This weekend, the NFC East will send three different teams into the conference semifinals, which is an impressive feat. While this has become more possible with the addition of a seventh playoff team, having this level of participation in the Divisional Round does not happen by accident.
Odds are, the NFC North will not be matching this mark any time soon. There is no true dominant team right now, and that leaves the division wide open. Much has been made of the Detroit Lions’s 5-1 record against North opponents, which is an impressive accomplishment, but is heavily dependent on the quality of competition.