Lions Roar Late, But Is It Enough? NFC North Power Rankings Entering the Stretch Run
With their playoff hopes teetering, the Detroit Lions delivered a statement win on Thursday night-one that reminded everyone just how dangerous this team can be when it finds its rhythm.
The Lions' offense was firing on all cylinders, and it started with the familiar one-two punch in the backfield. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs-Detroit’s own “Sonic and Knuckles” duo-powered the ground game with a mix of brute force and electric speed.
Montgomery broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown that set the tone early, while Gibbs was everywhere, racking up 120 total yards and punching in three touchdowns. When this backfield is rolling, the Lions’ offense becomes a problem for any defense.
Jared Goff played the role of distributor to near perfection, spreading the ball around with poise and efficiency. He found his playmakers in stride, including Amon-Ra St.
Brown, who toughed it out through an ankle injury to haul in six catches for 92 yards. That kind of toughness and production is exactly what you'd expect from the Lions' offensive heartbeat.
Defensively, Detroit bent but didn’t break. Facing one of the league’s most explosive passing attacks, the Lions gave up yards but held firm in the red zone.
They forced the Dallas Cowboys to settle for five field goals and sacked Dak Prescott five times in a gritty, 44-30 win. It wasn’t perfect, but it was timely-and it kept their postseason pulse alive.
Still, at 8-5, the Lions are in a tight spot. They’re chasing both the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the NFC North standings, and with the conference as stacked as it is, there’s little room for error. The win was big-but was it too little, too late?
Let’s break down where the top three teams in the NFC North stand heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
3. Chicago Bears (9-3)
Yes, the Bears are sitting atop the NFC with a 9-3 record, but there’s a lot more beneath the surface-and not all of it inspires confidence.
Caleb Williams has certainly made strides in his second year, but he’s still completing just 58% of his passes. That number tells a story. While the Bears’ ground game has helped carry the offense, Williams’ inconsistencies through the air are holding them back from being a truly elite unit.
The defense is another mixed bag. While they lead the league in takeaways-a testament to aggressive play and opportunistic instincts-they’re also in the bottom 10 in both points and yards allowed. That’s a dangerous tightrope to walk, especially in December when games tighten up and turnovers are harder to come by.
This is a talented, well-coached team with a strong identity in the trenches. But with a tough matchup in Green Bay looming, there’s a reason the Bears are underdogs. They might be ahead of schedule, but they still feel like a team that’s one year away from being a serious Super Bowl threat.
2. Detroit Lions (8-5)
The Lions haven’t been quite the same this season. The offense, while still capable of putting up big numbers, has lost some of its rhythm without former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pulling the strings. And losing tight end Sam LaPorta has taken a chunk out of their passing game’s versatility.
On the defensive side, it’s been a step back. After finishing seventh in points allowed last season, they’ve slipped to 17th. And now they’ll be without safety Brian Branch, who tore his Achilles against the Cowboys-a brutal blow to an already thin secondary.
Still, Thursday night showed what this team can do when it’s clicking. Even without LaPorta, the trio of Gibbs, St.
Brown, and Jameson Williams gives Goff plenty of firepower. And if the pass rush can play with a lead, they’re capable of wrecking games.
The Lions are likely out of the division race thanks to two losses to Green Bay, but their playoff hopes are still very much alive. Their Week 14 showdown with the Rams looms large-and could be make-or-break.
1. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
Right now, the Packers look like the most complete team in the division-and it’s not particularly close.
They can win in multiple ways. If the game calls for a ground-and-pound approach, they’ll feed Josh Jacobs 25 times and wear you down. But if they need to air it out, Jordan Love has shown he can deliver, like he did on Thanksgiving with four touchdown passes against Detroit.
Defensively, they’re top-10 against both the run and the pass. And in late-game situations, having a closer like Micah Parsons coming off the edge is a luxury most teams can only dream of.
While the Bears rely heavily on their ground game and the Lions thrive in shootouts, the Packers have shown they can adapt to any game script. That versatility is what makes them the team to beat in the NFC North right now-and a legitimate threat come January.
Bottom Line: The NFC North is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing races down the stretch. The Bears have the record, the Lions have the firepower, and the Packers have the balance.
With just a few weeks left, every snap matters-and the margin for error is razor-thin. Buckle up.