None of the seven other divisions in the NFL’s current alignment can stake claim to rivalries richer or stronger than in the NFC North, where the quartet representing four proud heartland states will have more than 370 combined seasons in the league after this year.

The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are three of the NFL’s five oldest franchises. The relative newbie Minnesota Vikings entered in 1961, long before the Super Bowl existed or man landed on the moon.

The Bears and Packers were essentially the league’s original archenemies. The Vikings have made a 21st century pattern of picking up former Packers, from Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to current starting running back Aaron Jones. The long-languishing Lions have recently upped the intensity of their rival

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