Conference | National Football Conference |
---|---|
League | National Football League |
Sport | American football |
Founded | 1967 (As NFL Western Conference Central Division) |
No. of teams | 4 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Minnesota Vikings (21st title) |
Most titles | Minnesota Vikings (21 titles) |
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, with the latter three based within most definitions of the Upper Midwest. 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 2002 when they moved to the NFC South. 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 (known as the Portsmouth Spartans until 1934) and Packers have been in the same division or conference since the NFL began a conference format in 1933. 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 five Super Bowl wins. The Packers have won four and the Bears one, with the most recent happening at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Of the ten NFL teams with the highest winning percentage throughout their respective franchise histories, three of them are in the NFC North (the Packers, the Bears, and the Vikings). Conversely, the Lions have one of the lowest winning percentages in the NFL, including the first winless 16-game season in NFL history, in 2008. [1] The division has the second-longest active Super Bowl drought (only ahead of the AFC South) and a 1–8 record in conference championships since 2007, with the only win being the Packers over the Bears in 2010. They have only clinched two Super Bowl berths in the 21st century, while the other NFC divisions each have six or more.
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, no Super Bowl titles in four Super Bowl appearances, and one pre-Super Bowl league title. The Lions hold an overall regular season record of 566–677–33 with an overall playoff record of 7–13, and four pre-Super Bowl league titles. They have yet to appear in a Super Bowl.
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 grittiness and its geographical similarity to the National Hockey League's former Norris Division, although in a twist of irony the NHL dropped the Norris name in favor of Central almost a decade before the NFL dropped the Central name in favor of North.
Place cursor over year for division champ or Super Bowl team.
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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 | 20 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 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.
+ 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.
(1967–2021 seasons)
Team | Division Championships | Playoff Berths | NFL League Titles | Super Bowl Appearances | Super Bowl Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota Vikings | 21 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Green Bay Packers | 17 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 4 |
Chicago Bears | 11 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Detroit Lions | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
To sort table above, click button to right of heading.
(1)Does not include Green Bay's 1966 season Super Bowl I win
(2)Does not include Tampa Bay's 1976 season (AFC West) and 2002+ seasons (NFC South)
(1920–2021 seasons)
Team | Division Championships | Playoff Berths | NFL League Titles (pre-merger) | Conference Wins | Super Bowl Wins | Total (1) Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Bears | 19 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
Green Bay Packers | 21 | 35 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
Minnesota Vikings | 21 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Detroit Lions | 4 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
To sort table above, click button to right of heading.
(#) | 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 |
Season | Team (record) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |||
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) |
Season | Team (record) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
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) |
2021 | (1) Green Bay (13–4) | Minnesota (8–9) | Chicago (6–11) | Detroit (3–13–1) |
2022 | (3) Minnesota (13–4) | Detroit (9–8) | Green Bay (8–9) | Chicago (3–14) |
Year | Opponents | ||
---|---|---|---|
Interconf. | Intraconf. | 17th Opponent | |
2022 | AFC East | NFC East | AFC South (home) |
2023 | AFC West | NFC South | AFC North (away) |
2024 | AFC South | NFC West | AFC East (home) |
2025 | AFC North | NFC East | AFC West (away) |
2026 | AFC East | NFC South | AFC South (home) |
2027 | AFC West | NFC West | AFC North (away) |
2028 | AFC South | NFC East | AFC East (home) |
2029 | AFC North | NFC South | AFC West (away) |
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, dating back to 1919, and is the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Home games have been played at Lambeau Field since 1957. They have the most wins of any NFL franchise.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, and played its first season in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Prior to the 1977 season, Tampa Bay switched conferences and divisions with Seattle, becoming a member of the NFC Central division. As a result of the league's realignment prior to the 2002 season, the Buccaneers joined three former NFC West teams to form the NFC South. The club is owned by the Glazer family and plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The National Football Conference (NFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL), the highest professional level of American football in the United States. The NFC and its counterpart, the American Football Conference (AFC), each contain 16 teams organized into 4 divisions. Both conferences were created as part of the 1970 NFL merger with the rival American Football League (AFL), with all ten of the former AFL teams and three NFL teams forming the AFC while the remaining thirteen NFL clubs formed the NFC. A series of league expansions and division realignments have occurred since the merger, thus making the total of 16 clubs in each conference. The defending NFC champions are the Philadelphia Eagles, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 season's NFC Championship Game for their fourth conference championship.
The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the NFC postseason's first two rounds. The NFC champion then advances to face the winner of the AFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl.
The National Football Conference – Southern Division or NFC South is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It was created prior to the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four member clubs: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
The National Football Conference – Eastern Division or NFC East is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It currently has four members: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Commanders.
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL).
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day-long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule. Because of the shortened season, the NFL adopted a special 16-team playoff tournament; division standings were ignored for seeding. Eight teams from each conference were seeded 1–8 based on their regular season records. Two teams qualified for the playoffs despite losing records. The season ended with Super Bowl XVII when the Washington Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–17 at the Rose Bowl stadium.
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This fulfilled one of the conditions agreed to in 1966 for the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, which called for the league to expand to 28 teams by 1970 or soon thereafter.
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League.
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first after the consummation of the AFL–NFL merger. The merged league realigned into two conferences: all ten of the American Football League (AFL) teams joined the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers to form the American Football Conference (AFC); the other thirteen NFL clubs formed the National Football Conference (NFC).
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team that has played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) since 1921. The team was founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, and for the next two years played against local teams in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. In 1921, the Packers joined the American Professional Football Association, the precursor to the NFL, with Curly Lambeau as their coach. After falling into financial trouble, the Green Bay Football Corporation, now known as Green Bay Packers, Inc., was formed in 1923. The Packers became a publicly owned football team run by a board of directors elected each year. The team went on to win six NFL championships from 1929 to 1944, including three straight (1929–1931). Along the way, Curly Lambeau, with the help of receiver Don Hutson, revolutionized football through the development and utilization of the forward pass.
The 2001 Chicago Bears season was their 82nd regular season and 23rd postseason completed in the National Football League. The team finished with a 13–3 record under head coach Dick Jauron en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC. With former 1st round pick Cade McNown being traded during training camp, the Bears were led by Jim Miller. The team had five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles 33–19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
The Minnesota Vikings are an American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After initially committing to become one of the founding members of the American Football League (AFL) in 1959, the team joined the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion franchise and played their first game in 1961, as part of the Western Conference. In 1967, they were placed into the new Central division, which became part of the National Football Conference following the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The divisions were reorganized again in 2002, with the Vikings as part of the NFC North, in which they have played ever since. The Vikings have won their division 20 times and appeared in the playoffs 30 times, leading to four conference championships and one NFL title in 1969.
The Bears–Packers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The two teams have a combined 67 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, have won a combined 22 NFL championships, and includes five Super Bowl championships. They hold the top two spots for most wins all-time; the Bears had the record since 1921, but the Packers took over the record in a game against Chicago during the 2022 season, which both teams were tied at 786 wins going into.
As with all sports leagues, there are a number of significant rivalries between teams and notable players in the National Football League (NFL). Rivalries are occasionally created due to a particular event that causes bad blood between teams, players, coaches, or owners, but for the most part, they arise simply due to the frequency with which some teams play each other, and sometimes exist for geographic reasons.
The Bears–Lions rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. The franchises first met in 1930 when the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans and based in Portsmouth, Ohio. They moved to Detroit for the 1934 season. The Bears and Lions have been division rivals since 1933 and have usually met twice a season since the Lions franchise began. The two teams play in the two largest metropolitan areas in the Midwest. Chicago and Detroit's home stadiums, Soldier Field and Ford Field, are 280 miles apart and both are easily accessible from I-94.
The Lions–Packers rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. They first met in 1930 when the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans and based in Portsmouth, Ohio. The team eventually moved to Detroit for the 1934 season.