The NFC North is heating up - and the Detroit Lions just reminded everyone they’re not ready to fade into the background.
On Thursday night, the Lions roared back into the playoff conversation with a statement win, dropping 44 points on the Dallas Cowboys and walking away with a 44-30 victory. It was the kind of performance that resets expectations and reopens doors that many thought had been slammed shut after their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Packers.
With that win, Detroit moves to 8-5, matching Green Bay in the win column. The Packers still hold a slight edge in the standings at 8-3-1, but the margin for error just got slimmer.
And with a divisional showdown against the Chicago Bears looming in Week 14, Green Bay knows the stakes. A win keeps them in the driver’s seat.
A loss? That opens the door for chaos.
Let’s take a look at how the NFC stacks up after Thursday Night Football:
- Chicago Bears (9-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
- Washington Commanders (3-9)
That Lions win didn’t just shake up the division - it also delivered a gut punch to the Cowboys' playoff hopes. Dallas had been surging, riding a three-game win streak that included victories over both of last season’s Super Bowl teams. But this loss drops them to 6-6-1 and leaves them clinging to the fringe of the wild-card race.
For Green Bay, that’s one less team to worry about. According to playoff projections, the Packers’ odds of making the postseason remain strong - holding steady at 91 percent even after Thursday’s result.
But their grip on the NFC North title? That’s a little less secure now.
Detroit’s odds to win the division sit at just seven percent, so they’ll need help - and likely need to win out. But Thursday’s performance was a reminder that Dan Campbell’s squad is still dangerous.
They’re physical, they’re aggressive, and if they sneak into the playoffs, they’re going to be a nightmare matchup. Green Bay may have swept the season series, but they know better than to underestimate this group.
As the rest of Week 14 kicks off, the NFC North is officially a three-team race. The Bears lead the pack at 9-3, but both the Packers and Lions are within striking distance. And while Green Bay controls its own destiny, the road ahead won’t be easy - a tough five-game stretch awaits.
In the wild-card chase, the field is thinning. The Cowboys, now sitting in 10th, are on the outside looking in. Below them, the rest of the conference - Atlanta, Minnesota, Washington - is likely out of the picture.
That leaves just two teams “in the hunt” behind the current playoff field: the Lions and the Carolina Panthers. Carolina, at 7-6, is on a bye this week. That gives Green Bay a chance to create some breathing room - potentially a 2.5-game lead - if they take care of business against Chicago.
Bottom line: the Packers are still in a strong position, but the margin is razor-thin. Every game from here on out carries weight. And with the Lions refusing to go quietly, the NFC North might be headed for a photo finish.