The NFC North isn’t just winning, they are absolutely dominating the entire league. We’re talking about a ridiculous 25-8 combined record through nearly nine weeks of the 2026 season, and it’s making some serious waves across the NFL. This division is setting itself up for uncharted territory.
Unprecedented Dominance in the North
Think about this: The Bears pulled out a 27-24 win against the Buccaneers on Sunday night, even after turning the ball over five times. Wild, right? But here’s the kicker, they weren’t the only ones doing work. Both the Packers and Lions kept their winning streaks alive, and as of Monday, only the Vikings can brag about having just one loss at 6-1. Seriously, all four NFC North teams are heading into Week 10 firmly in the playoff picture.
This isn’t just a fluke. Their 25-8 overall record (.757 win percentage) is insane, and get this: only five of those eight losses came from head-to-head matchups within the division. That means these teams are 20-3 against non-divisional opponents. Talk about making a statement!
Here’s how the division shakes out before the Vikings play their Monday night game:
- Vikings: 6-1 (.857)
- Bears: 7-2 (.778)
- Lions: 6-2 (.750)
- Packers: 6-3 (.667)
Every single team in this division is at least three games over .500. Let that sink in for a second: the Packers are in last place at 6-3! Meanwhile, you’ve got the 3-5 Panthers leading their division, the NFC South. The Bears are on a four-game winning streak and still can’t gain ground because everyone else is just winning, winning, winning. If the Vikings stumble against the Bills on Monday night, Chicago would rocket right into first place. Just incredible.
Rewriting the NFL Record Books
When we talk about NFL divisions, there’s a clear line drawn at 2002, when all divisions became comprised of four teams. Before that, divisions were larger, leading to more even overall records. Since that 2002 realignment, the best divisional record belongs to the 2024 NFC North, which finished a combined 45-23 (.662). That year saw the Lions go 15-2, the Vikings 14-3, the Packers 11-6, and even the Bears putting up 7-10. Before that, the 2002 NFC East also put up a strong showing at 43-23-2 and sent three teams to the playoffs.
Now, fast forward to 2026, and this current NFC North squad is on track to absolutely demolish its own 2024 record. Their current 25-8 (.757) pace is out of control. To even *match* the 2024 mark, they’d need a 20-15 record the rest of the way. There are still seven divisional games left on the schedule, so the division will rack up at least 15 losses. But if they can keep additional losses to just eight, the division will tie its own record from 2002. It’s a tall order, but this group seems up to the challenge.
So, buckle up, because this division is must-watch football every single week. With the Vikings still set to play Monday night, the immediate stakes are clear for Chicago. But the real story is how long this incredible pace can keep up and if the NFC North can cement its place as the greatest division in NFL history. This is going to be fun to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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