This initially was meant to be a eulogy for the NFC North, the most underachieving division in football. The past few days have changed that. The division might be the best soap opera in the National Football League.

The NFC North’s dominance this season was historic. So was the flameout. The four teams combined for a 45-23 record, with the Detroit Lions (1

Check out the lines and spreads for the AFC and NFC title games — along with expert insight — as the final four teams vie for the two spots in Super Bowl LIX.

The NFC North was the best division in the NFL this season, which featured three playoff teams and then the Chicago Bears, who went 5-12 in a disappointing season.

Ben Johnson mentioned Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and head coach Dan Campbell in his first spoken sentences as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

The NFC North produced three playoff teams, two teams with 14 or more wins and the conference’s No. 1 seed — creating a historic, never-before-seen regular season inside the division. Then the playoffs began, and it all fell apart in stunning fashion. Not a single team from the NFC North won a playoff game.

The NFC North had a terrific regular season and a tough playoffs. Here's what life could look like in 2025 for the NFC North.

Packers' Xavier McKinney, Keisean Nixon and Jayden Reed trolled the Detroit Lions following their 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFL playoffs.

The Bears acquired a top-notch coach to nurture Caleb Williams and boost the offense. And the Lions have lost not only Johnson, but defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was hired as the Jets' head coach.

Chicago has hired Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson to be their next head coach. The toughest division in the NFL could get even more competitive.

Bob McGinn, the Pro Football Hall of Fame reporter who covered the Packers for four decades and now works for golongtd.com, talked with several NFL executives and assembled an All-NFC North team. Not surprisingly, the Packers had just one first-team selection on offense — left guard Elgton Jenkins.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Bears have requested permission to interview Minnesota Vikings passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones for their vacant defensive coordinator position in 2025.