Andrew Billings, Darrell Taylor, Gervon Dexter
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

NFC North Suddenly NFL’s Toughest Division

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterOctober 11, 2024

When Ryan Poles was hired to run the Bears in 2021, he said his first goal was to “Take the NFC North and never give it back.” The Packers were Chicago’s only dominant divisional opponent at the time, so that quote meant he essentially wanted to dethrone Green Bay. The NFL’s black and blue division has changed dramatically since.

With the Vikings at 5-0, the Lions at 3-1, and the Bears and Packers at 3-2, the NFC North is the first division since the NFC West in 2012 in which all four teams have three-plus wins through Week 5. Green Bay leads Chicago by virtue of the league’s tiebreaker rules. The Bears and each of their divisional brethren won last week (Detroit had a bye), giving them a cumulative record of 14-5.

The NFC North could sweep again this weekend. Minnesota has a bye, but the Bears, Packers, and Lions are all favored to win their matchups. Chicago is favored by 2.5 over the Jaguars as of today. The Falcons, Buccaneers, and Cowboys are also 3-2, and all would make the playoffs ahead of Chicago if the season ended today. The Bears sit ninth in the race for seven NFC postseason berths.

The rest of the division has some decent separation in the way of power rankings. The Bears currently sit at No. 17 behind the Packers (9), Lions (4), and Lions (2). Let’s break it down:

Minnesota

The Vikings nearly blew a 17-0 lead to the Jets in London on Sunday. Minnesota QB Sam Darnold had his worst game of the season, and a key interception opened the door for a potential upset. The offense struggled without Aaron Jones, but Darnold staved off Aaron Rodgers by making some big throws late. That said, the difference between winning and losing came down to two players: Andrew Van Ginkel and Will Reichard. Van Ginkel picked off Rodgers and ran it back 63 yards for a score. Reichel kicked three field goals, including two from 50+ yards.

Detroit

The Lions should be 4-0, having let the Bucs game slip through their fingers in Week 2. Their week off came at an opportune time, too. Detroit will play the Cowboys, Vikings, Texans, and Packers in four of their next five weeks. Their offense, led by Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, can beat anybody. The defense struggled in a 42-29 win over the Seahawks ahead of the bye. Detroit had no answer for Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker III.

Green Bay

Jordan Love has battled injuries and has been up-and-down in the games he has played. Suspect line play, a surprise suspension of WR Romeo Doubs, and an injury to Christian Watson have also hurt the team’s offense. Tight end Tucker Kraft has played inspired football when called upon. The Packers play back-to-back home games starting this week if you’re looking for a silver lining.

Chicago

I’ve seen the Bears ranked anywhere from No. 10 to No. 20, mostly because Caleb Williams is still finding his groove. He is however improving each week and is maturing at a pace that has surprised many. Williams looks far more confident and a lot less frustrated, especially now that he’s developed a rapport with Cole Kmet and D.J. Moore. Chicago has a pressure-heavy, fast closing defense, led surprisingly by its tackles, Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings. The Bears also boast one of the league’s better secondaries. The defense would be a Super Bowl-caliber unit if it played better against the run. The Bears are 18th in rushing defense, allowing 119 yards or more in four of five games.

The Bears are closing in on their NFC North competition. The field is just a little bit better than when Poles took over three years ago, so there’s still much work to be done.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterOctober 11, 2024
Bears Insider © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved
Back to top button