Josh Frey’s 2025 NFL Standings Predictions: NFC North
The NFL season is fast approaching now that teams have trimmed their rosters down to 53 players.
With that in mind, let’s take a look across the league and break down every division. Today, we continue that process with predictions for the NFC North.
AFC East predictions
NFC East predictions
AFC North predictions
NFL Standings Predictions: NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
The Green Bay Packers were on the verge of being a true Super Bowl contender last year, and this season, they may just fully make that jump after the league-altering trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. The Packers could have made a run in 2024 had they not drawn the short straw to play the Philadelphia Eagles during the Wild Card round.
Now, though, with Parsons anchoring the defense, and another talented young receiver joining the team in Green Bay’s first-round pick Matthew Golden, the Packers have a serious chance to dethrone the Lions in the division.
2. Detroit Lions (11-6)
Detroit has a number of its main core roster pieces still in place this season. Jared Goff is still the QB, Sonic and Knuckles (Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery) still hold down the backfield, and the offensive line should remain strong with Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell.
However, Detroit is coming off a very disappointing playoff exit, and they lost both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs.
Detroit is also living in a reality where both Alim McNeil and Levi Onwuzurike are on injured reserve to begin the season. It may take some time for things to click this year, but once they do, the Lions will still be a playoff team.
3. Minnesota Vikings (10-7)
The Minnesota Vikings are turning the chapter once again at quarterback as J.J. McCarthy prepares to take his first NFL regular season snaps following Sam Darnold’s departure. He’ll be doing it behind an offensive line that looks to be much better than it was in 2024, and the running game should see improvements as well with the addition of Jordan Mason.
On the other side of the ball, offensive lines will have big problems blocking Brian Flores’ new defensive front after Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave signed with the Vikings this offseason. Of course, growing pains should be expected with a new young quarterback, and it doesn’t help that Jordan Addison will miss the first three games of the year serving a suspension.
The Vikings may not replicate their 14-3 record from a year ago, but they may actually be a more balanced team if everything works out at the quarterback position.
4. Chicago Bears (6-11)
The Chicago Bears aren’t going to be bad by any means, but they are not helped by the fact that they play in arguably the toughest division in football. The offense should see improvement under new head coach Ben Johnson, and the addition of Joe Thuney should stabilize the interior offensive line a bit. At the very least, they won’t finish dead last in total yards.
Defensively, the Bears have a stout secondary, and Montez Sweat should be a double-digit sack player. The addition of Grady Jarrett could be very solid for Chicago as well, but they need more production out of him than the 2.5 sacks he put up in 2024.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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