After eight weeks, all four NFC North teams have winning records and would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. The Minnesota Vikings (6-1) would earn the NFC’s #2 seed. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears (6-2), Detroit Lions (5-2), and Green Bay Packers (5-3) would secure the three Wild Card spots.
The Vikings were the last undefeated team this season after a 6-0 start before the Lions handed them their first loss of the year in Week 8. Despite the Vikings’ early success, the NFC North race is still wide open. The Bears (+185) are the divisional betting favorite at BetMGM, followed by the Lions (+220), Vikings (+240), and Packers (+900).
If you’re feeling frisky, BetMGM also offers a prop bet on which division will win the Super Bowl. The NFC North (+375) has the second shortest odds behind the NFC West (+250).
Bears: Super Bowl Bound? (+185)
Diehard fans will tell you that their beloved Bears could’ve started 8-0 if quarterback Caleb Williams hadn’t sustained a hamstring injury in Week 3. Their only two losses were against division rivals, but they went 4-0 against other NFC squads.
The Bears faced their toughest test in the first half of the season on Monday Night Football with a road victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Bears improved to third on the Super Bowl futures board at +900.
In their six victories, Ben Johnson’s high-octane offense averaged 33.5 ppg. In their two losses, the Bears managed just 10 points (5.0 ppg). Overall, the Bears have the eighth-best scoring offense (26.8 ppg).
Led by D’Andre Swift, the Bears rank #2 in rushing offense (150.8 rushing yards per game). Swift leads the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns.
The Bears rank #8 in scoring defense (20.0 ppg) and #4 against the run (86.8 yards per game). They improved their defense by acquiring All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Simmons has already proven that he strengthens their defensive line.
The Bears have a Week 10 bye, then play six games against potential playoff squads, including the Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 13) and Buffalo Bills (Week 15). They still have four more division games, with three coming in the final three weeks. They host the Packers on Christmas morning and the Lions in Week 17 before visiting the Vikings in the final game of the season. That Week 18 showdown could determine the NFC North title and playoff seeding.
Lions: Stellar Offense, Porous Air Defense (+220)
The Lions rely on a balanced offense, ranked third in scoring (29.0 ppg), and they lead the league in total yards per game (395.4).
The rushing title looks like a three-man race between Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Kenneth Walker. Gibbs leads the league in rushing average (110.4 yards per game). Only D’Andre Swift and Josh Allen scored more rushing touchdowns than Gibbs (8).
Jared Goff tossed 15 touchdowns and only one interception, while ranking third in passing yards per game (280.6). Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams scored five touchdown receptions apiece.
The Lions rank in the bottom 10 in scoring defense (25.7 ppg). Their solid run defense ranks #9, but their passing defense is a glaring weakness. They’re ranked dead last, allowing 276.6 passing yards per game. Detroit surrendered 31.8 ppg in their first four games but showed improvement since the bye, allowing 32 combined points in the last two weeks.
The Lions play the New England Patriots in Germany in Week 10, but already had their bye, so they’ll have to travel home and play another game in Week 11 without any extra rest.
Detroit is undefeated at home (4-0) and host the Bears for their annual Thanksgiving game in Week 12. That epic showdown falls amid a stretch of games against the Tampa Bucs, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans.
The Lions conclude their season with four games against potential playoff squads. They host the New York Giants in Week 16, but hit the road to play the Vikings (Week 15), Bears (Week 17), and the Packers (Week 18). The finale against the Packers on the “frozen tundra” of Lambeau Field could determine the NFC North crown and have serious postseason implications.
Vikings: The New Purple People Eaters (+240)
During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line earned the nickname “Purple People Eaters.” That feared unit terrorized quarterbacks and running backs, helping Minnesota win 10 division titles and reach the Super Bowl four times.
The 2026 Vikings boast the NFL’s best all-around defense, allowing a league-low 13.3 ppg. Their second-ranked run defense yields just 154.9 yards per game, while their pass defense surrenders only 116.7 yards per game.
Their offense is a different story. The Vikings average only 20.0 ppg, which is sixth-lowest in the league. It hasn’t been pretty, but they generate just enough offense to remain tied for the best record in the NFL.
The offense leans on a competent running game because they have the second-worst passing attack in the league (165.6 yards per game), Backup QB Carson Wentz averaged 138.0 yards per game in two games after Kyler Murray exited the season opener with a concussion. If you count the last five games Murray started, he averaged 200.8 yards per game with five touchdowns and only two interceptions.
If you dismiss Week 1, the Vikings defense allowed only 71 total points, or 11.8 ppg. Their dominant defense faces its toughest test in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills, who lead the league in scoring (33.3 ppg).
Their next three games are a brutal part of the schedule. The Vikings host the Bills, then play the Packers in Green Bay in Week 10, before they battle the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. In December, they play a road game against the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, then visit the Lions in Week 15. The Vikings host the Bears in the final game of the season, which could determine the division champ and Wild Card eligibility.
Packers: Amazing Passing Attack, Bad O-Line (+900)
After a 1-2 start, the Packers went 4-1 over their next five games, including a three-point loss against the Lions in Detroit. Their much-improved defense allowed only 14.6 ppg during that stretch.
The shaky offensive line contributes to the worst running game in the NFL (60.6 yards per game). They generate most of their offense with the league’s second-most lethal passing attack (271.0 yards per game). Jordan Love leads the NFL with 2,246 passing yards, along with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Packers face two tough opponents before their bye in Week 11. They head to New England to play the Patriots, then host the Vikings in Week 10.
After the bye, the Packers hit the road to play in the inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game against the Los Angeles Rams for a rare Wednesday Night Football matchup.
Four out of their final five games are home games. They visit Chicago to play the Bears on Christmas in Week 16. They also host the Bills, Dolphins, Texans, and Lions to end the season.
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