In August, a debate took place between myself and my FOX Sports colleague, Carmen Vitali, on which division would be the best in the NFL during 2024. I argued in favor of the AFC North, while Vitali chose the NFC North, an argument she vehemently stands by now. In a poll, 38% of readers agreed with me, while 31% sided with Vitali. However, recent performances have proven that the NFC North is, indeed, outperforming expectations.
The NFC North teams currently have a 16-4 record in non-division games. The Vikings, Lions, Packers, and Bears all have plus-40 or better in point differentials – something no other team in the NFL has achieved. Surprising many, the Vikings have dominated games thanks to Sam Darnold’s passing and Brian Flores’ stellar defense. Furthermore, the Bears have rallied around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has quickly become a key part of their team.
Contrastly, the AFC North, which I had initially predicted to perform well, has been disappointing. Two of the league’s most underperforming teams, the Bengals and the Browns, belong to the AFC North; the Bengals are sitting at 2-4 while the Browns are at 1-5. Although there’s still hope for the Ravens, Steelers, and potentially the Bengals for a wildcard spot, the AFC North’s overall performance is lackluster compared to the previous year.
The success of the NFC North doesn’t solely revolve around their impressive quarterbacks. The teams also excel in turnover margins and takeaways; all four teams rank within the top seven for turnovers. In particular, the Packers, Bears, and Vikings stand at the top three for league takeaways. Their defense is also noteworthy, with the Vikings leading the league with 11 interceptions and the Packers recovering eight fumbles.
However, the NFC North’s success so far isn’t definitive proof of their dominance. The Bears, for instance, have won against four struggling teams, making their 4-2 record less impressive. Therefore, their upcoming face-off against the Commanders in Washington could provide a more accurate picture of their prowess, especially as it also features a duel between top rookie quarterbacks Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Finally, what makes the NFC North compelling this season is the division games lined up for the final weeks. So far, only one division game has taken place, and the others could significantly reshape the standings. The playoff seeding also rests on the division’s regular-season performance, putting further emphasis on their upcoming games. With teams like the Vikings, Lions, Packers, and Bears dominating their home games, better seeding can significantly increase their chances in the postseason. Consequently, this could mean more chances for wild cards in the NFC North this year.
