Detroit Lions fans have every reason to smile at one recent NFC North projection.
Bleacher Report’s latest prediction has the Green Bay Packers finishing last in the division, a result that would give Detroit a little extra satisfaction after being swept by Green Bay last season. That two-game stumble was a big reason the Lions missed the postseason and ended up last in the NFC North.
A Packers finish at the bottom would also be a rare sight. The last time Green Bay ended a season in last place in the division was 2005, when it went 4-12. Now the Packers head into the 2026 season carrying a long list of questions, including uncertainty around coach Matt LaFleur after their playoff collapse in the NFC Wild Card Round against the Chicago Bears.
One major issue centers on running back Josh Jacobs, who could miss significant time depending on the outcome of his ongoing legal case and any NFL disciplinary action. Jacobs has been a productive piece in Green Bay, piling up 2,258 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over his two seasons with the team.
If he’s unavailable, the Packers may have to lean much harder on Jordan Love and the passing game. That’s not a small adjustment, either, considering Green Bay has ranked in the bottom six in the NFL in passing attempts over the past two seasons.
There’s also the Micah Parsons situation. The defensive end is coming back from a torn ACL and may not be at full strength until late October. If that timeline holds, it adds even more strain to a Packers secondary that already looks thin.
Green Bay’s early schedule doesn’t do it many favors. The first month includes road trips to the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, plus a home game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept.
- The Jets look like the most manageable of that group, but the other three games could get tricky, especially if Jacobs and Parsons are both limited or unavailable.
Parsons was a problem for Detroit last season. In two games against the Lions, he totaled nine tackles and 3.5 sacks. If he’s healthy enough to suit up this year, he’ll be a major factor again.
The Lions, meanwhile, will get their first crack at the Packers on Oct. 25 at Ford Field, where they’ll try to answer last season’s 31-24 Thanksgiving loss. The regular season wraps with Detroit visiting Green Bay at Lambeau Field on a date that has not yet been set.
Even if Green Bay does tumble to the bottom of the division, that doesn’t automatically hand the Lions the NFC North. The Bears are trying to build on last season’s division title, and the Vikings are being viewed as a dangerous contender thanks to new quarterback Kyler Murray and a strong defense.
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With around five or six receivers likely to survive the cut, the margin for error is thin for everyone on the bubble. Kennedy is part of that fight alongside players such as Dominic Lovett and Cedrick Wilson Jr., plus a group of UFL receivers trying to force their way into the conversation, and the Lions still have some sorting to do before the depth chart settles. [Read more 🡒]