NFC North Predictions: Games Left for Each Team and Final Pick

The NFC North is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, and there are several key matchups to watch in 2024 that could determine the fate of the division:

1. Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
   With both teams trending upward, this matchup could be pivotal in determining the NFC North champion. The Lions offense, face off against the Vikings’ defense in a showdown between two of the division’s best.

2. Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
   The Packers, led by their young quarterback continue their success in this matchup with the Lions. Detroit has been dominant in recent seasons, but Green Bay’s resurgence could make this game a key factor in the divisional race.

3. Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
   This rivalry is always heated, and with both teams vying for a playoff spot in 2024. The Vikings will look to take advantage of home-field advantage in their contest with Green Bay.

4. Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
   While the Bears are in a rebuilding phase, this game could still be important for the Vikings as they look to maintain their position at the top of the NFC North.

These games will be crucial in determining who will emerge as the NFC North champion in 2024.

With all so closely matched, every divisional game is a must-watch as the playoff race heats up.

Previous Betting News

As the 2024 NFL season kicks into high gear, the race for the NFC North title is as competitive as ever. In this analysis, we dive into the latest NFC North betting picks and provide insights on which teams have the best shot at claiming the division crown. With odds and expert analysis, we’ll guide you on where to place your bets this season.

2024 NFC North Winning Picks to Win this Season
Uncover Expert Picks and Betting Odds for the 2024 NFC North with MyBookie

2024 NFL Season | 104th season of National League in the United States
Week 1: Thursday, September 5th – Monday, September 9th, 2024

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The NFC North has become one of the top divisions in football.

For more than a decade, the North had been a laughingstock because outside of Green Bay, the other teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, weren’t good.

Detroit and Chicago languished for years.

But ever since the Lions traded Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff and hired Dan Campbell as their head coach, Detroit has turned into a Super Bowl contender.

Chicago made a huge move forward during the offseason by drafting Caleb Williams.

Now, Minnesota is the lone team that many feel doesn’t have a shot to make the playoffs.

Which teams should pro football bettors back to win the NFC North?

Check out NFL odds to win the NFC North Division, analysis, and picks.

Writer’s Picks for the 2024 NFC North Picks

NFC North PredictionsFirst Place: Detroit Lions +130

Although Chicago and Green Bay should be better this season than last, those franchises remain a cut below one of the best teams in the NFL.

The Lions are solid on both sides of the football, boast one of the top coaches in the league, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, and should shut down most opposing offenses.

Carlton Davis III joins Alabama rookie Terrion Arnold at cornerback.

Davis III is as good as it gets.

Marcus Davenport should have the best season of his career because he plays on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson.

Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Derrick Barnes are going to rock at the second level.

The defense will also benefit from one of the league’s top offenses led by the underrated Goff, who plays behind the league’s top offensive line.

The Lions roll to the division title.

Second Place: Chicago Bears +340

It would be easy to pick the Packers over the Bears.

Mot NFL experts believe Green Bay is the much better team.

A closer reveals that, overall, Chicago might have the better players along the offensive line and on defense.

No doubt, Chicago’s wide receiver room is loaded.

DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze have NFL All-Pro talent.

Allen is an NFL All-Pro.

The offensive line should be one of the better units in the NFC and De’Andre Swift is a top running back.

Matt Eberflus is a defensive coach first, which means even though the star players are on the offensive end, Eberflus is going to send a strong defense to the field.

Third Place: Green Bay Packers +200

Jordan Love is a hot pick to win NFL MVP.

His odds are lower than former Packer Aaron Rodgers’s odds to win the award.

Love is that good. He for sure can get it done, but Love doesn’t have the weapons that Williams or Goff possess.

Also, Jeff Hafley brings his defensive coordinating skills from college.

Hafley was the head coach at Boston College and will try replicate his success at the NFL level.

Sometimes that works. More often, it doesn’t.

Green Bay is a tricky team to back to win the NFC North.

Fourth Place: Minnesota Vikings +850

The Lions, Packers, and Bears are playoff contenders.

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t.

The Vikings’ roster didn’t just lose their quarterback, Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, but also lost one of the better defensive ends in the NFL, Danielle Hunter.

The offensive line is solid. Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, or Brett Rypien will have time.

J.J. McCarthy suffered an injury that will keep him out for the season.

So it will fall on a journeyman to get it done.

The defense is going to give up a lot of points.

So it will be difficult for Darnold, Mullens, or Rypien to keep up even though T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Justin Jefferson play for the Vikings.

Minnesota finishes last in the division.

Betting 2024 NFC North Odds

• Detroit Lions +130
• Green Bay Packers +200
• Chicago Bears +340
• Minnesota Vikings +850

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Previous Betting News

The start of the NFL regular season is almost upon us, which means that it’s time for those of us who write about the sport to start making predictions for the coming season. This is always a difficult time of the year, as there are going to be several of those predictions that end up looking rather foolish when all is said and done. This is especially true when it comes to predicting how each individual division will play out, and while it sucks to be wrong, the harsh reality is that there are going to be very few pundits who get everything exactly right. Today, we are going to focus on the NFC North, a division that looks to be rather wide open. Let’s look at the teams in the order in which I believe they will finish, as well as their current NFL odds to win the division.

NFL 2023 Season Picks for the NFC North Division

2023 NFL season | 104th season of National Football League in the United States
September 7, 2023–February 11, 2024

Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions Odds to Win NFC North Division: +141

After years of dwelling in the cellar, the Detroit Lions in 2022 looked like a team ready to take a big step forward. Putting together a winning season was nice, but missing out on the playoffs was still a disappointment. This season, with a couple of teams in a state of flux in the North, the Lions might just be ready to move to the top of the division. They had a very good offseason, filling some holes that could make them a solid unit from top to bottom. They are still a good way off from challenging for a Super Bowl, but a division win looks possible.

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Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers Odds to Win NFC North Division: +400

With Aaron Rodger now wearing the green of the New York Jets, the Packers will be handing the football to Jordan Love for the 2023 season. Whether this kid is ready for primetime remains to be seen, but I have a feeling he might just be better than a lot of people expect. He does have some weapons, albeit unproven, at his disposal, which are sure to make some folks nervous about betting on the Packers. If Love can adapt to life as a starter and the run defense tightens up, the Packers should be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

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Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Odds to Win NFC North Division: +275

It might seem a little odd to put a team that won 13 games down in the #3 spot in the NFC North, but that is exactly what I am doing. While I don’t see there be a calamitous drop off for the Vikings, I do believe that they are going to struggle to get to double-digit wins in 2023. This is a team in the early stages of transition, and while it is not what anyone would call a rebuild, they are trying to skew younger, which means that their window of opportunity is now barely open, at least in my opinion.

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Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears Odds to Win NFC North Division: +400

When you look at the odds for the 4 teams in this division, it is very clear that there is no definite favorite in the eyes of the bookies. I don’t think the Bears can win the division, but they could potentially finish up in 2nd and nab themselves a Wild Card spot. For me, they are the dark horse pick in the North, and could well be the team that ends up being the most surprising. They have added more weapons for Justin Fields in hopes that he can sling the football more and not rely on his feet. Keep an eye on this team.

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Previous Betting News

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will be gearing up for another run at a Super Bowl appearance one year after going a stupendous 13-3 ton win the NFC North while reaching the NFC Championship game. In Minnesota, the Vikings will also be looking to live up to their Super Bowl hopes in 2020 after going 10-6 a year ago and upsetting New Orleans (again) to reach the divisional round. In Chicago, the Bears are looking to rebound from an uninspiring 8-8 mark one year after they won the NFC North while Detroit is looking to get back to being at least competent following another dismal season in the Motor City. Now, let’s find out how all four teams in the NFC North fared in free agency with their NFL Odds and Super Bowl Odds Updated.

NFC North Free Agency Thoughts After Week 1

Green Bay Packers

The Packers needed to address the underwhelming production they got at the wide receiver position a year ago, but they failed to do that in free agency as the only pass catcher they added was veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis. Green bay did sign linebacker Christian Kirksey and tackle Rick Wagner, but they also lost veteran tight end Jimmy Graham, cornerback Tramon Williams and linebacker Blake Martinez. Overall, Green Bay overpaid for Kirksey and they failed to add any wide receivers, making their free agent signing period a bit of a failure!

The Vikings are apparently all in on Kirk Cousins after extended the mediocre veteran for two more years and $66 million. Minnesota also signed veteran interior defensive lineman Michael Pierce while putting the franchise tag on talented safety Anthony Harris. Unfortunately, the Vikes foolishly traded veteran Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Buffalo for just a fourth, fifth and sixth round picks. The additional losses of veterans like cornerback Trae Waynes, edge rusher Everson Griffen, interior d-lineman Linval Joseph and cornerback Mackensie Alexander means the NFC North title hopefuls failed to upgrade their roster during free agency.

The Bears made a really smart move by trading for veteran quarterback Nick Foles who I expect to eventually supplant ineffective starter Mitch Trubisky. The additions of edge rusher Robert Quinn and re-signings of linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety Deon Bush along with the addition of veteran tight end Jimmy Graham were upgrades over the players the Bears previously had. The loss of linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski will sting, but outside of that, the Bears get a passing grade if only because of the addition of Foles.

After going a pitiful 3-13 a year ago, the Lions signed veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant and veteran linebacker Jamie Collins as their top two free agent moves. Detroit also added veteran quarterback Chase Daniel to backup up starter Matthew Stafford after he missed virtually the entire season in 2019. The Lions did trade veteran cornerback Darius Slay to Philadelphia and they also lost fellow cornerback Rashaan Melvin, not to mention a trio of interior defensive linemen. Make no mistake about it. Detroit’s free agent signing period left a lot to be desire, just like the perennially pitiful franchise itself.

Previous Betting News

As recently as Monday morning, it would have been impossible to know who might win the NFC North this season because it wasn’t clear if Green Bay Packers superstar QB Aaron Rodgers was going to play this season. However, Rodgers and the team have buried the hatchet and he’s good to go. Thus, the Packers are clear favorites to win the division again.

Who will win the NFC North this season?

Green Bay Packers (-120)

The Packers won the division by a mile last year and clearly are the best team again with Rodgers back – although this might be his final season with the Packers. Did you know that Rodgers will be the first Green Bay quarterback to last 17 seasons with the team? Both Brett Favre and Bart Starr made it 16. Rodgers admitted he considered retirement during his offseason-long standoff with the team. One key thing Rodgers wanted was a say in personnel moves: “I just want to be involved in conversations that affect my ability to do my job.” Rodgers already has gotten his way as the team has brought back receiver Randall Cobb, a Rodgers favorite, in a trade with the Houston Texans. Cobb who will turn 31 on Aug. 22, played his first eight seasons in Green Bay, where he was one of Rodgers’ go-to receivers — especially in the slot. Rodgers hasn’t had a true slot receiver since Cobb’s departure. Last year with Houston, Cobb suffered a toe injury in Week 11 last year and missed six games. He finished with 38 catches, 441 yards and three touchdowns. Fellow WR Devin Funchess is an X-factor after missing 15 games due to injury in 2019 and then opting out of 2020. He could provide a third-down and red-zone option like a second tight end.

Minnesota Vikings (+200)

If Rodgers had stepped away this season, sportsbooks like MyBookie were set to price the Vikings as division favorites. Which Kirk Cousins will the Vikes get this year? At his best, he’s easily the second-best QB in the division. His record with the Vikings is 25-21-1, not what he or the team envisioned when he first signed with the team in 2018 for a fully guaranteed $84 million. Cousins finished with a career-high 35 touchdown passes in 2020 after a concerning early spate of turnovers. The Vikings really focused on defense this offseason as that unit was terrible in 2020. The return of Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce in 2021 is a massive upgrade for Minnesota. Both missed the entire 2020 NFL season. Pierce is one of the best run-defending nose tackles in the league, and Hunter is one of the most gifted pass rushers on the edge. Additionally, the Vikings acquired future Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency.

Chicago Bears (+325)

How long until rookie first-round pick Justin Fields starts at QB? It won’t be Week 1 but veteran free-agent signing Andy Dalton: “In a perfect world, we’re continuing to win games with Andy, and Justin is developing. He’s getting better and better. Then, it just goes to … we’ll know when the time is right, and when it’s ready for the team and for us to put him in. It will all just naturally happen,” Coach Matt Nagy said when asked when Fields might take over. It certainly will depend on wins and losses – unless Dalton gets hurt. There’s some talent around Allen Robinson is a true No. 1 receiver. David Montgomery finished fourth among all running backs in forced missed tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus. No. 2 wideout Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet both played well as rookies and should improve in Year 2. Nagy said he sees Kmet’s role increasing in 2021. Kmet started his debut campaign slowly, failing to surpass two receptions in a single game until Week 12 but came on at the end.

Detroit Lions (+1600)

The Lions are the lone NFC team to never play in a Super Bowl, and it’s not happening this year. Detroit is more likely to finish with the worst record in the league and the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft than even finish .500 under new head coach Dan Campbell and new starting QB Jared Goff. Goff takes over for franchise legend Matthew Stafford. After losing Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones in free agency, the receiver group is weak: highlighted by Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman and rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown. Second-year running back D’Andre Swift has the capability to become the Lions’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013. The defensive backs could be the worst group in football, especially if Jeff Okudah doesn’t have a big second-year leap after a disastrous rookie season.

Expert Predicted Order Of Finish

Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit

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Previous Betting News

The 2020 NFL Draft, which was unlike anything we had ever seen before, is now officially in the books, which means that every team in the league now knows what they have to work with this coming season. Not every player drafted is going to make it, but there will be a few later round picks who excel and end up in the 53-man roster of their respective teams. We won’t really know how things will pan out until the teams start playing, but we can look at what teams have done in the offseason to get an idea of how each of the divisions might play out. We are going to get the ball rolling by taking a look at the NFC North, which includes the current odds to win the division.

NFC North Divisional Odds After 2020 Draft

Green Bay Packers

NFC North Divisional Odds: +145

The Packers look to be the obvious favorite here after winning 13 games last season and going all the way to the NFC Championship Game. That said, this offseason has not been without it’s bumps, with the Packers trading up to land QB Jordan Love in the draft. While the Packers are saying that Aaron Rodgers is still their man for the foreseeable future, that seems a little harder to believe given that move. It was a bit of a dodgy draft all round for Green Bay, but they still have the core group of players from last season in place, so they are definitely a good bet to win the division.

Minnesota Vikings

NFC North Divisional Odds: +165

The Vikings finished last season with a 10-6 record and a spot in the Wild Card, although they did not go far in the playoffs. By extending the contract of Kirk Cousins, the Vikings made it clear that they believe their window of opportunity to still be open. They did have some losses on free agency, most notably WR Stefon Diggs, but they had a slew of picks in the draft, which they used to fill the most gaping holes on the team. Given how the Packers offseason has gone, I would be willing to take a shot on the Vikings.

Chicago Bears

NFC North Divisional Odds: +400

The Bears were rather heavily fancied to win the NFL North last season, but a disappointing season saw them close things out with an 8-8 record. While certainly not solely responsible for the poor season, it was QB Mitch Trubisky who took most of the flak. The Bears seem to agree with that assessment, at least to a certain extent, as they went out and picked up Nick Foles on free agency. In the draft, the Bears made out quite well and have a very good weapon in TE Cole Kmet. If they can sort things out at QB, the Bears could hang in with the leaders this season.

Detroit Lions

NFC North Divisional Odds: +750

The Lions are now in a bit of a rebuilding phase and have some work to do to improve on the 3-12-1 record from last season. They got some offensive line help via the draft, as well as a very good CB with their first pick, but it is being able to land D’Andre Swift with their first pick in the second round that may go down as one of the steals of the draft. It’s not realistic that they will be competing to win the division this season, so I would not be betting on them.

Previous Betting News

Like other NFL Divisions this season, not one but two teams are favored to win the NFC North. Both the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings offer odds of +110 to win the division. The odds rise significantly for the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears to win the division. Keep reading for more info on favored Green Bay and Minnesota as well as the smart play and longshot play to take the 2018 NFC North title this season.

2018 NFC North NFL Odds & Picks

Founded: 1967
Most Recent NFC North Champions: Minnesota Vikings
Most NFC North Titles: Minnesota Vikings (20)

But, it takes the right mix of running backs and a great offensive line to pull off the Saints’ rushing attack. Green Bay might not have either heading into this season. Is Minnesota a better pick to win the NFC North at the odds?

Perhaps. The Vikings have an excellent defense. They changed quarterbacks, but that’s supposed to help Minnesota’s offense, not hurt it. The big thing for Minnesota is the health of running back Dalvin Cook. If he’s healthy, Minnesota will be tough to beat.

Still, the NFC North is much deeper than the odds on Green Bay and Minnesota indicate.

2018 NFC North Smart Pick

Detroit Lions +500

There’s no reason why the Detroit Lions should be +500 to win the NFC North. The Lions are a much better team than that. Detroit has the benefit of a new defensive-minded coach, Matt Patricia, as well as a new center in Frank Ragnow and possible starting running back in Kerryon Johnson. The Lions drafted Ragnow and Johnson with their first two picks.

Patricia inherits a defense that wasn’t great last season. However, this is where Patricia’s defensive genius comes into play. He’ll teach the Lions to play bend but don’t break. On the other side of the football, Ragnow and Johnson should work beautifully with one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, Matt Stafford.

Detroit is a serious contender for the NFC North Division.

2018 NFC North Longshot

Chicago Bears +580

Things are looking up for the Chicago Bears. Although most NFL fans believe the Bears are terrible this season, that might not be the case at all.

Chicago’s offense boasts one of the best all-around running backs in the NFL in Jordan Howard. Howard is backed up by versatile scatback Tarik Cohen. The wide receiver position is set, the QB position is set, and the offensive line is underrated.

Defensively, the Bears ranked 10^th in yards allowed per game. Plenty of teams have gone from last in a division to first in a division. The Rams and Jaguars did it in 2017. The Bears could do it in 2018.

Previous Betting News

Coming off their first divisional crown since 2009, the Minnesota Vikings—locked and loaded with upgrades all over the roster from a busy offseason—have their eyes set on recording back-to-back titles in the NFC North. To do so, they will have to best the efforts of the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in what promises to be an action-packed wire-to-wire title race in the NFC North. Are the Vikings up to the task or will the competition in the NFL odds to win the 2016 NFC North Championship prove too tough for them? Here’s our not-so-early take on this divisional title race, complete with free online sportsbooks picks for your perusal and consideration.

A Closer Look At The 2016 Free Picks To Win The NFC North

The Favorite Betting Pick To Win The NFC North: Green Bay Packers

In spite of winning the division last year and returning with nearly every key member of the squad that recorded an NFC North-best 11 wins, the Vikings are placed as second-favorites in most NFL betting shops behind the Packers in the early 2016 NFC North Futures. A big reason for this is the fact that the Packers had won four straight titles in the division (between 2011 and 2014) before the Vikes outlasted them last season. And in their defense, the Pack suffered several injuries in the course of the season, so the team was barely at full strength. To say that Green Bay Packers finished with a 10-6 record (just one win behind Minnesota) is actually a big compliment to Aaron Rodgers and his shorthanded teammates.

If the Packers can stay healthy in 2016, there are few reasons to doubt their potential to reclaim the throne. Entering training camps, the O-line looks better than it has in years, all-world quarterback Rodgers is psyched up for a big season and the team roster is largely healthy–save for the minor ankle tweak by Jordy Nelson, as reported on Tuesday. And the best news of all is that the Packers have the easiest strength of schedule in the entire NFL this season. All that remains is for Green Bay’s defense to clean up its act, and in no time, the Packers will be back to the top of the NFC North division.

The Smart Betting Pick To Win The NFC North: Minnesota Vikings

Though the Packers are hot betting favorites in the NFC North title odds, and rightfully so; the Vikings shouldn’t be distanced away from the title talks. The Vikes have seemingly gotten back to their glory days of ’08 and ’09, thanks to the transformative leadership of Coach Mike Zimmer. Minny’s defense has all the makings of a top-5 D in 2016 while the offense has brought in some solid pieces to beef up the O-line and open up the vertical game for up-and-coming quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is entering the golden third-year in the NFL that often features the best breakouts for quarterbacks. Should Bridgewater turn it up in his passing game as he seeks to hit pay dirt in his 2017 contract year, the Vikings (who already have a strong running game led by veteran RB Adrian Peterson) will be more than capable of duking it out with Green Bay all the way to Week 17 for a strong chance at the NFC North title.

The Longshot Betting Pick to Win the NFC North: Chicago Bears

While the Lions and Bears both sport more-or-less the same prices in the 2016 NFC North Championship Futures, it is Chicago who look most primed to pressure the duo of Green Bay and Minnesota in the title race. Head Coach John Fox is visionary leader who needs no introduction and Jay Cutler has all the pieces needed for him to succeed both aerially and on the ground. Questions still abound about Chicago’s in-transition defense, but every team in the North has its fair share of questions, meaning the Bears should be given the benefit of doubt just like everyone else. Needless to say, everything will start and stop at Cutler’s arms, and that means a lot of risk for Chicago’s title ambitions, given the up-and-down performances we’ve seen from the 33-year-old signal-caller.

The Lions, well, the absence of Megatron and the iffy nature of their defense are the biggest concerns, along with the fact that Green Bay and Minnesota are way ahead of Detroit in terms of established and proven talented. That said, Mathew Stafford and his offense showed promise under their new OC in the second half of 2015 and the Detroit defense still has some big value pieces, so bettors shouldn’t totally write them off from surprising us in 2016 like they did with a strong 11-5, second-place finish in the 2014 season.

2016 NFC North Predictions

Assuming every team stays healthy, then the divisional crown should go to the Packers, as they have a better-gelled and most-experienced squad to go along with the best quarterback in the NFC North and the easiest schedule in the league. Minnesota will most likely come second, followed by Chicago and Detroit, in that respective order.

My 2016 NFC North Winning Pick: Green Bay

Previous Betting News

The NFC North had been the plaything of the Green Bay Packers. They entered last season having won the division four years in a row and were heavily favored to again in 2015. However, that title went to the Minnesota Vikings. Who wins the North in 2016? Green Bay is the -150 favorite on the 2016 NFL betting lines.

Check Out Our NFC North 2016 Season NFL Picks Report

The NFC North was previously known as the NFC Central from 1970 to 2001. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were previously members from 1977, one year after they joined the league as an expansion team, until 2001 when they moved to the NFC South. The four current division teams have been together in the same division or conference since the Vikings joined the league in 1961.

Minnesota and the Green Bay Packers have played a winner-take-all game for the division title in Week 17 at Lambeau last year. The Packers were touchdown favorites in that one but were stunned 20-13. NFL rushing king Adrian Peterson ran for a touchdown, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned a fumble 55 yards for a score and the Vikings claimed their first division title since 2009. It was also Minnesota’s first win in Lambeau since that year. The loss left the Packers without a win over a division opponent at home for the first time since 1968.

The Packers struggled at times last season offensively because they lost No. 1 receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending injury in the preseason. But he’ll be good to go for Week 1 this year as he recovers from ACL surgery. Nelson won’t participate in 11-on-11 team reps until training camp, he said. Coach Mike McCarthy is expected to play it safe with Nelson during a training camp that will be extended by a week because the Packers are playing a fifth preseason game (the Hall of Fame Game).

Nelson was a second team all-pro in 2014 with the best season of his career, catching 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. His chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers — as seen through their famed back-shoulder fades — is almost unrivaled in the NFL.

The Vikings are pretty much back intact and should again have the best defense in the division. They also will move to a new domed stadium this season. They had to play outdoors at the University of Minnesota the past two years. The Vikings were stunned there in the playoffs last year by Seattle when kicker Blair Walsh hooked a potential winning 27-yard field goal in the final seconds. It was one of the most unlikely and devastating losses in playoff history. The Vikes are +220 second favorites.

The Detroit Lions are +1000 to win the division. They haven’t done that since 1993. The Lions also have to replace one of the best receivers in NFL history as Calvin Johnson retired at age 30. He says he’s not coming back, either. Johnson dealt with knee, ankle and finger injuries over the past four seasons. He played through an ankle injury the last eight weeks of the 2015 season. His team records with the Lions include most career receptions (731), career receiving yards (11,619), receiving yards in a season (1,964), receiving yards in a game (329), career receiving touchdowns (83) and receiving touchdowns in a season (16).

The Chicago Bears finished last in the division last season and are +1200 this year.

Expert Prediction

Nelson does make that much of a difference so go Packers on NFL lines. Minnesota will finish second, Chicago third and Detroit fourth.