The NFC North was a pretty good division during the 2025 season, but there was only one team that won double-digit games. Coming out of nowhere, the Ben Johnson-led Chicago Bears did just enough to capture the division title, but also got some help thanks to a late-season collapse by the Detroit Lions.
And with Week 1 now in the books, the early returns do indicate that the division could look very similar this year to how it did in 2025, which would mean the Lions have a massive task to undertake. After winning the division two years in a row in 2023 and 2024, but losing it in 2025 and missing the playoffs, 2026 feels like a crucial year.
And in our Week 1 NFC North power rankings, the Lions do appear to have a potential problem on their hands.
Updated NFC North power rankings prove the Detroit Lions will have their hands full... again
4. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
The Green Bay Packers were outscored by 26 points in the second half, allowing the Minnesota Vikings to come back and win by 17 points. The Packers are a good team, but they simply don't have that extra gear that we've seen from teams like the Lions and Bears. Green Bay's offensive line is also a major concern, and with the pass rush being in a shaky spot until Micah Parsons returns, I am not sure the Packers should be looked at as a legitimate threat to win the division this year. Yes, it's early, but Green Bay has major personnel concerns on both sides of the ball.
3. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Minnesota lost Kyler Murray very early on with a concussion, but Carson Wentz proved to be good enough for the Vikings, and I am not sure the drop-off from Murray to Wentz is that great. With that said, the Vikings' quarterback situation is still shaky no matter who is under center, and this is a position that could surely come back to bite the team when we get into November and December. While the Lions are far from perfect, they simply do not have this type of concern.
The Vikings win was outstanding, but that doesn't mean they're out of the woods.
READ MORE: Juice Scruggs' debut at center should give Lions fans reason to exhale about offense
2. Detroit Lions (1-0)
Detroit's defense allowed all 30 points to the New Orleans Saints in the second half and overtime, which was a saddening development. Ideally, the Lions figure out how to put the two-year long defensive concerns behind them this year, but if not, the 2026 season will look a lot like 2026, unfortunately.
With that said, the offense is electric enough to cover up for those defensive shortfalls, but that could also turn into another 9-8 season, which may not be good enough for the playoffs. Luckily, the Bears have some defensive concerns, and we could honestly see the NFC North come down to which defense is less bad.
1. Chicago Bears (1-0)
The Bears putting up 59 points in Week 1 feels notable. Caleb Williams looked every bit like a high-end QB, and Johnson is clearly an ascending head coach in this league and may already be top-10 at his position. Chicago has young talent littered all over the place on offense, and with Williams under center, there really isn't a thing they won't be able to do.
Fortunately for the Lions, the Bears pass rush is virtually non-existent, and the secondary got flat-out embarrassed by Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers quarterback. I regret to say that the Bears probably have a higher offensive ceiling this year than the Lions do, but there is also an edge that the Lions can sometimes grab onto that should keep them right in the mix in the NFC North until the end.
I see a world where the Bears and Lions are battling it out with just weeks left to play in a tight NFC North race. For now, the Bears get the top spot.
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