Minnesota might have made the playoffs in 2019, but to do so again, it will be competing with some enticing teams for spots.
The Vikings clinched a wild card spot this past season, while the Packers won the division. In 2018, the Bears won the division, and now Chicago has added quarterback Nick Foles.
Some people have tabbed the Lions to compete for the NFC North this season. The offense was pretty high-octane in 2019, for having to play David Blough at quarterback, after Matthew Stafford and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel both got injured. With Stafford back, the team could be dangerous on that side of the ball.
The Vikings and their three NFC North rivals combined to make the No. 3 best division in the NFL, according to CBS Sports. Here’s what the outlet said about the north:
“The NFC North should be a crapshoot in 2020, which makes sense, because this has been one of the most unpredictable divisions in the NFL over the past few years. No NFC division embraces parity quite like the North. For one, this is the only division in the NFL that has produced three different winners over the past three seasons. Also, the NFC North is one of just just two divisions that has sent all four of its teams to the playoffs over the past four years (The AFC South is the other).”
I think the strength of this division depends on how good the Bears’ offense will be, and whether the Lions’ defense can be serviceable enough to keep them in games. If both those things happen, there are really no easy wins in the NFC North for 2020.