NFC North Logjam: Bears, Packers, and Lions in a Three-Way December Dance
The calendar has flipped to December, and the NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape-or, more accurately, get even messier. For the first time in league history, five divisions have leaders separated by less than a game this late in the season.
And right in the thick of that chaos? The NFC North.
The Chicago Bears are sitting atop the division at 9-3, but their grip is far from secure. The Green Bay Packers, just a half-game back at 8-3-1, are breathing down their necks, and the Detroit Lions, now 7-5, are still lurking with hopes of making a late push. It’s a three-team race with razor-thin margins, and every snap from here on out matters.
Bears on Top-for Now
Chicago’s climb to the NFC’s No. 1 seed got a boost this past weekend when the Los Angeles Rams stumbled in a stunning loss to the Carolina Panthers. But don’t get too comfortable if you’re a Bears fan.
The top seed-and the division lead-could change hands as early as this Sunday, when the Bears head to Lambeau Field for a high-stakes showdown with the Packers. A Green Bay win would flip the standings and put the Packers in the driver’s seat.
Detroit’s Playoff Hopes on Life Support
Then there’s Detroit. After a deflating Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, the Lions find themselves in a precarious spot. Their odds to repeat as NFC North champs have dipped significantly-+950, according to FanDuel-and they’re now underdogs to even make the playoffs at +122.
And the road doesn’t get any easier. On Thursday night, the Lions host a surging Dallas Cowboys squad that’s won three straight, including back-to-back wins over last season’s Super Bowl teams.
That’s not just impressive-it’s historic. Dallas became the first team in league history to beat both of the prior season’s Super Bowl participants within a five-day span.
They did it in style, too: rallying from a 21-0 hole to beat the Eagles in Week 12, then holding off Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Thanksgiving.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: The X-Factor
If the Lions are going to survive this gauntlet and stay in the playoff picture, they’ll need their best offensive weapon on the field. That would be wide receiver Amon-Ra St.
Brown, who suffered a low-ankle sprain early in last week’s loss to the Packers. The injury typically sidelines players for one to two weeks, but St.
Brown is pushing to suit up Thursday night.
And make no mistake-his presence could be the difference between a playoff berth and a December collapse.
With St. Brown on the field, Detroit ranks No. 1 in the NFL in yards per play since he entered the league in 2021.
Without him? They plummet to No.
- The story is similar with offensive efficiency: No. 2 with him, No. 16 without.
That’s not just a drop-off; that’s a cliff dive. And with tight end Sam LaPorta already out, Jared Goff’s options are thinning fast.
St. Brown’s résumé speaks for itself: 505 receptions in his first five seasons (second-most all-time), over 1,160 receiving yards in each of the last three years, and double-digit touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. He’s not just a piece of the offense-he is the offense.
Cowboys Defense: No Longer a Liability
Earlier this season, Dallas’ defense looked like a major weakness. That’s changed-dramatically.
At the trade deadline, they added impact players like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson. They’ve also welcomed linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. into the rotation.
And with star corner Trevon Diggs expected back soon, this unit is rounding into form at just the right time.
They’re fast, physical, and opportunistic-exactly the kind of defense that can make life miserable for a banged-up Lions offense.
A Glimmer of Hope for Detroit
If you’re looking for a silver lining in Detroit, here’s one: the Lions have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games. If that trend holds, they’re due for a win this week.
And the last time these two teams met? Detroit handed Jerry Jones the worst home loss of his tenure, a 47-9 demolition that still echoes in AT&T Stadium.
But trends and history only go so far. This Week 14 matchup is shaping up to be a gut check for the Lions.
Without LaPorta and potentially without St. Brown, they’ll need to dig deep against a Cowboys team that’s peaking at the right time.
The NFC North is still up for grabs. But for Detroit, the margin for error is gone. Every possession, every drive, every decision from here on out could be the one that defines their season.