Week 9 saw a huge NFC North matchup between the Lions and the Vikings, while the Packers faced the Carolina Panthers, and the Bears took on the Cincinnati Bengals. Minnesota entered the game 3-4 and was on the road, taking on Detroit. The Vikings were clicking on all cylinders and came away with a huge 27-24 win.

The Packers (5–2–1) might be pretenders after losing to the Panthers. The Lions (5–3) don’t appear as mighty as last season. And J.J. McCarthy and Caleb William

Detroit Lions hold the final wild-card spot in NFC playoffs. The Eagles remain aggressive at trade deadline as we wait for Lions to strike.

The Buccaneers currently own the second spot in the NFC playoff seeding, but there are four teams with 6-2 records and a long list of legitimate contenders as the second half of the season begins

On this episode of 1st & North, Lou Canellis and NFC North insiders break down a wacky Bears win in Cincinnati, a costly Packers loss, and how J.J. McCarthy proved his draft stock with a big Vikings performance against the Lions.

The 2025 season has turned into one of the most unpredictable years in recent NFL history. The Chiefs have won the AFC West nine straight times but enter Week 10 in third place. The Bills have won every AFC East title since 2020 but currently look up at the Patriots in the standings.

Minnesota’s upcoming schedule ranks easier than the Lions, Bears, and Packers, keeping the door open for a late-season push.

The Packers are on top of the North at 5-2-1, followed closely by the Bears and Lions at 5-3 each and the Vikings at 4-4. It's the only division in the NFL in which every team is .500 or better.