The Detroit Lions kept their playoff push moving in the right direction Sunday, and a Vikings loss only sharpened the picture around them.
Detroit is now 6-2 after beating the Miami Dolphins, and the Lions have stacked together four straight wins. Two of those victories came against NFC North opponents, with Detroit taking down both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in Weeks 7 and 8.
That matters because the NFC North is still a crowded fight. The Lions are the only team in the division without a loss against divisional opponents, having won both of their NFC North games so far.
Minnesota has beaten Chicago and Green Bay but fell to Detroit. Green Bay has a win over Chicago, but losses to Minnesota and Detroit.
Chicago is still winless in the division, with a Thanksgiving matchup against Detroit still ahead.
The division’s overall numbers are striking. All four NFC North teams have at least six wins through the first nine weeks of the season, making it a historic start across the board.
It also remains the only division in the league where every team has a winning record. The AFC North had been in that same conversation, but Baltimore’s loss this week dropped the Ravens to 4-5.
Even with all that balance in the North, the division leader is not sitting atop the conference. After Minnesota’s loss to Buffalo, the San Francisco 49ers moved into the NFC’s top seed at 7-1.
The rest of the conference picture is taking shape too. The New York Giants lead the NFC East at 5-2-1, while the Carolina Panthers are in front in the NFC South at 3-5. The Wild Card chase looks crowded, with the three NFC North teams that don’t win the division joined by the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, both 5-4.
The NFC South stands in sharp contrast to the North. All four teams there have three wins, with Carolina holding the edge over New Orleans thanks to the head-to-head win. The Buccaneers and Falcons are both 3-6, and neither has had its bye week yet.
Beyond those teams, the Dallas Cowboys are the only other NFC club with at least four wins. With the team currently in the seventh and final playoff spot sitting at 6-3, any team with three wins or fewer is looking at a steep climb back into the race.
Here’s how the NFC North and NFC playoff picture looks as the league moves into Week 10:
1.) Chicago Bears (7-2)
2.) Detroit Lions (6-2)
3.) Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
4.) Green Bay Packers (6-3)
1.) San Francisco 49ers (7-1)
2.) Chicago Bears (7-2)
3.) New York Giants (5-2-1)
4.) Carolina Panthers (3-5)
5.) Detroit Lions (6-2)
6.) Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
7.) Green Bay Packers (6-3)
In Other News...
Lions Enter Munich With One Clear Edge In A Shorthanded Fight
The trip to Munich arrives with both Detroit and New England trying to manage the kind of injury list that can change a game plan before the opening kickoff. The Patriots are missing cornerback Carlton Davis III and left guard Ben Brown, and they may also be without running back Rhamondre Stevenson, while the Lions head overseas without linebacker Jack Campbell, center Cade Mays, cornerback D.J. Reed and safety Kerby Joseph.
Even with those absences, Detroit still carries what looks like the cleaner edge into Week 10, especially in a matchup that could hinge on which side handles the shorthanded conditions better. The Lions have been more stable in recent weeks, and with both teams forced to adjust on the fly, the margin may come down to which roster can absorb the losses without losing its identity in an unfamiliar setting. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Just Put More Pressure On Two Unproven Defensive Backs
The Lions passed on adding a cornerback at the trade deadline, sticking with the group they have and leaving Khalil Dorsey and Keith Abney II in line for more important snaps. It is a vote of confidence in a defense that has looked sharper since shifting from zone to man coverage, with those two helping stabilize key situations as the staff sorted through its options.
Now the pressure shifts to whether that internal bet holds up when the schedule gets tougher. Detroit clearly believes its current approach can keep working, but without an outside addition, the margin for error at cornerback gets thinner fast, and the next stretch will show whether Dorsey and Abney can keep answering the call. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Offense Is About To Test A Patriots Weakness
Jared Goffs practice week has been worth watching as the Lions get ready to meet the Patriots in Munich, but the quarterback is still expected to be available. That matters because Detroits offense comes into the matchup with real punch, led by Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and it is the kind of unit that can force a defense to answer early and often.
For New England, the trip overseas adds another layer to a game already carrying pressure after a rough defensive showing last time out. The Patriots are trying to tighten things up after allowing 45 points in their previous game, and now they draw a Detroit attack that has enough speed and playmaking to expose any lingering issues. [Read more 🡒]