Sportsbooks believe the NFC North will shake out in this order during the 2026 regular season: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings, in fact, are quite the underdog to win the division, with +500 moneyline odds in June, which gives Minnesota a 17% chance and is equivalent to a 10-point underdog on a single-game scale.

But VikingsTerritory has a different take, and to the surprise of none, does not believe the Vikings will inhabit last place in 2026.

These are our formal predictions for the NFC North this season.

Vikings Have a Clearer Path Than the Odds Suggest

1. Detroit Lions | 12-5

While the Lions finishing last in the NFC North in 2025 was undoubtedly concerning — they played terribly down the stretch — their roster isn’t the problem. Dan Campbell’s team still has the juice to reach the postseason and do some damage in the tournament.

Detroit has three main perks at its disposal: a powerful, playmaking offense, a defense with enough talent to support that offense, and a Top-5 or Top-8 coach in Campbell. The Lions also have the benefit of a last-place schedule, which Vikings fans thought Minnesota might enjoy when the season looked rough at 4-8 last November. Instead, the Vikings won their final five games.

The Lions get the “tiebreaker” here in a tight division because of the schedule’s strength. It’s also worth noting that, when it’s all said and done with the current iteration of the Lions, their Super Bowl window might’ve closed the day they coughed away the NFC Championship in 2023 to the San Francisco 49ers in the largest collapse in NFC title game history.

Lions’ Main Veteran Offseason Additions:

• Larry Borom (OT)
• Teddy Bridgewater (QB)
• Chuck Clark (S)
• Tyler Conklin (TE)
• Greg Dortch (WR)
• Christian Izien (DB)
• Cade Mays (OL)
• Roger McCreary (CB)
• Isiah Pacheco (RB)
• Juice Scruggs (OL)
• D.J. Wonnum (DE)

Lions’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:

• Kyle Allen (QB)
• Alex Anzalone (LB)
• Taylor Decker (OT)
• Graham Glasgow (IOL)
• Roy Lopez (DT)
• David Montgomery (RB)
• Al-Quadin Muhammad (EDGE)
• Josh Paschal (EDGE)
• Kalif Raymond (WR)
• Amik Robertson (CB)
• Grant Stuard (LB)

2. Minnesota Vikings | 11-6

If the Vikings could finish 2025 with a winning record while showcasing the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback performance per Dropback EPA, they can get two more wins with Kyler Murray under center.

Murray’s current contract with the Vikings — one year and $1.3 million — is absurdly sweet value, so much so that it doesn’t feel like it should be allowed. Props to the Arizona Cardinals for paying Murray’s ticket to play in Minnesota.

With the Vikings. Murray will join a Top 3 or Top 5 defense for the first time in his career, tasked with distributing the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones.

The experiment will work to the tune of 11 wins, as Murray will likely stay on as Minnesota’s QB1 for multiple seasons.

Vikings’ Main Veteran Offseason Additions:

• Johnny Hekker (P)
• Jauan Jennings (WR)
• Kyler Murray (QB)
• James Pierre (CB)
• Ryan Van Demark (OL)

Vikings’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:

• Jonathan Allen (DT)
• C.J. Ham (FB)
• Javon Hargrave (DT)
• Jonathan Greenard (EDGE)
• Ryan Kelly (C)
• Jalen Nailor (WR)
• Harrison Smith (S)
• Ryan Wright (P)

3. Green Bay Packers | 10-7

The Packers never stray too far from relevance, making it unwise to pick them as cellar dwellers in the NFC North — like ever.

Green Bay lost its defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, to the Miami Dolphins, and if Jordan Love misses time due to injury, it will call on Tyrod Taylor, a game manager, not Malik Willis, in 2026. The Packers also have some uncertainty at running back with Josh Jacobs’ bizarre legal ordeal, an alleged choking incident that still needs resolution.

Regardless, we trust Green Bay to win 9 or 10 games; that’s what the franchise does as a baseline.

Packers’ Main Veteran Offseason Arrivals:

• Zaire Franklin (LB)
• Javon Hargrave (DT)
• Skyy Moore (WR)
• Benjamin St-Juste (CB)
• Tyrod Taylor (QB)

Packers’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:

• Zayne Anderson (S)
• Romeo Doubs (WR)
• Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE)
• Rashan Gary (EDGE)
• Nate Hobbs (CB)
• Elgton Jenkins (C)
• Malik Willis (QB)
• Quay Walker (LB)
• Rasheed Walker (OT)
• Emanuel Wilson (RB)
• Colby Wooden (DL)

4. Chicago Bears | 9-8

Bears fans will simply refuse to believe it, and that’s fine, but teams that find ways to win a litany of close games generally return to earth the following season. That happened to the Vikings in 2022, even if fans insisted close-game wins indicated a “team of destiny.” Bears fans experienced the same phenomenon in 2025, and Chicago even beat Green Bay in the postseason, a monkey-off-the-back moment.

Chicago, though, will face a first-place schedule in 2026 and has a target on its back, with quarterback Caleb Williams climbing the NFL’s radar as the next big thing.

The upcoming campaign feels ripe for a miniature Bears regression, putting them around 9 wins and fighting for playoff entry around the 7th seed.

Bears’ Main Veteran Offseason Arrivals:

• Garrett Bradbury (C)
• Coby Bryant (S)
• Devin Bush (LB)
• Neville Gallimore (DT)
• Cam Lewis (DB)
• Scott Miller (WR)
• Kalif Raymond (WR)
• Jack Sanborn (LB)
• Kentavius Street (EDGE)
• Jedrick Wills Jr. (OT)

Bears’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:

• Kevin Byard (S)
• Tremaine Edmunds (LB)
• Dominique Robinson (EDGE)
• Durham Smythe (TE)
• Nahshon Wright (CB)
• Chris Williams (DT)
• Olamide Zacchaeus (WR)

The Los Angeles Rams, of course, are the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. Los Angeles’s roster is so stacked that it feels like NFC North standings may not even matter, at least from a June standpoint.

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Smriti Mandhana achieved a historic feat during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Netherlands on Wednesday in Leeds. After beginning their campaign on a blistering note with a 64-run win against arch-rivals Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. maintained their dominance and defeated Netherlands by 95 runs. Batting first, India posted a total of 209/5, with Mandhana scoring 74 off 47 balls. In response, the Netherlands were bundled out for 114, with Sree Charani picking up four wickets.

Mandhana was at her absolute best, with her knock comprising 11 boundaries and one six. With this performance, she completed 600 boundaries in T20Is, becoming the only player in the history of the format to achieve this feat. No other player, male or female, has managed to reach this milestone so far.

New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates is second on the list with 521 boundaries, while Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu is third with 493. Among men’s cricketers, Pakistan batter Babar Azam tops the list with 477 boundaries, while former India captain Rohit Sharma occupies third spot with 383.

Meanwhile, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma as the key factor in her team’s comprehensive 95-run victory over the Netherlands.

Shafali also picked 3-20, while N Sree Charani took 4-19 as India secured their second straight win and moved to the top of Group A. “I think we were really good with the bat. It wasn’t that easy a wicket, but Smriti and Shafali gave us a great platform. She (Shafali) is always ready with the ball whenever the team needs it. She keeps giving us breakthroughs, and she can go on to be a great all-rounder,” Harmanpreet said at the end of the game.

“Kranti is one who is always bowling for us, and Nandani has got very good experience from WPL, and she’s using that here, and it’s a good thing that she’s giving us breakthroughs in the Powerplay.”

(With IANS Inputs)

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Manchester United have been linked to a transfer for Mateus Fernandes, with Real Madrid’s plans potentially set to impact any midfielder deal

Real Madrid are reportedly targeting a move for Mateus Fernandes, which could yet open the door for Manchester United to sign Aurelien Tchouameni. Both midfielders have been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, and one of those names could be signed in addition to Ederson.

United have already agreed a deal with Atalanta for the Brazil international and Michael Carrick is now on the hunt for another midfield addition. Elliot Anderson is believed to be the top target but Manchester City is his most likely destination.

Arsenal and Tottenham are other Premier League clubs looking to sign a midfielder this summer but it is the Spanish giants that could play a huge role in United’s plans. That is because, according to Mundo Deportivo, Fernandes is Jose Mourinho’s favoured signing and his potential arrival would require an exit.

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As things stand, Tchouameni is the most likely candidate to depart over the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos. Their report states that any funds acquired from selling Tchouameni, who would cost a sizeable amount, would be used to sign a replacement.

Enzo Fernandez is also an option for Los Blancos, who have already signed his Chelsea team-mate Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva have also joined on free transfers.

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Tchouameni is currently at the World Cup alongside Real’s four new additions while Fernandes was not included in Portugal’s squad despite an impressive season at West Ham.

Relegation to the Championship likely means at least one of Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen or Crysencio Summerville will depart London Stadium ahead of the 2026/27 season.

United have also been linked to the latter duo with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye another attacking option of interest. Left-back is another area that the club are looking to strengthen.

Lewis Hall, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Nathaniel Brown have all been linked with the latter putting in a strong display for Germany at the World Cup earlier this month.

Departures are also expected to occur with Rasmus Hojlund already joining Napoli permanently and Manuel Ugarte likely to join Casemiro as a midfielder leaving the club.

The future of Marcus Rashford remains a hot topic with his chances of joining Barcelona dwindling in the wake of signing Anthony Gordon. The former came off the bench to score in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday with his future likely to be resolved after the World Cup.

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Substitute Johan Manzambi scored twice as Switzerland defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in an entertaining FIFA World Cup Group B match to move closer to a place in the last 32.

The Swiss struggled to break down Bosnia for much of the game, but a dramatic final 20 minutes changed everything.

Manzambi opened the scoring in the 74th minute, less than three minutes after coming off the bench. The 20-year-old reacted quickly inside the penalty area and volleyed home past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj with only his fourth touch of the match.

Bosnia’s problems increased moments later when Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for bringing down Breel Embolo as he raced clear on goal.

With the extra man advantage, Switzerland took control. Ruben Vargas curled a fine effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 before setting up Manzambi for his second goal in the 90th minute.

Captain Granit Xhaka added a fourth goal from the penalty spot during stoppage time after Djibril Sow was fouled inside the box.

Bosnia managed a late consolation through Ermin Mahmic, who scored with a superb volley following a corner kick.

“It is probably the best moment of my career so far,” Manzambi said after the match. “We had to stay patient because we knew we were a good team. I think we showed that.”

The young midfielder has continued his rapid rise after an impressive season with Freiburg and once again proved his value to the Swiss national team.

Switzerland had created chances earlier in the game but lacked the finishing touch. Dan Ndoye came close on several occasions, including a spectacular bicycle kick that was tipped over the crossbar by the Bosnia goalkeeper.

Bosnia also had moments of promise, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the attack. However, the experienced forward could not find a breakthrough and was substituted midway through the second half.

Swiss coach Murat Yakin praised Manzambi’s impact after the match.

“Johan is a player full of quality and confidence,” Yakin said. “He can surprise both us and our opponents. He was very important for today’s victory.”

The result leaves Switzerland top of Group B with four points, while Bosnia remain bottom with one point and a goal difference of minus three.

Switzerland will face co-hosts Canada in their final group match, while Bosnia take on Qatar as they hope to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

Despite not being physically present at Royal Randwick this Saturday, trainer Bjorn Baker is set to unleash a strong contingent for the feature race, the Listed Civic Stakes, run over 1400 metres.

Baker has been at Royal Ascot this week, attending to his stable star sprinter Overpass, who put in a gallant third-place effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1005m) on Tuesday night. A final decision on whether Overpass will back up on Saturday night to compete against Joliestar in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1207m) is still pending, but the stable will be represented by four runners in the Civic Stakes.

Racing manager Luke Hilton, who is managing the home operations, confirmed that Hollywood Hero, Midnight Dynamite, Amor Victorious, and Point And Shoot are all slated for winter campaigns. “Hollywood Hero was really good the other day. He may need further again, but he was outstanding,” Hilton said. He also mentioned, “Midnight Dynamite was really good the other day too.” On Amor Victorious, Hilton elaborated, “Amor Victorious is coming back off a short let-up. He had a bit of a setback (after Scone) so he had a bit of a break, but he’s in good order now. He doesn’t love wet ground. If we can just not have really wet ground it will suit him.” Adding about Point And Shoot, he stated, “With Point And Shoot, it depends which Point And Shoot turns up.”

Last year’s Civic Stakes winner, Headley Grange, went on to achieve Group One success. While the Baker quartet may not reach those same heights, the winter racing program should offer ample opportunities for stakes victories. “We’re going to roll through with all four of them. You’ve got the Winter Stakes, the Winter Challenge. Unfortunately they’ve probably all got to keep taking each other on, but it’s a good problem to have,” Hilton commented.

Hollywood Hero requires three scratchings to make the final 15-runner field, while Midnight Dynamite is the current market elect, opening at $3.60 with Jason Collett booked to ride from barrier eight. The Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) is scheduled for Rosehill on July 4, and the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) will take place at Rosehill on July 18.

The online bookmakers will be offering a wide range of racing odds for the Civic Stakes and other upcoming races.

On the pitch, the focus in Germany during Sunday’s FIFA World Cup match was on the national team’s convincing 7–1 victory over Curaçao.

Off the pitch, however, many social media users were fixated on something entirely different: an image of a fan inside the stadium wearing a German shirt, holding a German flag, and bearing a resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

The image was shared across several platforms, amassing millions of views.

This post on X, for example, has garnered more than 3 million views, while this one on Instagram has attracted over 460,000 likes. 

The claim also spread in several languages, including Spanish on Facebook and Russian on Threads.

Some posts also contained undertones of anti-German sentiment, such as a Reddit postthat sarcastically read: “It’s always awesome to see the fans truly show up to support their team!”

However, the image is not authentic.

DW Fact check: Fake and AI manipulated.

Here’s how we came to this conclusion.

1) Look for the real image

The alleged image of the Hitler look-alike appears to be a screenshot from the television broadcast of the match, complete with a timestamp corresponding to stoppage time in the first half.

This was shortly after Kai Havertz had scored a penalty to make it 3-1 for Germany. The fans were happy and celebrating.

A review of the original broadcast shows the same group of fans celebrating after Havertz’s goal, but with one key difference: the alleged Hitler look-alike is nowhere to be seen. 

Instead, the original footage shows a gray-haired man who bears no resemblance to Hitler.

You can see the clear differences by sliding between the two images shown above: one is the real broadcast (in this case from German public broadcaster ARD on the right side), while the other one is the image manipulated with AI.

It’s important to note that for major sporting events like the World Cup, an official broadcast is produced by the organizing body (in this case, FIFA) and distributed as a central feed to partner broadcasters.

This means the core images are the same across all channels, with only minor elements customized by individual broadcasters.

Beyond the central broadcast, another clue to the composition of the fan group can be found by examining images from photo agencies accredited to the match.

For example, this photo below by Imago, a Berlin-based agency that frequently covers major sporting events, captures the same group of fans from a different perspective, again, without any Hitler look-alike.

While it was not possible to verify the exact moment the image was taken based on the metadata provided by the agency, it can nevertheless be considered further evidence that no such figure was part of the group.

2) Is it AI?

A further step in verifying the image’s authenticity is to determine whether it was created or manipulated using artificial intelligence.

Several AI chatbots now offer the ability to check whether their systems have been used to generate or manipulate an image.

This is possible because such tools embed a digital watermark. It is invisible to the naked eye, but detectable when using the tool to verify content.

A search using OpenAI, the US-based organization behind ChatGPT, indicates that its tools were indeed used to create the image of the Hitler lookalike.

OpenAI’s analysis states that it “found a SynthID watermark that originated from OpenAI.”

A further check using another tool, this time from Google’s Gemini, provides additional clues.

While it indicates that no Google AI systems were used to manipulate the image, it also notes that “a visual analysis and context check strongly indicate that this image has been digitally altered or generated.”

A third tool, X’s Grok, describes the image as a “classic fake,” responding to a user’s question on X under the viral post.

It adds: “This picture is not real. It’s digitally edited (AI or Photoshop) inserting Adolf Hitler into a 2026 World Cup crowd.”

While these tools should always be used with caution, as they can sometimes make mistakes, in this case three independent tools reached similar conclusions, reinforcing the analysis based on the original footage.

3) Think about the context

While the World Cup is known as a celebratory event that showcases fans and cultures from around the world, a supporter resembling the Nazi dictator who initiated World War II and was the central figure responsible for the Holocaust would likely have caused a major controversy in the stands.

Such an incident would likely have drawn immediate attention from broadcasters or stadium officials. It would also likely have been met with strong disapproval from many German fans in the stadium.

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Moreover, it should be noted that the image shows the alleged Hitler impersonator wearing a German jersey in black, red, and gold. These national colors represent Germany’s democratic tradition and the Federal Republic. 

Although right-wing extremists and populists have long attempted to appropriate the colors and the flag for their own purposes, black, red, and gold stand for values that are fundamentally opposed to those of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism. 

For Hitler, these colors symbolized what he viewed as a weak parliamentary system, one he ultimately abolished.

This fake image is part of a broader trend of disinformation, much of it generated or manipulated by AI, that has circulated before and during the World Cup.

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For instance, DW Fact check’s most recent article on the topic examined fake websites claiming to sell World Cup tickets.

Boris Geilert and Torsten Neuendorff contributed to this article.

Edited by: Uta Steinwehr and Wesley Dockery

This article was updated on June 16, 2026 to add more background information.

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In T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings appear to have a trade candidate.

The Vikings pass catcher has cooled off in recent years, largely due to recovering from a serious knee injury that ended his 2023 season. He hasn’t been the same player since the dirty hit that sent him to the infirmary for many months. Boasting a new GM, Nolan Teasley, means welcoming a certain degree of change. Quite possibly, the change could manifest itself in moving on from Mr. Hockenson.

Vikings Pass Catcher T.J. Hockenson as a Trade Candidate

A few factors are working against Hockenson.

The well-paid tight end isn’t an assassin when it comes to scoring. His single-season high for touchdowns comes in at just 6. Worse yet, Hockenson isn’t particularly explosive. Or, at least, he’s not used in a manner where he generates explosive gains. He averaged a measly 8.6 yards per catch last year. Finally, there’s Hockenson’s ability as a blocker, or lack thereof. He has demonstrated improvement but he’s not getting paid meaty money due to being an average blocker.

And then there’s the GM factor.

Already, newcomer Nolan Teasley has been making moves. Some of these decisions have involved front office shuffles but he has made some roster tweaks, as well. More time in the captain’s chair will better equip Teasley to make a major swing, if desired.

Per Over the Cap, T.J. Hockenson carries a $15,605,000 cap charge into the season. That’s a cap hit that arrives after the move to lower his overall compensation but at the cost of setting him free a year early, thereby allowing him to venture into free agency while he’s still in his late-20s.

Quite possibly, an explosive season will mean being able to land another huge contract before his career is done. Hockenson is working in what is essentially a prove-it year.

Do note, though, that a trade would free $10,250,000 for the Minnesota Vikings. Moreover, a draft pick(s) — think something on Day 3 — would come back, further bolstering the ammunition ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft. More young talent in the pipeline is precisely what these Vikings need, so Teasley will be keen to add picks.

Teasley’s decision therefore involves conducting a cost/benefit analysis.

Quite possibly, a team or two will have interest in acquiring T.J. Hockenson. At this stage, the tight end is a steady player who isn’t the fantastic athlete he was back in 2022 and 2023. He is nevertheless a player with a great build alongside soft mitts, allowing him to be a nice companion for a passer in need of another option for the aerial attack.

Teasley’s task involves seeing if the added draft resources and cap space are worth it. Doing so means having an accurate assessment of how much the TE1 will help the Vikings in the upcoming season before deciding on saying goodbye or rallying around the veteran for another year.

For whatever it’s worth, a new GM often shows less loyalty to players upon entering the mix. Think back to how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah moved on from talents such as Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Patrick Peterson, Adam Thielen, and others after taking over. So, too, could Teasley make some subtractions involving well-paid veterans who aren’t as formidable as in the games of yesteryear.

T.J. Hockenson is listed at 6’5″ and 250 pounds. At 28, the tight end still has several years of ball ahead of him, but there are concerns about whether his best days are behind him.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Roy Jones Jr has revealed which of his past opponents he deems to be the greatest of the lot.

Jones competed 76 times throughout his illustrious professional career, which began back in 1989 and went all the way up until 2023.

His peak is considered to have been throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, with Jones becoming a four division world champion at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and even heavyweight.

In total, Jones shared the ring with nearly 20 current, former or future world champions, but one man stood out when he was asked who was the best fighter he ever faced.

Speaking to The Ring, he gave that honour to three-weight world champion James Toney.

“James Toney probably had the best defence of all of them. You couldn’t hit him flush; he was so elusive. The hip movement and the shoulder roll made it very difficult to land a clean shot.

He had all the tools, he was hard to hit, he could knock you out at any time. He would be right there in your face and you still couldn’t hit him flush.”

Jones had moved up in weight to 168lbs when he faced Toney in November 1994, claiming a unanimous decision win to secure the IBF super middleweight title and hand ‘Lights Out’ the first loss of his professional career.

Toney also ruled at middleweight and cruiserweight, and had also become WBA heavyweight champion with a win over John Ruiz in 2005, only for the result to be changed to a no contest after he failed a drugs test.

In the end, Toney finished with 77 wins from his 92 professional fights, with his last outing coming back in May 2017 when he earned a stoppage victory over Mike Sheppard.