NFC North power rankings: Are the Packers still the team to beat?

The NFC North has seen three different champions the last three seasons.

Since the league realigned into eight divisions in 2002, the NFC North has been primarily owned by one team. But even before then as a member of the NFC Central, the Green Bay Packers were the dominant club under the guidance of head coach Mike Holmgren and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

Back to the current foursome of the Pack, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Green Bay has captured 10 of the 18 division titles since ’02, with the Purple Gang and the squad from the Windy City grabbing the top spot four times apiece.

This past year, the Packers finished with 13 wins, quite the improvement from a 6-9-1 showing the previous year. New head coach Matt LaFleur obviously pushed the right buttons and both quarterback Aaron Rodgers and emerging running back Aaron Jones had solid years – the latter tying for the NFL lead with 19 total touchdowns. But in each meeting with the San Francisco 49ers in ’19, Green Bay surrendered exactly 37 points – the latter in the NFC Championship Game.

So can LaFleur and company hold off the Vikings, Bears and Lions for a second consecutive year? There’s been plenty of moves made by each of these four clubs this offseason.