Is the NFC North the NFL's best division?

If people were asked who the best division in the NFL was going to be, many would have said the AFC North because all four teams in 2023 finished with a winning record with three clinching playoff spots.

Others could have made an argument for the AFC South because of the young and exciting quarterbacks expected to lead their teams this season.

But with rough starts for the Bengals, Browns, Jaguars and Titans, it leaves one clear-cut favorite for the best division in football.

That title shockingly belongs to the NFC North.

It is the only division where every team is .500 or better. In fact, every team has a record of 4-2 or better.

So with a third of the season in the rearview, let's go through all four teams starts to the season from first to (not so) last in the division.

Minnesota Vikings: 5-0

Is anyone else still surprised they are the last undefeated team not named Kansas City?

To put it simply Adam Gase was the problem in New York and not Sam Darnold.

Darnold has taken what looked like a placeholder spot at quarterback and has cashed in on the opportunity even with rookie backup J.J. McCarthy going down for the year. He has 11 touchdowns so far this season and has a 103.4 passer rating.

He has helped power the offense to 27.8 points per game and 323.2 yards per game as well.

It does help Darnold with one of the game's best pass catchers in Justin Jefferson on his team.

Jefferson has 450 yards and four touchdowns through the first five games and shows no signs of slowing down.

So how does this team prove they are for real or not?

How about playing the team that is right behind them in the standings on Sunday?

Detroit Lions: 4-1

This is the one team not many are shocked to see start the season strong.

To even those fearing a hangover in the Motor City after their Lions reached the conference championship for the first time since 1991, it just has not happened to Detroit.

That's not to say that this year's team didn’t start sluggish as their 2-1 start left some things to be desired. But in the last two games Detroit regained its roar, putting up 42 points against Seattle and then blasting Dallas by 38 points in AT&T Stadium.

The defense has played well thus far as they are only surrendering 18.2 points per game which is a five point improvement compared to 2023.

The only source of bad news for this team comes with the loss of defensive star Aidan Hutchinson for what could be the year.

We will see how that impacts the defense and the team going forward but the Lions are in a great position under head coach Dan Campbell to make another deep playoff run.

Green Bay Packers: 4-2

Another team not many are surprised to see performing well, is Green Bay sits right in the thick of the playoff race.

Par for the course for a team that hasn’t finished at the bottom of the division since 2005.

Green Bay was dealt a tough hand when Jordan Love got injured late in their Week 1 loss against the Eagles.

But an unlikely hero in Malik Willis kept the ship steady going 2-0 in wins over the Colts and Titans.

Love returned afterward and the Packers have gone 2-1 since.

Green Bay’s offense has been able to move the ball well as they are averaging 400.8 yards per game and have put up a division-leading 162 total points this year.

Long story short, as long as the Packers keep this pace up and Love remains healthy there will be postseason football to look forward to in Green Bay for the second straight year.

Chicago Bears: 4-2

Yes, this is 2024.

No this isn’t a joke.

The Bears have hope again and his name is Caleb Williams.

The number one pick in this past year’s draft has worked around a rough start throwing for seven touchdowns over his last three games.

This past Sunday Williams gave the fans in London an impressive showing as he went 23 for 29 with 226 yards and four of those seven mentioned scores.

His recent performances have allowed Chicago to ride a three-game winning streak into their bye week.

While those wins may have come against the Rams, Panthers and Jaguars, the Bears have the fifth easiest strength of schedule this year. So if they keep winning ball games, Chicago could very well find themselves in the playoffs.

But even if they may taper off and miss the postseason, the 4-2 start has got to give Bears fans hope that brighter times are ahead in the Windy City.

Chase Fisher is a first-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, email ctf5198@psu.edu.