Green Bay, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers control their destiny in the NFC North, but winning the division for the first time since 2021 won’t be easy.
“It was huge to get a sweep against the Lions and be in position to potentially take the top spot in the NFC North,” receiver Christian Watson said. “It was big time.”
The Chicago Bears (9-3) hold a half-game lead over the Packers (8-3-1). The Packers will play the Bears twice in the next three weeks: next Sunday at Lambeau Field and two weeks later at Soldier Field.
Here’s a look at the tough road ahead.
Updated NFC North standings
Here are the NFC North standings, with only the last-place Vikings needing to play on Sunday.
Chicago Bears: 9-3. The Bears were 8-3 heading into Friday’s game against Philadelphia. It had a negative scoring differential and did not beat any team with a winning record. Everything changed when they defeated the Eagles 24–15.
green Bay Packers: 8-3-1. After consecutive losses at Lambeau Field, the Packers have won three consecutive games. In the NFC, only the Rams (plus-21) and Seahawks (plus-11) are better than Green Bay in net touchdowns (plus-10).
Detroit Lions: 7-5. The Lions bounced back from their Week 1 loss to Green Bay by winning four in a row. Since then, they have alternated wins and losses every week. Based on this, they will look to win in Chicago in Week 18.
Minnesota Vikings: 4-7. The Vikings are 12th in the NFC and four wins behind the 49ers in the race for the final playoff spot.
Remaining NFC Answer Schedules
Based on records entering Sunday, the Packers have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL, with their five remaining opponents having a combined .638 winning percentage. Only the Vikings have a losing record.
The Bears have the fifth-toughest schedule (.593) and the Lions have the third-toughest schedule (.605).
Here’s a look at the final schedule for the teams in the race to win the NFC North championship. Records are till Friday.
week 14
Packers: Home vs. Bears (9-3), Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3:25 p.m.
Bear: at Packers (8-3-1), Sunday, Dec. 7, 3:25 p.m.
Lion: Home vs. Cowboys (6-5-1), Thursday, December 4 at 7:20 p.m.
week 15
Packers: Broncos (9-2), Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3:25 p.m.
Bear: Home vs. Browns (3-8), Sunday, Dec. 14 at noon.
Lion: at Rams (9-2), Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3:25 p.m.
week 16
Packers: Saturday, Dec. 20 at Bears (9-3), 4 p.m. or 7:20 p.m.
Bear: Home vs. Packers (8-3-1), Saturday, December 20 at 4:00 or 7:20 p.m.
Lion: Home vs. Steelers (6-5), Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3:25 p.m.
week 17
Packers: Home vs. Ravens (6-6), time TBA Saturday, December 27, or Sunday, December 28.
Bear: at 49ers (8-4), Sunday, Dec. 28 at 7:20 p.m.
Lion: at Vikings (4-7), 3:30 p.m. Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25).
week 18
Packers: at Vikings (4-7), time TBA on Saturday, Jan. 3, or Sunday, Jan. 4.
Bear: Home vs. Lions (7-5), time TBA Saturday, Jan. 3, or Sunday, Jan. 4.
Lion: at Bears (9-3), time TBA on Saturday, Jan. 3, or Sunday, Jan. 4.
here’s the challenge
On paper, the easiest way to win the NFC North is for Chicago to win. This may be easier said than done depending on how the Bears actually ran over the Eagles on Friday.
“We haven’t hit our peak yet as a team and executing on offense,” Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said. “But we’re still winning these games, and so that’s really important. So, I’m super excited.”
The Packers can take over first place in the division by beating Chicago next week, but they will lose the lead the following week when they play at AFC-leading Denver and the Bears are at home against Cleveland.
What happens by division?
If the Packers and Bears split their upcoming games, the Bears will maintain their half-game lead in the division. That would mean the Packers would have to find a lead somewhere else at the deadline.
This will not be easy. The Packers’ other games are at Denver, at home against Baltimore and at Minnesota. The Bears’ other games are against Cleveland at home, at San Francisco and at home against Detroit. This is a really tough road game for both teams (Green Bay at Denver and Chicago at San Francisco) and a challenging home game (Green Bay vs. Baltimore and Chicago vs. Detroit).
The Packers will likely have to try to get a win in Chicago for the Lions, who may or may not be in the playoff race in Week 18.
the only seed that matters
Ultimately, given how evenly matched the NFC’s top teams are, perhaps only the two seeds will matter once the playoffs begin.
There is a No. 1 seed, which comes into the first round with the only bye. The Rams lead the NFC with a 9-2 record and have only two games remaining against winless teams: home against Detroit in Week 15 and at Seattle in Week 16.
The second is the number 7 seed. Such was the Packers’ fate last season, needing wins over the No. 2 seed in the wild-card round and the No. 1 seed in the divisional round to reach the Super Bowl. San Francisco, which has a bye next week, is in 7th, a half-game behind Green Bay.
last words
Micah went to Parsons after the Packers celebrated Thanksgiving with their win in Detroit.
“It’s huge. It was division champions last year. You know who they have on their team. You know what they bring. This is a team that fights to the end. It’s a fight. We’re all excited.
“That was a 12-round boxing match, Ali. That’s what it feels like. This is a team we won’t rule out. We’ll probably see them again. That was a big win for where we want to go, win the division, win the playoffs. That was a playoff game. We’ve just got to pile these up.”
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