2026 NFC North NFL Divisional Preview: Can Bears Repeat as Kings of the North?
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Tue Aug 04, 2026, 4:42 pm ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
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Last season, the NFC North was the only division in the NFL with all four teams posting a winning percentage better than .500. In my opinion, this makes it the toughest division in professional football. Two divisions only saw one team with a winning record (AFC North and NFC East), plus, the NFC South didn't have a single team above .500. The Chicago Bears are the current kings of the North, but can they stay on top this season? Find out with our NFC North Divisional Preview here.
NFC North Divisional History
Caleb Williams holds major upside value in NFL fantasy drafts
Past 10 NFC North Champions
- 2025: Chicago Bears 11-6
- 2024: Detroit Lions 15-2
- 2023: Detroit Lions 12-5
- 2022: Minnesota Vikings 13-4
- 2021: Green Bay Packers 13-4
- 2020: Green Bay Packers 13-3
- 2019: Green Bay Packers 13-3
- 2018: Chicago Bears 12-4
- 2017: Minnesota Vikings 13-3
- 2016: Green Bay Packers 10-6
All four teams have claimed the division in the past five years. Will Chicago follow in Detroit's footsteps and repeat? The sportsbooks don't think so. The North also has not won a Super Bowl since Green Bay did so in 1996. The last time the North represented the NFC in the Super Bowl? The Bears in 2006. Will that drought end this year?
NFC North Betting Odds
Can Jared Goff and the Lions reclaim the North?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline.
Odds to Win NFC North
- Detroit Lions +160
- Green Bay Packers +250
- Chicago Bears +320
- Minnesota Vikings +400
This is honestly the second most "wide open" division in the NFL this year, as only the NFC South has shorter odds between the favorite and projected last place.
NFC North Team Preview
Ben Johnson has been a head coach for a single season. He already has a divisional title and a playoff victory.
Chicago Bears – 9.5 Wins (Over +100/Under -130)
In one season, Ben Johnson took the Bears from 5-12 to 11 wins to finish on top of the division. Expectations are now set, and they are high. Caleb Williams leads the supporting cast, which will be without DJ Moore. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden should see increased roles in the offense, as well as running back Kyle Monangai, who backs up DeAndre Swift.
As of this writing, the defense is very beat up, and losing leading tackler Tremaine Edmunds means someone else will need to step up.
The schedule is obviously tough playing in the North, but they also have road games against Seattle and Buffalo, while hosting the Super Bowl Runner Ups, New England, and Philadelphia. However, I would still be willing to bet they win 10 games and get over their win total.
All eyes are on Jahmyr Gibbs as he will receive a heavy workload from the Lions without David Montgomery
Detroit Lions – 10.5 Wins (Over -135/Under +105)
Ben Johnson revamped the Bears offense last year, and in turn, the Lions' offense looked a little flat. They will be without David Montgomery as well, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs as the main back. He should see an increased workload, even with the addition of Isiah Pacheco. They will also be starting rookie Blake Miller at right tackle.
Like Chicago, the defense is beat up at the moment, including both starting safeties, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. However, Detroit finished last in the division last year, so they certainly benefit from an easier schedule.
They also have to go to Buffalo and play the Patriots in Munich, but nothing else strikes me as scary outside the divisional games. Assuming a 3-3 split with the other NFC North teams, I could see 12 wins from this squad, maybe even more. But personally I'm not going to lay the juice on 10.5 wins. If anything, bump it up to 11.5 and get some plus money.
As for a player prop that interests me, I like something involving Gibbs in the receiving department. His regular season receiving yards over 449.5 or his regular season receiving touchdowns at over 3.5, both at -110, could be tasty.
Jordan Love and the Packers lost to Chicago in the playoffs last year. Will they use that as fuel this season?
Green Bay Packers – 9.5 Wins (Over -120/Under -110)
The Packers' offense looks very similar to last year, other than the loss of Romeo Doubs. Jordan Love still has the WR trio of Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed. Plus Tucker Kraft is back at tight end. Josh Jacobs will also be in the backfield.
The Packers went out and boosted their defense, snagging Zaire Franklin to play linebacker. He has been the Colts' leading tackler the past four seasons, averaging 161 total tackles per season during that stretch. Franklin also boasts 11 forced fumbles in four years, including five in 2024.
Getting the AFC East and NFC South makes things easier on every team in this division. Green Bay hosts Buffalo, but also have to play the Texans late in the year. They have to go to New England, Los Angeles (Rams) and Tampa Bay, playing in some tough road environments. For these exercises, I am splitting all games between divisional opponents. The Packers could still have 11 wins in my eyes, but that involves winning every game they should. This team cannot afford to drop the easy ones this year, like they did last season.
After seven seasons in the desert, Kyler Murray heads to chilly Minnesota to quarterback the Vikings
Minnesota Vikings – 8.5 Wins (Over -115/Under -115)
Last but not least, the Vikings. JJ McCarthy lost his starting job, as the Vikings brought in Kyler Murray, who will likely run the show. They also added Jauan Jennings for a full on "J" receiving corps, with Justin (Jefferson), Jordan (Addison) and now Jauan. This team has plenty of tools, but it all comes down to quarterback play, which has been subpar the last few seasons. Is Murray the answer?
Defensively, we know Minnesota will be good. Brian Flores is a brilliant mind, and the unit ranked seventh in the league in points allowed last year. The Vikings' record will solely be determined by the offense, we know the defense will show up.
This is the one team in the NFC North that I would be worried about their win total. I'm not running to bet the under, but even gifting the Vikings three wins in the division, I only came up with eight total with their schedule. Sure, things could change, but Minnesota likely misses the playoffs in my eyes.
No official bets on this division from myself, as things are too close for comfort.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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