Who’s at the Top Of NFC North Now?
These last few weeks have been another downhill ride on the rollercoaster of the NFC as things picked up speed in all games.
With the dust settling, the NFC North is wide open — but one team now stands clearly at the top, pushing ahead in the divisional race.
Since the teams match up against each other so many times and have failed to win games they should have won earlier in the season, even the Vikings are still mathematically in the playoff hunt. That means any game against them is at least a chance to spoil a team out of a better spot or maybe the playoffs altogether.
I know there’s already a contingent of fans out there bemoaning any Vikings win that would secure a better draft pick, but winning is more fun.
State of the NFC North | Entering Week 15
The last few weeks have each team facing off against two NFC North teams. One slip in any game could cause a team to sweat, but if you slip in conference games, it could leave them on the outside looking in.
Lions vs Cowboys
Another Thursday game for the Lions after losing in Thanksgiving to the Packers. The Cowboys were a good follow-up to that previous game since they have something to play for and are having an up-and-down year.
There were two things I didn’t expect from this game: so many field goals and an offensive shootout that would come from them. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys had some decent drives in the first half, and they all finished with field goals while Jared Goff and the Lions mixed in touchdowns with their kicks.
It really looked like the Lions were going to run away with the game as soon as the second half kicked in, showing they were angry about the last loss. The Cowboys didn’t quit and fought their way back into the game, keeping it close and in question until late in the 4th quarter.
The Lions were just better in the end and kept scoring, even though Jamyr Gibbs didn’t get many yards; three of his rushes were for touchdowns. The Lions’ defense punished Prescott all game long with five sacks and had three turnovers to help seal the win.
They looked sharp, even though the Cowboys punted only once in the game and converted on two 4th downs. Detroit will need to tighten up on defense if it wants to stay in the playoff race. Right now, they are on the outside looking in at the Bears and Packers. The last game of the season against Chicago could be the final hurdle for both teams.
Packers vs Bears
I know I usually write these in the order of when the games were played, but with the playoff race coming to a close soon, I’m keeping the contenders near the top.
This was a game that could go either way, even though I would put the money on the home team if asked. The Packers have lost some key games at home, and if they dropped one to the Bears, Green Bay fans would be miffed. Both teams decided not to score in the first quarter, but after that, the gloves were off. Caleb Williams is continuing to grow as a player, and his ability to not only scramble away from almost every sack is now being complemented by his ability to keep his eyes downfield for a pass completion.
The Packers’ defense is not a group you can do that to easily. Down 14-3 at the half, he could have easily tried to force too much and made mistakes that took them out of the game. However, he kept his poise and got the ball into the endzone twice and added a 2-point conversion to that. Jordan Love was his usual self and kept his composure just the same, with 3 touchdowns of his own.
Both quarterbacks threw interceptions, but one was more important than the other. Love threw his interception early, ending a first-quarter drive. After going up 28-21, all the Packers had to do was stop the Bears one more time. They almost didn’t. Williams had the team moving down the field quickly and in position to tie it up.
His interception came at that point with 27 seconds left on the clock and ended the Bears’ chances to win in Green Bay. Had he not gotten greedy for the endzone, DJ Moore was open underneath on a nice route, and he could have scored from about 10 yards out. The Packers hold on in a close one and take the top of the North.
Vikings vs Commanders
As I mentioned before, many fans weren’t necessarily cheering for a Vikings loss, but wouldn’t be upset about one either if it improved their draft standings.
The Commanders have been more down than up this year, with quarterback Jayden Daniels injured by a gruesome left elbow hyperextension he was recovering from. The Vikings are clinging to any shred of hope this year and are looking to get out with at least some “silver lining” moments on a season that went the wrong direction quickly. The Commanders provided such a moment.
Daniels being back was huge, but the players that are out for them on defense are even bigger. Washington is not good on either side of the ball, but the defense is worse. Kevin O’Connell switched things up by taking the ball on offense to start the game instead of deferring to the second half.
This proved fruitful as J.J. McCarthy led the team down the field and got Josh Oliver the ball for the first score of the game. The Vikings never looked back. The Commanders drove down the field and tried to go for it on 4th and goal, but the Vikings’ defense got the stop.
With the Vikings’ recent struggles, this looked like an opportune time to have a major screwup and give up a safety, or even worse, a turnover in the end zone. It was close, but McCarthy dodged a tackle in the end zone and rushed forward, diving for a 1st down. This was the beginning of a 98-yard drive that ended up chewing up 12 minutes of clock and ended with Joran Mason scampering in for six.
Something that hadn’t happened for a Vikings team for a few decades. Up 14-0 at halftime seemed like a dream, but it was true. Would it hold up, or would the Vikings fold?
They did not. In the 3rd quarter, with a decent drive going, Daniels fell into one of the classic blunders: don’t throw a screen pass to Andrew Van Ginkel’s side. With an adept volleyball set, “The Gink” tapped the ball back to himself and returned it to the Commander’s 30 to eventually get Will “The Thrill” Reichard a field goal after not getting a chance last week.
It was doubly painful for Washington, as Daniels was cleanly blocked by Isaiah Rodgers and landed on his bad arm, reinjuring it to the point that he was pulled from the game. Enter Marcus Mariota, who promptly threw the ball to Harrison Smith.
That turned into another Oliver TD. The Vikings’ defense forced a punt, and McCarthy drove the field again, and T.J. Hockenson got in on the action with a score of his own. After that, it was another turnover from the defense with Javon Hargrave getting a lucky bounce on a Mariota fumble, and that all but ended it.
The Vikings had a complete shutout after getting the same treatment a week before. This was the team we all thought we would see most of the year, with the ups and downs associated with a young quarterback. The defense could get off the chain a bit, and Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason could run productively and wear the clock out.
The offense looked great, and McCarthy looked solid in his performance regardless of the team across from him. That’s what fans wanted to see the most.
Division Standings
- Packers
- Lions
- Bears
- Vikings
While the overall records more closely match how I feel the teams are playing, I still think the Lions are the better team right now than the Bears. They also have a win over the Bears, and we don’t get a rematch until week 18. The two teams are neck and neck and arguably interchangeable, but the Lions have a nose out in front by a hair.
The Packers weren’t dominant against the Bears, but they put them away when they needed to. Love is playing well, and Josh Jacobs solidifies the offense with his running skills. Michah Parsons may be more of a disruptive force than getting endless sacks. It affects the defense, though, allowing others to get free and cause havoc. As long as they keep winning these division games, they will hold on to the top spot. Any slip and they could go from first to out of the playoffs quickly.
Detroit just keeps hanging in there. As I said, you could easily switch them with the Bears, but I feel the Bears have benefited from a last-place schedule. If the Lions can beat the Rams in their own house this coming weekend, it might be the catalyst to catapult them to the top of the division.
Should they lose, every game after that becomes a struggle to stay in the playoff hunt, given the division games on the road. The running game is extremely solid, and so is Goff and their wide receivers. The only group struggling seems to be their defensive backfield, with injuries once again causing some strain.
Chicago is where no one thought they would be this season, sitting at second place in the NFC North, and that’s only because the Packers just beat them, even if only barely. They need to beat the Browns at home next week and get some momentum back so they can carry that momentum against the Packers when they come to visit.
They are also hoping the Broncos give them a hand next weekend by keeping their winning streak alive against Green Bay. Chicago is dangerous, but not as solid as it could be with younger players still coming into their own. Finishing against the Browns, Packers, 49ers, and Lions will be a tough row to hoe.
The Vikings are just trying to be relevant and not look terrible as the season winds down. They need more help than you can imagine getting into the playoffs, besides just winning all of their games.
Last week offered a glimpse of what can be with efficient passing, routes designed to help a young quarterback, and a running game that was not just complementary but very strong. The defense could show what they’ve had in the tank all year. Over these last four weeks, they could lose every single one. It’s how they fail that will make the difference.
If McCarthy plays poorly, the fans will be growling all offseason to make things better. If the defense gives up or players as a whole start mailing it in, it will look bad for everyone. Win or lose, though, all the talk will be about how McCarthy played out the final weeks. Playing well and losing is better than reverting to bad mistakes and losing embarrassingly.
The season has been mostly uphill climbs for the Vikings, and there have been twists and turns for every team in the league. Players don’t care about draft picks. They care about wins, their stats, and the money that comes with them. Above all of that is pride. Let’s hope we can go on these final rides with our hands in the air, screaming instead of having to cover our eyes.
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