Story by
The NFC North Looks Diminished after Week 18
- Story by
- The NFC North Looks Diminished after Week 18
David Banks-Imagn Images
Playoff season is here for the NFL. The final teams are all set for the games that matter the most for a team looking for that championship.
The NFC North is represented by the Bears and Packers , with some fans cheering on their division rivals while others hope neither makes it to the Super Bowl . It isn't easy to look at any other team and think, "I hope they win it because (insert reason here)."
Advertisement
Week 18 exposed how thin the NFC North truly can be, with uneven quarterback play, shaky defenses, and contenders that looked far from postseason-ready.
It's a lot easier to hate and wallow in despair from the outside. No matter who you like more or less in the North Division, one of those teams will be joining the Vikings and Lions on the couch as early as this weekend.
NFC North Teams to Enter the Offseason with More Doubt
Other than most people thinking the Packers might come in 2nd or 3rd and still make the playoffs, as last year, the division was the opposite of last year's outcome. The two top teams from 2024 are out, and the Bears are in by winning the NFC North. Not many had that on their Bingo card last spring.
Advertisement
Vikings vs Packers
Oh, what could have been. Last offseason, most pundits were hyping this as the game to decide the division if both teams maintained last season's productivity. Instead, we got to see who wanted more of a win for pride and if Minnesota would earn last place in the division.
Emotions were high among the Vikings and fans, as many thought this was the end of an era, with CJ Ham and Harrison Smith most likely retiring after this season. Fans also wanted to get one last look at J.J. McCarthy to see if he shows signs of being the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be. Fighting off a fractured bone in his throwing hand, he came out and looked pretty good in the game.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) talks to an official prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The other standard they wanted to hit was for Justin Jefferson to reach 1,000 yards and become the third player in history to do so in their first six seasons, joining Randy Moss and Mike Evans . Mission accomplished for Jefferson, but McCarthy came up as an incomplete because he bowed out in the second half, saying his grip was getting too loose on the ball due to the injury.
Advertisement
He started throwing 5-for-5 and looked sharp, leading the team to a Will Reichard field goal. He also had some really great throws during the game, highlighted by a pass down the sidelines to tight end Ben Simms that was a laser and only where Simms could snag it before going out of bounds. He didn't throw any touchdowns, but looked solid for the most part.
Max Brosmer took over, and he didn't play terribly, except for a play when he thought he'd been sacked but had only tripped over his own lineman. When he jumped to his feet, he thought the play was over, but the Packers caused him to fumble and get an actual sack.
The only touchdown was a tearjerker as Ham ran in from 2 yards out as a ceremonial tip of the cap to him and his nine years of service to the Vikings.
The defense was the real show to watch against an offense missing most of its starters. The Packers just wanted to leave US Bank Stadium as healthy as possible to retain their depth for next week.
Advertisement
Clayton Tune threw for a whopping 34 yards with a net of -7 yards after the sacks he incurred. The best highlight was Emmanuel Wilson of the Packers running backwards for an 18-yard loss, where Eric Wilson finally chased him down. The Vikings sacked Tunes 4 times, forced the Packers to punt 8 times, and recovered one fumble.
Some will say that it should have been even more dominant against a team not trying their hardest, but how often have we seen the Vikings screw up an opportunity like this and lose the game? The Packers had a last-ditch drive, and Matt LaFluer used a timeout so Brandon McManus could kick a field goal with one second remaining on the clock to avoid the shutout.
In the end, Kevin O'Connell has a winning record to finish the season at 9-8 and a win against the Vikings' biggest rival to go out on a semi-positive note.
Bears vs Lions
Advertisement
While the Lions had nothing to play for in terms of their own advancement, they did get the chance to play spoiler to Ben Johnson's Bears. Dan Campbell isn't one to go down easy, and he had the Lions ready to ruin Chicago 's day if they could.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
Starting out, the Bears performed as they have most of the year, struggling in the first half. Again, this game was considered a potential division-deciding game when the schedule came out. At home, going in at halftime down 13-0 wasn't terrifying for fans but was cause for concern. The Lions' defense is pretty good, even with the injuries that doomed them this year.
Aidan Hutchinson doesn't know the word "quit," and he was a menace all game long. The offense was becoming the bigger issue as the game went on. Jared Goff is a great quarterback, but when he gets flustered, his passes become wildly off target, and he throws with a panicked motion. The Bears' defense is also strong, and they were after him all game long.
Advertisement
They sacked Goff three times, forcing him to throw an interception. Even after all that, the Bears hadn't scored a single point through the first three quarters. Finally, in the 4th quarter, Caleb Williams came to life and tied the score at 16. The Lions had two chances to simply run the clock out and kick a last-second field goal, but failed on the first attempt.
The second one, they got downfield and completed the win. Luckily for the Bears, the Eagles lost to Washington, so their playoff slot stayed at 2nd, meaning they host the Packers at home. The Lions did win the game, which sends them out on a good note, too, looking at next year for redemption.
Division Standings
-
Bears
-
Packers
-
Vikings
-
Lions
Pretty easy when you win the division or come in second to make the playoffs.
Advertisement
The Bears still have a lot to prove this weekend as they host Green Bay . They barely beat them a few weeks ago at home, and that was after Jordan Love left with a concussion. This will be Williams' first playoff game as well as Ben Johnson's as a head coach.
They will need to dominate to really perk up other teams, but they are dangerous and have homefield advantage if any higher seeds stumble.
I think they're a dangerous 7th seed. That's how I feel about the Packers. Losing Micah Parsons was a huge blow and might be the missing piece to get to the Super Bowl this year, but I would never count them out until they are officially eliminated.
Jan 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) is helped off the field after a play against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
You really can't trust any team in the NFC, as they have all had strange stumbles against weaker opponents and looked foolish at times. The Packers could easily upset any team in their own stadium, just as some weaker teams have defeated Green Bay in their own home. The 2025 season was just this form of paradox.
Advertisement
The Vikings get a tarnished bronze medal this year. They finished on a five-game winning streak and ended the season .5 wins out of the playoffs. A few plays made here or there, and they may have been the dangerous 7th seed with their frightening defense.
With wins over all three division foes and a sweep of the Lions, they were the better team at the end. Next year will be a huge year to find out who they really are. So many questions linger about McCarthy, Christian Darrisaw 's health, TJ Hockenson , and Aaron Jones being on the roster, whether they can replace a future Hall of Fame player like Harrison Smith, and whether Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can finally have a solid, productive draft class?
Two years in a row of major questions doesn't bode well, and we won't get any answers for approximately 8 months.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (57) causes a fumble by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) that is recovered by defensive end Barryn Sorrell (99) in the fourth quarter during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
The Lions might be the league's biggest disappointment. Their aspirations of a Super Bowl may have slipped past them this year. With many players returning in 2026, they might lose some in free agency due to their salary cap situation.
Advertisement
They are only $5 million over the cap, but there are key free agents and players who will be looking for substantial contracts in the next few years, like Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell. If they can cut down on the key injuries that have stopped them these last few years, things might change.
For now, all you can do as a Vikings fan is root for your least favorite team to lose or maybe for another team to finally get over the playoff hump and get their first championship. That hurts too because it's just another team getting there while we all watch from the sidelines.
