NFC North standings give Bears a huge early opportunity after Week 1

They opened their NFC North title defense with a 59-37 road victory over the Carolina Panthers, watched the Green Bay Packers collapse against the Minnesota Vikings, and emerged from the opening weekend as one of three undefeated teams in the division.

After one week, Minnesota, Chicago and Detroit are all 1-0. Green Bay sits alone at 0-1.

Technically, the Vikings occupy first place because their 39-22 victory over Green Bay gives them a 1-0 division record. Chicago and Detroit are each 1-0 overall but haven't played an NFC North game yet.

It's only Week 1, but the Bears won't have to wait long for their first opportunity to change that.

Bears make the biggest offensive statement in the division

No NFC North team had a more explosive opening weekend than Chicago.

The Bears set a franchise record for points in a season opener, producing 552 total yards and eight touchdowns against Carolina. Caleb Williams accounted for 334 total yards and four touchdowns, while D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each surpassed 100 rushing yards.

It wasn't a perfect Week 1 for the Bears, as Carolina scored 37 points and accumulated 478 yards, giving Dennis Allen and the defense plenty to correct.

But Chicago is 1-0 after beginning last season 0-2, and Ben Johnson's offense immediately looked capable of carrying the Bears while the defense works through its issues.

Vikings make a statement against Packers

Minnesota owns the early divisional advantage after beating Green Bay 39-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Green Bay controlled much of the first half before Minnesota stormed back, outscoring the Packers 29-3 in the second half. The Vikings scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone.

That result matters to Chicago because Minnesota is up next in Week 2.

The Vikings travel to Soldier Field next Sunday for the Bears' home opener, giving one of the NFC North's three 1-0 teams a chance to build an early advantage.

For Chicago, a victory would make the Bears 2-0 overall and 1-0 within the division.

Lions survive a Week 1 scare

Detroit also escaped Week 1 undefeated, although barely.

The Lions edged the New Orleans Saints 31-30, surviving after New Orleans failed on a two-point conversion attempt that could have won the game.

Detroit now faces a quick turnaround and a significantly tougher opponent.

The Lions travel to Buffalo to face the Bills on Thursday night in Week 2, while Green Bay will try to avoid an 0-2 start on the road against the New York Jets.

NFC North already looks like a fight

One week isn't enough to draw sweeping conclusions about any division. Still, Week 1 reinforced why the NFC North could once again become one of the NFL's most compelling division races.

Chicago's offense looked explosive. Minnesota produced a massive comeback against a division rival. Detroit survived. Green Bay, meanwhile, is already playing from behind after dropping the only NFC North matchup of the opening weekend.

The Bears took care of the most important part themselves. They're 1-0. Now comes the first chance to put some early distance between themselves and another NFC North contender.