The NFC North is the most competitive division in the NFL, the best division in football. Other divisions around the league including the NFC South, NFC East and the AFC West have all had their runs in recent years, but none of them can still make the claim that they are the best all around division in the NFL. This isn’t to say that teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots or the New Orleans Saints are not some of the best teams in the league. However, they do not have as tough of a road as the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings.
Let’s start with some facts. Through three weeks in this young 2019-20 NFL season, the NFC North is the only division who has yet to lose to a team who is not in their own division. That’s right, the overall division record sits at 9-2-1, with the two losses coming at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. The Detroit Lions, the “forgotten team” of the NFC North, have beaten two teams who were in the 2018-19 Playoffs and they sit at second place in the most competitive division in the NFL.
Time for some more facts. It is intriguing that the NFC North is the only division in the NFL where, as of the beginning of week 4, all four teams’ current starting quarterback has started at least one full season with their current team. However, NFL fans know that the most overused cliche in all of sports holds true: defense wins championships.
Let’s take a couple steps back and look at the 2017-18 NFL Season. The year that the Minnesota Vikings played in the NFC Championship. The Vikings went 13-3 that season, claiming the 2017-18 title for the best division in the NFL. The Vikings also happened to have the number 1 defense in points allowed and yards allowed that season. Then came the 2018-19 Chicago Bears defense, led by new acquisition Khalil Mack. Chicago was crowned division champion that season, and this Bears defense fit right into the franchises long history of stout defenses, ranking as the first best defense in points allowed and third in yards allowed.
Now, three weeks into the 2019-20 season, the revitalized Green Bay Packers defense ranks as the second best defense in points allowed. The Detroit Lions 2019-20 defense isn’t among the top ranked defenses in the league, and with one of the strongest defensive lines in the league, their secondary was thought to be a weak point heading into the season. However, the Detroit secondary ranks as the best in the league in defensive open receiver percentage according to SportsSource Analytics. Opposing receivers are only open 63.5% of the time, while the Packers’ secondary rank as the third best in this stat leaving receivers open only 64.2% of the time.
The fact is, the NFC North’s got defense. It hasn’t translated to championships yet, but these top ranked defenses along with some of the most reliable quarterbacks in the league make for the most competitive division in football.
The Packers and the Lions both have their work cut out for them this week. With the Lions playing against arguably the best team in the league, the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFC North’s undefeated record against outside opponents is in jeopardy. The Packers have a primetime matchup with the 2018 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings are facing off for the first time this season and one of them will head into week 5 with an 0-2 division record. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s just the best division in football.
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