The Vikings are opening the 2026 season with a rivalry game against the Packers, but before that one kicks off, there’s still plenty to sort through in the NFC North. And when it comes to the Detroit Lions, the big question is the same one everybody keeps circling back to: which version is the real one?
Over the last three seasons, Detroit has finished 12-5, 15-2 and 9-8, and the Daily Norseman roundtable dug into which of those records best matches this team.
Brandon Warne landed on the 12-5 group, while also noting that the division can grind everybody down into something closer to the 9-8 or 10-7 range. He also pointed out that a 9-8 finish and an 11-6 finish can look a lot different even though they’re separated by just one game.
Christopher Gates also went with the 12-5 Lions, saying he doesn’t buy them as 15-2 good, but sees them as better than last year’s 9-8 version and due for a rebound. Warren Ludford agreed that 12-5 is the closest fit, adding that this year’s team doesn’t quite match the 14-3 version up front or on defense.
The panel then turned to the Lions player they see as the most overrated.
Warne chose Jameson Williams, saying he keeps hearing Lions fans place him in a completely different class than Jordan Addison. Gates went with Sam LaPorta, calling him a player who started strong but may not belong in the elite tight end tier, especially after dealing with back issues last season.
Ludford named Amon-Ra St. Brown, describing him as a good slate route runner but someone who gets mentioned among the top tier despite a more limited route tree.
On the underrated side, Warne said Jahmyr Gibbs deserves even more credit than he already gets. Gates made the case for Jared Goff, arguing that people downplay how steady he’s been since replacing Matthew Stafford and that he doesn’t get enough credit for the job he’s done in that offense. Ludford picked Aiden Hutchinson, noting that he’s been producing without much help from the rest of the defensive line.
Asked what worries them most as Vikings fans, all three circled the Lions’ aggression and the way it reflects Dan Campbell’s identity.
Warne said no team embodies its head coach more fully than Detroit, and called that terrifying. Gates said the Lions’ willingness to stay aggressive in any situation is admirable, even if it has occasionally backfired, and added that he’d like to see that approach more often in Minnesota. Ludford’s answer was simpler: when the offense is rolling, it’s hard to stop.
As for the record forecast, Warne went with 11-6 and said the Lions would split with the Vikings, with the NFC North race coming down to the final week. Gates put Detroit in the 10-7 to 11-6 range, though he said he believes the Bears will win the division for the second straight year and that the Lions will finish a game behind them. Ludford predicted 12-5, pointing to what he called the easiest schedule in the league and saying that the Lions’ window is closing.
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