There are always imbalances in the strength of the various divisions in the NFL, but this year features a remarkable one that hasn’t been noticed much yet. If you do a quick scan across the NFC and focus on the NFC North, it’s easy to imagine a scenario where all four teams make the playoffs.
This kind of scenario happens fairly frequently during the first half of most NFL seasons, but this year it has some staying power. We’re almost a third of the way through the schedule, and the arguments for all for teams continuing with their success are convincing.
The Minnesota Vikings are the NFL’s biggest surprise
Start with the Vikings, who have shocked the NFL by racing out to a 5-0 record. No one expected this with Sam Darnold under center, but Darnold is still performing well, although he has had some rough stretches. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Minnesota’s run is that their early schedule was supposed to break them, but they quickly put that theory to rest by edging San Francisco, throttling the Texans and nipping the Packers at Lambeau.
This week’s home game against the Lions will be another stern test, but after that the schedule softens considerably. A road game against the beat-up Rams feels eminently winnable, as do their next three against the Colts, Jags and Titans. They could easily head to Chicago in Week 11 with eight or nine wins in their back pocket, and most of their tough games after that are against divisional opponents.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are one of those divisional opponents, and at 4-1 they, too, are strong playoff candidates. Detroit’s offense is beyond dynamic, but they will be challenged by the loss of Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia and fibia last week.
It’s hard to bet against that offense, though. As long as Jared Goff gets protection, the Lions are a threat to score 30+ against just about every opponent. They also have a running game that’s the envy of the league, which gives them the ability to control the clock if their defense does fall off after losing Hutchinson.
Green Bay Packers
Unlike the Vikings and Lions, the Packers struggled some early. Losing Jordan Love in their season opener against the Eagles in Brazil had a lot to do with that, but Matt Lafleur did a remarkable job of keeping the ship afloat with backup Malik Willis, who could have been had for a late-round pick by anyone in the league when Green Bay picked him up.
Jordan Love’s play will be the determining factor going forward. Love struggled with interceptions when he returned from his knee injury, but this also happened last year before he fixed the turnover problem. That’s exactly what seems to be happening now, which makes the Packers as dangerous as anyone else in this suddenly brutal division.
Chicago Bears
Like the Packers, the Bears struggled early, but their problems came from a completely different source: the issues with breaking in a rookie quarterback. Caleb Williams entered the league with a formidable reputation, but he had some brutal moments in his first few games.
None of this was unexpected, but Williams seems to have turned a corner recently. He’s performed like a top ten quarterback in his last couple of games, and given his talent and potential, he could jump to the top five if he continues his recent tear.
Despite Williams potential, the Bears are probably the most problematic team in the division when it comes to making the postseason. Rookie quarterbacks tend to run hot and cold, so it’s not unreasonable to expect another downturn from Williams as he adjusts to the longer schedule.
The Bears defense has more than enough talent to keep them in it, though. If they does this four-team playoff scenario could actually happen, especially given some of the struggles currently going on in the other three NFC divisions.