NFC North on the Brink of Historic Feat as All Four Teams Eye Playoffs

The NFC North is making waves in the NFL this season, with all four teams—Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears—currently positioned to make the playoffs. This achievement would be historic, as no division has ever sent all its teams to the postseason since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002.

As of Week 8, the Lions lead the NFC with a 5-1 record, while the Vikings, Packers, and Bears hold wild-card spots with records of 5-1, 5-2, and 4-2, respectively. This impressive performance is highlighted by the division’s collective 17-4 record against non-divisional opponents, with all four losses coming by six points or fewer against teams that had winning records last year.

The division’s dominance is further underscored by their significant point differentials. The Lions (+62), Vikings (+61), Packers (+47), and Bears (+43) all have point differentials exceeding +40, a feat matched by only a few other teams in the NFL.

Historically, the NFC North (formerly NFC Central) has come close to this feat before. In 1994 and 1997, the division sent four teams to the playoffs, although none advanced to the NFC title game in those years.

For the current season, the path to history is challenging but feasible. The NFC North teams still have several intra-divisional games ahead, which could impact their standings. However, their upcoming schedules include matchups against weaker divisions like the NFC West and AFC South, which could work in their favor.

The odds are in favor of the Lions and Vikings, with playoff projection models giving the Lions a 92% chance and the Vikings an 87% chance. The Packers have a robust 70% chance, while the Bears face a tougher road with a 39% chance.