The NFC North is once again set up like a division where almost anything can happen, and that’s exactly what makes the 2026 race so interesting. Every team in the group has claimed the division at least once over the past five seasons, and the one with the longest wait is actually Green Bay, which hasn’t finished first since 2021.
Detroit enters the season as the betting favorite at +145, an implied probability of 40.82%. That’s a sharp turn from last year’s finish, when the Lions landed in last place at 9-8 after winning the division in both 2023 and 2024.
Even so, there’s a strong case for a rebound. The Lions were better than their record suggested a year ago, closing the season third in DVOA and sixth in Net Yards per Play, the best showing among teams that missed the postseason.
They also draw the easiest schedule in the NFL based on opponent projected win totals, which gives them a real path not just to the NFC North crown, but to the No. 1 seed.
Chicago, the defending division champion, is the team that won it all last season at 11-6 behind Caleb Williams and first-year head coach Ben Johnson. But the Bears are only third on the odds board to repeat, and there’s skepticism around whether last year’s success was built to last.
The sense here is that Chicago lived on the right side of close games in 2025, and the numbers on Williams don’t exactly erase those doubts. He finished in the bottom half of the league in nearly every quarterback category, including 29th in completion percentage over expected.
That leaves Green Bay and Minnesota, and neither side inspires the same confidence as Detroit. The Packers, in this view, didn’t do enough this offseason to suggest a leap forward. As for the Vikings, the door stays open only if Kyler Murray returns to his former self in his first season with his new team.
For now, the pick is Detroit to reclaim the division and become kings of the North.
In Other News...
Lions 53-Man Roster Leaves One Big Question Fans Wont Ignore
The Lions initial 53-man roster for 2026 came with a few choices that stood out immediately, starting with a group that looks heavier at running back than most teams would carry and thinner at receiver than fans might have expected. There was also a notable call at tight end, where Jackson Meeks made the cut over Tyler Conklin, while the defensive line leaned toward pass-rushing upside more than brute size. For a roster that usually invites close reading, this one offered plenty to sort through right away.
The biggest thing left hanging is the kind of special-teams detail that can shape a roster spot just as much as any depth-chart battle. With no clear punt returner identified and some players who seemed to have a path to the team ending up on the outside, the Lions may not be done adjusting this group yet. That leaves the final version of the roster still open to a few more changes in the coming days, which is exactly the sort of unfinished business that keeps this time of year interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Roster Squeeze To Navigate After Cutdown Day
The Lions got through cutdown day by trimming to their official 53-man roster, but the work is not done yet. With several players out on the NFL waiver wire and the waiver claim deadline looming, Detroit is still sorting through the final layer of roster business that every team has to navigate after the initial cuts are in.
Sitting 17th in the waiver order, the Lions have a chance to make more claims while also trying to keep some familiar faces close if they make it through unclaimed. Cornerback Nick Whiteside is one name the team would like to bring back on the practice squad, and he is not alone. Mason Miller, Luke Altmyer, Tyre West, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett, and Dan Jackson are among the other players Detroit could look to circle back to once the waiver process plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Sent A Clear Message With Their First Practice Squad Choices
The first practice squad move after cutdowns gave a decent read on how the Lions are sorting through the back end of the roster. Detroit kept a number of the waived players who cleared, building out the initial 2026 group with familiar depth and developmental pieces, while also choosing to move on from running back Trayveon Williams rather than circle back with a return to the practice squad.
Luke Altmyer was among the players retained, a sign the Lions want to keep working with the rookie quarterback as he settles in behind the scenes. Altmyer also offered some perspective on the preseason interception he threw, a small reminder that Detroit is still using these early roster decisions to balance short-term depth with longer-term evaluation. [Read more 🡒]