NFC North Roundup: Bears Surge, Lions Lose Key Pieces, Vikings Search for Answers
With five weeks left in the regular season, the NFC North is shaping up to be one of the most compelling divisions in football. The Bears are riding high after a statement win in Philadelphia, the Lions are managing injuries to key starters, and the Vikings are searching for answers after a frustrating shutout. Let’s break down where each team stands heading into the final stretch.
Bears Stay Grounded Despite NFC’s Top Spot
The Bears stunned the Eagles on the road in Week 13, and with that win, they now sit atop the NFC standings through 12 games. But don’t expect head coach Ben Johnson to start celebrating just yet.
His message to the team? Eyes forward.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Johnson said after the win. “There are five games left… We have not been guaranteed a spot in the tournament yet. We have to earn that.”
That mindset has become a defining trait of this Bears team-focused, disciplined, and not getting caught up in the headlines. And that starts with the quarterback.
Second-year QB Caleb Williams continues to grow into the role, and Johnson was particularly impressed with how Williams handled a complex game plan against a fast, aggressive Eagles defense. The Bears threw a lot of motion and shifting at Philly to create confusion, and Williams was the steady hand keeping it all organized.
“I thought that was one of the better jobs he’s had in terms of getting the play call, calling it in the huddle, getting the motions, the shifts,” Johnson said. “We had a lot of moving parts… and I thought he executed it really well.”
There was even a moment where Johnson admitted he botched a play call-Williams corrected it on the fly. That kind of poise and command is exactly what you want to see from a young quarterback down the stretch.
“He’s getting better each and every week,” Johnson added. “It’s all hands on deck for us to clean up this passing game to make it more of a weapon.”
The Bears aren’t just winning-they’re evolving. And with five games left, they’re not just hunting for a playoff berth. They’re aiming to finish what they’ve started.
Lions Hit Injury Wall as Ragnow, Arnold Go Down
The Lions have been one of the grittiest teams in the league this season, but the injury bug is starting to bite-and it’s targeting some big names.
Center Frank Ragnow was expected to return soon, but a failed physical revealed a Grade 3 hamstring injury. It’s a tough blow for Detroit’s offensive line, which has been one of the team’s foundational strengths.
“We knew there was something going on,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “But it did not sound as severe as the imaging looked.”
Translation: what they thought was a manageable issue turned out to be a much longer recovery timeline. The decision was made to shut Ragnow down, and Campbell admitted it just didn’t make sense to push it.
As for Ragnow’s future? Campbell said there’s “no indication” yet on whether the veteran center wants to keep playing in 2026.
On the defensive side, rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold has been battling through a shoulder injury all season. The team finally made the call to place him on injured reserve.
“It just felt like it was something that needed to be done,” Campbell said.
Arnold’s toughness hasn’t gone unnoticed, but with the playoffs looming, Detroit is clearly trying to get as healthy as possible for a postseason run. Still, losing two key starters this late in the year is a challenge, and how the Lions respond could define their December.
Vikings Shut Out, Searching for Identity on Offense
The Vikings' offense hit rock bottom in Week 13, getting blanked on the scoreboard and leaving head coach Kevin O’Connell with more questions than answers.
“We just did not have the type of offensive performance that is ever going to be acceptable with the Minnesota Vikings organization,” O’Connell said. “That obviously starts with me.”
O’Connell didn’t single out any one player or position group. This was a full-team breakdown-missed assignments, lack of rhythm, and a unit that just couldn’t string together positive plays.
“Guys want to make those plays, guys want to make the throws,” O’Connell said. “We just can’t quite seem to catch the rhythm of positive plays with all 11 guys executing right now.”
Injuries along the offensive line haven’t helped, and with new faces stepping into key roles, there’s been a noticeable lack of cohesion. O’Connell hinted that the coaching staff might need to simplify things to help the group find some consistency.
“Maybe we’ve got to try to limit what we’re asking of the group as a whole,” he said.
It’s a tough spot for a team that still has playoff aspirations. The defense has kept them in games, but unless the offense finds its footing fast, Minnesota could be running out of time.
Final Word
The NFC North is a study in contrasts right now. The Bears are surging behind a young quarterback who’s growing by the week.
The Lions are trying to hold their ground while battling critical injuries. And the Vikings are in search of an offensive spark before their season slips away.
There’s still plenty of football left-and in this division, December is going to be a fight.