All four NFC North teams would be in the postseason if the playoffs started today. The Minnesota Vikings, 5-0, would own the second seed as the division leader, while the Packers (4-2), Bears (4-2), and Lions (3-2) would all hold the three wild card spots.
Green Bay has won three straight, and Caleb Williams returned from a hamstring injury to lead Chicago to a 31-23 win on Sunday. Detroit has one of the league's best offenses, tying for 3rd in EPA/play and ranking 4th in total yards per game.
Even though the other teams are getting hot, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks still ranks the Vikings as the division's best team, largely because of their defense.
If defense wins championships in 2026, it's hard to bet against these Vikings, with DC Brian Flores
beating opponents into submission via a barrage of Cover 0 pressures and complementary blitzes that force quarterbacks and play-callers to crash out by game's end. The Vikings' relentless approach and rugged style make them a nightmare to play for 60 minutes, especially with Flores calling unique blitzes that put free rushers right in the quarterback's face. With constant punishment and harassment leading to negative plays (sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers), Minnesota's defense routinely sets up Kyler Murray and Co. for prime scoring chances. As the former No. 1 overall pick settles into a Kevin O'Connell offense that plays complementary football with a dominant defense, the Vikings are getting more comfortable winning ugly while making a run at the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Minnesota hosts the Colts in Week 6. Then, they travel to Detroit in Week 7 for a pivotal NFC North clash. The Vikings' defense has held its own, but the offense must keep improving to keep the rest of the division in the rearview mirror.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Analyst ranks Vikings at the top of the NFC North
