The NFC North is set to be one of the most contentious divisions in the NFL this season. While the Detroit Lions are entering the year a bit more rounded out than they were in 2025, they'll have their hands full keeping the rest of the division at bay while fighting to get healthier by the time their bye week rolls around.
One advantage that the Lions do have over their rivals is talent at basically every position, save for perhaps their interior offensive line or their current secondary. Both are expected to improve throughout the year with injured players returning, though, so it's not a permanent mark against them.
Green Bay Packers expert Freddie Boston agrees with that point, with him recently naming the Lions as the top team in the division by ranking all four squads in seven categories: pass-catchers, quarterback room, running back room, offensive lines, front sevens, secondaries, and schedule.
"It's close, as expected. The Lions lead the way with 14 points. They ranked in first place for running backs, front sevens, and schedules, while finishing last in only one category."
Packers expert ranks Lions top team in NFC North by seven key categories
Lists like these do a great job of laying simply and bare where each teams' strengths lie. Any Lions fan will be willing to tell you that their offensive line and secondary are weak points (for now), while they're quite strong everywhere else on their roster.
It's why the few write-offs of the Lions in preseason rankings don't tend to make sense. They're going based on the strengthening of teams like the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears, and not the ease of schedule or locked-in talent of the Lions.
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There's also a real chance at regression for teams like the Bears and Packers, who - like the Lions - didn't do a whole to improve their rosters this offseason. Why, then, is Detroit often demoted in power rankings for not improving their secondary or guard room, while Chicago and Minnesota are seen as risers despite real question marks at quarterback (for Minnesota) and defense (for Chicago)?
That's why getting these rooms ranked individually, as well as seeing strength of schedule playing a part, is important to creating a more realistic power ranking in the NFC North. There's obviously some bias here, but the Lions shouldn't be slept on this season despite a poor 2025 showing.
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