Ben Johnson jumped from his gig as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions to become head coach of the Chicago Bears in a move that could create a seismic shift in the NFC North.
But that leap is bound to take some time as the Bears celebrate 40 years since the Super Bowl Shuffle.
The Bears are competitors on paper, and excitement for the Monster of the Midway to return to the playoffs might be tempered only by the reigning beast of the North in Detroit.
The Lions dominated the conference even in the face of a revolving-door plan on defense caused by major injuries. Now without Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, hired to become head coach of the Jets, more falls to head coach Dan Campbell and 2024 MVP candidate quarterback Jared Goff to keep the talented roster churning forward.
One roadblock to consider is a loaded defense in Green Bay, where Jordan Love is coming off of preseason thumb surgery, but the Packers acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.
And the only team to make a change at quarterback is the Minnesota Vikings.
J.J. McCarthy replaces Sam Darnold after a virtual redshirt rookie season prompted by knee surgery last summer. A first-round selection in the 2024 draft, McCarthy steps into an offense with Justin Jefferson as the WR1.
1. Green Bay Packers (11-6 predicted record)
2025 Schedule
W1 Sun Sep 7 vs Detroit Lions
W2 Thu Sep 11 vs Washington Commanders
W3 Sun Sep 21 at Cleveland Browns
W4 Sun Sep 28 at Dallas Cowboys
W5 Bye
W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Cincinnati Bengals
W7 Sun Oct 19 at Arizona Cardinals
W8 Sun Oct 26 at Pittsburgh Steelers
W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Carolina Panthers
W10 Mon Nov 10 vs Philadelphia Eagles
W11 Sun Nov 16 at New York Giants
W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Minnesota Vikings
W13 Thu Nov 27 at Detroit Lions
W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Chicago Bears
W15 Sun Dec 14 at Denver Broncos
W16 Sat Dec 20 at Chicago Bears
W17 Sun Dec 27 vs Baltimore Ravens
W18 Sun Jan 4 at Minnesota Vikings
Holiday chopping: All bets are off in the North standings until mid-December, when this bloodbath gets real. If the Packers make a push to the postseason, all appearances of the final seven games of the season would support the belief that they will have earned it. Starting with the Vikings at Lambeau before a short-week Thanksgiving trip to Detroit and two dates with the Bears, the AFC crossover games with 2024 playoff teams — Denver and Baltimore — stand as a stern challenge for even a top-rated roster.
2. Detroit Lions (11-6 predicted record)
2025 Schedule
W1 Sun Sep 7 at Green Bay Packers
W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Chicago Bears
W3 Sun Sep 22 at Baltimore Ravens
W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Cleveland Browns
W5 Sun Oct 5 at Cincinnati Bengals
W6 Sun Oct 12 at Kansas City Chiefs
W7 Mon Oct 20 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W8 Bye
W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Minnesota Vikings
W10 Sun Nov 9 at Washington Commanders
W11 Sun Nov 16 at Philadelphia Eagles
W12 Sun Nov 23 vs New York Giants
W13 Thu Nov 27 vs Green Bay Packers
W14 Thu Dec 4 vs Dallas Cowboys
W15 Sun Dec 14 at Los Angeles Rams
W16 Sun Dec 21 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
W17 Thu Dec 25 at Minnesota Vikings
W18 Sun Jan 4 at Chicago Bears
Predicted Breakout Player: WR Jameson Williams ran into multiple self-inflicted wounds and stunted his growth to a certain extent, but the former first-round pick is evolving quickly from a one-trick deep threat. He’ll still be a concern for backpedaling cornerbacks and those challenges might multiply rapidly if Williams proves a disciplined route-runner on explosive in-cutting routes as advertised.
Meet the new boss: Campbell continues to use the external concern over changing coordinators as internal motivation. He believes the roster has improved and with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson, it’s hard to argue Detroit’s defense will have more bite.
3. Chicago Bears (10-7 predicted record)
Schedule
W1 Mon Sep 8 vs Minnesota Vikings
W2 Sun Sep 14 at Detroit Lions
W3 Sun Sep 21 vs Dallas Cowboys
W4 Sun Sep 28 at Las Vegas Raiders
W5 Bye
W6 Mon Oct 13 at Washington Commanders
W7 Sun Oct 19 vs New Orleans Saints
W8 Sun Oct 26 at Baltimore Ravens
W9 Sun Nov 2 at Cincinnati Bengals
W10 Sun Nov 9 vs New York Giants
W11 Sun Nov 16 at Minnesota Vikings
W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
W13 Fri Nov 28 at Philadelphia Eagles
W14 Sun Dec 7 at Green Bay Packers
W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Cleveland Browns
W16 Sat Dec. 20 vs Green Bay Packers
W17 Sun Dec 28 at San Francisco 49ers
W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Detroit Lions
Mr. Williams’ neighborhood: Thriving in unrehearsed situations is an ingredient for greatness in quarterbacks and, hoo boy, did Caleb Williams go through it as a rookie. Even with a handful of coaching changes — which necessitated multiple play-caller switches — Williams challenged Aaron Rodgers’ record for pass attempts without an interception and kept Chicago in more games than the Bears probably deserved to be in. Under Johnson, the sharp-edged attention to detail could spell instant returns — and wins — for the 2024 No. 1 overall pick.
Living on the edge: Is there enough of a pass rush in place for the Bears to rattle the elite quarterbacks on their schedule? One reason pundits are picking against Chicago contending is the uncertain production from their defensive ends. Montez Sweat wins consistently but without a sidekick, can they get home enough? GM Ryan Poles wrote big checks to bring in defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who is well into the back nine of his career at age 32, and Dayo Odeyingbo (6-5, 282) is the starter at left end opposite Sweat. He’s big, powerful and can win one-on-one, but don’t bet on him becoming the difference-maker on defense.
4. Minnesota Vikings (8-9 predicted record)
Schedule
W1 Mon, Sep 8 at Chicago Bears
W2 Sun, Sep 14 vs Atlanta Falcons
W3 Sun, Sep 21 vs Cincinnati Bengals
W4 Sun, Sep 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin, IE)
W5 Sun, Oct 5 at Cleveland Browns (London, UK)
W6 Bye
W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Philadelphia Eagles
W8 Thu Oct 23 at Los Angeles Chargers
W9 Sun Nov 2 at Detroit Lions
W10 Sun Nov 9 vs Baltimore Ravens
W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Chicago Bears
W12 Sun Nov 23 at Green Bay Packers
W13 Sun Nov 30 at Seattle Seahawks
W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Washington Commanders
W15 Sun Dec 14 at Dallas Cowboys
W16 Sun Dec 21 at New York Giants
W17 Thu Dec 25 vs Detroit Lions
W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Green Bay Packers
Predicted Breakout Player: J.J. McCarthy (QB) — Despite being unproven, many analysts expect McCarthy to make a leap as the Vikings’ starter, with his development being a key storyline. No single standout named in sources, but his role as QB with upside suggests breakout potential.
Running men: Aaron Jones was a solid addition for the Vikings after being released by the Packers before last season, but Minnesota’s ground game remained mediocre (93.4-yard average per game). Signing Jordan Mason in free agency after his breakout season with the 49ers and the return of tone-setting left tackle Christian Darrisaw sparks optimism for the rushing attack to be a featured part of the scheme. Minnesota also signed free agents Ryan Kelly, a former Pro Bowl center with the Colts, and his teammate in Indy, new right guard Will Fries, to bolster the front five.
