Ranking the three teams atop the NFC North

This win was a reminder of why the Lions can still be a dangerous January matchup, but the question is whether they found their groove too late. Their 8-5 record still puts them on the outside looking in in a stacked NFC playoff picture, and they still trail both the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the division race.

With so much still up in the air, here is a ranking of the three top teams in the NFC North headed into the stretch run.

3. Chicago Bears (9-3)

Despite currently possessing the NFC’s top seed, there are plenty of reasons to question whether the Chicago Bears are ready to be Super Bowl contenders. 

At the heart of the uncertainty is quarterback Caleb Williams, who has undoubtedly taken a step forward in his second NFL season but is still completing passes at just a 58% clip. As effective as the Bears rushing game has been, Williams' inaccuracies and inconsistencies have held them back from being a true top-flight offense. 

This is especially concerning considering the Bears defense ranks in the bottom 10 in both points and yards allowed and has been heavily reliant on a league-best turnover rate. The Bears are talented, well-coached and powerful up front, but there is a reason that they are heavy underdogs this week in Green Bay. They still feel a year away.

2. Detroit Lions (8-5)

There is little question that the Lions are far more flawed than they have been in either of the prior two seasons. Their offense doesn’t have the same rhythm without former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and the loss of tight end Sam LaPorta has hampered the passing attack. 

Their defense, meanwhile, has regressed from seventh in points allowed to 17th and will now be without safety Brian Branch after he suffered a torn Achilles against the Cowboys. The ways in which the Lions can win have narrowed, but as they proved Thursday, they still have the ability to hang 40 points on anybody when they are clicking on all cylinders. 

Even without Laporta, the blazing trio of Gibbs, St. Brown and Jameson Williams still gives quarterback Jared Goff plenty of weapons to work with, and their pass rush can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks if they are given an early lead. A pair of losses to the Packers will likely cost them their third straight division title, but Thursday's win kept their playoff hopes alive heading into a critical Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

1.  Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)

What gives the Packers the edge over their NFC North competitors is the multiple ways they can win games. Their ideal scenario likely involves giving bulldozing running back Josh Jacobs 25 touches, but quarterback Jordan Love’s four-touchdown Thanksgiving performance against the Lions showed that they can win over the top as well. 

Their defense ranks in the top ten against both the run and the pass, and the presence of Micah Parsons gives them a pass-rushing closer in late-game situations. While the Bears are dependent on a strong running game and the Lions are only suited for shootouts, the Packers have proven that they can match up with anybody, which should give them an edge in the division race.