NFC North

The National Football Conference – Northern Division or NFC North is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed the "Black and Blue Division" for the rough and tough rivalry games between the teams, it currently has four members: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North was previously known as the NFC Central from 1970 to 2001. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were previously members, from 1977, one year after they joined the league as an expansion team, until 2001 when they moved to the NFC South.

NFC North
ConferenceNational Football Conference
LeagueNational Football League
SportAmerican football
Founded1967 (As NFL Western Conference Central Division)
CountryUnited States
Teams
No. of teams4
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Green Bay Packers
(17th title)
Most titlesMinnesota Vikings
(20 titles)

The division was created in 1967 as the Central Division of the NFL's Western Conference and existed for three seasons before the AFL–NFL merger. After the merger, it was renamed the NFC Central and retained that name until the NFL split into eight divisions in 2002. The four current division teams have been together in the same division or conference since the Vikings joined the league in 1961. The Bears, Lions and Packers have been in the same division or conference since the NFL began a conference format in 1933 (the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans until 1934). Largely because the four teams have played each other at least twice a year, with the exception of the strike-shortened 1982 season, for more than 60 years (more than 80 years in the case of the Bears, Lions and Packers), the entire division is considered one very large rivalry.

The division has a total of 11 Super Bowl appearances. The Packers have the most appearances in the Super Bowl with 5, the most recent happening at the conclusion of the 2010 season. The Bears and the Packers have the only Super Bowl wins of this division, a total of 5 (4 for the Packers and 1 for the Bears). Of the top 10 NFL teams with the highest winning percentage throughout its franchise history, three of them are in the NFC North (the Packers, the Bears, and the Vikings). The Lions however, have one of the lowest winning percentages in the NFL, including the first winless 16-game season in NFL history, in 2008.[1]

The Packers hold an overall regular season record of 763–577–38 with an overall playoff record of 35–23, four Super Bowl titles in five Super Bowl appearances, and nine pre-Super Bowl league titles. The Bears hold an overall regular season record of 774–596–42 with an overall playoff record of 17–19, one Super Bowl title in two Super Bowl appearances, and eight pre-Super Bowl league titles. The Vikings hold an overall regular season record of 492–409–11 with an overall playoff record of 21-30, and no Super Bowl titles in four Super Bowl appearances. The Lions hold an overall regular season record of 566–677–33 with an overall playoff record of 7-13, four pre-Super Bowl league titles.

The division earned the moniker "Black and Blue Division" due to its intense rivalries and physical style of play, and this nickname is still used regularly today. It is also known as the "Frostbite Division" as all teams played home games in late season winter cold until the mid-1970s. The division is also humorously called the "Frozen North", although Detroit has played its home games indoors since 1975, and Minnesota also did so from 1982 to 2013 and returned to indoor home games at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016. ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman often refers to this division as the "NFC Norris" because of its geographical similarity to the National Hockey League's former Norris Division.

Division lineups

Place cursor over year for division champ or Super Bowl team.

Years
NFL Western Conference
Central Division		 NFC Central Division[B]
1900s 2000s
67[A] 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
  Tampa Bay Buccaneers[C]
NFC North Division[D]
2000s
02[D] 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
  Team not in division   Division Won Super Bowl   Division Won NFC Championship   Division won NFL Championship, Lost Super Bowl
A The NFL Western Conference was divided into the Coastal and Central divisions. The Packers had won Super Bowl I in 1966 in the NFL Western Conference.
B Starting in the 1970 season, the division became the National Football Conference - Central Division (or NFC Central for short), after the AFL–NFL merger.
C Tampa Bay moved from the AFC West in 1977
D For the 2002 season, the league realigned to have 8 four team divisions. Division adopts current name. Tampa Bay moves to the NFC South.

Division champions
SeasonTeamRecordPlayoff Results
NFL Central (pre-merger)
1967Green Bay Packers9–4–1Won Conference playoffs (Rams) 28–7
Won NFL Championship (Cowboys) 21–17
Won Super Bowl II (vs. Raiders) 33–14
1968Minnesota Vikings8–6Lost Conference playoffs (at Colts) 14–24
1969Minnesota Vikings12–2Won Conference playoffs (Rams) 23–20
Won NFL Championship (Browns) 27–7
Lost Super Bowl IV (vs. Chiefs) 7–23
NFC Central (post merger)
1970Minnesota Vikings12–2Lost Divisional playoffs (49ers) 14–17
1971Minnesota Vikings11–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 12–20
1972Green Bay Packers10–4Lost Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 3–16
1973Minnesota Vikings12–2Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 27–20
Won NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 27–10
Lost Super Bowl VIII (vs. Dolphins) 7–24
1974Minnesota Vikings10–4Won Divisional playoffs (Cardinals) 30–14
Won NFC Championship (Rams) 14–10
Lost Super Bowl IX (vs. Steelers) 6–16
1975Minnesota Vikings12–2Lost Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 14–17
1976Minnesota Vikings11–2–1Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 35–20
Won NFC Championship (Rams) 24–13
Lost Super Bowl XI (vs. Raiders) 14–32
1977Minnesota Vikings9–5Won Divisional playoffs (at Rams) 14–7
Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 6–23
1978Minnesota Vikings8–7–1Lost Divisional playoffs (at Rams) 10–34
1979Tampa Bay Buccaneers10–6Won Divisional playoffs (Eagles) 24–17
Lost NFC Championship (Rams) 0–9
1980Minnesota Vikings9–7Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 16–31
1981Tampa Bay Buccaneers9–7Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 0–38
1982+Green Bay Packers5–3–1Won First Round playoffs (Cardinals) 41–16
Lost Second Round playoffs (at Cowboys) 26–37
1983Detroit Lions9–7Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 23–24
1984Chicago Bears10–6Won Divisional playoffs (at Redskins) 23–19
Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 0–23
1985Chicago Bears15–1Won Divisional playoffs (Giants) 21–0
Won NFC Championship (Rams) 24–0
Won Super Bowl XX (vs. Patriots) 46–10
1986Chicago Bears14–2Lost Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 13–27
1987Chicago Bears11–4Lost Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 17–21
1988Chicago Bears12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Eagles) 20–12
Lost NFC Championship (49ers) 3–28
1989Minnesota Vikings10–6Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 13–41
1990Chicago Bears11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Saints) 16–6
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Giants) 3–31
1991Detroit Lions12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 38–6
Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 10–41
1992Minnesota Vikings11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (Redskins) 7–24
1993Detroit Lions10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Packers) 24–28
1994Minnesota Vikings10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Bears) 18–35
1995Green Bay Packers11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Falcons) 37–20
Won Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 27–17
Lost NFC Championship (at Cowboys) 47–38
1996Green Bay Packers13–3Won Divisional playoffs (49ers) 35–14
Won NFC Championship (Panthers) 30–13
Won Super Bowl XXXI (vs. Patriots) 35–21
1997Green Bay Packers13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Buccaneers) 21–7
Won NFC Championship (at 49ers) 23–10
Lost Super Bowl XXXII (vs. Broncos) 24–31
1998Minnesota Vikings15–1Won Divisional playoffs (Cardinals) 41–21
Lost NFC Championship (Falcons) 27–30 (OT)
1999Tampa Bay Buccaneers11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Redskins) 14–13
Lost NFC Championship (at Rams) 6–11
2000Minnesota Vikings11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Saints) 34–16
Lost NFC Championship (at Giants) 0–41
2001Chicago Bears13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Eagles) 19–33
NFC North
2002Green Bay Packers12–4Lost Wild Card playoffs (Falcons) 7–27
2003Green Bay Packers10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Seahawks) 33–27 (OT)
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 17–20 (OT)
2004Green Bay Packers10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Vikings) 17–31
2005Chicago Bears11–5Lost Divisional playoffs (Panthers) 21–29
2006Chicago Bears13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 27–24 (OT)
Won NFC Championship (Saints) 39–14
Lost Super Bowl XLI (vs. Colts) 17–29
2007Green Bay Packers13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 42–20
Lost NFC Championship (Giants) 20–23 (OT)
2008Minnesota Vikings10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 14–26
2009Minnesota Vikings12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 34–3
Lost NFC Championship (at Saints) 28–31 (OT)
2010Chicago Bears11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 35–24
Lost NFC Championship (Packers) 14–21
2011Green Bay Packers15–1Lost Divisional playoffs (Giants) 20–37
2012Green Bay Packers11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Vikings) 24–10
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 31–45
2013Green Bay Packers8–7–1Lost Wild Card playoffs (49ers) 20–23
2014Green Bay Packers12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Cowboys) 26–21
Lost NFC Championship (at Seahawks) 22–28 (OT)
2015Minnesota Vikings11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (Seahawks) 9–10
2016Green Bay Packers10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Giants) 38–13
Won Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 34–31
Lost NFC Championship (at Falcons) 21–44
2017Minnesota Vikings13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Saints) 29–24
Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 7–38
2018Chicago Bears12–4Lost Wild Card playoffs (Eagles) 15–16
2019Green Bay Packers13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 28–23
Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 20–37
2020Green Bay Packers13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Rams) 32–18
Lost NFC Championship (Buccaneers) 26–31

+ A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games, so the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored; Green Bay had the best record of the division teams.
* Regular season still underway.

Wild Card qualifiers
SeasonTeamRecordPlayoff Results
NFC Central
1970Detroit Lions10–4Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 0–5
1977Chicago Bears9–5Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 7–37
1979Chicago Bears10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 17–27
1982+Minnesota Vikings5–4Won First Round playoffs (Falcons) 30–24
Lost Second Round playoffs (at Redskins) 7–21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers5–4Lost First Round playoffs (at Cowboys) 17–30
Detroit Lions4–5Lost First Round Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–31
1987Minnesota Vikings8–7Won Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 44–10
Won Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 36–24
Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 10–17
1988Minnesota Vikings11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Rams) 28–17
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 9–34
1991Chicago Bears11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (Cowboys) 13–17
1993Minnesota Vikings9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Giants) 10–17
Green Bay Packers9–7Won Wild Card playoffs (at Lions) 28–24
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 17–27
1994Green Bay Packers9–7Won Wild Card playoffs (Lions) 16–12
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cowboys) 9–35
Detroit Lions9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 12–16
Chicago Bears9–7Won Wild Card playoffs (at Vikings) 35–18
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 15–44
1995Detroit Lions10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 37–58
1996Minnesota Vikings9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 15–40
1997Tampa Bay Buccaneers10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Lions) 20–10
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Packers) 7–21
Detroit Lions9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Buccaneers) 10–20
Minnesota Vikings9–7Won Wild Card playoffs (at Giants) 23–22
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 22–38
1998Green Bay Packers11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (at 49ers) 27–30
1999Minnesota Vikings10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Cowboys) 27–10
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Rams) 37–49
Detroit Lions8–8Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Redskins) 13–27
2000Tampa Bay Buccaneers10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 3–21
2001Green Bay Packers12–4Won Wild Card playoffs (49ers) 25–15
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Rams) 17–45
Tampa Bay Buccaneers9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 9–31
NFC North
2004Minnesota Vikings8–8Won Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 31–17
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Eagles) 14–27
2009Green Bay Packers11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cardinals) 45–51 (OT)
2010Green Bay Packers10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (at Eagles) 21–16
Won Divisional playoffs (at Falcons) 48–21
Won NFC Championship (at Bears) 21–14
Won Super Bowl XLV (vs. Steelers) 31–25
2011Detroit Lions10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 28–45
2012Minnesota Vikings10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Packers) 10–24
2014Detroit Lions11–5Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–24
2015Green Bay Packers10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (at Redskins) 35–18
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Cardinals) 26–20 (OT)
2016Detroit Lions9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Seahawks) 6–26
2019Minnesota Vikings10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 26–20 (OT)
Lost Divisional playoffs (at 49ers) 10–27
2020Chicago Bears8–8Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Saints) 9–21

+ A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games, so the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year.

Total playoff berths

Total playoff berths as members of the NFC Central/North

(1966–2019 seasons)

TeamDivision
Championships		Playoff
Berths		NFL League
Titles		Super Bowl
Appearances		Super Bowl
Wins
Minnesota Vikings 2030140
Green Bay Packers17241354
Chicago Bears1115921
Detroit Lions312400

To sort table above, click button to right of heading.

Total playoff berths in team history

(1920–2020 seasons)

TeamDivision
Championships		Playoff
Berths		NFL League
Titles
(pre-merger)		Conference
Wins		Super Bowl
Wins		Total (1)
Championships
Chicago Bears21268419
Minnesota Vikings20301400
Green Bay Packers2034119413
Detroit Lions4184404

To sort table above, click button to right of heading.

1 From 1966 to 1969, this means winning both the NFL Championship game AND the Super Bowl. Hence, the Vikings' NFL Championship victory in 1969 isn't counted. The Packers had 2 NFL titles during this time frame and also won Super Bowl I and II.

Season results
(#) Denotes team that won the Super Bowl
(#) Denotes team that won the NFC Championship
(#) Denotes team that won the NFL Championship
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the NFL Playoffs
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th
NFL Central (pre-merger)
1967 Green Bay (9–4–1) Chicago (7–6–1) Detroit (5–7–2) Minnesota (3–8–3)
1968 Minnesota (8–6) Chicago (7–7) Green Bay (6–7–1) Detroit (4–8–2)
1969 Minnesota (12–2) Detroit (9–4–1) Green Bay (8–6) Chicago (1–13)
NFC Central (post merger)
1970 Minnesota (12–2) Detroit (10–4) Green Bay (6–8) Chicago (6–8)
1971 Minnesota (11–3) Detroit (7–6–1) Chicago (6–8) Green Bay (4–8–2)
1972 Green Bay (10–4) Detroit (8–5–1) Minnesota (7–7) Chicago (4–9–1)
1973 Minnesota (12–2) Detroit (6–7–1) Green Bay (5–7–2) Chicago (3–11)
1974 Minnesota (10–4) Detroit (7–7) Green Bay (6–8) Chicago (4–10)
1975 (1) Minnesota (12–2) Detroit (7–7) Chicago (4–10) Green Bay (4–10)
1976 (1) Minnesota (11–2–1) Chicago (7–7) Detroit (6–8) Green Bay (5–9)
1977 (3) Minnesota (9–5) (4) Chicago (9–5) Detroit (6–8) Green Bay (4–10) Tampa Bay (2–12)
1978 (3) Minnesota (8–7–1) Green Bay (8–7–1) Detroit (7–9) Chicago (7–9) Tampa Bay (5–11)
1979 (2) Tampa Bay (10–6) (5) Chicago (10–6) Minnesota (7–9) Green Bay (5–11) Detroit (2–14)
1980 (3) Minnesota (9–7) Detroit (9–7) Chicago (7–9) Tampa Bay (5–10–1) Green Bay (5–10–1)
1981 (3) Tampa Bay (9–7) Detroit (8–8) Green Bay (8–8) Minnesota (7–9) Chicago (6–10)
1982^ (3) Green Bay (5–3–1) (4) Minnesota (5–4) (7) Tampa Bay (5–4) (8) Detroit (4–5) Chicago (3–6)
1983 (3) Detroit (9–7) Green Bay (8–8) Chicago (8–8) Minnesota (8–8) Tampa Bay (2–14)
1984 (3) Chicago (10–6) Green Bay (8–8) Tampa Bay (6–10) Detroit (4–11–1) Minnesota (3–13)
1985 (1) Chicago (15–1) Green Bay (8–8) Minnesota (7–9) Detroit (7–9) Tampa Bay (2–14)
1986 (2) Chicago (14–2) Minnesota (9–7) Detroit (5–11) Green Bay (4–12) Tampa Bay (2–14)
1987 (2) Chicago (11–4) (5) Minnesota (8–7) Green Bay (5–9–1) Tampa Bay (4–11) Detroit (4–11)
1988 (1) Chicago (12–4) (4) Minnesota (11–5) Tampa Bay (5–11) Detroit (4–12) Green Bay (4–12)
1989 (3) Minnesota (10–6) Green Bay (10–6) Detroit (7–9) Chicago (6–10) Tampa Bay (5–11)
1990 (3) Chicago (11–5) Tampa Bay (6–10) Detroit (6–10) Green Bay (6–10) Minnesota (6–10)
1991 (2) Detroit (12–4) (4) Chicago (11–5) Minnesota (8–8) Green Bay (4–12) Tampa Bay (3–13)
1992 (3) Minnesota (11–5) Green Bay (9–7) Tampa Bay (5–11) Chicago (5–11) Detroit (5–11)
1993 (3) Detroit (10–6) (5) Minnesota (9–7) (6) Green Bay (9–7) Chicago (7–9) Tampa Bay (5–11)
1994 (3) Minnesota (10–6) (4) Green Bay (9–7) (5) Detroit (9–7) (6) Chicago (9–7) Tampa Bay (6–10)
1995 (3) Green Bay (11–5) (5) Detroit (10–6) Chicago (9–7) Minnesota (8–8) Tampa Bay (7–9)
1996 (1) Green Bay (13–3) (6) Minnesota (9–7) Chicago (7–9) Tampa Bay (6–10) Detroit (5–11)
1997 (2) Green Bay (13–3) (4) Tampa Bay (10–6) (5) Detroit (9–7) (6) Minnesota (9–7) Chicago (4–12)
1998 (1) Minnesota (15–1) (5) Green Bay (11–5) Tampa Bay (8–8) Detroit (5–11) Chicago (4–12)
1999 (2) Tampa Bay (11–5) (4) Minnesota (10–6) (6) Detroit (8–8) Green Bay (8–8) Chicago (6–10)
2000 (2) Minnesota (11–5) (5) Tampa Bay (10–6) Green Bay (9–7) Detroit (9–7) Chicago (5–11)
2001 (2) Chicago (13–3) (4) Green Bay (12–4) (6) Tampa Bay (9–7) Minnesota (5–11) Detroit (2–14)
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th
NFC North
2002 (3) Green Bay (12–4) Minnesota (6–10) Chicago (4–12) Detroit (3–13)
2003 (4) Green Bay (10–6) Minnesota (9–7) Chicago (7–9) Detroit (5–11)
2004 (3) Green Bay (10–6) (6) Minnesota (8–8) Detroit (6–10) Chicago (5–11)
2005 (2) Chicago (11–5) Minnesota (9–7) Detroit (5–11) Green Bay (4–12)
2006 (1) Chicago (13–3) Green Bay (8–8) Minnesota (6–10) Detroit (3–13)
2007 (2) Green Bay (13–3) Minnesota (8–8) Detroit (7–9) Chicago (7–9)
2008 (3) Minnesota (10–6) Chicago (9–7) Green Bay (6–10) Detroit (0–16)
2009 (2) Minnesota (12–4) (5) Green Bay (11–5) Chicago (7–9) Detroit (2–14)
2010 (2) Chicago (11–5) (6) Green Bay (10–6) Detroit (6–10) Minnesota (6–10)
2011 (1) Green Bay (15–1) (6) Detroit (10–6) Chicago (8–8) Minnesota (3–13)
2012 (3) Green Bay (11–5) (6) Minnesota (10–6) Chicago (10–6) Detroit (4–12)
2013 (4) Green Bay (8–7–1) Chicago (8–8) Detroit (7–9) Minnesota (5–10–1)
2014 (2) Green Bay (12–4) (6) Detroit (11–5) Minnesota (7–9) Chicago (5–11)
2015 (3) Minnesota (11–5) (5) Green Bay (10–6) Detroit (7–9) Chicago (6–10)
2016 (4) Green Bay (10–6) (6) Detroit (9–7) Minnesota (8–8) Chicago (3–13)
2017 (2) Minnesota (13–3) Detroit (9–7) Green Bay (7–9) Chicago (5–11)
2018 (3) Chicago (12–4) Minnesota (8–7–1) Green Bay (6–9–1) Detroit (6–10)
2019 (2) Green Bay (13–3) (6) Minnesota (10–6) Chicago (8–8) Detroit (3–12–1)
2020 (1) Green Bay (13–3) (7) Chicago (8–8) Minnesota (7–9) Detroit (5–11)

Schedule assignments
Year Opponents
Interconf. Intraconf.
2020 AFC South NFC South
2021 AFC North NFC West
2022 AFC East NFC East
2023 AFC West NFC South
2024 AFC South NFC West
2025 AFC North NFC East
2026 AFC East NFC South
2027 AFC West NFC West
2028 AFC South NFC East

See also

References
  1. "Lions complete 1st 0-16 season in league history - NFL- NBC Sports". Nbcsports.msnbc.com. December 28, 2008. Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
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