The NFC North has quickly become one of the NFL's toughest divisions, featuring established stars and rising quarterbacks. Yet one bold prediction for the 2026 season is turning heads, as an analyst believes Jordan Love could rise as the division's top passer ahead of Jared Goff.

The prediction comes from Sports Illustrated's annual "100 Bold Predictions" feature by Conor Orr. Among his many predictions for the upcoming season, Orr claimed that Jordan Love (QB) will outperform the rest of the NFC North quarterback field in major passing categories.

"Love will outpace Jared Goff, Caleb Williams and the combination of Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy in touchdowns and completion percentage," wrote Orr. "But Williams will lead the NFC North in passing yards."

Goff has been one of the league's most productive quarterbacks in recent years. The QB has consistently ranked among the NFL leaders in passing, consistently producing 4,000+ passing yards since 2022, featuring in every single game.

Predicting Love to beat him in touchdown hints at confidence in Green Bay's offensive growth entering 2026. When he started, the Packers held yet another winning record last year (9-5-1), making it three years in a row.

Meanwhile, Goff continues to lead the Detroit Lions offense, while Caleb Williams(QB) of the Chicago Bears is expected to take another step forward in Chicago. His rising stock was clearly visible as he featured on Madden NFL 27's cover image this year.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback rivalry between QBs Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, and J.J. McCarthy also adds intrigue to a division loaded with offensive talent.

Still, Orr's confidence in the Lions' offense makes his prediction about Love beating Goff even more intriguing.

Conor Orr Names Lions as NFL's Highest-Scoring Team in 2026

The Detroit Lions are drawing major praise in Sports Illustrated's annual "100 Bold Predictions," with Conor Orr predicting that Detroit will finish as the NFL's top-scoring offense in 2026.

"Detroit had an abysmal schedule and a coordinator who needed to be replaced mid-stream, yet still scored just two fewer points per game than the Rams and totaled roughly 400 fewer yards," wrote Orr.

Despite dealing with a difficult schedule and changing a coordinator during the offseason, the Lions remained one of the league's most productive offenses.

The prediction suggests that the Lions could provide greater efficiency if they receive more stability from the coaching staff.

If Orr's prediction proves true, the Lions could not only lead the NFL in scoring but also enter as one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC.

What are your views on Conor Orr's prediction? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote