. The two-way star is inevitably drawing comparisons to the former Heisman winner. You read both sentences right.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc8\u00a02026 Freaks.\u00a0Reminder that Bruce Feldman\u2019s\u00a0annual list of the most athletic college football players<\/a>\u00a0is live, with Ohio State\u2019s Jeremiah Smith at No. 2.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcac\u00a0Hall of Fame speeches.\u00a0What we heard<\/a>\u00a0from Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees and the other members of the 2026 class, including former 49ers RB Roger Craig, who shared he has been diagnosed with dementia.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc9\u00a0Laremy Tunsil out.\u00a0The Commanders\u00a0lost the league\u2019s highest-paid offensive lineman<\/a>\u00a0to a triceps injury that might cost him the season.<\/p>\n \u25b6\ufe0f Most-clicked:\u00a0The Athletic\u2019s most\u00a0underrated fantasy options<\/a>\u00a0this season, including 49ers rookie De\u2019Zhaun Stribling.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udceb Enjoyed this read? 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