We’re three weeks in the 2026 NFL season, and we’re starting to figure out a lot about teams. Though sample sizes are still pretty small, and it’s hard to fully judge a team when we don’t really know too much about the opponents they’ve played. So any sort of sweeping judgments should be avoided.
But… the NFL news cycle is 24/7, and there’s nothing wrong with a little analysis after one-sixth of the season is through. Yes, teams will continue to get better or worse. Yes, injuries will continue to alter
the trajectory of each team. But why not have a little fun before we get too deep into the season?
The NFC North standings are probably a little surprising to most, although it certainly isn’t a shock to see that three of the four teams are sporting a winning record. As a reminder, here’s how things look after Week 3:
- Minnesota Vikings: 3-0
- Detroit Lions: 2-1
- Chicago Bears: 2-1
- Green Bay Packers: 1-2
So today’s Question of the Day is:
How would you rank the NFC North after three weeks of the season?
My answer: Let’s start with something I think almost everyone can agree on right now: the Packers look definitively like the worst team in the division. They are a somewhat miraculous comeback away from starting the season 0-3, and their drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday was embarrassing on all levels. Their offense (23rd in points scored) is broken with an offensive line that is being held together by scotch tape. Their defense (29th) may somehow be worse. They aren’t only the worst team in the division right now, they have a solid argument for a bottom five team in football. That could change if they get some things figured out on offense, but it looks bad right now. Note: they are 30th in DVOA.
The other three teams are difficult to rank. The Vikings have the best record because of their insane defense (first in DVOA, second in points allowed). However, their offense remains pretty stagnant (30th in DVOA, 17th in points scored). The Bears are coming off a very impressive win over the Eagles on Monday night, but we can’t forget how much the Vikings humbled them at home in Week 2—holding them to just three points. The Lions have one of the most efficient offenses in football (third in scoring, eighth in DVOA), but their defense is massive liability right now (32nd in scoring, 28th in DVOA).
The only thing that is clear to me is that you have to put the Vikings ahead of the Bears because of the head-to-head win.
That leaves the Bears and the Lions, and I think both teams are in similar boats. Their offenses are going to be awesome and reliable this year, but they’ve got serious questions about their defense. Honestly, thought, I trust the Bears defense a little more, because of their consistent ability to force turnovers.
So my ranking right now would be:
- Vikings
- Bears
- Lions
- Packers
How would you rank the four NFC North teams after three weeks? Share your thoughts in the comment section below by joining our community.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
