You can always count on the AFC North to be one of the most competitive divisions in football every single season. The division is renowned for its intense rivalries and physical style of play, consistently producing playoff teams. In 2023, all four squads had a winning record – the first time that has ever happened in the Super Bowl era.
Heading into the 2025 season, there is a case to be made that the AFC North is the toughest division in football. The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens each
have star, MVP-caliber quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Cleveland Browns are not projected to perform as well as the other teams in the division, they have shown that they can surpass expectations.
If any division can rival that level of competition, it might be the NFC North. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers will almost certainly both be playoff teams – especially with the Packers’ recent acquisition of Micah Parsons. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the more talented rosters in the league, though they have a lot of uncertainty at quarterback. The Chicago Bears are hoping to build on Caleb Williams’ rookie season with new head coach Ben Johnson. All four of these teams could realistically be in the playoff hunt.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Is the AFC North the toughest division in football? Does another division deserve that title?
