Predicting NFC North standings after 2024 NFL schedule release
The NFC North could be the most competitive division in the league this season.
Last year, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions split the head-to-head series and almost met for a rematch in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions are the division champions and the team to beat, but the Packers made a second-half run similar to how Detroit put the league on notice at the backend of 2022.
The Chicago Bears are a fascinating team to watch this season. They showed signs of life by winning four of their final six in 2023. Since then, Chicago has swapped Justin Fields for Caleb Williams at quarterback and brought in Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and D'Andre Swift.
The Minnesota Vikings were a seven-win team despite losing Kirk Cousins early in the year. They now move into the J.J. McCarthy era.
Which team will win the challenging NFC North in 2024?
NFC North predictions after schedule release: Lions and Packers on top
Team | Record | |
|---|---|---|
1 | Lions | 12-5 |
2 | Packers | 10-7 |
3 | Bears | 9-8 |
4 | Vikings | 6-11 |
1. Detroit Lions (12-5)
The Lions are still the best team in the NFC North and should be even better in 2024. Detroit retains its key starters (and coordinator) in an offense that ranked third in the NFL last season. The big change required was on defense, and the Lions achieved this by revamping the secondary. They traded for Carlton Davis before drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. The Lions might be the best team in the NFC.
2. Green Bay Packers (10-7)
Green Bay has the potential to become a 12-win team in 2024, but nothing is guaranteed. The Packers are even younger this season. Jordan Love reached an MVP level in the final eight games last year, throwing 18 touchdown passes with one interception. If he can play an entire year with similar numbers, look out. The Packers are a young, ascending team, and the sky is the limit.
3. Chicago Bears (9-8)
It all comes down to Caleb Williams. No matter how talented he is, Williams is still a rookie. He is also playing in a new offense, and the same goes for Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Williams could have a C.J. Stroud-level rookie season, but that's rare. The expectation should be for a lot of promise and some wow moments but also plenty of inconsistency and mistakes. The best is yet to come from this team, and Chicago finishes with a respectable 9-8 record.
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-11)
With the other three teams combining for 31 wins, the Vikings pay the price. The transition from Kirk Cousins to either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy will require patience. Minnesota still has talent on both sides of the ball—especially on offense—but without a top-tier quarterback (at least right now), it will be tough to compete in the NFC North.
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