The Green Bay Packers let a 12-point lead evaporate and lost a winnable game in Week 2, but Matt LaFleur’s team wasn’t alone in the NFC North, a division that continues to ask the question: “Are any of these teams any good?”
While the Packers gave up 13 straight points and lost 25-24 to the Atlanta Falcons, the Minnesota Vikings turned the ball over four times and fell 34-28 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, the Chicago Bears dropped to 0-2 with a 27-17 loss on the road to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions followed up a Week 1 win in Kansas City with a 37-31 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home.
The NFC North was the only division without a victory in Week 2.
After two weeks, the Packers and Lions are 1-1 and the Vikings and Bears 0-2.
Many believed the NFC South would be the worst division in football in 2023. Well, after two weeks, the Falcons and Buccaneers are both 2-0, and three of the four wins between the two teams came against the NFC North. The Saints could join the 2-0 party with a win over the Panthers on Monday night.
The NFC North is one of only two divisions with just two total wins so far this season, joining the AFC West.
The Bears, Lions and Vikings have all lost at home and are a combined 0-5 against the NFC to start the season. The Packers’ lone win came against the Bears.
Can the NFC North turn things around, or will this struggling division end up crowning a victor with only eight or nine wins in 2023?
The first two weeks helped solidify some pre-regular season beliefs: the Packers will go through growing pains, the Lions probably aren’t a dominant favorite, the Vikings will suffer luck regression and the Bears aren’t nearly good enough to take a big step forward. Time will tell if one of the four teams can shake the narrative and take control.
Division standings entering Week 3
| NFC North | W-L | Point diff | Up next |
| 1. Green Bay Packers | 1-1 | +17 | vs. Saints |
| 2. Detroit Lions | 1-1 | -5 | vs. Falcons |
| 3. Minnesota Vikings | 0-2 | -9 | vs. Chargers |
| 4. Chicago Bears | 0-2 | -28 | at Chiefs |
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