NFL Network’s Marc Ross Talks NFC North With Eckel: Don’t Expect Vikings Hot Start To Last

Through six weeks of the NFL season there is no question which division is the best. The question is will it last.

The NFC North, with the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, one-loss Detroit Lions and two 4-2 teams in the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears has shown early-season dominance.

Not only does the division possess four teams with winning records — the only division to do so — it also has the top four teams in the league in point differential with Minnesota +63, Detroit +60, Chicago +47 and Green Bay +41.

NFL Network’s Marc Ross, the former assistant general manager of the New York Giants and director of college scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, isn’t totally surprised by the division’s success. He does issue a warning, however.

“To me Minnesota is the only real surprise,’’ Ross said. “I thought both Detroit and Green Bay would be good. I picked Green Bay to go to the Super Bowl so I really thought (the Packers) would be good. And you knew Chicago did a lot to improve.’’

So it’s the Vikings off to a 5-0 start with wins over the Packers, 49ers, and Texans, all playoff teams from a year ago, that has raised the most eyebrows. Ross says don’t get carried away just yet with a team that has disappointed its fans in the past.

“I think (the Vikings) are going to fall off,’’ Ross said. “I think as teams get more and more looks at (quarterback) Sam Darnold he’ll come back down to Earth. Don’t get me wrong they have played well, I just don’t know if it’s sustainable.’’

Darnold, who looked a bust with both the New York Jets, who took him third overall in the 2018 NFL draft, and the Carolina Panthers, who traded for him, has had a resurgence.

After five games, Darnold has a career-high completion rate of 63.5 percent and has thrown 11 touchdowns to four interceptions. Through his first six years in the league, Darnold threw 63 touchdown passes and 56 interceptions. His 2024 quarterback rating of 103.4 is 23.2 points higher than his career rating of 80.1.

Ross is also somewhat concerned about the Lions, who lost their best defensive player and maybe the best defensive player in the league in edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson who is out for the season.

“Huge loss,’’ Ross said. “Detroit’s defense wasn’t great before that and now you take away their best player. They’re going to have to keep outscoring people to keep winning.’’

AROUND THE LEAGUE:

The Harbaugh brothers will both be on Monday Night Football. John and the Baltimore Ravens travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs, while Jim and the Los Angeles Chargers travel to Glendale, Arizona to take on the Cardinals. The coaching brothers are a combined 19-7 on Monday nights and a combined 51-25 in night games according to the Action Network.

Speaking of the Ravens, quarterback Lamar Jackson will look to continue his mastery of the NFC against Tampa Bay. The two-time MVP is 22-1 against NFC competition, with the only loss to the Giants.

Speaking of the Giants, both New York teams were in prime time last week and the Jets return this week for Sunday Night Football. Since 2019, the two are a combined 4-31 in prime time games.

And finally New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen is also not ready for prime time. After Thursday’s loss to Denver, Allen is now 2-10 in night games.