Here's our @espn Vikings midseason report, updated to reflect the acquisition of their (latest) new quarterback. https://t.co/I8undtXlPO

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 12, 2026

2026 NFL midseason report:

Minnesota Vikings

FPI rank: 11
Chances to make the playoffs: 64.5%
Chances to win their division: 14.2%

First-half storyline: The defense has been arguably the NFL's best and has, along with special teams, carried the team all season. The blitz is now their base scheme, with defensive coordinator Brian Flores sending at least one extra rusher on 71.6% of opposing dropbacks. Conversely, the offense ranks among the NFL's worst.

QB stat to know: Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have combined for a 39.0 QBR, fourth worst in the NFL. Murray's six starts has produced the lowest production totals since his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals. Is it the quarterbacks? The scheme? Playcalling? Collective poor performances usually have multiple explanations.

Second-half storyline: The Vikings put themselves in a great spot with a 6-0 start, including consecutive NFC North wins to start the season, but their lack of offensive production threatens to limit their ceiling. That's why they acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins, hoping to elevate their offense enough to support a defense that is likely to get leaky at some point in a 17-game season. -- Kevin Seifert

Fantasy nugget: Justin Jefferson has averaged a career-low 56.1 receiving yards per game, but that should change with Kirk Cousins back. In four seasons with Cousins, Jefferson averaged 98 yards per game and his 17-game pace was 1,671 yards and 8.5 touchdowns. Plus, the Vikings have the seventh-best remaining WR schedule. -- Moody

Chicago Bears

FPI rank: 6
Chances to make the playoffs: 90.4%
Chances to win their division: 41.6%

First-half storyline: The Bears firmly established themselves as a top NFC contender with a 7-2 record at their Week 10 bye. Their first-half trajectory sparked an all-in approach when they gave up three draft picks to land All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, which paid instant dividends on defense. Caleb Williams returned from his hamstring injury a more efficient passer, and the Bears have not trailed at any point over their past four games (all wins) as they rank seventh in scoring (26.8 PPG).

QB stat to know: Williams leads the NFL in completion percentage (82.8%) when not pressured. He is ahead of the pace for the highest single-season completion percentage in that situation by a season-qualifying quarterback since ESPN first tracked pressures in 2009.

Second-half storyline: Most Bears games during the back half of the season will carry the intensity of playoff matchups. Chicago faces four NFC North opponents during Weeks 12-18 and needs to gain ground in the division after early losses to Minnesota and Green Bay. The Bears also play two division leaders in Jacksonville (first, AFC South) and Buffalo (first, AFC East), both of which rank top four in scoring. -- Courtney Cronin

Fantasy nugget: Luther Burden III has averaged 20.1 fantasy PPG in the four games since Caleb Williams returned, with at least 17 points in all four. For the season, the only WRs averaging more than 20.1 fantasy PPG are Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua and CeeDee Lamb. And Burden might stay hot, as the Bears have the fifth-best remaining fantasy WR schedule. -- Moody

Detroit Lions

FPI rank: 8
Chances to make the playoffs: 79.6%
Chances to win their division: 29.6%

First-half storyline: Detroit's defense got off to a rough start while being riddled with injuries. Second-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard faced heavy criticism after his defense allowed 30 or more points in three of the first four games, but head coach Dan Campbell continued to back Sheppard as the defense has improved, allowing fewer than 20 points in three straight games (Weeks 7-9), tying their longest streak over the past 10 seasons, per ESPN Research.

QB stat to know: Prior to Sunday's 19-9 win versus Miami, Lions QB Jared Goff went 30 consecutive games with a passing TD, which was the longest active streak in the NFL, per ESPN Research. Goff now has 54 wins with the Lions organization since being traded from the Rams in 2021, tying Bobby Layne for the second most in franchise history.

Second-half storyline: The Lions' secondary has gotten healthier, which has made their defense tough to beat when getting pressure, and it'll be interesting to see if they can continue trending upward. After being sidelined for over a year, Detroit has also recently opened the 21-day practice window for All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, who is coming off a chronic left knee injury. -- Eric Woodyard

Fantasy nugget: Jahmyr Gibbs is scoring 26.2 fantasy PPG. That would be the 14th most by a RB in the Super Bowl era. Only Christian McCaffrey (twice), Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell have averaged that number or higher since 2010. The only thing in his way from a historic season is the second-toughest remaining fantasy RB schedule. -- Moody

Green Bay Packers

FPI rank: 10
Chances to make the playoffs: 69.6%
Chances to win their division: 14.7%

First-half storyline: The running game. Or lack of it. In the first eight games, the Packers' best rushing output as a team was 86 yards in Week 4 against the Buccaneers. They had the fewest rushing yards of any team in NFL history that had a winning record through eight games. They still rank last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (68.2) even after a 129-yard performance on Sunday. It's been partially on the inconsistent offensive line and partially on the running back group, which has played without Josh Jacobs for the majority of the season. However, massive production from receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who rank third and fourth in the NFL in receiving yards respectively, has helped make up for it.

QB stat to know: Jordan Love has multiple touchdowns (passing or rushing) in all nine games this season, the longest NFL streak to start a season since Kyler Murray's in 2020 and the second-longest streak in Packers history, behind only Aaron Rodgers, who had 15 straight to open the 2011 season (when he won MVP). Love's deep throws have been on point. He has two games with at least six completions of 20 or more air yards. No other quarterback has even one such game.

Second-half storyline: The return of Micah Parsons. The Packers' defense has more than held its own while Parsons recovers from last year's knee surgery -- thanks in part to the creativity of new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon -- but the addition of one of the best pass rushers in the NFL could turn the Packers into one of the most complete teams in the league. Parsons could return from his torn ACL as soon as Week 12 against the Rams. -- Rob Demovsky

Fantasy nugget: Jordan Love has been airing it out more and it has transformed the Packers' offense. Since Week 5, he has averaged 7.2 deep pass attempts and 24.0 fantasy PPG (compared to 4.5 deep pass attempts and 16.2 fantasy PPG in Weeks 1-4). The change has made Love a must-start fantasy QB. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden look like potential league winners. -- Moody