NFC North Roundtable: Predicting each team's record for the 2025 season

The NFC North is going to be one of the best divisions in the National Football League this year. When you look at the prospects of the division, they are returning three playoff teams who won a combined 40 games in the 2024 season. Projecting these teams forward is going to be an interesting task. […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Minnesota Vikings fan Tali Roberts, left, of Nashville shares a laugh Green Bay Packers fan Steve Tate of DeForest, Wisconsin, prior to the start of their football game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFC North is going to be one of the best divisions in the National Football League this year.

When you look at the prospects of the division, they are returning three playoff teams who won a combined 40 games in the 2024 season. Projecting these teams forward is going to be an interesting task.

Our beat writers in the NFC North predicted the records of all four teams in the division, and they are eerily similar.

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Minnesota Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness: 12-5

This Minnesota Vikings team is a fascinating one to look at in-depth. There are a lot of talented players on the roster, but the biggest question mark is currently J.J. McCarthy. His performance is going to determine how successful the Vikings' season will be.

What's really interesting here is that the Vikings have done a great job of isolating McCarthy to the point where his performance means less than it would for others in his position. The roster is essentially quarterback-proof, where they can win double-digit games with just average quarterback play. The other major element is going to be the health of the roster. If the Vikings can keep their roster healthy and McCarthy emerges as a top quarterback, then this team could win another 14 games. The likely number is 12, especially with the difficult games on the schedule.

Green Bay Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira: 12-5 

It may feel like the Packers regressed last year after reaching the divisional round in 2023, but the team was actually better. They had two extra wins (11 total) and were fourth in DVOA, including a top 10 offense and top 10 defense. That was with an injured version of Jordan Love, essentially three games of Malik Willis, and throwing out the Week 18 game since the playoff spot was clinched.

Materially, the Packers didn't lose much in the offseason. Jaire Alexander barely played anyway, and the only other significant loss was defensive tackle TJ Slaton. With the additions of left guard Aaron Banks, moving Elgton Jenkins to replace Josh Myers at center, and cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency, plus Matthew Golden in the draft, it's realistic to expect one more win—especially with a healthier Jordan Love on the field and another year of experience for the young roster.

Chicago Bears beat writer Kole Noble: 9-8

This is the record I keep coming back to and the record I predicted when the 2025 schedule was initially released. Bears fans aren’t going to like missing the playoffs once again, but it’s time this fanbase starts lowering some expectations until the wheels get off the tracks for what this team can eventually become.

A 4-win increase and finishing above .500 should be seen as a win for a new coaching staff led by a first-year head coach with a second-year quarterback. I do see big things on the horizon for Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams leading this team, but it’s going to take time with some learning moments to grow from. That’s what the story of 2025 will be for the Chicago Bears. A team on the brink of being a playoff contender once they iron out all their mistakes. At the same time, I see this team hanging with some top teams and putting some fear into the rest of the league.

Detroit Lions beat writer Mike Payton: 12-5

Winning 15 games is really hard. Doing it two years in a row is basically impossible. This schedule is pretty difficult, especially on the road, but the Lions are good enough that they should be expected to win some of these games, especially since they were undefeated on the road last year.

Things will help them this year is that they have the most rest in between games in the entire league this year, and they only have to play one cold weather game all year long.

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