The Detroit Lions' bid to re-take the NFC North feels strong headed into this season. With a revamped offensive line, a slightly reinforced pass rush, and some deeper optionality in their secondary (now without Terrion Arnold, who was released on Monday), they seem primed for a deeper run than what they put together in 2025.
Of course, the rest of the NFC North is looking stronger, as well. And, the Lions will be taking on the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings twice this season. They went 2-6 in divisional play in 2025, a record they're surely looking to turn around for 2026.
There are four specific players from each squad that could present some serious problems for Detroit during those key divisional contests, though.
4 NFC North matchups that could give Lions trouble in 2026
Green Bay Packers EDGE Micah Parsons
Parsons is entering the season injured, and unlikely to suit up until October at the very earliest. Sounds like good news for a Lions offensive line that's going to need some time to gel, right?
Well, not exactly. Parsons' October return date lines up perfectly with when the Lions meet the Packers on October 25 in Week 7, which could be an issue if Detroit's line hasn't synced up well enough ahead of that contest to take on the challenge of keeping Parsons at bay.
The good news is that there's a decent shot that Parsons won't have his sea legs completely under him by the time these two teams clash, but if he's just entering with fresh legs rather than shaky ones, this could stand to be the Lions' first major test for their offensive line headed into November.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
As noted, the Lions are now short one starting cornerback following the arrest and subsequent release of Arnold from the roster. Detroit did well to take a no-nonsense approach to this situation, and they're a great example moving forward for how other NFL teams should handle these issues in the future - whether they will take up the example remains to be seen, but I'll have to say I highly doubt it.
READ MORE: Lions 2024 draft class officially reaches disaster status after Terrion Arnold release
That all being said, Detroit will be looking internally, most likely, for an answer at CB2. That leaves them vulnerable to a division chock-full of talented receivers, but none more talented than Jefferson. The star WR again has a quarterback that could throw to him with a bit more accuracy and consistency than J.J. McCarthy, which threatens the Lions' secondary.
The two teams play in Week 8, and by then, the Lions will have ideally figured out a nice groove in their secondary with whoever their new CB2 is - Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, and even rookie Keith Abney II are going to be competing for that spot. One of these players will need to lock down a talent like Jefferson twice in a year, which is a huge ask.
Chicago Bears WR Kalif Raymond
Who doesn't love a good revenge arc?
While Raymond has no reason to feel glum about his time with the Lions, nor their subsequent lack of interest in him in free agency due to their own belt-tightening, he could want to have a big game with the Bears' special teams unit, especially against a Detroit team still searching for a consistent gunner.
And, there's always the wrinkle that some of Raymond's best seasons with the Lions were under former OC and now-Bears HC Ben Johnson. Johnson could once again unlock Raymond's potential with Caleb Williams in tow, once again putting pressure on the Lions' secondary to piece it together against him.
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