NFL Deep Dive Week 12: NFC North Health Check

By Peter Mann

Whether it be a Thanksgiving Feast at Ford Field, or a Black Friday Spree at Lincoln Financial Field, the NFC North, as tight as it is, still has a long, long way to go before the play-off picture is decided.

In fact, with franchises still to dance with each other in the closing weeks of the regular season, the outcome could easily go as far as the games played out over the festive period, as this weeks Deep Dive affords a little look.

At present it’s Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears that lead the way, his first season as an HC seeing them standing at 8-3, with seasoned veterans pulling up the rear; Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay Packers are second with a 7-3-1 record, and Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions third on 7-4, they having seven and five seasons in post respectively.

Sitting fourth in the NFC North is Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings, 4-7, the franchise which, come the final throes of the season, could still have a big say in things as we’re about to find out.

Chicago Bears (1st, 8-3; Defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 31-28)

Aiming for a first NFC North since 2018, the Bears have actually only won it four times, having also spent time in the NFL Western, and NFC Central (1970-2001), followed by the NFC North (2002-present) since their formation back in 1920, winning 19 divisional title overall.

This season has seen a Caleb Williams/Kyle Monangai et al led Bears take stock after a faltering start, one which saw them 0-2 following defeats to both their divisional rivals in Minnesota Vikings (24-27), and Detroit Lions (21-52).

One defeat from their next nine however, a 16-30 defeat to Baltimore Ravens, turned the Bears’ season completely on its head, they having put together a pair of four-match winning streaks either side of defeat in Baltimore.

Their last outing, as Pittsburgh Steelers visited Soldier Field, saw Johnson’s Bears register another, close victory in a season of close victories – six of their eight successes have been by five points or less.

Despite shipping 20+ points in a game for the eighth time this season, victory over the Steelers (6-5) kept them at the front of the hunt as quarterback Caleb Williams registered another three touchdown passes, alongside running back Kyle Monangai’s rushing score.

Williams game score of 19/35, 239yds, 3TDs (pass) took his eleven game season statistics to 213/316, 2,568yds, 16TDs (pass) in what has been a relatively productive campaign for the Bears gunslinger; Monangai’s score sees him tying D’Andre Swift in the Bears’ season ranking, both having four rushing scores apiece.

On the receiving side, wide receiver DJ Moore stats of 64yds, 2TDs (rec), and tight end Colston Loveland’s 49yds, 1TD (rec) saw them strengthen joint-second in the franchises season standings, behind leader, wide receiver Rome Odunze, who has six to his name compared to his teammates’ three apiece.

It’s a tough ask for the Bears in their next outing however, and one which could be a marker for their season, when they travel to the Lincoln Financial Field, and the 8-3 Eagles, Nick Sirianni’s side topping the NFC East, and the current, #2 seed overall.

Green Bay Packers (2nd, 7-3-1; Defeated Minnesota Vikings 23-6)

Looking to get back to winning ways having notched a hat-trick of successes between 2019 and 2021, and four consecutive between 2011 and 2014, Green Bay are aiming for an thirteenth NFC North divisional title, and their twenty-second overall.

Somewhere they’ve enjoyed much silverware since arriving in 2002 following a lengthy run in the NFC Central (1979-2001), where they only won four, Green Bay have often been seen as a force in the North.

Matt LaFleur’s 2025 version, led by Jordan Love/Romeo Doubs/Emanuel Wilson et al, has seen both exciting football, and some unfortunateness along the way; their three defeats, to Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles, have all been low-sowing games in which the Packers have lost by three, with the tied game being a 40-40 OT game at Dallas Cowboys back in late September.

Following two defeats at the start of November, La Fleur’s charges got back on track with back-to-back wins of late, 27-20 at New York Giants, and a 23-6 win over divisional rivals, Minnesota Vikings, in their last outing.

Despite not register a touchdown pass in the win over the Vikings, Packers quarterback Jordan Love has connected for fifteen scores thus far; on the rushing side, running back Josh Jacobs leads the way with eleven scores, whilst teammate, and fellow running back, Emmanuel Wilson, has shot up to second in this seasons’ franchise ranking.

Against the Vikings, Wilson posted 28cars, 107yds, 2TDs (rush), taking his tally to three scores on the season to date.

It’s a divisional dustup next for the #6 seed Packers, they welcoming third place, 7-4 Lions to Lambeau Field, for a Thanksgiving Feast, the first of what will be a tough run of games for LaFleur’s charges with the hope that victory pushes them into the top five seeds in the North’s playoffs picture.

Detroit Lions (3rd, 7-4; Defeated New York Giants 34-27)

Dan Campbell’s Lions have enjoyed considerable success in recent times, winning back-to-back divisional titles in the last two seasons, the former of which saw an historic play-off run which came up just short in the NFC Championship game against San Francisco 49ers.

Initially in the NFC Central between 1970 and 2001, the Lions have only claimed divisional success on six occasions (three of those were NFC Central titles in 1983, 1991, and 1993), so that recent brace will have no doubt given Jared Goff/Jahmyr Gibbs /Amon-Ra St. Brown and co., a taste for more.

Having lost their season opener, 13-27 at Green Bay, Johnson’s charges then won their next four outings, which included a 52-21 drubbing of the Bears back in week two, however, the past six weeks of action has seen them on a win one-lose one run whereby they’ve won three and lost three.

Defeats to Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles have been overturned by wins over Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, and, in their last outings, ensuring the New York Giants were the first franchise to be eliminated from play-off contention, registering a 34-27 OT success at Lambeau Field.

The Lions actually found themselves behind by three at the half, the Giants racing to a 20-17 lead, however, after a third quarter shut-out of the NFC East franchise, the fourth finished in favour of the Lions to tie the contest at 27-27, before a 69yd rushing score from Gibbs in overtime gave Campbell’s side the win.

Both the Lions quarterback, Goff, and running back Gibbs, had an enjoyable outing with the football, the former posting 28/42, 279yds, 2TDs (pass), whilst the latter added 15cars, 218yds, 2TDs (rush) and 45yds, 1TD (rec) in what has been a productive season for both.

In his eleven games this season, veteran star, Goff has posted 244/352, 2768yds, 23TDs (pass), whilst Gibbs is close to near double his nearest challenger in the Lions rushing department, registering 951yds, 10TDs (rush) as well as 48yds, 3TDs (rec) in a productive campaign.

As with their divisional rivals at Green Bay, the Lions face a similarly tough hone stretch, facing first the Packers at Thanksgiving, before clashes with Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Bears, as they look to break into the playoffs picture.

Minnesota Vikings (4th, 4-7; Lost 6-23 to the Green Bay Packers)

At the foot of the NFC North is O’Connell’s Vikings, who’ve endured a mixed regular season to date, registering just four wins from their eleven games thus far.

Historically, the Vikings are one of the most successful franchises in the North, claiming an impressive 21 since the late sixties, with their last arriving just a few seasons back, in 2022 (five NFC North titles); you have to go back to those early days for any sustained period of success, winning six-in-a-row between 1973 and 1978 (NFL/NFC Central titles).

A Carson Wentz/JJ McCarthy led Vikings haven’t really lit the division this time around, but they can still play a massive part in who does, and who doesn’t, make the playoffs; three of their four wins arrived in the opening five weeks of the season, and, of the five they’ve collected, two have been against their divisional rivals.

Away to the Bears in the opening week, the Vikings picked up a 27-24 success, then, after wins over Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, O’Connell’s charges won by the same score when at Detroit Lions.

That Lions success though is sandwiched between five defeats, they having lost their last three, against Baltimore Ravens, and to divisional rivals the Bears, and, in their last outing, the Packers.

Having only registered 42 points in their last three outings, it’s been a tough one for the Vikings, who’ll look to finish the season strongly as both Wentz, and McCarthy, have thrown for just six touchdown scores apiece.

McCarthy has the slight advantage due to a couple of rushing scores to his name, registering 86/159, 929yds, 6TDs (pass), 120yds, 2TDs (rush), whilst running back Jordan Mason has 531yds, 5TDs (rush) in what has been a season to forget for the Minneapolis franchise.

They can close the regular season by upsetting their rivals though, in the closing weeks, travelling to Lumen Field, home of the ranked Seattle Seahawks in their next outing, they also have a trip to Dallas Cowboys, who’ve an outside shot of the playoffs still, whilst their last games – at home to Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, either side of New Year, at their US Bank Stadium.

Regular Season Run-In

With the playoffs picture attempting to take shape, that belonging to the NFC North could well last a little longer yet though. At present there’s just a one-game swing between that of Bears-Packers-Lions.

This coming weekend could knock one of those franchises for six, with Thanksgiving seeing Green Bay and Detroit opposing each other at Ford Field, the Packers are currently the #6 side in the North, whilst the Lions are sitting #8, just outside the playoffs.

As for the Bears, the North’s #3 seed at present, behind the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-3), they face a Black Friday clash at the Lincoln Financial Field, and the Eagles.

Victories, or defeats, either way, will only change how things look a little bit, with another five games to play afterwards as well; perhaps more decisive will be the pair of divisional match-up between the Bears and the Packers, the top two also having the Lions to play in the run-in.

Amongst all that, the Bears will dance with the 49ers just after Christmas, the Packers have both Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens in theirs, whilst the Lions have both the Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers to face off against.

Let’s not forget the Vikings either. They may be a 4-7 franchise at present, but their remaining five games includes playoff chasing Seattle Seahawks, and the outside shot, Dallas Cowboys, before wrapping up the regular season with home games against divisional rivals, the Lions, on Christmas Day, and the Packers in early January.

The division could well be the same come the regular season end and, although unlikely the Vikings will move upwards, the other three, well that spot could change many more times over the next six weeks. 

PETER MANN

NFL ANALYST

PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter

 
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