As we quickly approach the 2025 NFL season, we are compiling in-depth analysis on every team from across the NFL, division-by-division. Kicking things off with one of the deepest divisions in football, the NFC North is sure to be a bloodbath as several competitive squads will be vying for the division title.
The Detroit Lions are hungry as ever to finally capture the elusive Super Bowl title after suffering a shocking upset to the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFL Playoffs. With upgrades across their defence, the Lions believe this is their best shot at winning it all.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers continue to try to vault their way into contention. Sporting one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, the Packers remain competitive and have been battle-tested in recent memory, hoping their mix of youth and experience will take them back to the Super Bowl.
There’s a changing of the guard going down in Minnesota as the keys of the offence have been handed to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who will look to keep the Vikings’ winning ways alive after their surprise 14-3 season a year ago. In a fitting trial by fire, the Vikings and McCarthy are one of the most intriguing teams to watch in 2025.
Last but not least, Da Bears will look to finally punch their ticket back to the NFL Playoffs after missing them for four straight seasons. With Caleb Williams leading the way, the new-look Chicago Bears could be an upset waiting to happen.
Get the best bets and expert picks with our 2025 NFC North betting preview, place your bets at any of the best NFL betting sites, and get yourself prepared for a bankroll-booming season with our top picks & predictions.
Detroit Lions to Win the Super Bowl
Detroit Lions
Super Bowl Odds: +1100
To Win Conference Odds: +450
Division Odds: +140
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-185) No (+150)
Season Win Total: Over 10.5 (+100) Under 10.5 (-130)
2024 Record: 15-2
Key Additions: CB D.J. Reed, CB Rock Ya-Sin, DL Roy Lopez, TE Kenny Yeboah, CB Avonte Maddox
Key Subtractions: G Kevin Zeitler, CB Carlton Davis, DL Jonah Williams, WR Maurice Alexander, CB Kindle Vildor
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Entering the 2025 season with the second-best odds to win the NFC, Week 11 has set the stage for a colossal matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. The projected top two teams in the conference will go head-to-head from Lincoln Financial Field in what could be a pivotal clash in deciding who secures the number-one seed in the NFC.
Prop to Watch: Heading into his third season as a pro, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs could be set to shatter his previous season bests with a standout 2025 campaign. With more and more touches being ceded to the former Alabama stud, as opposed to his counterpart David Montgomery, look for Sonic to get more usage than Knuckles this season as he carves up a stellar season that lands him the Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Potential Breakout Player: After a serviceable rookie season in 2024, look for former first-round pick Terrion Arnold to truly cement himself as a standout corner this year. Amidst a myriad of injuries up and down the Lions defence, Arnold showed grit and durability, suiting up for 16 games in the regular season, as well as their lone playoff matchup. Having already shown stellar tackling ability as a defensive back, look for him to improve upon his coverage skills, notching his first career interception as he emerges as the cornerback of the future for the Motor City.
Betting Projection: In what’s sure to be yet another dominant season for the Lions, look for them to get right back to where they left off in the 2024 season, racking up wins routinely throughout the regular season as they continue their hunt for the Lombardi Trophy. Hammer the over on the Lions win total this season as they have finished with at least 11 wins in back-to-back years, and sprinkle some change on them to win the NFC North once again as their division rivals simply don’t have the firepower to keep up with them in 2025.
Jahmyr Gibbs to Win Offensive Player of the Year
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
To Win Conference Odds: +1000
Division Odds: +260
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-130) No (+100)
Season Win Total: Over 9.5 (-105) Under 9.5 (-115)
2024 Record: 11-6
Key Additions: WR Mecole Hardman, CB Nate Hobbs, WR Matthew Golden, LB Isaiah Simmons, G Aaron Banks
Key Subtractions: CB Eric Stokes, CB Corey Ballentine, LB Eric Wilson, C Josh Myers, RB AJ Dillon
Most Important Game on the Schedule: In what will be an immediate litmus test of their 2025 season, the Green Bay Packers will kick off their campaign with a home matchup against the Lions. Taking on the squad that has won the division in back-to-back seasons, the Packers will get an early look at how they stack up against the best of the best within their conference. The Packers have lost six of their past seven meetings with the Lions, meaning this matchup is not just important for their record, but also their confidence amidst this bitter rivalry.
Prop to Watch: After making history as they drafted a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2002, the Packers are seemingly ready to hand the lead receiving duties to rookie Matthew Golden this season. Having turned heads already in training camp, Golden may be the final piece needed to help turn the Packers offence into a juggernaut. While this has shaped out to be an incredibly deep offensive rookie class, at +2500, look for Golden to be in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year honours as he and quarterback Jordan Love connect regularly for big plays throughout the season.
Potential Breakout Player: While he’s mostly built his reputation as a stupendous kick returner and special teams player, cornerback Keisean Nixon has the opportunity to prove he has what it takes to be a top corner on a winning team. Having been named All-Pro as a kick returner, Nixon now has the chance to show he can also get it done in the secondary as the Packers sport a revamped defensive back squad, with Nixon poised to play a massive part within it. He may not be your typical breakout player as he enters his seventh NFL season, but look for Nixon to assert himself as a top corner talent in the NFC North in 2025.
Betting Projection: They may still be the little brother to the Lions in 2025, but make no mistake, the Packers are still a dark horse contender in the NFC. With their young core growing into battle-tested veterans, the sky’s the limit for this Packers squad. Back the Pack to make the playoffs, as well as secure over 9.5 wins this season as they look to play spoiler in the postseason yet again, and aspire to secure their first Super Bowl victory in over a decade.
Matthew Golden to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year
Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl Odds: +2500
To Win Conference Odds: +1400
Division Odds: +350
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-110) No (-110)
Season Win Total: Over 8.5 (-150) Under 8.5 (+120)
2024 Record: 14-3
Key Additions: DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave, G Will Fries, WR Rondale Moore, C Ryan Kelly
Key Subtractions: S Camryn Bynum, QB Sam Daronld, TE Johnny Mundt, LT Cam Robinson, CB Shaquill Griffin
Most Important Game on the Schedule: In what will be a major test in the young career of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, in Week 4, the Minnesota Vikings will square off against one of the fiercest defences in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Facing so-so competition through the first three weeks, this will be the rookie’s first taste of facing an elite NFL defence. With the Vikings’ season, as well as their overall future resting in the palms of the former Michigan Wolverine, this international clash out of Dublin, Ireland, will be a telling visual as to the potential of McCarthy.
Prop to Watch: While we generally wouldn’t advise fading one of the best in the game, we do feel strongly about taking the under on All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s touchdown total in 2025. J Jettah’s line is currently set at 9.5, a mark he has exceeded twice in his five-year career. Not to say that Jefferson isn’t an elite talent, but it could be a down year in terms of statistical production for him as he will be playing with a rookie quarterback who hasn’t shown much as a deep ball passer. With his personal best in college being 22 passing touchdowns in a season, this mediocre number could indicate that Jefferson will also see a drop in his end zone grabs in 2025.
Potential Breakout Player: Amidst some chaos and disruption at wide receiver for the Vikes, look for rookie wideout Tai Felton to take advantage of this opening and make a name for himself early into his NFL career. With Jordan Addison being hit with a three-game suspension to begin the season, Felton will likely slide in and take the bulk of snaps left available by Addison’s absence. Hot off the heels of a fantastic senior season with the Maryland Terrapins, in which he hauled in nine touchdown grabs along with 1124 yards in 12 games played, he will be a great second option next to the heavily covered Justin Jefferson.
Betting Projection: Expect to see the Vikings take a step backward in terms of wins and losses this season, as they have a major drop compared to their surprise 14-win season a year ago. While they have made great offseason upgrades to their offensive and defensive lines, they still have several holes in other areas of their roster such as their secondary, and at quarterback. They took a massive risk in moving on from Sam Darnold, who was a major reason for the success found last year, instead bringing in a rookie coming off of a torn ACL. With so many question marks surrounding their season outlook, bet the under on their win total for plus money, as well as for them to miss the playoffs in 2025.
 | To win Super Bowl | To win division | To make the playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | +1100 | +140 | -185 |
| Green Bay Packers | +2000 | +260 | -130 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +2500 | +350 | -110 |
| Chicago Bears | +4000 | +500 | +175 |
Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
To Win Conference Odds: +1600
Division Odds: +500
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+175) No (-225)
Season Win Total: Over 8.5 (+130) Under 8.5 (-160)
2024 Record: 5-12
Key Additions: G Jonah Jackson, G Joe Thuney, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, CB Tre Flowers, WR Devin Duvernay
Key Subtractions: WR Keenan Allen, G Matt Pryor, LB Jack Sanborn, G Coleman Shelton, EDGE Jacob Martin
Most Important Game on the Schedule: In the history of the NFL, there may not be a rivalry bigger than that between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. As both teams have shifted into a new era, the Bears finally got the upper hand over their rivals on the road as they secured their first victory at Lambeau Field since 2015. Looking to continue this trend, rubbing insult to injury in a pivotal juncture of the season, look for this high-stakes Week 14 clash to be a crucial point in both teams’ schedules, leaving playoff implications to go along with a matchup with bragging rights and pride also on the line.
Prop to Watch: After a solid rookie season, it appears that big things are in store for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams this season. Now comfortable playing at the NFL level, Williams is primed to best his passing yards total from a season ago as he passes for over 3,550.5 yards in 2025. Last season Williams passed for 3,541 yards, meaning he’d only need to have a 10-yard improvement from his rookie year in order to win this bet. With the Bears investing heavily into their offensive line, adding some of the games best pass-protectors in Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, you can expect Williams to have a much easier time moving the ball downfield, connecting with his receivers regularly as he sets a new personal best in passing yardage this year.
Potential Breakout Player: Working hand-in-hand in their mutual evolution, look for Caleb Williams to be complemented well by wide receiver Rome Odunze this season as he explodes in production in 2025. After a quiet rookie campaign that saw him finish with 734 receiving yards and three touchdown grabs, Odunze left much to be desired in his first NFL season. With Keenan Allen gone, there are going to be plenty of targets up for grabs, with many of them likely going the way of Odunze. With an increase in targets, look for Odunze to grow increasingly comfortable in the flow of the offence, smashing his regular season tallies from a year ago.
Betting Projection: While it’s true that the Bears continued to get better this offseason and are quickly growing into a potential playoff threat, this still won’t be the year that they crack into the postseason under the helm of Caleb Williams. In one of the most competitive divisions in all of football, the Bears are still bottom-feeders in the NFC North. Expect the Bears to come up short of their regular season win total, as well as the playoffs, as they continue to improve, but still not at a high enough level to reach the postseason.