Back-to-back victories have propelled the Green Bay Packers to a 6-3 record heading into the second half of the NFL season, but the team currently occupies the last spot in the historically competitive NFC North. The Carolina Panthers, by contrast, sit in first place in the NFC South despite a 3-5 record, underscoring a season of mediocrity across that division.
Division standings defy expectations
All four NFC North teams have at least six wins, with Chicago leading at 7-2, a half‑game ahead of both Detroit and Minnesota, each at 6-2. This marks only the second time in NFL history that every team in a division is three games over .500, according to Sportradar, the first occurrence being the AFC North after Week 12 in 2014.
The North’s four clubs have combined for 25 wins, on pace for the most since the 2002 realignment when the same four teams tallied 45 wins. The division could enjoy back‑to‑back seasons without a losing team after Detroit finished fourth at 9-8 in 2025.
In non‑division games, the NFC North is a combined 20-4 through nine weeks, the second‑best mark after the AFC West’s 21-4 record in 1984.
NFC South struggles
The NFC South is the first division since the NFC East in 2020 to have every team holding three wins or fewer through nine weeks. New Orleans is tied with Carolina at 3-5, while Tampa Bay and Atlanta sit at 3-6.
Historically, the division has lacked a true contender since Tom Brady’s penultimate season in Tampa Bay in 2021. Over the past five seasons, NFC South teams have posted a .366 winning percentage in non‑division games, the worst mark among divisions, and have produced a division winner with a losing record twice in that span – the Buccaneers at 8-9 in 2022 and Carolina last season.
Only three other division winners have finished with losing records in NFL history: Seattle at 7-9 in 2010, Carolina at 7-8-1 in 2014, and Washington in 2020. Two of those teams captured a playoff victory, with Seattle beating New Orleans in the 2010 wild‑card round and Carolina defeating Arizona in 2014.
Quarterback milestones
Long‑awaited No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is poised for his first start with the Las Vegas Raiders after the team traded Kirk Cousins to Minnesota. Mendoza is expected to start Sunday against Seattle in the league’s 10th game.
Only three of the 29 previous quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the common draft era waited longer to make their first start: Vinny Testaverde (12th game, 1987), JaMarcus Russell (16th game, 2007), and Carson Palmer (opener of his second season, 2004). Jared Goff (2016 Rams) and Eli Manning (2004 Giants) also debuted in the 10th game of their rookie seasons.
The Cousins trade also opens the possibility for Kirk Cousins to become the first quarterback ever to start 18 games in a regular season, given the Vikings’ Week 6 bye and the Raiders’ Week 13 bye.
Joe Burrow’s elite streak
Joe Burrow has compiled a remarkable run, recording at least four total touchdowns (rushing and passing) in each of the last four games. This matches a feat achieved by only a handful of elite quarterbacks.
Peyton Manning holds the longest streak at five straight games in 2005; Burrow can tie that mark against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Drew Brees accomplished the four‑game streak in 2018, Dan Marino in 1984, and Tom Brady in two separate four‑game stretches (end of 2020 and start of 2021).
Running back milestones
Two dynamic running backs reached notable career milestones. Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs recorded his 60th career touchdown on a run against Miami, joining Terrell Davis (61) and LaDainian Tomlinson (60) as the only players to reach that mark in their first four seasons.
Christian McCaffrey caught his 37th career touchdown pass for San Francisco against Las Vegas, surpassing Marshall Faulk for the most by a running back in the Super Bowl era. McCaffrey also logged his 18th career game with both a touchdown run and reception, extending his own record; Faulk is second with 15 such games.
These statistical highlights illustrate the unique dynamics shaping the NFL’s 2026 season, from division oddities to individual player achievements.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
