The NFC North is one of the most successful divisions in the regular season. Last year, they had their top three teams combine for 40 wins, but they weren't able to see that translate into postseason success.

When looking at the NFC North this season, what success looks like for each team is a little bit different. This is what a successful season will look like for each team.

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Minnesota Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness: Win a playoff game

It's clear that the masses don't believe in the Vikings. They currently have a win total of 8.5 wins at the sports-books with a first-year starting quarterback in J.J. McCarthy and a lot of changes in the trenches. However, the sports-books aren't taking into account that head coach Kevin O'Connell is a great elevator of talent at the quarterback position.

2025 is viewed at the start of a three-year Super Bowl window, and, as much as the fanbase (and myself) believe this is a championship contender, they have to win a playoff game first. O'Connell is currently 0-2 in that category, and that's going to be the first step to winning the first world championship in franchise history.

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Green Bay Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira: Clearer signs of development around the roster

The Packers still have a young roster, so it would be unwise to say it's Super Bowl or bust for this team. Last year, Green Bay had two more wins than it had in 2023, but it felt different because the offense played worse down the stretch and they didn't win a playoff game—not that losing to the Philadelphia Eagles was any egregious sin. Either way, the Packers have to show better signs of sustainable development from their young pieces, including Jordan Love, the wide receiver group, and the defensive front. This will be Year 3 of this current version of the roster, so there has to be material results of the expected rise from the group as a whole.

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Chicago Bears beat writer Kole Noble: Going .500

Nothing in Chicago matters more than winning games in 2025. This team, and most importantly the fan base, can’t set expectations too high this season in the first year under head coach Ben Johnson. What this organization needs to do is prove they can win games. Going back to my record prediction, I would be perfectly fine with a 9-8 season and missing the playoffs. The last time the Bears were above .500 was in 2018. Making the playoffs would be icing on the cake, of course. To me, I just want to see this team close out tight games and prove they can compete with top teams. Playoff appearances will come eventually for this team but it’s not something that should make or break how we look at this season.

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Detroit Lions beat writer Mike Payton: Sustain the culture

It’s the culture: For as long as I can remember, the Lions were the place where your career would go to die and you’d be embarrassed on a weekly basis. The team that snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory. After Matt Patrica, that all seemed to be even worse.

But then this new regime of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, along with owner Sheila Ford Hamp, began the idea that culture had to be put in the forefront and that being good at football had to be a part of the equation, and not the whole equation. Make this a place where players want to play and where they’re willing to give their all and do not stray from the ideal for anything or anybody. It’s changed this place dramatically.

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