Welcome to part three of the 2025-26 NFL Record Predictions series. 

This edition features the most brutal and toughest division in football in the NFC North. Again note that these are more than likely to end up wrong with how unpredictable the NFL can be in terms of injuries, breakout players and more. 

With the loss of both of their coordinators, how do the Lions plan to battle the rest of the division?

Detroit Lions

What an offseason for the Lions. 

Coming off a disappointing divisional round loss to the Commanders, offensive coordinator (OC) Ben Johnson left to become the head coach (HC) of the Chicago Bears. This is, as expected, going to be a change of pace for the Lions considering how good Johnson was. 

To replace him the Lions brought in Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton. While I do believe the Lions offense will take a small step back, it does interest me how the offense is rumored to be used. Wide receiver (WR) Jameson Williams says he is being used as more than just a deep threat. Morton says he plans to use both starting running backs (RB) Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the same plays. 

The defense was never at full strength last season with the amount of injuries the team was facing but that did not stop defensive coordinator (DC) Aaron Glenn from keeping offenses in check. Glenn did great work with what he had and because of that, the Jets decided they wanted him as their next head coach. 

The Lions looked in-house for their replacement at DC promoting off-ball (LB) coach Kelvin Sheppard. Being a student of Glenn, the defense should be similar to last season’s with a heavier emphasis on the LB group. 

Even with the coordinator changes, the Lions just have too much talent to count them out. Their record will regress but still be strong winning the NFC North at an overall record of 11-6 and a division record of 5-1. This puts them at second overall in the NFC and earning a playoff spot for the third straight season. 

Breakout Pick: Year Two | Offensive Guard | Christian Mahogany

Minnesota Vikings

After what some would call an elite season by quarterback (QB) Sam Darnold, the Vikings decided to let him hit free agency and hand the keys over to their first of two 2024 first round picks, J.J. McCarthy. 

The Vikings did nothing but get better offensively and a major part of that is them having a “cheap” rookie contract to work with. If they had paid Darnold, they would not have been able to grab both of the Colts interior offensive lineman (IOL) in center (C) Ryan Kelly and guard (G) Will Fries. That being said, going from the season Darnold had to starting a rookie is going to take some adjustments on the offense.

Luckily enough, HC Kevin O’Connell is an offensive mastermind and can just about make it work with any QB. Take 2023 for example where the Vikings somehow won seven games with Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall at QB. Mind you as well, he had Dobbs looking like a good QB somehow, all due respect. 

The Vikings have a really good roster but McCarthy is practically a rookie and is going to have some rookie mistakes. That will cost the Vikings a few games here and there when their defense cannot bail them out. 

The Vikings will be back in the playoffs this season at 10-7 overall and 4-2 in the division earning the number six seed in the NFC and a wild card spot. 

Breakout Pick: Year Four | Safety | Theo Jackson

Chicago Bears

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” from Ben Johnson’s first press conference as the Bears HC.

All I have read and seen in training camp just gives off different vibes for this team. Johnson is kicking players out of drills and sequences for messing up the little things. This just screams accountability which is something the Bears have needed for a long time. 

Easily the Bears biggest issue on offense last year was the IOL. Well the team went out and replaced all three of the spots by making two trades and one big splash in free agency. 

First, they traded for Rams G Jonah Jackson who was a pro bowler the last time he played under Johnson. Second, they traded for Chiefs All-Pro G Joe Thuney. They also extended Thuney for two more seasons. Finally, they signed Falcons C Drew Dalman. With a much improved OL, QB Caleb Williams should have more time to process and go through his reads.

With a new HC, a new coaching staff came in. The Bears went out and hired former Saints HC Dennis Allen to be the new DC. Again circling back to accountability, Allen had the defense doing up-downs during the first day of practice after making a mistake. 

The Bears will be an improved football team this season but could take a second to get going with the new scheme and players. The team will be returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 as they earn the seven seed in the NFC at an overall record of 10-7 and a division record of 3-3.  

Breakout Pick: Year Four | Safety | Jaquan Brisker

Green Bay Packers

For the first time in 23 years, the Packers drafted a WR in the first round of the NFL Draft. 

The Packers WR is not bad by any means but they did not exactly help out the injured QB Jordan Love any by leading the league in drops. Now bring in Texas WR Matthew Golden who so far through training camp has easily looked like the best receiving talent out there. 

The Packers also made some OL changes for the upcoming season. 2024 first round pick Jordan Morgan should be returning to the lineup after injury and fill in one of the G spots. G Elgton Jenkins is moving over to the C position where he has succeeded at in his career before. They also ended up paying not one but two OLs.

Speaking of spending money, those two OLs were Packers tackle Zach Tom who was extended on a four year, $88 million deal and 49ers G Aaron Banks who received a four year, $77 million deal. On the defensive side of things, while the Packers released CB Jaire Alexander, they replaced him by signing Raiders CB Nate Hobbs to a four year, $48 million deal in free agency.

The NFC North is just a stacked division that outside of the Lions, I could see shaking up any way. In my prediction, I have the Packers finishing fourth in the division. This comes out to the 12 seed in the NFC at a record of 8-9 overall and a low 1-5 in the division.

Breakout Pick: Year Three | Defensive Tackle | Karl Brooks