 looks on at warm up before the Seattle Seahawks game at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/USATSI_24369046-1180×787.jpg”><figcaption><span>Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) looks on at warm up before the Seattle Seahawks game at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>This season, the Minnesota Vikings will face 14 opponents. Arguably, the most important games are the intra-division matchups among the four teams that comprise the NFC North. In what is always one of the league’s most competitive divisions, I will be writing a series of articles looking at how the Vikings stack up against their division rivals at each position. We start with some NFC North QB rankings.</p>
<h2><strong>The Vikings’ New QB Reality Starts at the Bottom of the Division</strong></h2>
<p>I did these rankings last year for each position, coaches, and the overall team. You can look at my NFC North QB rankings for 2025 <a href=)
here. In truth, not much has changed across the division other than the Vikings bringing in Kyler Murray to “compete” with J.J. McCarthy. The other three teams bring back the same three starting quarterbacks as last season.
1. Jared Goff | Detroit Lions
He ranked number one last year, and Goff keeps the spot again despite there being young talent in the division trying to chase him down. It wasn’t a successful season for the Lions as a team, as they went from back-to-back division titles to the bottom of the pile. However, the veteran of the division cleared 4500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns for the third season in a row.
 cheers up teammates on the sideline before a first down against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.</p>
<p>” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_27031395_168394844_lowres-1180×787.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_27031395_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt=”NFC North QB rankings 2026″ ><figcaption>Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) cheers up teammates on the sideline before a first down against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Goff’s completion percentage was down 4% to 68%, but so were his interceptions thrown, from 12 to 8. He was sacked more times last season than in any other season of his career, as the Lions’ offensive line wasn’t as dominant as it had been in previous years. That is an issue for Detroit to solve, but at 32, Goff should have plenty of tread left on the tires for a few more good seasons and remains the division’s best QB for now.</p>
<h3>2. Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers</h3>
<p>Love landed in a good spot when Green Bay drafted him. He was able to sit and learn behind a Hall of Fame quarterback for two years before eventually taking over the reins. In three years as a starter, Love has helped lead the Packers to the playoffs three times; however, there has only been one playoff win – against the Dallas Cowboys back in 2023.</p>
<p>Love is a good QB, but I have my doubts about whether he can be the guy who pushes the Packers any further than they have been. His career stats average out over a 17-game season at just shy of 3500 passing yards and 25 touchdowns — good but not great, which goes some way to explaining why the Packers put big money into signing Josh Jacobs two years ago. </p>
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Big money signings at the running back position have become unusual in the NFL. That said, right now, Love is the second-best QB in the division.
3. Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears
There was excitement to see what new Bears head coach Ben Johnson could do with Williams. The man who has masterminded the Lions offense on its rise from regular whipping boys to division winners had a former first overall pick in his second season to work with. The pairing took the team from worst to first as Chicago won the division for the first time since 2018.
” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/USATSI_17298685_168394844_lowres-1180×794.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/USATSI_17298685_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt >
Murray will be hoping for a Sam Darnold-esque resurgence in Minnesota, which starts by remaining healthy. Injuries have been an issue — with 2024 as the only time he has played every game since 2020. Murray brings with him a dynamism and threat as a rusher that the Vikings haven’t had in a while from a permanent starter.
O’Connell’s ability to tap into that side of Murray’s game and give his QB the freedom to go off-script will be key to his success in Minnesota.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
