The NFC North is currently the most unpredictable division in the NFL, with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions sitting neck and neck in division winner odds. The top two teams are both plus money to win the division, which can only be said about one other division. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are also both plus money to win the NFC West, but the gap in odds between the two teams is slightly larger. Here is a breakdown of how each NFC North team stacks up against one another this season. 

Green Bay Packers  

Green Bay currently leads the pack in the NFC North with +170 odds to win the division. They finished third in the division last season at 11-6, but still qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team, where they were eliminated in the first round. Expectations were high last year after the team acquired Josh Jacobs, but Jordan Love battling through nagging injuries throughout the season really set them back. 

Love should be fully healthy this season, Jacobs remains a top running back in the league, and Tucker Kraft developed into one of Love's most reliable receiving options at tight end. Green Bay has a solid receiving corps, but no true standouts. The receiver with the most potential is Matthew Golden, who was just selected in the first round, but he will be competing with Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks for targets. Trading for Micah Parsons to help solidify the defense would be what locks the Packers into a playoff spot. 

Detroit Lions  

After winning the division in back-to-back seasons and going 15-2 last season, it’s surprising to see the Lions slightly behind the Packers in division odds at +185. Injuries derailed their defence and led to a divisional round playoff exit, but the roster remains largely intact. The biggest change is introducing a new offensive and defensive coordinator. Coordinator Ben Johnson left to coach the division rival Chicago Bears, and he was seen as one of the main components behind the emergence of the team as an offensive juggernaut.   

Jared Goff isn’t a flashy quarterback, but he’s a solid veteran surrounded by lethal offensive weapons. Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the best running backs in the league and David Montgomery is a force in the red zone. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are one of the best wide receiver duos in the league, and Sam LaPorta ranks as a top five tight end. They have the potential to repeat last season's regular season dominance, the only question that remains is if the offense will jell the same under a new coordinator. 

Minnesota Vikings  

The Vikings have the highest odds of any third-place team at +350 to win the division. For those interested in wagering on the Vikings' chances, various UK online casinos offer NFL betting markets. They had an impressive 14-3 record, finishing with the same record as the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Sam Darnold far exceeded expectations filling in for injured first round pick J.J. McCarthy. The rookie is now ready to take over, making the team's offensive outlook difficult to project. 

McCarthy has one of the best offensive players in the league headlining his weapons in Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson is a reliable option at tight end. Jordan Addison will be serving a three-game suspension to begin the season, but he should settle in as a solid number two receiving option. The team looks great all around, but having your biggest question mark playing the most important position on the field, along with playing in a stacked division makes it difficult to predict you as a division winner. 

Chicago Bears  

Ben Johnson will be looking to turn the Bears offence around, similarly to how he converted the Detroit Lions. Despite playing in a stacked division and finishing 5-12 last season, the Bears have a solid shot at finishing as a wild card team. They are more of a long shot to win the division at +600, but Caleb Williams was the first overall pick in 2024 and could thrive under a new system. 

Williams has solid weapons around him. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are a great receiving pair, and D’Andre Swift is the clear leader in the backfield. Luther Burden III also has some upside as a rookie receiver, and Colston Loveland could easily take over as the team's number one tight end by season's end. They improved the offensive line in the offseason, and the defence should be good enough to give the Bears a shot at the postseason.