There is only one division in all of football that has two teams with double digit wins and it’s the NFC North. The Detroit Lions are 12-1 and they are without a doubt one of the best teams in football. They went to the NFC championship game in 2023 and the expectations for that team heading into 2024 was very much super bowl or bust. And they have positioned themselves to go to the first Super Bowl in franchise history based on the first 13 games. The other team is one you may not have expected though and it’s the Minnesota Vikings. If you would have said heading into the season that Sam Darnold would be playing at an MVP level and that the Vikings would be 11-2 though the first 13 games – you would have been laughed at as nobody would have believed it. Not even the most loyal diehard Vikings fans. The Green Bay Packers who went to the divisional round of the playoffs last year are 9-4 and despite being a few games back in the division – they too are a very good team and I don’t think anyone would be surprised if they went to the Super Bowl. Now The Bears – well the Bears are 4-9 and are unfortunately coming off of a 38-13 loss to the 49ers – but they still very much play a part in today’s video. And simply put – the future of the NFC North is unreal. And in today’s video we’re going to break down why the NFC North is the best division in football and why the 4 teams in the NFC North are also in a great position to have future success. Now let’s begin
And we are starting today’s video by discussing the Chicago Bears. I know the Bears are 4-9 and they are coming off of 7 straight loses – and haven’t won a game since before their week 7 bye – but I do believe in the long term vision for this team. With one stipulation of course and we’ll get to that in a minute. The Bears final 4 games are at Minnesota, home against the Lions, home against the Seahawks, and at the Packers and to be completely honest – I would be surprised if they don’t finish the year 4-13. But I do think there is a lot to believe in with the Bears future for a couple of reasons. They will have 3 top 50 selections in the 2025 NFL draft because they still have the Panthers 2nd round pick from the Bryce Young trade and when they address the offensive line – whether it be in free agency, the draft, or both – this team will inevitably get better.
The Bears have over $80 million in cap space and whenever teams talk about capitalizing in a window with a quarterback on a rookie contract – the Bears in that window right now. And they need to capitalize this offseason by bringing somebody like a Trey Smith from the Chiefs who is a kick rear ends and take names later player. They could easily pay him and what also benefits the Bears is not only having Caleb Williams on the rookie scale contract – but also having Rome Odunze on the rookie scale contract and Rome is coming off of a 2 touchdown game in San Francisco. I know when he scored the touchdowns – at least with how the game was being played at that point – but Rome is on pace for a 765 yard rookie season and he has 2 100 yard games on the year so I do think there is enough to build on entering year 2.
I also really liked Rome as a receiving prospect and thought one of his weaknesses as a prospect was being in the same class as Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers. I love the future with this duo and the good news for the Bears is – they have enough assets to draft somebody like Will Campbell from LSU – or even trade up to go get him because again – this final 4 game stretch for the Bears is awful. With the amount of injuries Teven Jenkins has sustained through the first few years of his career – I would be surprised if they make a big effort to retain him when he unfortunately can’t stay on the field. I realize the Bears got carved up against the Niners and week 14 was brutal for them – but if this team makes the right hire at head coach – and they hire somebody like a Mike Vrabel, or a Ben Johnson – then I really really like where this franchise is headed. And that by the way is the big stipulation. I know there’s a lot of concerns with ownership and Kevin Warren and the people making the decisions – and I get it – but I think there is enough push back and enough outside voices to where the Bears may actually listen to what people have to say for once in their franchises history. If they make a mistake and hire the wrong head coach – like they did by keeping Eberflus when the rumor was General Manager Ryan Poles wanted to let him go to hire Jim Harbaugh – then the future of the Bears is a lot more bleak. I mean obviously. But from where they are right now – and with what can be done this offseason – the Chicago Bears are in a very good position to build the offensive line and seriously compete in 2025. Right now this team has 3 division losses by 7 total points. I know they’re 4-9, but this is not a bad football team.
The Detroit Lions are obvious as to why they have a great future. They have absolutely nailed the NFL draft over the past few years and the 2024 Lions are a shining example as to why teams build through the draft. It goes back to 2021 when a tackle prospect from Oregon fell to the number 7 pick by the name of Penei Sewell. For any fantasy football players I know the Lions have several great skill position players like Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams – but those guys having the years they’re having while some obviously falls on them – it all starts up front. Penei is a tone setter in in the trenches and he has not allowed a sack in all of 2024 and sometimes people wonder about how the quote on quote – generational prospects do once they get to the NFL – and Penei has more than lived up to the hype. Sewell is already a multiple time pro bowler and was a first team all pro in 2023 and while the NFL hasn’t announced the pro bowl list for 2024 yet – I will say Penei is going to be a pro bowler this year too – and I would be surprised if he’s not at minimum – a second team all pro. Also no Lions fans that wasn’t a subtle shot of me saying they’re not going to the super bowl so Penei can play in the pro bowl – that’s not what I meant.
My point is – this team has done everything the right way and they are one of the best teams in football for a reason. It was Penei and Amon Ra in 2021, Hutch, Jamo, Kerby Joseph, and Malcolm Rodriguez in 2022, and 4 insane draft picks in the top 50 in 2023 – and here we are now with the Lions at 12-1 and looking to be the number one seed and to have the NFC run through the motor city. And for those who may not know – the 4 picks in the top 50 in the 2023 draft were Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch who has emerged as one of the best defensive backs in football. The only thing that I think will trip this team up – aside from the sheer amount of injuries they’ve had in 2024 – especially defensively – is when it’s time for everyone to get paid. They paid Penei, Amon-Ra, and Jared Goff this offseason – and Hutch will get paid at some point – but when it’s time to pay everyone – somebody will either get traded for draft picks or the quality depth on the team will get paid elsewhere in free agency. But even at that point – the talent will still be amongst the best in the league and I absolutely trust what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are doing. They have earned the benefit of the doubt by the play they put on the field as this team is 24-6 in the regular season since the start of the 2023 season. Jared Goff has 25 passing touchdowns on the year to 10 interceptions and it is worth noting 5 came in one game – so outside of one bad game against Houston – in which they still won by the way – he’s been a really good player and whether it’s through the air or on the ground – they can beat you in any way they want. The Lions have ran for over 100 yards in every single game this season and they are positioned for success for both the short term and the long term. We mentioned money earlier that could get in the way and coordinators leaving the Lions and being head coaches elsewhere could hurt too – but again – this roster is absolutely loaded. The Lions are the definition of going from the outhouse to the penthouse. They were my preseason pick to go to the Super Bowl and not surprisingly they still are. This is an elite football team
Within the video linked below we breakdown the Packers and Vikings and why each of these teams are well run organizations and why the future of not just one team – but the future of the NFC North is so bright! I hope you enjoyed today’s article and hope you have a great rest of your day!
