Who Will Win the NFC North After Packers Dominate Lions Ahead of Vikings vs. Bears on Monday Night Football?
The Green Bay Packers manhandled the Detroit Lions on both sides of the ball on Sunday, and are looking to take firm control back in the NFC North. Can Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, and Micah Parsons lead this team to the division crown? J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Williams will have a say in that, with the pair of young QB's clashing on Monday Night Football tonight. Peter Alexis examines the NFC North Division odds after Week 1.
Peter Alexis - September 8, 2025, 11:45 AM EDT
5 Minute ReadWho Will Win the NFC North After Packers Dominate Lions Ahead of Vikings vs. Bears on Monday Night Football?
The NFC North is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in football, but Week 1 already brought some clarity. The Green Bay Packers made a statement with a convincing two-score victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, vaulting themselves into division-favorite status at -120 odds. With Jordan Love settling in as the leader of the offense and a defense that looks fast and physical with Micah Parsons, Green Bay suddenly feels like the most complete team in the North.
The Bears, meanwhile, will try to keep pace when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. Both teams enter the matchup with plenty of questions. Chicago is aiming to prove its young roster can take the next step with Ben Johnson in charge, and Minnesota searching for stability after an up-and-down preseason. With the Lions licking their wounds and the Vikings still unproven, the division feels like it’s there for the Packers to control if they can keep up this momentum.
For Green Bay, balance is the key. Their ability to win in the trenches and take pressure off Love with a strong run game makes them dangerous in a division that could quickly become a grind. The Lions aren’t going anywhere, but after Sunday’s setback, they’ll need to respond in a hurry to stay in the race. And while the Bears and Vikings both have intriguing upside, neither has shown the consistency to be trusted yet. Right now, the Packers’ mix of offensive rhythm and defensive bite gives them the edge in the NFC North.
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NFC North Division Odds
- Green Bay Packers: -120
- Minnesota Vikings: +360
- Detroit Lions: +410
- Chicago Bears: +650
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NFC North Division Breakdown
The Green Bay Packers took the physicality to the next level against Jared Goff and the Lions on Sunday. Goff was sacked four times in the loss, and only found the end zone once in a garbage time touchdown to Isaac TeSlaa. An interesting stat was also revealed after the game, noting Goff has had five play-callers in his career, and when not working with Ben Johnson or Sean McVay, he is 0-19-1.
Can the Lions turn it around and get back in the race? Many will call it an overreaction after Week 1, but I also harped on this in the preseason. Ben Johnson was the engine that carried this team, and they aren't going to be the same without him. The Lions' playoff odds have fallen from -175 to +102, and that's only going to get worse over the next month.
Detroit has games against Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay in the next couple of weeks, and they could even lose to the Chicago Bears and old coach Ben Johnson. After all, he does know everything about their offense and can find ways to shut it down like the Packers just did. It's going to get worse before it gets better for Detroit, even if they pick up wins against the Bears and Browns. They don't look like a squad equipped to fight for this division, and with all the upgrades the Packers made in the offseason, it's going to be their's to lose.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are a slim 1-point favorite over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, and will try to prove themselves with J.J. McCarthy. Kevin O'Connell's team was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last year, going 14-3 and narrowly missing out on the NFC North crown thanks to the Lions (15-2). But that was with Sam Darnold at QB, and after a rough ending to the season, they shipped him off and decided to roll with J.J. McCarthy as he returns from injury. There are a lot of doubters coming after the youngster in his first real NFL start, with many believing he wasn't good enough on a stacked college team to be drafted as high as he was.
He'll have his chance to prove them wrong in Chicago tonight, with the winner of this game launching themselves into second place in the NFC North for the time being. It will be a back and forth season up up in the tundra this year, with Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy trying to prove their worth, and the Packers hoping to run away from the group while the Lions stumble. At -120 odds, the Packers are a solid buy right now, even in Week 1, because this gap is only going to widen as they put their foot on the gas.
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