The National Football Conference North is currently posting the most dominant start of any division in the history of the Super Bowl era. As of the conclusion of Week 9 in the 2026 season, the four teams in the division have combined for a 25-8 record, with one game remaining on the schedule.
This impressive collective mark gives the division a winning percentage of .757. Even if the Minnesota Vikings lose their Monday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the division would still finish the week with a .736 winning percentage. That figure would remain the highest for any division through nine weeks since the 1970 merger.
The strength of the NFC North is particularly evident in games against non-divisional opponents. The Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings are collectively 18-3 against teams outside of their own division. This 85.7 percent winning percentage is the best mark in NFL history for this stage of a season. The only other division to achieve a similar feat was the 2022 NFC East, which went 20-5 outside its division through nine weeks.
The high number of intra-divisional losses this season, with five of the division's eight defeats coming from internal matchups, reflects the intense competition within the group. Despite these internal struggles, the teams have averaged nearly 28 points per game against outside opponents while allowing just over a touchdown fewer than they score.
Analysts are now examining the historical precedent to determine if such dominance translates to postseason success. A review of the 14 best divisions by out-of-division records through nine weeks reveals a mixed history. Only two of those divisions have produced a Super Bowl champion in the subsequent playoffs.
The 1997 AFC West and the 2007 NFC East are the only two examples in this historical dataset that delivered a world title. In both cases, the eventual champions were not the division winners during the regular season. The 1997 Denver Broncos and the 2007 New York Giants both upset their division rivals to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
Other historically strong divisions, such as the 2022 NFC East and the 2007 AFC South, sent multiple teams to the postseason but failed to produce a champion. The 2022 Philadelphia Eagles reached the Super Bowl but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, while the 2007 Indianapolis Colts were eliminated by the San Diego Chargers.
The current NFC North faces a similar crossroads. If the four teams maintain their momentum, they will have the best regular season record in NFL history. However, the historical trend suggests that the intense wear and tear of a competitive division may leave teams vulnerable in the playoffs. The upcoming weeks will determine if the current standard bears the weight of expectation or follows the pattern of past dominant groups.
Regardless of the Monday Night Football result, the NFC North has already cemented its place in league history. The collective performance through nine weeks surpasses all previous benchmarks, setting a new standard for divisional excellence in the modern NFL.
