The NFC North has become a truly strong division. Between the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers, these are all teams that are feared in the greater league.
Being in a tough division comes with bragging rights. But it also makes it harder to get to the playoffs. That's a problem for one team that could end up with a good record but not make the postseason.
The NFC North is so competitive that a winning team could miss the playoffs despite having a strong record
In a feature for ESPN released on Friday, Bill Barnwell says that he believes the NFC North is the best and even strongest division we've ever seen. That's a strong statement.
The NFC North has a combined 31-9 record going into Week 10, per ESPN research, making it one of the strongest divisions in football. The Packers have the division's worst record at 6-3, but they're obviously a winning team.
So, we have four competitive teams fighting for position, and because of that, the division could end up sending a winning team home when the playoffs begin. That team, if things were to stand right now, would be the Green Bay Packers.
Now, there's a lot of football left. The Packers could make a run and stand out. But, regardless of which team is last in the division, they'll likely have a winning record and still not make the postseason. That's fascinating, especially when other divisions are so weak that a winning team could easily make the playoffs.
