Winning the NFC North comes with its perks as well as a major disadvantage. The perks are bragging rights and a playoff berth, but the disadvantage is a tougher schedule the following season.
Since the Detroit Lions finished tied for last in the division in 2025, their standings-based matchups are a little lighter this year. They had to play the Buccaneers, the Rams, and the Chiefs, but the schedule has obviously lightened up quite a bit for 2026.
There are still some behemoths on the schedule for Dan Campbell’s team.
But which NFC opponents offer the toughest matchups?
1. Green Bay Packers
Is this really surprising? The Packers always seem to give the Lions the hardest time in the division, and that’s not going to change even though Josh Jacobs is out for personal reasons. Until he’s back, though, the Packers have the talented MarShawn Lloyd ready to assume RB1 duties and, honestly, there won’t be a huge drop-off in production, if any.
Green Bay is expected to also be without Micah Parsons for about a month, but seeing as the first meeting with the Lions isn’t until late October, that won’t matter.
The division comes down to the Lions and Packers.
2. Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson and the Bears won the NFC North last season, shocking just about everyone with the amount of immediate success that the former Lions offensive coordinator had. We’re going to see a slight sophomore slump for the second-year head coach, however.
Caleb Williams is going to be solid again, and Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are exciting options at receiver, but the secondary may be Swiss cheese for a while after an injury-riddled offseason.
The Bears are going to be all offense which is still a scary thought.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Lions and Buccaneers have been building what feels like a fun rivalry over the past few years, and that’s going to continue on Nov. 22, right before Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day game four days later. That looming Thanksgiving Day game against the Bears might be enough to make this game incredibly difficult, but the Bucs also have one of the league’s best quarterbacks.
Baker Mayfield will have some talent around him on offense, with Emeka Egbuka entering his second season and Bucky Irving coming off a big year, but health is a concern, with the former returning from an injury. The receiving corps may take a step back with Mike Evans gone, too.
Still, Tampa is a playoff-caliber team and that’s a tough November matchup.
4. Minnesota Vikings
Is this a little disrespectful to the Vikings? Probably, but I don’t really care.
The Vikings have always had the talent and the coaching, but there’s a quarterback problem in Minnesota, and the uncertainty surrounding Kyler Murray is palpable. No one knows if he’s going to return to his 2024 form or if he’s going to regress after a foot injury ended his 2025 season early.
Minnesota will be at No. 4 until further notice because there’s nothing truly scary about this team outside of Kyler’s dual-threat ability and Justin Jefferson. Nope, not even JJ McCarthy.
5. New York Giants
The experts aren’t crazy high on the New York Giants, but this is a team that could be way better than their preseason projections.
Right now, the Giants are projected to miss the playoffs and be in the bottom third of the league by a majority of experts, but the young core on offense is intriguing. Jaxson Dart was impressive as a rookie quarterback, and he figures to only get better; Cam Skattebo was solid before he got injured, Malik Nabers is also elite when he’s healthy, and Isaiah Likely was a great addition at tight end.
If the Giants can keep these guys healthy on offense, they’re going to be able to keep up with pretty much anyone, scoring-wise, but the defense needs to hold up its end of the bargain.
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